The inner goddess manifests itself as the innate strength we all have within us when we are nurturing our wellbeing, our self-worth, our courage, our sexuality and our creativity. Anji Bignell shows us how the elemental influence of fire, water, air, space and earth, brought into the context of our daily rituals, can harness the power of our inner goddess.
Watery Emotions
Water has restorative properties that can heal our physical and emotional wounds. After all, our first relationship was with water in our Mother’s womb.
Isa Mat is a Wellness Liaison and water therapist at holistic wellness retreat, Fivelements (www.fivelements.org), in Bali. She has seen many clients benefit from the unique technique of water healing (including Watsu or water Shiatsu).
“During a session, the receiver floats in warm water. Floating devices and the support of my hand under their head allows them to really offer their bodies to the water – feeling totally supported. The unspoken invitation is to trust, to let go of control and allow the gentle movements, the rocking, the caresses of the water; to create a unique experience of an inner journey in no time, nor space.”
“In a water dance session, I take the receiver under water and the journey deepens into the realm of our own inner landscapes of emotions, memories, insight and understandings,” Mat says.
Water therapy allows the client’s body to completely relax - which is an important part of helping the body to heal and reconnect them with their sensuality and femininity.
DIY ritual:
“Nature induces the relaxation response in our bodies – the opposite effect of the common stress response that the city or busy lifestyles bring. When we are in the relaxation response our blood chemistry changes to induce self-healing properties. Over time in the relaxation response our blood sugar decreases, digestion improves and therefore, so does our immunity – as 70 per cent of immunity is in the gut,” says Mind-Body Medical practitioner and kinesiologist, Kirsten Rennie. (www.wisdominwellness.com.au)
Try running a long, luxurious bath, adding Epsom Salts to soothe the tired muscles or adding essential oils like bergamot, to calm, and citrus oils such as sweet orange, to uplift. Light a candle, play some music (Baroque music has shown to work in time with our heartbeat to reach the alpha brainwave state of deep relaxation).
“When we are relaxed the body can get back to its natural state and authentic self,” says Rennie.
Fire & Rebirth
Fire is another element that can be transformative and regenerative. The hypnotic embers and heat can ignite our true passions and release negative thought patterns.
The Balinese people practice rituals everyday, as an important means to honour nature and invoke blessings of health and abundance.
Agni Hotra is an ancient fire ceremony practiced at Fivelements retreat, and originated from the Hindu sacred scriptures – the Vedas – Agni referring to ‘fire’ and Hotras, to ‘healing’.
A specially trained Balinese priest makes offerings from the earth – seeds (food), sugar (forgiveness) and a coconut (the ego) while reciting Sanskrit mantras. When participating in the ritual, it is important to recite the ‘om’ mantra 21 times for purification and cleansing while setting an intention or wish for the future while adding ghee to the fire, one spoon at a time.
Fire rituals allow us to release unwanted energy and thoughts into the fire so that they can be transformed into positive energy and the metaphorical physical body can rise like the Phoenix from the ashes ready for new beginnings.
DIY ritual:
Buy yourself a sage or ‘smudge stick’ from a crystal shop or health food store and find a space.
“Sage has cleansing and healing properties, it is used to clear any negativity or stale energy around so you can instantly reconnect to your authentic yourself.”
“Before you light your sage stick, set your intentions on what you are trying to achieve. Once clear, light your stick and gentle wave around your immediate body, starting at your feet and working your way up to your head. Make sure to do the back of you too. You should instantly feel clear and grounded. Enjoy the smell of the sage,” explains Rennie.
Space to Embrace
Within the confines of our physical (and emotional) space – whether through the constructed walls of our work environment or the confining states of our personal relationships – there are still ways to find space through movement and mind-body connection.
Made Janur Yasa is a certified Somatic coach, Aikido trainer and Wellness Liaison at Fivelements retreat, facilitating transformational healing through movement and the mind.
“My background in somatics (somatics understands both the individual and collective as a combination of evolutionary, biological, emotional and psychological aspects, shaped by society and history) helps to understand that our body influences how we think – if we are not getting enough sleep, it effects how our day goes. If we pay attention to our body, our body is always talking to us. We live in an era where we cannot get away from things and we are not paying attention to our body.”
Made Janur teaches the martial art, Aikido, to unify the life energy and blend artful body movements in motion with the opponent – its purpose being to learn how to love the opponent, meet hostility with peaceful reconciliation and reach harmony in challenging situations – techniques that can be upheld in our daily lives.
Moving with others allows the body to bring about greater self-awareness, strengthen inner power and deepen the connection with oneself – as well as increase the quality of our connection with others.
DIY Ritual:
Janoel Liddy (www.stepintowomanhood.com), has worked as a teacher within TAFE and universities for 20 years and runs regular women’s circles and rituals to reconnect with the feminine spirit and the sisterhood.
"Anyone can start one… women’s circles are a safe and sacred place where you can feel powerful, inspired, recharged, challenged, reassured... if you set it up properly.”
Why not start your own group – with basic ground rules for yourself and your sisters – sharing rituals of self-care, journaling, talking, resting, dancing and employing connection within a sacred space.
Fivelements retreat, in Ubud Bali, runs traditional healing ceremonies and transformational wellness retreats to suit individual needs. www.fivelements.org