Knowing Your Own Heart
Padma Gordon
Our Spiritual Self-Care weekly workshop continues to grow and deepen with new Rare mothers joining each week. It's rich and diverse with some Rare mothers with children ranging from very young to early twenties and others whose children have passed away; the support available in our community is incredible.
Our inquiry for the week was regarding how your heart supports you to accept challenges. Being a Rare mother comes with its own set of unique challenges and one is that you may often feel like you don't exist and that others can't really see you. This can be very lonely and coming together with other Rare mothers is empowering. After our meditation, one person said, "I am grateful and proud to be a Rare mother." This is one of the gifts of gathering together.
How can your relationship with your heart support you? How do you access your own heart?
Here are some of the wise response that were shared:
"I tend to my heart by tuning into the words that inspire me."
"I tend to the relationship with my heart by being honest. I speak the truth and offer love to myself and others. As a Rare mother, I do guard parts of my heart. We have so much coming at us all the time, so often I feel like I need to shield my heart. I take my time and listen before acting on my feelings."
"I didn't realize that I hadn't been tending to my heart." And with tears in her eyes she shared, "I see that I can be with my daughter heart to heart and no words are necessary. This way of connecting is something I can pass on to my daughter and it's such a gift."
Maybe you resonate with some of what was shared? Maybe if your child doesn't have the capacity to speak, you can meet them non-verbally in a whole new way. Taking the time to cultivate the relationship with your own heart opens up new realms of communication that are profound. What a gift to take the time to be in your heart and then to simply BE with your child and allow your hearts to rest together silently.
You as a Rare mother are busy managing your child's care and running your household and self-care time is necessary and healing. You wear many hats in your life and are asked to shift mindsets frequently from Rare mother mind to nurse mind to partner/wife mind. We are exploring how to bring your mind into your own heart so that you can build a bridge between tending to others and tending to yourself.
Your relationship with yourself is primary.
Here is a practice to support you growing the relationship with your heart:
Take a few minutes (3-5 is all it takes) each day to LISTEN to your Heart. Close your eyes. Breathe. Pause. Ask your heart, "How are you right now?" Listen for the answer. RECEIVE it. Breathe some more. Let your body soften. And then, ask the question again, "How are you right now?" The practice of asking, listening and receiving will help you to KNOW YOUR OWN HEART ever more deeply. This is a relationship that will last your whole life long. Do this practice every day for the best results. You are befriending your heart. Enjoy.
Join Us
Please come and join us each Tuesday morning at 10am PDT. Come as you ARE. You can turn your camera on or leave it off. You are welcome to come for the whole session or a part of it. It’s a chance for you to take time for yourself and meet other Rare mothers who totally “get” what your life is like.
Here is the link to join.
We look forward to seeing you there.
With blessings,
Padma
