Mantles of Care: the Care Space

“Behind or within the appearance of every created thing, their lives a Spiritual thought and a consciousness. Every manifest kingdom of the natural world has a spiritual consciousness as an essential part of it. We cannot consider these consciousnesses to be moral or immoral; we can only regard them as spirit-created, sense-perceptible kingdoms. It is in this sense that we feel more connected and harmonious after allowing the spirit kingdoms of nature to impress upon the spirit kingdom in us. The natural world around us is a form of nourishment for the deeper aspects of the human being. Everything in the universe that is born into the sensory world has a consciousness behind it. The manifestation of the natural world is the manifestation of the spiritual world; the spiritual consciousness behind a given thing or being is what serves the deep aspects of the human being.”

Spirit led  Community Lisa Romero Page 142

With this is mind, we create a space of care within our family home, within our workspace, within our classroom, within our community… This Care Space is an area or spot that is set aside for regaining harmony. It can even be a quiet corner or chair.

The manner in which the space is created and respected by the adults supports the children to come towards it with reverence.  Simplicity, beauty, order and materials with harmonising and synergistic qualities can be included in a variety of textures, weights, forms, colours that bring experiences of warmth and gathering in, of holding, of releasing;  natural sensory experiences that form a space for care to be offered, received, and experienced physically, sensorily, environmentally, lovingly… The space begins to embody harmony and just sitting there can invite harmony.

Children may come to the care space to receive care for themselves, with their friends- human, imaginary and/or created doll companions. Cloths for wrapping made of silk, wool, linen and cotton can be offered from this space. A towel of cotton or bamboo for the lap, a silk or wool wrap for the shoulders, a cotton or  wool fleece mat for under the feet. These carefully chosen fabrics and additional warm layers of clothing such as belts, wrist, neck and ankle warmers, caps with ear coverings, scarves ,or children who may require them, can also be stored here. It can be a place to restore and rest, to observe, to contemplate.

Offerings such as warm rose facecloths or footbaths or first aid can be received in this space.

Gatherings can occur here to create seasonal care items and supports such as knitting headbands for winter to cover and protect the ears, stitching heart cloths to warm our hearts,  warming our hands and our hearts with beeswax modelling…

Mantles of care supports and equipment can reside here. Children can work towards self regulation gradually as they become age appropriate learning to self administer with the overview of the adult.

The Care Basket which holds the most frequently used care supports such as rose sphagnum lotion, arnica cream, rose bath milk, wrapping clothes... can reside in the basket ready for the adult to offer the needed care to the child.

Working in this way helps to bolster the etheric of the space, so it too gives to the children and all those in its company. New ways of looking at children’s play, materials to be included for play, layout of the play space, children’s clothing can all support building the life forces. Strengthening the ego presence of adults whilst harmonising the astrality in the environment can initiate a calming of the environment for all, and in turn support the inner settling of the children.

Please email info@developingtheself.org with any questions.

Chalk Pastel for Harmonising Transitions

To harmoniously transition from day to evening requires an inner change and a physiological change. You may like to do this colour exercise using tones of blue chalk pastels and experience what changes inwardly for you.

You will need a sheet of cartridge paper and chalk pastels in Cobalt blue, Ultramarine blue and a green of your choice.

To begin, use the cobalt coloured pastel.
Rub or shave the pastel surface onto a piece of cottonwool ball or onto an additional piece of paper from which the colour can be collected by the cottonwool ball or pad.

Apply the colour-filled cotton pad to your page moving it from right to left and then from left to right in a bowl shape.

Work your way down the page smoothly.

As you approach the centre of the sheet of paper add the darkest of the blues, the ultramarine blue, to your cotton pad and then transition to apply only the ultramarine in uninterrupted tones.

Upon reaching the bottom of the page, work on the right and then left alternately until the whole page has the blue bowl gesture (as seen in the photo). Your whole hand or part of your hand or a clean cotton pad can be used to gently smooth over any areas that are hardened, such as lines or where there is too strong contrast.

Seek to experience a feeling of breathing as you smooth the colours.

With the same technique, apply green pastel to a fresh cotton pad. Or using the full green pastel, apply it directly on the page. Build a rolling hill by beginning on the left bottom edge and moving to the right across the bottom edge. The rolling hills start to form as the colour is built to higher on the page and then move it into your rolling hills, by building it up from the bottom to about a quarter of the height of your page.

