As we gaze upon the last Supermoon of 2024, illuminating the night sky, we feel its stunning brightness so close we can almost touch it. Research has shown that lunar cycles can influence our subconscious in subtle ways.

The night sky's natural connection with our subconscious can bring up old emotions during Supermoons, creating fear of the future as we approach the new year. But our bodies hold ancient wisdom that can help during emotional times--it's that movement and music can be good medicine.

Neuroscience has revealed that rhythmic physical activity has a profound impact on our emotional regulation systems:

• Dancing and fluid movement activate the release of neurochemicals that combat stress. A 2019 study in the Frontiers in Psychology found that 20 minutes of free-form dance significantly reduced cortisol levels and increased serotonin production.

 

• When we move our bodies freely, the brain's default mode network—associated with rumination and anxiety—becomes less active, while areas associated with present-moment awareness light up. This explains why movement practices like 5Rhythms can break cycles of worried thinking.

 

• Research from the University of California has shown that expressive movement helps process emotions stored in the body's cellular memory. This emotional release, like full moons, becomes even more potent during heightened sensitivity.

By choosing to move during intense emotional times, we're not fighting against this natural amplification during times of darkness—we're flowing with it. Movement becomes both anchor and release. Setting our bodies in motion creates a safe container for whatever rises to the surface.

Studies in somatic psychology have demonstrated that physical movement can:

• Discharge excess nervous system activation.
• Release trapped emotional energy.
• Create new neural pathways for processing stress.
• Strengthen the mind-body connection.
• Build emotional resilience over time.

We're presented with a potent opportunity as we approach the holiday season and the return to the light. Instead of resisting the heightened emotional state that often accompanies uncertainty, we can embrace it. Whether through gentle swaying, vigorous dancing, or simply walking in nature, we're participating in a practice as old as humanity itself—using the body's call to navigate the depths of the mind.

Different styles of music can support us through various emotional states:

1. Rhythmic drumming helps ground us when we feel scattered by holiday obligations.
2. Flowing instrumental music can calm an overactive mind after busy social events.
3. High-energy beats provide a healthy release for relationship tension.
4. Ambient soundscapes create space for gentle movement when we feel overwhelmed by news.
5. Songs in different languages can help bypass our thinking mind when we're catastrophizing.

The beauty of this practice is its flexibility. On days when you have just 5 minutes, you might sway gently while waiting for your morning coffee. When you have more time, you could put on your favorite playlist and move through your home, letting each room inspire different movements. Some find it helpful to move in night's darkness with dimly lit candles, while others prefer to dance at sunrise before the day's demands begin.

The key is finding what resonates with you in each moment. During holiday gatherings, you might step outside for a brief walking meditation. While preparing meals, you can turn cooking into a dance, letting the rhythm of chopping and stirring become your drumbeat.

Even sitting in your car at a traffic stop can become an opportunity for subtle movements that release tension from your shoulders and jaw. Try a bit of humming while you are at it. Humming activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which calms the body and reverses the fight-or-flight response.

When we catch ourselves amid intense feelings of fear and overwhelm, we can move, release, and transform our thoughts. Let your body lead the way.

Put on some music you enjoy, then move, breathe, and release. Let the ancient rhythms of your ancestors guide you into your own healing dance. In doing so, you're not just coping with the energy of intensity—you're transforming it into strength, wisdom, and, above all, hope.

Because hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls...

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