Embodied Listening

Our bodies know how to listen deeply - it's an ancient wisdom we carry in our bones.

Embodied listening reawakens this natural ability, inviting us to receive others' stories not just through our ears, but through our entire being. At many of my circles and workshops, this practice creates a sacred container for witnessing each other's emerging truths.

During a recent experience I facilitated, participants practiced embodied listening in a woodland setting,

What is Embodied Listening?

Think of your body as a living, breathing resonance chamber - naturally attuned to receive not just words, but the deeper truths that pulse beneath them. Embodied listening is the art of becoming fully present – body, heart, and soul – as we witness another's sharing. When we listen with our whole being:

• Our shoulders might tense in response to someone's struggle

• Our heart might flutter with their joy

• Our throat might tighten as they approach difficult truths

• Our belly might warm with recognition of shared experiences

These physical responses are not distractions – they are valuable messages, deepening our understanding and connection.

For the speaker: Being truly seen

When someone listens to us with their whole being, something profound happens. Like a crocus unfurling its petals in the warmth of morning light:

• We feel safe to reveal our deeper truths
  

• Our own body relaxes into being witnessed
  

• We access memories and insights that surface only in the presence of deep attention
  

• We experience the rare gift of being truly seen and heard

For the listener: Opening to receive

Like wisteria releasing its cascading blooms, embodied listening invites us to let go:

• Release the need to fix, solve, or respond
  

• Allow our being to soften and receive
  

• Notice physical sensations that arise (warmth, coolness, tension, release)
  

• Trust that our body's responses offer wisdom about what we're hearing
  

• Hold space without judgment or analysis

How to practice embodied listening together

In our circles, we practice this sacred exchange of witnessing and being witnessed. After each person shares, one listener will be invited to reflect back:

• What sensations arose in their body while listening

• Images or feelings that emerged

• Physical responses they noticed

• The essence of what they received

This isn't about analysis or interpretation – it's about sharing how the story landed in your body, creating shared understanding and witnessed truths.

Guidance for the practice

• For Listeners

  • Take a deep breath before reflecting

  • Speak from your direct experience

  • Use "I" statements ("I felt," "I noticed")

  • Focus on bodily sensations rather than thoughts

  • Keep your reflection brief and centered

  • Trust what arises in your body

• Creating the Space

  • Find a comfortable position where you can be both alert and relaxed

  • Allow your breath to settle into its natural rhythm

  • Soften your gaze or close your eyes if it helps you focus inward

  • Release tension from your shoulders, jaw, and belly

• Common Experiences

  • You might feel sensations like warmth, tingling, or heaviness

  • Your breath might change as you listen

  • You might notice subtle movements in your body

  • Emotions might arise - this is natural

  • Your mind might wander - gently return to your body

• What to Avoid

  • Trying to fix or solve

  • Planning what to say next

  • Making interpretations

  • Comparing to your own experiences

  • Judging what arises

• Remember

  • Every body responds differently

  • There's no 'right way' to experience the sharing

  • It's okay to feel uncertain or uncomfortable

  • The practice deepens with timeItem description

Taking it Home

The beauty of embodied listening is that it can positively impact all our relationships:

• We become more attuned to unspoken needs

• Our presence becomes a gift we can offer others

• We develop deeper trust in our body's wisdom

• Our conversations become richer and more meaningful

• We create spaces where truth can safely emerge

“Like the Selkie returning to her skin, embodied listening helps us return to our natural state of deep presence and connection. It reminds us that our bodies carry ancient wisdom about how to truly hear and hold each other’s stories.

May we remember that our bodies already know how to listen deeply - we need only create the space and trust what emerges.”