Use your fingers or a clean cotton pad to smooth the green pastel into the paper.

Allow the time to view and drink-in your finished piece. Perhaps putting it by your bed before entering into sleep.

Casting-on stitches to start knitting

Care Basket

Care basket and care corner articles are on their way! Please check back by mid July.

Guide to the Care and Development of the Senses

Many challenging behaviors arise in children from an overstimulated or an underdeveloped sensory system. There are many practical ways to support sensory processing so that a more harmonized experience can take place for your child(ren). In our technological age, children are being bombarded with sensory input that is increasingly difficult to digest in healthy and balanced ways.

“As humanity is rapidly being emancipated from engagement with the natural world, the vast majority of human beings are being raised more and more not only in a man-made world—in which the resources of the earth have been extracted and utilized for human evolution—but also in a man-invented world”

— from the book "Spirit-led Community" Source

This guide was written to complement the book Spirit-led Community by Lisa Romero.

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Chamomile Abdominal Compress

A chamomile compress is the application of chamomile tea in a hot, dry cloth, compressed over the abdomen with a narrow blanket. The very sensitive blossoms of the chamomile reach the nervous system to calm it without having to pass through the digestive system.

A chamomile compress is used for insomnia, pain related to menstruation, for people with poor digestion due to nervousness, or after a busy day studying. It may affect the Sense of Movement and Sight by harmonising the relationship between environmental stimulus and the sensory processing that carries the outer stimulus to the inner life.

When to use it
The chamomile compress helps the nervous system quieten, and improves digestion. It is highly valuable for insomnia, pain related to menstruation, for people with poor digestion due to nervousness, or after a busy day studying. It affects the Sense of Movement and Sight by harmonising the relationship between environmental stimulus and the sensory processing that carries the outer stimulus to the inner life.

When not to use it
Do not use hot compresses over the abdomen when the digestive system is inflamed, for example with diarrhoea or vomiting from bacterial infection or with stomach pain associated with fever. 

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Instructions 

Lay a large sheet on the bed (later the patient will lie upon it and be wrapped /cocooned in it, so allow enough at the top to fold over the crown of the head and eyes). Make the pillow comfortable and the room temperature suitable for the patient to be wrapped. Ideally the fan is off and the room quiet. It is best to have a non-stimulating environment to reduce sensory experiences, allowing both the chamomile and the warmth on the abdomen to nourish the patient.

Lay the scarf across the sheet and then lay the scarf liner on top of the scarf. Line them up where the abdomen will be when the patient is lying down.

The patient lies down on their back, over the scarf and liner. The scarf and liner will later be wrapped over the bottom ribs and down past the bladder, so lift any clothing that is in the way. If necessary, fold the edges of the scarf and liner to the correct width as if it is too wide on a narrow waist an air pocket will exist that cools the compress cloth too quickly.

Lightly wrap the scarf and liner around the patient and place the hot water bottle on top so that the abdomen becomes warm and they start to relax.

Making the tea

Use half a litre (500ml) of hot water and allow the chamomile to steep in a covered thermos or saucepan. Chamomile does not take long to steep. The blue etheric oils are easily released when in hot water - approximately 3 mins or so. 

Preparing the compress cloth

While the tea is steeping, roll the compress cloths. Fold the compress cloth to a size that will fit on the abdomen neatly. It will probably be about the size of the hot water bottle. Then roll it up so that later it can be unrolled onto the abdomen. Open the wringer cloth fully. In the centre of the wringer cloth place the rolled compress cloth. Then roll the wringer cloth with the compress cloth inside, so together they look like a bonbon.

Place the bonbon in the bowl, keeping the ends out and dry so you can hold them to wring. Pour the tea over the bonbon, straining as you go. When the bonbon is soaked through, lift it above the bowl and wring it until there is no moisture being released. Take the third cloth as an extra wringing layer to protect your hands and wring again making sure no more moisture comes from the inside cloths. If hot liquid remains in the cloth it will burn the skin and then cool too fast. It’s best not to wear gloves, only use them if the heat is unbearable when wringing.

Applying the compress cloth

Unravel the compress cloth from the bonbon but keep the compress cloth rolled to retain the heat. Once unravelled there is about 5 seconds between it being too hot, and being too cold. So make sure the patient is ready. Gently expose the abdomen and touch the compress cloth against less sensitive parts of the body, for example the outer forearm, then the inner forearm. Then move the cloth towards the abdomen and unroll to the folded size so that it covers the soft part of the torso. It will be hot when laid on the skin, but if it has been successfully wrung, only the first second will seem too hot before it becomes a comforting heat.

