Last night as I was walking home I noticed a commotion of smoke, fire trucks and emergency vehicles. Uniformed men and police tape diverted us from our usual path. What we were witnessing was the aftermath of a fire. It had occurred just a couple of blocks from my house, caused by a strange combination of salt and electricity.
I thought about the forces that combine to form fires in our lives, and how little or how much we actually notice them. What we know about putting them out in a way that is safe, that fosters healing and love.
And conversely, how many hearts are on fire all over the world. And how every life, every passion and aspiration, is significant. What we value, and what we don’t. Even in ourselves. Where does the heat of our desires go? Who or what reignites that magic spark in us?
I was afraid and unsure what to do last night as were several others. Once I began walking the long way around the block I discovered a hidden alleyway. The whole neighborhood was disoriented, turned temporarily upside down, and yet in our confusion we organized and found creative solutions.
Somatic coaching is like that too. It’s about looking in places we don’t ordinarily look, and coming up with (often simple) solutions. If our view is obstructed by negative thinking or by clinging to the past, we will find it difficult to trust our inner wisdom. And, further: to enjoy, to love, to connect with our potential.
If, on the other hand, we recognize that there is an issue — a threat, a burning structure — then we can employ the necessary tools. We get to ask the question: what is the best way for me to get back home?