The Art Of Holding Space

As I reflect on my 20 years of doing this work, so many things come to mind.

I have learned from each and every client, patient, and colleague.

I am grateful for every person that has allowed me to work with them.

It is truly a blessing to do this.

What deeply stays with me is this...

You can't lead people down a path, you haven't traveled down yourself.

I watch this world of teachers and facilitators continue to expand and I believe integrity will lead the way, because truth always prevails, even if it seems like it doesn't.

IT DOES.

The world needs all of this healing work.

As a teacher, and practitioner, every day, I have to ask myself,

Am I avoiding something, anything?

What are my fears? Are there any? Name them. Look at them straight in the eye.

Am I stable enough to do this today? What do I need to take care of me?

How can I ask my clients to explore places within themselves, if I haven't explored those places within myself?

It's easy to learn concepts and techniques.

We can master the materials, the terminology, the scripts.

It can all be learned. All the bells and whistles...

All of it can be learned - Remixed - And put out there.

But none of that matters if teachers are terrified of their own depth, or avoid facing their own demons, or worse, think they don't have to.

Doing THE WORK doesn't mean memorizing the material.

Recognizing your shortcomings is only the beginning.

What you do with them is the bigger question.

Recognizing how our human shortcoming trickle into our work is a BIG piece of the pie.

Does it matter where you DOT your I's and CROSS your T's, if you can't face your own shadow?

How can a teacher guide someone through the process of grief, if they haven't allowed themselves to collapse in grief?

How can a teacher guide someone through the process of fear, if they haven't allowed themselves to collapse in fear?

How can a teacher guide someone through the process of life change, if they haven't faced the collapse and death of a life chapter, in order for a new chapter to begin?

How can a teacher navigate someone through the process of anger or rage, if they haven't navigated their own anger or regulated their nervous system to stay stable?

How can a teacher guide someone into surrender if they are resisting surrender within themselves?

How can a teacher create safe space if they don't feel safe within themselves?

THE DEPTH OF A TEACHER SETS THE PARAMETERS FOR THE DEPTH OF THEIR STUDENTS.

If the teacher avoids their blind spots, so will the students

If the teacher collapses within their own discomfort.

They will also collapse in their students discomfort.

A teacher can teach all the concepts beautifully, impart skills, recite lyrics to things and on and on. BUT...if they aren't able to face themselves, are they a teacher?

This is a good question. What makes a teacher?

Well, one role of a teacher is to transmit information.

School teachers are great at this.

There are various degrees of teachers.

If the teacher is not clear on what they are able to teach and how they are able to teach it, the students will not be clear on what they are supposed to receive and how they are supposed to receive it.

What Does Holding Space Mean?

The role of Holding Space has a different feeling.

It is not the same as a school teacher role.

Great teachers don't always equal great Space Holders.

Holding Space is something that is difficult to teach, and difficult to explain.

Holding Space is NOT an opportunity for a teacher to CONTROL an audience.

It is not a platform for the teacher to exploit students.

It is not a play of power. It is a play of humility.

It is an honor and a sacred experience.

Holding Space will test every single boundary possible.

It will break you if you aren't stable enough.

It will bring you to your knees if you aren't humble enough.

It will ask of you what you have never been asked before.

It will test every ounce of your being.

It will teach you what you are ready to learn.

It will teach you to that your capacity has the ability to expand even further.

It will teach you to how to love yourself and everyone within the same container., even when things seem messy.

Holding Space isn't "PART OF THE JOB."

It is part of the DIVINE JOURNEY.

It is something that one must be CALLED to.

Why do I say this?

Because you can't FAKE it.

It's too delicate.

It's too raw.

It's too easy to see through the smoke and mirrors.

Holding Space is serious business.

On the outside it may look glamorous or easy.

There's nothing glamorous or easy about it.

It is about deepening the relationship with oneself, for the sake of allowing others to safely explore themselves.

It is truly SEVA.

Seva means selfless service in sanskrit.

Holding Space for our community!

With Great Respect and Love

~ Leelah Lakshmi ~

Holding Space is NOT A JOB, it's a BLESSING