In a gentle but non-delayed motion take one end of the scarf liner and wrap it tightly over the compress cloth and around the patient, then wrap over the other end of the scarf liner and tuck it in behind the patient. Wrap the woollen scarf in the same way over the top of the liner. The idea here is to compress the cloth onto the abdomen without air being able to enter the area. The wrapping will be firm but not uncomfortable. Place the hot water bottle on top to keep the area warm.

Wrapping into a cocoon

Using the prepared top sheet wrap the patient from the feet to the shoulders, tucking down the sides of their body as you go. This is not a light wrap, but a firm wrap so that the patient experiences their periphery as they are being wrapped. If the patient allows, fold the sheet over the head to cover the eyes and press against the ears gently, or use an additional sarong or towel to complete the head wrap. The only part exposed is the mouth and nose. When wrapping children you may like to tell of a caterpillar who was wrapped up in a beautiful silk cocoon and rested quietly until it was time to become a butterfly.

Resting and removing the compress

The compress cloth stays on for 20mins. If the compress becomes cold to the patient it can be detrimental and therefore should be removed sooner. When it is time for the compress cloth to be removed, quietly loosen the sheet and scarf enough that you can slide out the compress cloth easily while leaving the scarf and liner in place. The patient rests for a further 20mins. The rest is equally important as the compress. If the patient is hot, loosen the cocoon. Silence throughout both the compress and rest is recommended and aids the effect.

Qualified health practitioner advice should be sort for all health concerns.

Ingredients and Equipment

1 tablespoon of chamomile flowers - preferably organic

Thermos or a saucepan with lid - to steep the tea

Tea strainer

Bowl - to strain the tea into

Hot water bottle with cover - fill it to half, without air trapped inside

3 cloths - made of raw silk, linen, baby muslin or old woollen thermals. The first is the compress cloth and must be large enough to be folded into a padded wad, to cover the abdomen. The second is the wringer cloth and the third is an extra wringer cloth. Tea towels and flannels work well.

Woollen scarf or long piece of woollen material to wrap around the abdomen and tuck in behind the back. The wool is insulating.

Scarf Liner - a piece of flannelette or cotton is ideal, the same size as the scarf so that the scarf does not irritate the skin or become wet from the compress cloth.

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Warm Face Cloth

Cleansing the face in a rhythmical manner with a warm to hot, plant-infused face cloth can help to harmonise breathing and reconnect us to our Selves. It may alleviate mucus build up in the sinuses and eustachian tubes, especially during a cold, ear ache, or sinusitis. The lemon bath milk could be helpful to cool the face during hot weather. The touch, life, balance and smell senses are particularly engaged through receiving a warm face cloth.

Instructions

Fill the sink or medium sized bowl with hot water.

Add 2 capfuls of the rose nourishing bath milk or lemon bath milk, or use the warm herb tea. Fold and soak the washcloth in the bath milk. The cloth can be a face washer or muslin compressing cloth which is more absorbent and hydrating to the skin.
Squeeze the water from the cloth until it is nearly dry.

Open it out and cover your face, taking 3 deep breaths to inhale the smells. Place the cloth over the forehead and take 3 breaths, over the nose/cheek area and take 3 breaths and then over the mouth/neck area for another 3 breaths.
Refresh cloth in the bath milk and squeeze dry again.

Repeat this process starting at the forehead but this time with a rolling out, both hands together starting from the either side of the nose and rolling out toward the ears 3 times. Proceed down the face over the nose/ cheeks rolling out 3 times, then mouth areas rolling out 3 times towards the ears.
Repeat for 3 cycles.
Refresh the cloth in the bath milk and starting from the middle, hands touching, roll out over the neck towards the ears.
Refresh and squeeze out cloth again and fold into a small rectangle. Place this on the back of your neck. Take some deep breaths allowing relaxation of your body and a sense of uprightness. In hot weather, or if you are feeling overheated, placing a warm cloth on the back of the neck can also help to cool.
Apply over healthy skin. Cease use, if redness or agitation develops.

Face Cloth kits including lemon or rose nourishing bath milk and muslin compressing cloth are available for purchase. Contact us

Materials

Face washer or muslin compress cloth
Rose nourishing bath milk or lemon bath milk, or herb tea made from rose-geranium petals or fresh lemons

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