Babaylan-Inspired Practice, Orientation, Tending

Babaylan-Inspired Practice

Babaylan-inspired practice, for me, is a way of listening and tending space for what has been interrupted. Tending can be and often is relational, ancestral, embodied, energetic, creative, and alive. The work here is not to heal, but to listen and restore relation.

Orientation

During our orientation ritual, we may choose to orient to the space, to each other, to naming our present experience, feelings, sensations, energies, ancestors (the purpose is not to invoke, but to name what’s present), and whatever else needs orienting. This is a time to attend to energies which may impact the returning to practice. Sometimes these are logistical things or questions and other times they are gratitude, concerns, or energy that just needs a some space to help us orient.

Tending

If we have a relationship and consent that supports us to do so, I’ll be listening to your body in addition to mine: tracking things like tone, posture, holding, contraction, pulling, and breath.

As you tend (I’ll help guide you if you’d like) to the movement of sensations, feelings, memories, and relationship both within your own experience and with me. I’ll reflect patterns I see happening in you (i.e., you’re holding your breath) and if I am asked or feel called, I will share what’s unfolding for me. This is a space where it’s ok not to know.

Don’t worry if you are from cognitive behavioral therapy and/or live in your head often. We can tend to that.