Ep. 12—The Earth Beneath Us
In this episode, Amber and Kurt explore what it means to return to the foundations of being human, and how facilitation asks us to become an instrument of healing through presence, practice, humility and relationship.
breath, attention and the capacity to be truly present. Rather than rushing towards what is next, they explore what becomes possible when we slow down, listen deeply and allow ourselves to return to a place of “I don’t know”.
At the heart of the conversation is the Earth archetype and what it teaches us about foundation, patience, repetition, structure and care. Like soil, our inner world needs tending. Meaningful development requires the patience to cultivate fertility before planting new seeds. Nature does not rush, and neither can genuine human development.
They explore what it means to become an instrument of healing rather than positioning ourselves as the healer. Through practice, responsibility and the willingness to keep returning to the foundations, the practitioner gradually gets out of the way. Facilitation becomes less about having the right answers and more about listening, staying curious and allowing people to find their own answers in their own time.
The conversation also moves into relational safety, the body and the ways we can become disconnected from ourselves. They explore hyper-independence, intellectualisation, boundaries and the importance of being moved and impacted by relationship without losing ourselves. True safety allows us to remain with ourselves while also being genuinely available to another.
They speak about descent, grief, decomposition and the fertile ground that can come from allowing things to break down. Just as the earth requires rot and decay to create nourishment for what comes next, there are times in our own lives when we need to allow ourselves to descend rather than continually pushing towards growth. Alongside this, they remind us not to forget beauty, pleasure and the vitality of being alive.
Ultimately, the invitation is to come back to inhabiting yourself: to move, to feel your feet on the ground, to care for the body, to sleep, to hydrate, and to become more vulnerable, real and authentic. As Amber says, “I’m not here to educate at all. I’m just here to remind.”
SMOKEHOUSE is an opportunity to be steeped in song, prayer and sound, enriched with healing melodies.
Through ceremonial ritual, live medicine songs and sound, we’ll move through a journey designed to bring us into the centre of our centre and settle into a deeply receptive state.
You can explore SMOKEHOUSE here.
The River Beneath All Rivers is a deeply meditative retreat, with movement, vigils, time immersed in the elements, in nature, and meditative practice that’s extremely dynamic in its nature, very immersive.
You can explore The River Beneath All Rivers here.
