All methods and practices offered here are living experiments—provisional, evolving, and ready to grow.
Feel free to tailor them to your own tempo, environment, and personal narrative, whether that means following the suggested path or turning it upside‑down to discover fresh possibilities.
© 2025 Marvin Miles Ferrante (CC BY‑NC 4.0)
Practice: Earth-Caring Motion
Exploration:
1. Set the Scene:
Lie Down & Visualize: Find a comfortable spot on the floor. Close your eyes and imagine a large circle around you—filled with animals, plants, or any natural elements that come to mind (e.g., whales, birds, forests). Alternatively, place an actual diagram or images on the ground if you have them.
Feel Your Center: Rest your hands gently on your belly, noticing your breath and the warmth at your core. Let yourself settle into a calm, receptive state.
2. Awaken & Connect:
Subtle Movements: From your navel area, allow small, intuitive movements to emerge—maybe an arm stretches out, or your torso begins to sway. Follow whatever feels natural.
Imagine the Creatures: As you move, sense the presence of the animals or nature forms in your circle. How might you “dance” with them in a way that respects their needs?
3. Responsive Dance:
Tune In to Their Needs: Envision each creature’s well-being. What does the whale require? How might you embody that care in your movements? Perhaps slow, flowing gestures for a whale or light, airy motions for a bird.
Give & Receive: Let your body respond as though you’re in a gentle conversation with these beings. Offer them a caring motion—like a soft wave or gentle sway—and imagine receiving their energy in return.
4. Return to Center:
Ground Again: After a few minutes, gradually bring your movement back to your navel area. Let yourself lie down again, hands resting on your belly. Notice any shift in your emotions or body sensations.
5. Expand the Feeling:
Local to Global: In your mind’s eye, extend this caring energy from your body out to the space around you—then to your neighborhood, your city, your country, and eventually the entire planet.
Close & Reflect: Pause for a moment, sensing the warmth or connection you’ve cultivated. Gently open your eyes when you’re ready, carrying a renewed awareness of how you might move in harmony with all life.
Illustration by Clementina Caresse, Pause and Effect, 2022. Adapted from Unpacking Design and Life-Centered Design