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a Monthly Print Format Downloadable ACTIVITIES
from the Forthcoming Book, Opening Presence by Mary Mance Hart, M.Ed.
OPENING
PRESENCE:
Mary Mance Hart, M.Ed.
Opening Presence© is a curriculum designed to help understand and nurture the inner lives of children and adults. Using a wide array of exercises, stories, philosophies and practices, this experiential approach will help support children to: increase and comprehend their multi-dimensional awareness, develop life long skills to open and shift their minds for optimal learning and behavior, connect to their inner source of comfort and wisdom, embody their natural capacity for love and compassion and live with balance and wonder.
ACTIVITY #1. ROOTS OF LIFE
Importance
Grounding ourselves is a simple yet profound method of first noticing the subtle inner energy in our bodies and then feeling and shifting ones’ attention through intention. We are able to develop control over our reactions – instead of “automatic pilot,” we can choose where to direct our attention as it is needed. For instance, if I am nervous about having to speak in public, I can direct more intention to relaxing by taking deeper breaths, to my feet and legs which can help me feel more stable and have stronger foundation, and to quiet my mind for clearer thoughts .
Being grounded in our bodies gives us more information through our senses about what is happening internally as well as being able to receive more information from our external world.
Guiding Principles
Energy or vibration occurs in and around us at all times. Some people use the word prana, life energy or chi to describe this life force vibration. When we are able to distinguish our life force vibration, we can then connect and direct it with our intention. The more we are able to recognize our life energy, the more we can choose to use it to our benefit. Just by feeling it, gives us enormous amounts of information- what parts of ourselves do we feel or not feel, what energy vibrations outside ourselves do we feel, then we practice how to decipher all this information. As we gain more understanding about this part of us, we are able to make better choices of what we want to do. Our intention may be to increase the amount of energy we feel in our feet so we feel more solid internally, or we may wish to bring more intention to our heart center so we feel or direct our energy toward loving ourselves or others.
The first step in grounding is to learn how one feels and interprets what is going on internally. Being mindful of our inner energy starts with noticing - physical sensations are usually the easiest, tuning into what our feet are feeling: hot, cold, heavy, light, tingly, numb. Through practice one recognizes what it feels like. By learning to ground energy through our feet to the earth, many people feel like “magnetic gravity” is naturally pulling them to the earth. When we go to the next layer of intention, we learn to distinguish and direct more sensations (energy) all over our body- whereby, increasing awareness of how our bodies feel. When we do this, we have a more embodied sense of self and we gain more control.
Time
10-20 minutes, discussion and drawing optional
Materials
Paper, crayons; optional
Age designation 6+
Introduction
Starting this activity by quieting internal chatter in our minds, will enhance this experience. It is also important for the leader to be fully present and as “well-grounded” as he/she can be while leading this lesson. Read the instructions slowly to give children time to breathe, relax and follow instruction. Depending on their age, they may not know some of the words, such as awareness. Feel free to make substitutions. (ex: noticing for awareness) The leader is encouraged to experience the words as they are spoken. You may suggest to children if they would like to close their eyes and take off their shoes.
Activity
Let’s take a few deep breaths and relax our insides. (pause)
Let’s try to turn down the chatter in your head so you can experience the quiet. (pause)
Bring more attention to yourself. (pause)
As you take a few more deep breaths, bring more attention to your feet or where you’re sitting. Sometimes you can bring your breath right down to this place, to your feet or seat!
There is no right way to do this. (pause)
Feel where your feet or fanny meet the floor or chair.
Notice any sensations in this part (slowly asking) are you hot, cold, heavy, light, tingly, numb, big, prickly? You may not notice anything. That information is helpful too!
This may first start with a feeling or a thought or memory in your body.
Keep breathing, letting your breath go all the way down your body. You can do this playfully- without forcing it. (pause)
If there is any kind of sensation, does it move?
Is there anything your body is trying to tell you?
Without “trying too hard” does your energy go easily into the floor or chair?
If so, how far down in the earth can you let yourself go? (pause)
Now begin to bring yourself back to the center of you; that place that makes you feel big inside. Slowly, come back to the room, open your eyes and notice how you might be different.
Post-activity
Pause before transitioning into the next phase of this activity. At this time you may wish to either have children draw how they see their bodies after doing this activity or lead them in a discussion.
What you choose to do may be contingent on “where” the children are. If they seem to be introspective, you may wish to have them draw. If they are more active, perhaps a discussion would be a better choice.
In a discussion, the more adjectives or descriptors you can use, the more children may be able to describe their experience or what they are or are not aware of. Sometimes words help discern and anchor their experience with language.
A 2008, Mary Mance Hart, M.Ed. ww.childpsirit.org
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