Trauma of the Spirit

I woke up early this morning, half awake, half dreaming about trauma. You know, as one does.

The words that I heard as I came into consciousness were “Trauma of the Spirit.” I had to write about it.

There are many different types of Traumas and traumas. There is the trauma of a one time traumatic event, ongoing trauma, physical, emotional, mental, societal, generational…maybe in future posts I will write more about those.

But this morning, I am talking about Trauma of the Spirit.

I don’t know if I heard this term elsewhere or whether the Universe wispered it to me in my sleep.

When I say “Trauma of the Spirit”, I am talking about the trauma that the human spirit experiences when it is not seen, heard, or allowed to express itself.

It is the trauma of an artistic child being told to stop that nonsense and study math instead.

It is the trauma of a child meant to climb trees told to sit still at a desk.

It is the trauma of child, turned teenager, turned adult, who is living a life based in someone else’s “shoulds”, someone else’s decisions, someone else’s definition of what makes them worthy and good.

It is the trauma that accumulates over time when those around you don’t see you, don’t ask you who you are or how you feel; when you, the very core of you, is minimized and dismissed.

It is the trauma of your value and worth - your belonging, your access to love - being defined not by who you really are but by who you are expected to be.

It is also the trauma of being systematically disconnected from that which feeds our soul: creativity, self-expression, play, imagination, movement, roots, time in nature, generational wisdom, community, unique and collective purpose.

Its trauma that hard to see or measure because

1. It is so normalized, especially for the generations that raised us

2. It is embedded in our education system and mainstrem culture

3. It accumulates over time.

Many of our parents and grandparents learned to ignore their spirits and focus on the practical to survive.

So, they raised us the same way. Behave, conform, perform.

And yet, the world is changing. What was necessary then is not what is needed now.

Even as a war is being waged on truth, justice, and liberty, humans across identities are fighter harder and reclaiming the right to live who they are out loud.

More educators and parents are advocating for education that affirms children in their cultural, racial, and individual idenitites, that promote nature connection, creativity, and joy.

The climate crisis is calling us to restore our relationship with the natural world.

People are searching for purpose, asking how to live a life of meaning.

Our souls know that it is time to co-create a world that moves not just from mind but from body wisdom, heart knowing, and soul.

The good news is, our spirits cannot be destroyed. Underneath everything else, the core of who we are and why we are here remains untouched. It is always there, whether we feel it or not, guiding us back to ourselves.

If you relate to this, and feel the urge to nurture your spirit, I urge you to give yourself permission. Find a moment to play, to skip, to touch the spring buds of a nearby tree, to do something that made you happy as a child, to dance for no reason at all.🙂

So much love, from my spirit to yours,

Irena