Book of the Week: The Body Keeps Score; Mind, Brain and Body in the Transformation of Trauma
In The Body Keeps the Score, Dr. Bessel van der Kolk reminds us that trauma doesn’t just live in memory, it lives in the body. Every suppressed emotion, every unprocessed experience, leaves an imprint on our nervous system. It changes how we breathe, how we digest, how we sleep, and even how we love.
For those walking the path of healing, this truth is liberation. It means that healing is not only mental or spiritual, it is physical, cellular, and energetic.
The Body’s Silent Language
When the body holds pain, it speaks in whispers before it screams, tension in the shoulders, a heavy chest, gut discomfort, or unexplained fatigue. These are not random; they are messages from within. Listening to the body becomes an act of self-respect, a way of saying: I hear you. I’m ready to release.
Somatic Awareness & Herbal Healing
Dr. van der Kolk’s work aligns beautifully with herbal and spiritual medicine.
Herbs like skullcap, ashwagandha, and holy basil calm the stress response and nurture safety within the nervous system. Grounding rituals, sitting barefoot on the earth, drinking warm tea mindfully, or slow breathing, bring presence back to the body, one layer at a time.
Healing happens when we create harmony between the mind’s stories and the body’s truth.
Embodiment Practices for Release
Breath: Inhale slowly through the nose, exhale longer through the mouth. Feel the body soften.
Touch: Gently place your hand over your heart or womb; remind yourself that you are safe.
Movement: Stretch, dance, or walk in rhythm with your breath. Let energy move through, not stagnate.
Stillness: Rest after release — the pause allows integration.
Closing Reflection:
When we listen to the body, we finally free the soul.
