Holding, Healing, Sharing & Growing.
How we find balance with vulnerability, stimulation, containment, and catharsis.
Frankly, I have a little apprehension about reaching out again so soon.
This is my stuff, my fear of being “too much”, of sharing too much, of flooding your inbox with unwanted thought drivel. Regardless of my own self-imposed prohibitions, I am going to share with you because now that I have gotten the big Facebook “boot”, you are what I’ve got and if that sounds dismissive, let me assure you—it is the exact opposite.
I am infinitely grateful for your presence and support in my life—and for your subscription on this platform.
In as much as I have had the habit of “splashing myself” all over social media for the last few years, I am (now) on the other side, seeing the lack of intimacy, vulnerability, safety, and containment that is inherent to that platform (not to mention the latent and sometimes, blatant parasitism ). In the days since being ousted, I am noticing a settling in my nervous system and quieting of my mind.
Physiologically—neurologically—we are not designed for our “modern world”. The sirens, honking, constant notifications, the endless stream of information… none of it. Our nervous systems developed over billions years and the sudden changes over the last hundred or so, have brought about an increased stimulation that we simply (evolutionarily) have not had time to adapt to.
This increased stimulation began with the widespread introduction of artificial light.
Prior to introduction of electricity, our bodies circadian rhythms were far more aligned with the seasons—with nature. We would wake, sleep, and work with the rising and setting of the sun, and we would often experience two sleep-cycles, or what is known as biphsaic sleep. People would awaken in the night, possibly do some light chores if they had candles, or more likely they’d make love, drift in that liminal zone between waking and sleeping, and possibly pray.
In the book, “Waking Up to the Dark: The Black Madonna's Gospel for An Age of Extinction and Collapse”, author Clark Strand explores the topic of how artificial light is at the crux of most of our neuroses and, from a more esoteric stand point, our relationship with “The Dark” not as a “what”, but a “who”. Spoiler alert: it’s the Divine Mother.
As I have been reading this book, I have been trying to lean into The Dark more. Even prior to picking this up, I was containing myself more. I was sharing less of my personal stuff on social media. I have, as the days have gotten shorter, been spending more time in the dark, turning on only enough lights to make my honeyed, heavy cream-laden coffee in the wee hours of the pre-dawn morning, then sitting and silently slipping in my leather throne, whilst (maybe) capturing thoughts and dreams by candlelight (a practice we will be nourishing my upcoming Dream Keys Course: 8 weeks to explore dreams and the symbolic nature of reality).
This quiet contentment is settling in as creativity is blooming.
I will confess: I don’t want to go back to Facebook. I want to build something else—something clean, warm, friendly, and safe—and I am currently lying the foundation of that now. (More to come on that soon, I promise.)
My nervous system (as well as some other aspects of my psyche) are unwinding even more at the thought of not performing for people. And that, in and of itself, is a bit of dichotomy. I love entertaining (in all kinds of ways). I like making food for my people, I like being silly, I like dancing, I like dressing up, and I abso-fucking-lutley love writing!
So I will write for you! I will work on my books; there are several percolating, and I will invite you to continue to walk with me.
My most recent article for Elephant Journal explores the topic of “over-sharing” as well as overstimulation.
Read the full article, if so inspired, here.
“Sometimes I feel like humanity is a giant herd of bison being run toward a cliff. Only most of us don’t know that the cliff is imminently approaching, and at least half of us are so distracted we aren’t even aware we are running. That feeling has just become habitual—ingrained.
As someone who has lived with anxiety for most of my life, but only really discovered its impact in the last few years, I intimately get how a person could be running full-force and not actually know they are doing it. Our nervous systems, our limbic systems—our bodies—get so used to being overcharged all the time, we become numb to it.”
As the first snow quietly drifts over my little cottage, I feel myself gently thawing.
Author: Justice Bartlett
Image credit: Lina Trochez
Again, thank you so much for supporting my work and words. If you find yourself curious about the healing/creative counseling I offer, or about the upcoming Dream Keys Course, please visit www.bedheadmystic.com
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Thank you Justice for continuing to write and reach folks. I read about your booting from FB, so sad, yet I applaud you for planning to reach out without them. Although I still use FB, I am horrified when they lock out good people, especially when their businesses are on social media. I have been deleting stuff on a regular basis and it is time to escalate the purge. Hearts to you, and yes, please do keep writing.