The 30th of July, marks the day I shaved my head and my healing journey. It has been 2 years of intentional healing and working with my self. You can read more about my Journey with autoimmune desease here.
That day I was scare but relief, I was letting go control. I kept the piece of hair they cut. I arrived home, I looked at the mirror, and I learned to love myself a little stronger. I will share some images of the process. This images are raw, and a little triggering (trichophobia warning). But still I want to share them. Because I’m so proud of all the hard work I have been doing. My body attacks me, and I learned to listen to it, care for it, nourish it. As with my hair, I let go of anything else that no longer serves me, including fears.
I’m here, I’m alive, I will continue this healing Journey. I believe in the power we have inside of us to self heal, to find help (medical and physiological), to manifest…We are powerful beings. I still have flare ups, and alopecia, I still have days that I can’t stand up from the bed, but also, there are many days where I create art, I go in nature to my Forest Therapy, I do my intentional rituals, I take my Plant Medicine, I dance, I laugh, I dream, I live!!!
This piece of art is called “Remendada”, is the Spanish word for “patched up”. I felt broken, many many times, mind and body…and finally, in my 40’s, Im patching up myself, one thread at a time. The piece was made by transferring a self portrait in a eco printed fabric I did 2 years ago, a long braid of hair they cut that day, is also present…. This is an tribute to my Journey of 2 years, healing my body, my mind and my soul.
I am enough!
I’m thankful to my husband, my daughter, my son. I’m thankful to my family, blood related and not blood related, like my beautiful friends. I’m thankful for my mentors and teachers and strangers that I have met in this path. All of them are very important in this healing Journey.
If you are in a similar Journey, it doesn’t necessary needs to be illness related, but in the Journey of patching yourself up, I want to say: You are Not Alone. Please contact me, I can be your Journey Allied.
Resources:
For more information on autoimmune:
The Healing power of art:
https://www.moma.org/magazine/articles/629
Photography as a Healing tool:
Self-Portraits as Therapy: The Healing Potential of Photographing Yourself | PetaPixel
https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-portrait-as-form-of-therapy-121313
Ecotherapy:
https://www.webmd.com/balance/features/nature-therapy-ecotherapy
Forest Therapy:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/can-forest-therapy-enhance-health-and-well-being-2020052919948
Ritual as Healing tool:
https://clearmindtreatment.com/using-ritual-to-heal-in-your-recovery/
