The Politics of Trauma

Sometimes people who are more focused on their internal lives will stay internal and not attend to their lives in the world. Sometimes those very focused on social equity or their work will focus exclusively there, not attending to and including themselves personally. We have capacity and need for all of these. We are individuals with particular paths. And, we are people in families, communities, and part of the broader social and economic landscape. A full human life crosses all of these. Healing trauma crosses all of these, too. (7: Arc Circle One-Vision and Longing)

These twenty-five years into somatics, trauma healing, and social justice work, I have seen over and over again that there is a draw and pull toward life deep within our somas. As we un-numb, allow more aliveness, relearn to feel ourselves and others, this draw increases. By becoming more embodied, we are invited toward more life, even when the road to healing and getting there may be difficult and take courage. I see so often a deep and powerful move toward transformation and harmony within us. We can purposefully heed it, and use our courage to follow it. We can nourish it through our attention (individually and collectively), our practices, and our gratitude. (4: The Impact of Trauma and Oppression)

What do you want? What do you value? What do you long for? What is yearning to heal? What do you want to be possible for your community or for the world? These are the questions we begin with, when looking to heal trauma or engage in personal or group transformation. (7: Arc Circle One-Vision and Longing)

Individual and social experiences of trauma are discussed as separate experiences, but they are not, in essence, separate. Traumatic experiences are always happening within a social context and shaped by social conditions. They are nearly always perpetuating the "rules of engagement" of our social conditions. (4: The Impact of Trauma and Oppression)

Somatics is a holistic way to transform. It engages our thinking, feeling, sensing, and actions. Transformation, from a somatic view, means that the way we are, relate, and act become aligned with our visions and values - even under pressure. More than understanding and insight, it supports us in embodying new ways of being, aligned with a broader vision. (1: Somatics-A Radically Different View of Who We Are)

To be a part of change, whether personal healing or widespread social change, we need to be awake to how we embody and participate in social conditions that harm, consciously and unconsciously. We have been and are shaped by power-over social and economic conditions, rather than ones based on power-with, or the interdependence of life. To move toward more healing, systemic equity, and sustainability on the planet, we need to transform these conditions into ones that are life-affirming, just, and sustainable. We need to change ourselves to change society, and we need to change the structures of society to change ourselves, at scale. (2: Sites of Shaping Sites of Change)

Healing is for ourselves and for others. Sometimes we start healing through collective action. Sometimes healing leads us to collective action. This interdependence of healing and social action, of loving internally and externally, is affirming of life. Yours and ours. (12: Arc Circle Five-Embodying Change)