The gut brain contains the source of our emotional intelligence while our logical intelligence resides in the head brain. The head brain is incredibly important and powerful and is where our source of choice, divinity and connection to the infinite universe. But what makes our second brain so fascinating is that it contains an infinite well of unconditional love. The unconditional love we received from our mothers through our umbilical cord, directly into our gut, becomes self-love and acceptance of who we are at the core.
As we mentioned last week, the gut plays a massive role in the state of our physical and mental health by housing at least 70% of our immune system, producing 90% of our serotonin and 50% of our dopamine. When stimulated, these “happy hormones” are dispersed instantly to the brain and rest of the body, elevating our overall sense of peace and happiness.
However, there is a flip side to this sensitive powerhouse. Deep seeded emotions are called that for a reason because they are literally buried deep within, mainly our gut where there is little to no physical motion. They make a semi-permanent home, and when left unacknowledged, become blockages which hinder the flow of ki, the energy, life force, and function in our gut.
In general, the belly button is considered to be a very vulnerable place. Even during a massage it is avoided, while the rest of the abdomen can be worked on thoroughly. However, what many don’t know is that it is through the belly button that the fortress of energetic blockage, tension, emotional burden, anxiety and fear can be unlocked and released.
This testimonial video of Christian Taylor (Screenwriter of Lost, Teen Wolf and Six Feet Under) perfectly describes what most westerners feel and experience in relation to gut health.
Although a seemingly unlikely place to hold tension in comparison to the widely accepted places (shoulders, feet, neck, lower back etc) the gut can hold a surprising amount of tension for decades, if not a lifetime.
To strengthen your connection with your belly button, your initial source of life, press the tips of your index, middle and ring fingers softly on your belly button and repeat the following affirmations. They will send positive messages to both brains and every cell in your body. Think of them as unconditional love letters from the soul to the human body.
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I feel my own power
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I am boundlessly creative
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I express my truth
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My emotions are mine, not me
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My personal growth is important and I seek opportunities to evolve
Along with the verbal and energetic, it’s important to get physical. This belly button healing exercise will help you find peace and ease in healing your belly button and gut.
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Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, and relax your lower back, tilting your tailbone slightly forward. Bend your knees slightly.
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Place your palms gently on your lower abdomen with the tips of your thumbs meeting over your navel and the sides of the tips of your pointer fingers meeting below that, forming a flat triangle with your hands.
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As you exhale, pull the area of your abdomen below your navel in toward your back as far as you can without straining yourself.
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Then, relax and inhale, allowing your belly to expand as you push your abdomen outward as much as you can without straining yourself. The speed and amount of physical movement of your abdomen will vary from person to person and should depend on how comfortable it feels for you and your breath.
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Repeat this pulling and pushing motion for at least 5 minutes. When you pull your belly inward, it's even better if you also contract your anal sphincter.
Practice this simple exercise in the morning, evening or both. You can increase the time and frequency when you become more comfortable with the exercise. You may also experiment and feel the benefits of different speeds. You might feel the invigorating effects of pulling and pushing your abdomen a couple times per second, or feel the deeply energizing and healing effects of taking several seconds for each repetition.
Be aware of any tension you’re holding while you do this and work on releasing it mindfully. This exercise and stimulation of the belly button may unearth many buried emotions. Both the earth and sky convert the stagnant energies we release into new energy, so shoot any blockages you want to release upward or downward, and step lighter.
Be considerate to yourself and face everything that arises with unconditional love as you work on healing your mind, body and soul. Warning: you may fall in love with your belly button.
Get your Belly Button Healing Kit here. (Includes Belly Button Healing book, tool and course)