How do I connect to my roots on a daily basis?
My maternal and paternal families are huge. I am blessed with lots of uncles and aunts who I can call at any time, and dozens of cousins. And growing up in rural North Carolina, at least for this mountain girl, meant that I grew up seeing a lot of my family on a daily or weekly basis. This gift afforded me a very tangible connection to my roots, at least my genealogical ones. My family represents my ancestral roots of origin. With modern technology and everything being accessible online, we can all research and dig deeper into our ancestral roots via our genetic DNA. There is something very prideful and connected being able to trace and know your roots. Yet, the physical and physiological roots are but just one way to deepen your connection.
In this season of my life, I am beginning to explore, for the first time, how my roots are anchored spiritually (in my soul) and somatically (in my body). I not only want to know my ancestral lineage, but I am also deeply curious to grow my ability to tap into the other roots that exist and allow me to lead each day with grace and purpose. It is a struggle but I am making process every day.
As a person who is constantly thinking about growth and progress, I often looked externally to locate my compass for how far I am to reach my goal(s) or which direction I am taking. Yet that has never been completely fulfilling for me. This lack of fulfillment led me to seek and locate an internal compass from within. How can I tell if I am growing spiritually? How do I feel when I am making progress? And where is the root from which I am starting?
As I continue to explore my root chakra, I am working intently to build and create practices that help me connect and be in alignment with my roots. A few things I have begun to do more consistently is to practice deep breathing, meditate (I am still a work in progress here! It takes some time to quiet my busy mind.), silence (literally to just sit in silence and observe the sounds, feelings, and movement of my body), reiki (facilitated by my sister, cousin, and friend Roz) which is working to help me relax and reduce stress and anxiety, and prayer and daily connection to my higher power.
- How do you define your roots?
- Do you have daily practices that intentional help you connect to your roots?