I have people come for Reiki or to Reiki Shares because it is the only time they are touched. That makes me so sad because physical touch is a huge, vital and nourishing part of my life . Physical connection and touch are essential to our well being and our culture has shamed sacred touch out of existence. We feel the need to ask people “Are you a hugger?” and some people cannot even accept a hug and awkwardly move through the motions waiting for it to be over. Touch is so foreign in our culture that it is often mistaken for romantic or sexual affection, not just basic human connection. One touch can convey volumes of energy and healing. We all long for it but may find difficulty in allowing it and surrendering to it.
“Touch-She Touches-She is Here to Touch
-For Touch-As Touch.
And we have forgotten this
So, when we are finally, truly, Touched
Something inside finally, truly, Remembers
that we were made for this kind of LOVING
(giving and receiving)
and this embodied recognition
Opens the gates to everything
EVERY-THING”
~ Sera Beak from Red, Hot and Holy
In our technology saturated world, we are not connecting physically and are tuning out of human connection. We make judgments on people by just glancing at a photo online. Your human body is designed to use all your senses when making human connection, you see them, smell them, feel them energetically, which allows you to make an overall observation and conclusion if they are safe or compatible with you. The way technology is advancing you could design a life that requires no human contact at all. Lack of physical touch can lead to depression, withdrawal, anxiety and even acting out in anger or violence. Look at the spike in violence and the amount of people on anti depressants and anti anxiety meds, it’s outrageous. One simple touch can trigger the release of Ocytocin, the love hormone, and activates the part of the brain associated with reward and compassion. Physical touch can increase empathy. For physical healing from an energetic perspective; “Hugs strengthen the immune system...The gentle pressure on the sternum and the emotional charge this creates activates the Solar Plexus Chakra. This stimulates the thymus gland, which regulates and balances the body’s production of white blood cells, which keeps you healthy and disease free.” (Psychology Today)
I came across this video recently (Check it out https://www.facebook.com/tinytinysecrets/videos/838819372923476/?pnref=story" target="_blank">HERE) about the importance in men having the space to give and receive touch that is not sexual. Like it says, our culture has associated masculine touch with sexual attention. Our society has made everything so overly sexualized that men just avoid touch altogether and the result of that is heartbreaking in the amount of violence, depression and tuning out we are witnessing among many men. We need to do what we can to help shift this energy back into balance for the healthy survival of our humanity. We need to stop generalizing and perpetuating the belief that men are broken and unavailable and give them the space to show up by being more open and encouraging healthy, platonic, human connection. There are so many amazing men out there who just want to be validated and loved just like we do as women, but our society has shamed men into seeing this need as a weakness that they have to stuff and "man up". So, ladies, let us be gentle with our men, introduce them to their Divine Masculine essence, and show them how this open hearted loving, hugging thing is done, shall we?
There are countless physical and emotional benefits to healing touch. The fact is we need human touch to thrive. So, put down your phone and connect with your fellow humans on this short but beautiful journey of life.
We are all in this together.....
Give yourself the gift of sacred embrace.