EMBODYING TRUST

Many people across the world have physical and emotional violence, from systemic racism to poverty. To survive these conditions their nervous systems turned on a biochemical mechanism to protect themselves and survive. These wounds are stored in their bodies and can be transferred through generations, be it through behaviour patterns, identities and beliefs. This may result in people living with health conditions like PTSD, or develop high blood pressure at a young age.

Health practitioners who take a holistic approach to healing wounds from violence, focus on assisting people to create connection with one’s body to help turn down the nervous system’s response, release the wounds they are holding and begin the process of healing. They use tools like touch, sound, and time in nature to assist with healing.

In this series, “Embodying Trust”, I take a storyboarding approach to tell a story. I visualize the emotional journey one might experience as they engage with healing tools to release the pain they are holding onto, and learn how to develop self-trust and listen to the wisdom of their body. These paintings were created on unstretched canvas to symbolize the trauma one’s body may hold on to, and how using a body-based approach to healing creates natural stretch and space to facilitate healing.