Befriending a Tree: A Practice in Consent
What do trees have to do with somatics, you may be asking yourself? Well, I’m so glad you asked! Much of this info comes from a zine by the lovely Anastasia Coppola, LCSW and it gives readers a step by step guide for befriending out other-than-human world—including feeling for consent, reciprocity, and co-regulating. sounds pretty somatic-y to me!
Anastasia writes:
“Land-based cultures and spiritual practices affirm that we can co-regulate not only with other humans, but the more-than-human world (like trees!), too. Witnessing and caring for the more-than-human world supports our emotional body, spiritual body, nervous system and can remind us of our interdependence. Plus trees are just cool!”
She writes about asking for consent too:
“As you look for a tree to connect with, notice where you feel guided. Be aware that consent is present with all relationships—human and non-human. as you approach a tree, sense for a “yes.” This might feel like an openness, or a pull. It’s worth trying a few trees to feel into subtle differences. After receiving consent, give an offering like an intention of gratitude, your breath, some water, cornmeal, or anything that won’t disturb the environment. Take a moment for your offering to be received. Don’t rush!”
Curious about the ways your own body communicates yes / no / maybe?
Part of somatic support is making space to listen in to the different ways our bodies communicate. As humans we are VERY focused on language (literal “yes” and “no”) but bodies communicate this information in different, sometime subtle (sometimes not so subtle, if you know how to listen!) ways. Heart rate changes, muscles tensing, eyes focusing… we don’t always notices these sensations (we’re often moving too fast to track them, to be honest!) but it’s the language the body uses—and it’s talking to us all the time!
As a somatic practitioner, it’s part of my job to create a container in which you can start to hear that body communication a little more clearly. And it’s something that people who work with me tend to really appreciate!
“I have been working with Ashley since May 2024 and she is absolutely fantastic. It’s hard to describe somatic work because each session is a little bit different. That’s because the sessions are based on tuning in and listening to how I’m feeling in my body, something I realized I rarely, if ever, did in the past. I feel like I’m developing a relationship of consent with myself & my body that I never had before. With the guidance of Ashley, I’m able to explore how my body communicates “yes" and “no", which can be emotional but also extremely powerful. She has given me tools I can apply to real world scenarios when I feel anxious or overwhelmed. I highly recommend her services.” —Past client
Ready to start learning the language of your body & nervous system? Let’s connect! Step #1 is to set up a quick Zoom call together—I can answer any questions and we’ll see if we’re a good fit for working together. From there we can do a little scheduling magic and make a plan that works for you.