Thresholds/Autumn Equinox/Sensitivity Cycle

Autumn brings falling leaves, the emptying trees move us towards a spacious landscape. Depending on our own experiences conscious and unconscious, we might appreciate the space as liberating and nourishing, or we might equate it with grief and loneliness, or dare I say, if we’re lucky, we pendulate between. September might be experienced as late summer or as early fall, depending on the weather or our sensibilities; it is a liminal space, an in-between, not quite this, not quite that. A liminal space is “a transitional place, time, or state that exists between two other stages or destinations, derived from the Latin word ‘limen’ meaning ‘threshold’” (thanks Google AI).

Thresholds for all their association with growth and transformation are often challenging because there is uncertainty and change, often we are saying goodbye to something before we shift or move towards something else. There is a pause. In therapy this is often a very difficult and tender time in a session and in the client’s life, and of course my life too. Too often we rush to fill a space with a positive affirmation, or outcome, a very human tendency to try to get to the other side too quickly before we’ve had a chance to integrate, digest, grieve and truly accept where we are. We often miss that being in the doorway of the threshold, allowing time and space before moving through is an essential part of healing and the most unintuitive. Unintuitive because it’s natural to try to move away from pain quickly, to avoid it, and to repair. To stay with the medicine in a threshold space we need practice, time, compassion, and presence. We need to take our time to feel the pieces and glean the wisdom that only comes with not rushing.

The threshold space holds an important healing component that gets missed in our fast paced world – rest. Dr. Ron Kurtz of the Hakomi method, speaks of the “Sensitivity Cycle”. It is a cycle that we must go through in order to live lives with purpose and meaning, and to navigate our lived experiences. Ideally in processing we go through 4 stages: Insight, Action, Nourishment and Completion. Insight is clarity about what has happened and what we need or want to happen next; Action is taking our insight and being able to mobilize, take effective action in order to create the change or outcome we need; Nourishment is being able to savour or celebrate the fruits of our labour, and reflect on what went well and maybe what needs tweaking; Rest and Reflection is continuing to process and integrate while resting, taking space, and truly letting this cycle end before beginning the next.

Without rest or space we often start again without feeling replenished or inspired. We start feeling like we are on auto-pilot and not really getting anywhere. Without Nourishment or Savouring we lose connection to our why or purpose, our actions feel empty. Without action we never get anywhere and feel stuck. Without insight we end up going around in circles, not knowing what we want so unable to create a plan for going forward. If we make it all the way through a cycle, we are restored and ready to start something new. But sometimes we might find ourselves stuck at one point of the cycle, there is some inner barrier that needs exploring so that we can move through.

Insight Barrier - confusion/lack of clarity

Action/Response Barrier - inability to take action or ineffectual action. Procrastination or I try and try and feel like I get no where

Nourishment Barrier - inability to savour or celebrate accomplishments. Dissociation or lack of awareness that you did do what you set out to do

Completion Barrier - the body doesn't register that the cycle is over, that it's time to stop and rest

Maybe pause for a moment and reflect on if you experience any of these barriers.

This autumn threshold is an invitation to remember that we are cyclical beings, just like the seasons, we are nature. To be in a liminal space is natural. The butterfly is often a symbol of transformation and change, the beautiful end of a challenging cycle. We often forget so we never celebrate the cocooning stage. The place of darkness, stuck-ness, not-knowing, as an uncomfortable but essential part of change. What would it be like to become curious and even willing to acknowledge and pause, when we are uncomfortable. To pause long enough to find the ground underneath, to realize that we are in the cocoon, uncertain, but willing to rest and pause, willing to trust that life flows forward, we don’t need to push, we need to pause so that we can move forward with insight not confusion, with action not anxiety.

Myths and story allows us to enter the liminal and lesser known parts or ourselves, even that we are not yet conscious to. The myth of Innana for example, brings us right into a descent into the underworld, crossing many thresholds and in the best versions the end is left uncertain so that we can join where and as we are.

I have a few offerings coming up where we can join together in acknowledgement of personal and shared thresholds.

The Transformative Wisdom of the Dark: Fall Equinox Yoga and Meditation

If you'd like to dive further into Myths that speak to some of this deeper wisdom in not knowing, this class will weave in the Myth of Innana, La Llorana, and a Kali Origin story in an embodied way, with yoga, breath and meditation.

Sunday, September 21

130-330pm

$45

at Vayusha Yoga in South Surrey

Click here to register

If you are really seeking rest and rejuvenation...

Deep Rest - Restorative Yoga with Warm Stones and Aromatherapy

Saturdays 230-4pm

$40/session

at Vayusha Yoga in South Surrey

Click on the date below to register for the day you'd like to attend

September 27/ October 18/ November 15/ December 13

I hope that autumn is gentle on you but allows you to see what will be soul nourishing and eye opening.