Hygieia ⚕️
The moon moving through the sign of Virgo highlights organic practices for good sound health. Nourishment, Hygiene, Energetic Pacing.
The Hippocratic Oath (Oath taken by Physician’s) begins as follows:
”I swear by Apollo Healer, by Asclepius, by Hygieia, by Panacea, and by all the gods and goddesses, making them my witnesses, that I will carry out, according to my ability and judgment, this oath and this indenture.“
Hygieia, daughter of Asclepius, rules hygiene. Yes, bathing, cleaning, and purifying, but also discriminating, that is detailed consideration regarding which things to allow into your personal sphere of space and time for consumption. My mother would have called this “persnickety.” She clearly wasn’t a daughter of Asclepius!
Further, nourishment doesn’t only apply to food stuff. There are nourishing people, environments, areas of study, etc. What nourishes you?
In the realm of Sensory Integration Theory, a Sensory Diet nourishes unmet sensory needs. The diet is specially selected to meet dietary deficiencies of the senses. Sensory Hygiene is considered more general and environmental, such as quiet spaces or movement equipment availability to allow for overall facilitation of various transitory mind-body state needs.
Sensory Integration (SI) is a somewhat familiar concept for assisting children adapt to the demands of school and social environments.
What about the rest of us?
Somatic Experiencing (SE) brings a very similar message to a broader population with unmet mind-body regulatory needs. Experiencing your body. . . How strange that we actually need assistance with that. But frequently we do!
In SE vernacular, we are invited to Orient to Pleasure.
Orienting responses are built into our survival systems to ascertain relative safety in an environment. So-called Threat Bias creates a tendency to err on the side of perceived danger. Evolutionarily speaking, better to overreact than underreact. This bias is particularly acute in those impacted by multiple adverse events/traumas in their lives. Predetermined expectancy of threat impairs an accurate assessment of the current environment.
Orienting to Pleasure seems to point in the direction of gratitude. By tuning into comforting things, we can overcome an exaggerated threat bias. It can help curate a Sensory Diet. Which valued senses could use an extra infusion? Which abandoned senses (due to fear, disappointment, or resentment) can be consciously reinstated?
Clues can be found in unconscious behaviors. Overeating? What do you find nourishing interpersonally, environmentally, internally, energetically? Feeling a bit salty? Where can you liberate a stifled natural drive? Disconnected? When can things be simplified to manage overwhelm and stay present in your home/body?
Figuring out which movements, textures, sounds, touch, foods, positions, lighting, social contacts, environments, books, etc. feed you are all part of personal hygiene and necessary for optimal health. I think the Danes get it right with their concept of Hygge (Hygiene 🤔?). Consider trying some Danish wisdom for keeping cozy this Winter.
Happy Solstice!