To me, a journey inward feels like gently picking up a loose thread and following it — without a map, without a fixed destination — simply trusting the wisdom of the body.
In somatic work, the body becomes our guide.
Instead of analyzing or trying to “figure things out,” we begin by noticing sensations: tension or tightness, warmth, relaxation, buzzing, numbness, expansion, heaviness, even subtle shifts in breath. The body speaks in sensation. And when we learn how to listen, those sensations begin to tell a story.
Through body awareness, we may uncover held emotions, unconscious patterns, or long-forgotten experiences stored in the nervous system. The process isn’t about forcing insight. It’s about allowing what is already present to gently reveal itself.
This is the essence of somatic healing.
When we follow the thread inward, we rarely know exactly what we’ll discover. There can be moments of surprise, clarity, release, or unexpected insight. The journey can feel tender, illuminating, even exhilarating at times. But it unfolds in its own rhythm.
What I have found — both personally and in my work as a somatic therapist — is that the body does not bring forward more than we have the capacity to integrate. The body not only leads us toward subconscious material; it also carries the resources needed for healing and nervous system regulation.
For example, the same body that holds tension also knows how to soften. The same nervous system that mobilizes in stress also has an innate capacity to settle, breathe more deeply, and return to balance. When we learn to notice sensations of support — like the feeling of the ground beneath our feet, the rhythm of our breath, or moments of warmth or ease — we begin to access the body’s built-in regulation system. These small, steady signals are not accidental; they are the body’s way of guiding us back toward safety and integration.
I once heard a rephrasing of Freud’s famous idea about dreams being the “royal road to the unconscious.” It was said this way: The body is the royal road to the subconscious.
That resonates deeply with me.
Through practices that strengthen the mind–body connection — such as body scan meditation, grounding exercises, and compassionate awareness — we begin to build trust in this inner guidance system. Over time, we shift from overriding the body to listening to it.
If you’re curious to begin this journey inward, you can start with a simple body scan guided meditation and reflective journal prompts available below.
Take a breath.
Follow the thread.
See what unfolds.
Free Body Reflection Journal + Body Scan Meditation
