Like many of you, I am deeply disturbed by what is happening on our planet. The destruction of Nature, the exploitation of people and animals, and the rampant use of violence all weigh heavily on my heart. It pains me to see forests being slashed and children going hungry, especially when it is so obvious that it doesn’t have to be this way.

In his most recent book, Charles Eisenstein writes about how we are living in a time in our society when we are in between two stories. The old story, the Story of Separation, promotes individualism, unlimited economic growth, and consumerism. The new story, the Story of Interbeing, tells us that we are all connected-— people, animals, air, water, and land. As we transition from the old story to the new, all of our systems, structures, and ways of being in the world need to evolve and transform.

No matter how open-minded we may be, we cannot escape the conditioning we have received by the Story of Separation. Personally, I regularly experience moments of judgment, comparison, and self-doubt, states that make me feel separate from others. How do we heal from this old story and make space for the new?

Embodiment is a state of consciousness that is largely absent in Western society. It involves having an awareness of one’s present-moment sensations, feelings, and energy, as well as being able to connect with the subjective experience of another. Music, dance, yoga, martial arts, ceremony, consciously relating to others, and being in Nature all support a state of embodiment. Ultimately, embodiment is a lived experience of our complete connectedness– our interbeing.

My hope is that the more we re-learn how to be in our bodies, the more we will be able to feel– and thus heal—- from the Story of Separation. Guided by the wisdom of our bodies, bodies that instinctively know we are all one, we will collectively make more compassionate choices, and create a world that is safe, loving, and abundant for all.