News Drop offers principles and practices for living in alignment with nature. For living osteopathically, in flow.

Flow is not just a nice idea, flow is essential for sustaining life. All of nature is in flow with the exception of we humans. People and the planet are suffering because we have forgotten how to live in alignment with nature.

Nature offers both guidance and support for living with sanity and grace no matter what is happening. I can’t think of a more relevant conversation.

Ready to dive in?

How do we find equilibrium when any one of the many highly stressful events of this unprecedented time could cause us to unravel?

We restore equilibrium by returning to the imperative of our biology. We let nature guide.

When I decided to commit my heart, brain, training and life experience to teaching, I named my early curriculum Cultivating Resilience in Stressful Times. I did this because I felt a storm coming. I’ve been feeling it coming for a long time. I imagine you have too.

The deep disharmony on the planet is palpable. The unthinkable destruction taking place on the planet every day feels like an all too familiar lurking predator. This week that feeling is heightened and brought closer to home by the devastating fires in LA. Unthinkable. I’m finding some solace in the deepening gratitude I feel for the roof over my head, and in the prayers in my thoughts and heart for all of us.

Consciously and unconsciously the current level of global disruption is felt in our biology all the time, by all of us, no matter where we are, and regardless of our circumstances. It’s natural to be afraid. Two things are true — fear can take us out of our hearts and out of sync with the very forces that support us. Fear is also our biology’s way of inspiring action.

Challenge is built into the design of life. Difficulty stretches us, grows us and ultimately teaches and heals us. We can be powerfully inspired by collapse but cannot live there and be in service to ourselves and others in a meaningful way.

If you find yourself reaching the edge of your ability to hold steady, remember that surpassing your limit is how you define and stretch your limit. The calisthenic of surpassing, defining and stretching is intense.

It is nothing short of grace that no matter what is happening, we can rely on the guidance and support of the laws of nature. It is nothing short of grace that wise teachers from cultures all over the world are helping us return to the primary guiding principle we so need to understand in this time — we are energy first, matter second.

Energy comes first. This principle is a cornerstone of osteopathy. Energy can shift instantly; physical change is slower, beautifully and perfectly guided by our energetic aspects. Buddhist philosophy recognizes that what we practice grows. These principles inspire us follow vital energy like homing pigeons. We call this being guided by the Health with a capital H.

Every one of us can connect with the Health in every moment, regardless of what is happening. Paradoxically, the Health can be more accessible when we’re under pressure. This is where grace lives. We can grieve and allow our hearts to seek the Health at the same time.

Health is resonant, disease is dissonant. Did you know that natural light is resonant and non-native light frequencies are dissonant? Our relationship with light has everything to do with Health-not-health.

Natural light energizes and harmonizes our physical and subtle aspects, tunes our antennae, and amplifies our reception to the intelligence of the natural world.

It’s powerful to know that frequencies of light from the sun at sunrise and sunset are particularly potent medicine. This light, especially when paired with bare feet on cold ground, restores us at the deepest energetic and biochemical levels. Light at sunrise is particularly potent as it starts the clock that tells our bodies when hormones are needed throughout the day and night. Dr. Jack Kruse teaches brilliantly about cold, light, and the physics of resilience in this playful podcast.

We seek to let nature guide.

Ready to explore re-relating to light? Let’s start with a small ask. Perhaps you’re not quite ready to meet first light. Doing your best to get sun on your eyes and skin in the first hour of your day is a great start. When I can’t see the sunrise, I use a light visor that mimics its frequency.

That’s where I started a few months ago. On my first day barefoot in early sun I felt like I was being charged like a battery. Remember how our bodies charge and correct when we connect with the potent polar exchange of ions between the Earth and sky. Early sun feels like it turns the light on in every cell in my body.

As I’ve inched my way in the direction of meeting the sun at first light I’m sleeping more deeply. I used to love the quiet of late night. Now I’m sleepy by ten and waking up just before sunrise without trying. I no longer take melatonin. I’m also being careful to use screens less, and I’m not nearly as drawn to my phone or computer.

Dr. Kruse also explains how artificial light, especially after dark, works against our biology. Drastically. These days the science is so clear it’s easy to find quality technologies to shield your eyes and skin from non-native electromagnetic frequencies. Programs like Iris can neutralize blue light from computer screens. Light from flames is best after dark. Music and loved ones by candlelight and campfires sounds like medicine to me.

Powerful transformation is afoot. We know what is needed, we’re more resilient than we think, we’re more supported than we know, and we are made for these times.

I hope my sharing has brought you some peace. Thank you for being here, for remaining open, and for doing your best on behalf of yourself and the planet.

We’re in this together. It takes practice to return to original behaviors. We practice all things flow in the Flow is Medicine self-paced and live online community. Our doors are always open.

In Celebration of your emerging Glow & Flow,

Dr. Michelle Veneziano

& the Flow is Medicine community