by Elizabeth Eastlund
Windows Facilitator, Wellness in the Workplace Toolkit Author
San Pedro, California
I often turn to nature when I need grounding as I was taught by my Indigenous ancestors that we are all related and connected to the natural world.
With this understanding, I know disconnection happens when we stop doing the things that assist us in grounding. The demands of our daily lives prevent us from taking time to reflect on the good in our lives, to connect with the people we feel the most ourselves around, to be grateful for the present moment. From this place of disconnect, we are less able to be our authentic selves with others. I created the Rooted In Purpose art workshop to help people reconnect with their core values that keep them grounded and assist them in staying present when supporting others, using the metaphor of a tree.
Human Options in the OC Group Workshop
I have facilitated this workshop with a number of groups, from federal employees working in fair housing to domestic violence advocates, to therapists in a health clinic. All of whom do the work of supporting others through trauma – and experience vicarious trauma themselves in the process. What I find interesting is every time I complete a session with a new group, my own tree grows. Listening to service providers share about their artwork, and what was important for them to add to their trees, reminds me of something else that feeds my soul, brings me joy and helps my tree grow. From the importance of community, to a commitment to social justice and supporting others, to ensuring we are embracing fun in our lives – all of these things spoke to me and enhanced my tree, so that over time it grew into the tree that you see pictured here. The elements of my tree include: soil, roots, trunk, branches, sky/seasons, and leaves/falling away.
Soil: A lot of us had to search for our roots as colonization disconnected us from many sacred practices, beliefs, values, and traditions that provided comfort in challenging times and connection to support through community. I am grateful I’m of the generation that has the honor of practicing the ceremonies of my ancestors. For me, soil represents Mother Earth which nurtures the roots of my indigenous ancestors whose values include limitations, moderation and compensation.
Harbor Community Health Center Group Workshop
Roots: Roots help shape how we experience the world. They can connect to our families of origin, spiritual beliefs, cultural values, and the values we adopt along our journey – this is where Brene Brown’s Living Into Our Values exercise comes in handy. With care and attention, roots can strengthen over time. When I am not in touch with my roots, I feel it in my mood, in my shortened reaction times. Calling to mind the values I hold deeply and the things that guide me on a daily basis helps me stay grounded. Then instead of reacting, I have the spaciousness to respond from a grounded place.
Trunk: I see the tree’s trunk as encouraging us to reflect on who we are at our core. At my core, I am love – represented by the hearts at the center of my tree. I often color hearts green representing the heart chakra, reminding me to listen to my heart more than my ego.
Branches: Branches and leaves change, grow, break off, fall away. Branches also represent growth. It is helpful to be adaptable to the breaking branches and falling leaves that define the seasons of our lives. As my branches are swayed by the winds of change, I know there are things that will always work to reconnect me to my values and core, and engage my most joyful and authentic self – being in nature, big belly laughs, and being creative, to name a few.
Sky/Seasons: Being in touch with the seasons connects us to the natural world. I tend to get sleepy earlier in the fall, preferring to hibernate like my bear relatives in the winter. My sky represents my love of sunsets and the season of Fall – the time of the year that I created my first “Rooted” tree.
Leaves/Falling Away: Leaves represent what is temporary in our lives. They represent growth, blossoming, rebirth, change. My tree includes leaves that are “falling away” representing my efforts to let go of comparison, judgment, and doubt. In a culture of fear that tells women we are not good enough, smart enough, pretty enough, I am letting go of comparison and embracing my authentically weird, strange, awesomely beautifully unique journey towards my funky eclectic elderhood.
Rooted In Purpose offers us a visual representation of the values that we hold dear, the activities that bring us alive, and the messages and thought patterns that are no longer serving us we need to let fall away. Participating in this art activity can support your journey towards being your authentic self. As you create your tree, I invite you to think about…
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- What makes up your soil?
- Which ancestral beliefs, values, practices are you drawn to?
- What values are you rooted in that help you stay grounded?
- What symbol, color, image represents you at your core?
- As your branches get swayed by the wind and other life factors, what can you do to stay connected to your joy?
- What do you imagine when you think of a beautiful sky?
- What needs to fall away?
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I believe we are a part of, not separate from nature. Nature provides connection back to ourselves. I invite you to use this workshop to reconnect with your roots, remembering who you truly are and where you came from. In doing so, you may discover wisdom you can share with others as we all seek to ground, connect and root ourselves in our true purpose.
by Elizabeth Eastlund, Wellness in the Workplace Toolkit Author
Windows Facilitator
San Pedro, California
Download the accompanying worksheet created by the author!
Create your own Rooted in Purpose artwork!
Want to bring healing art programming to your workplace or community?
A Window Between Worlds (AWBW) supports hundreds of direct service organizations across the country to incorporate creative expression into their work with trauma survivors. With this blog we uplift the voices of our art workshop facilitators and participants. We invite you to take in this perspective, notice what resonates and explore how it may fit into your life.