Realign to Channel Fiery Voice
As the moon grows again and we approach the Summer Solstice, how is your energy? This solstice we’ll be exploring how realigning our bodies allows us to channel the volatile power of fire through VOICE.
Our summer theme, voice of fire, is all about channeling anger into clear voice. If you are not full of anger, are you even paying attention?? This weekend US and Israeli troops disguised as an aid truck entered Nuseirat refugee camp and massacred 274 civilians, including at least 64 children, and injured over 700 people supposedly to rescue four hostages. Our planet is dying, multiple genocides are raging on in Palestine, Sudan, Congo, all to fund capitalism’s undying thirst for natural resources, fascism is on the rise globally… our basic survival instinct and love of life demand anger.
If you’re not angry, I wonder if it’s getting blocked and buried somewhere in your body. Realigning is a layered physical, energetic and emotional journey. I generally suggest looking at the basic energy channel flowing from the base of the pelvis through the crown of the head. Misalignments in these areas can point to an area that needs attention:
Root Chakra (base of pelvis)— safety, sense of home, stability; imbalances can often cause low back pain, knee pain and reverberate out
Sacral chakra (low belly)— creativity, passion, shame, pleasure
Solar plexus (front of the ribcage)— sense of power, determination, self-worth
Heart chakra (center of chest)— love, grief; hunching forward causes upper back pain
Throat chakra (back of the neck)— truth, expression; jutting head forward causes neck pain, I call this the fawning position
Third eye (space between eyebrows)— insight, clear view
Crown chakra (top of the head)— spiritual downloads, connection
Voice involves and flows through all of these spaces— the most powerful voice starts with a deep breath, flowing into the root and sacral space. When posture is aligned we can draw up energy from the Earth to support the tone. Release and clarity throughout the chakras are part of resonance; especially for high tones the small bones in our faces and skulls will vibrate to produce rich sound.
For my body pilates has been central to realigning— wringing out excess energy from the sacral to solar plexus chakras and stabilizing and activating the root chakra. I found the most progress in mat pilates, and especially when I began incorporating more contemporary exercises that properly strengthen and activate muscles through the back body. Backbody strength is essential for balancing throughout, and all effects the throat chakra- located at the back of the neck.
That said, pilates studios tend to be very sterile. I still struggle with this, and have needed to figure out how to take up space with my loud, big personality despite the stiff whiteness of most studios I walk into. I have needed to cyclically step back from pilates studios and consiously create spaces for myself where physical practice isn’t separated from healing and liberatory work. I long for a space where I can move my body and scream and cry all at once.
As a teacher I love imagining a range of different practice spaces— where our loudness, curiosity and imperfection is celebrated. Where connecting to our bodies and building strength is always political, an act of defiance against a world constantly draining and disconnecting us. Spaces that embrace clarity of values and self-alignment.
I’m so excited to explore with you next week! Join me Thursday night 7-9pm est virtually on the day of the solstice, or Friday 7-9pm for QTPOC Full moon journey in downtown Brooklyn. We’ll explore simple, gentle movement layered with vocalizing and feel how voice flows through these energetic centers and helps transform energy. We’ll reflect on what realigning means to each of us, and where in our bodies we feel imbalances/ stuck energy. Our journeys will include energy clearing, option to call in ancestral support, short breathwork and time to journal and connect in community.
~may we realign & allow our fiery power to freely flow