As my body is changing during this shift in my life cycle, I am kindly moving myself in space in ways that no one expects, including me. This is the outward manifestation of my inner revolution. I slowly build strength from my core at a pace that suits me. No one else decides. I surround myself with support. Aerial training, including both hoop and silks, is a crucial part of this support system that I build for myself.
My husband, Danny (thank you!) took this video footage of me at my last aerial session. I grabbed a screenshot of it and began changing my inner script as I made a digital collage. I used the healing art image that surfaced during the wallpaper process from May's full moon newsletter. I feel into the radiant forms as I remember my body's strength and learn to appreciate it as my own. I practice worshipping my body and feeling gratitude.
I've read about chakras and heard them described as many-petaled lotus flowers. I love the symbol of the lotus. I chose the rose in place of a lotus because it is more reflective of my personal journey through Christianity towards Spirituality informed by many different religious and philosophical perspectives. I connect the rose imagery to the area of the second chakra on my body to symbolize the re-evaluation of what I was taught about my female anatomy throughout my childhood and young adulthood.
Sensuality is a human right. I challenge my upbringing when I apply the rose spiral to my body in this digital collage. The powers that be may demonstrate that they own rights to my body through political policy. But they do not own the story that I feed myself about my inherent human rights.
When I create this new image and this newer narrative, I focus on certain moments in time--the ones where I realize how strong I am. For the past few months and especially the last week or so, I have felt weak for a myriad of reasons--my overall health has suffered and I have not been in acceptance of my body's changes. I take responsibility for learning the wrong script from what society projects about my aging female body. I feed myself a new narrative.
I learn through training in this empowering sport that I am strong. I make art about it. This is the practice. This is the chakra healing journey. I am grateful that I have the privilege of seeing a way forward that is about self love. I forge my way as an educator with this more accurate narrative pulsing in my psyche.