Conscious reincarnation
I've just surfaced from a four-day migraine
so today I'm treating you to some words by my magical friend,
María Cristina Jiménez.
I have learned so much from MC,
who is gifted in, like, every facet of humaning.
She's a healer - an OT, and a Rolfer -
and a poet, too.
Visiting her delicious, Venusian home in Hollywood
completely changed how I treat my own surroundings.
She's a magical person, which I think you'll sense
in her words below. Enjoy!
MC and her sweet familiar, GIGI!
Recently, I saw a new client for Rolfing. During our session, I found out she’s Puerto Rican, so we struck a bond, switching to Spanglish speaking in a faster cadence, peppered with jargons.
She mentioned she's from the city where my school was. I told her I went to school there, and she said, “So did I.” “She’s two years behind me. We probably saw each other at events and across hallways.
We find out we have mutual friends. I ask if she remembers the car crash of ‘88 where 4 girls from our HS were injured, “Of course I remember!” She adds she’s friends with someone from the crash. I’m about to tell her I was in that accident, when she goes, “How sad one of the girls died.”
I told her that was me. I almost died. No pulse. A priest was brought in for the last rites. But I’m here. She looks at me.
So, there I was, helping someone feel better in their body– my life’s mission– which emerged after the life-changing accident we were talking about, out of which she thought I’d died.
After she left, I contemplated how many times we “die” in this life, reincarnating throughout our lives.
Seismic, grand life events change us as they happen to us, traumatic interruptions, accidents, sicknesses, death of our loved ones, births, marriages, divorces, moves, new professions.
These grand forces–if they don't destroy us– invite us to listen to different inner voices, stand in new ways, behold deep reserves of strength within.
The word reincarnation literally means “to become flesh again.” How often have you’ve reincarnated in this life? How many times has your body changed in your life?
The nature of our bodies is to change, sometimes dramatically, as we live and keep living, evolving, going.
Don’t fear flesh doing what it’s supposed to do, what it’s made to do. Don’t be afraid when you realize life is not linear and it doesn’t look like your vision board.
One of my fondest tactile memories from childhood was going to my grandmother’s backyard and looking for exoskeletons of beetles left behind. I would crush their crusty remains between my fingers, knowing they were fine, moving around the yard, exploring the world with new skin.
*
Here in the aftermath of my migraine,
so grateful for a head without icepicks,
I'm primed to listen to María Cristina's wisdom.
I am making space today
to listen to different inner voices and
behold deep reserves of strength within.
Treat your flesh with tenderness & love, my friend.
And for more of MC's beautiful work, sign up for her newsletter.
xo,
Natalie