Inner Child Journey
Image of Jaz’s altar for her inner children
I have known about inner child work for years and I have been doing inner child work for years. If you want to know if I have been inner child work consistently, that is a whole other question.
Today, I was in a Clubhouse room called “Talk to Me Softly: Inner Child Work” which was put together by Liana Naima, Patria Diaz, and Melanie Santos.
A few things came up for me as I was in that space:
Firstly, so many people are on this healing journey and many of our stories have familiar notes. I noticed this to be particularly true for individuals who have parents that immigrated to the United States from the Caribbean. We are truly not alone as we heal.
Secondly, I realized that I have been neglecting and depriving my inner children of love because of fear of “am I enough”. In my fears of not being capable enough to love them, I, indeed, did not love them.
As I was sharing what came up for me, the guides that have revealed themselves to me recently (3 black panthers) reminded me that they protect me and in them protecting me, I have the space to protect my inner children.
Thirdly, I realized that my inner children don’t ask me for much (I was a truly independent child). What they want is my presence and for me to DANCE! That is their ask and surely, I can do that. I was listening to old and mid-school reggae all morning and my soul felt so loved.
Fourthly, an individual named Britny had mentioned putting up a picture of your inner child up where you can see it. In that moment, I thought to myself, “I have a little side table in our room; why not make that an altar for my inner child?” I have a few pictures of myself as a child. These three pictures really resonated with me because there is this innocence and a zest for life that is present in my spirit when those pictures were captured. I was ME, fully. Life hadn’t gotten to me and wore me down. So I put these three pictures up, one of me when I was about 2, one of my 5th birthday (at the 43rd precinct in the Bronx), and one of my 14-15 year old self.
On this altar I already had a candle, a live plant and fresh cut flowers that I put there after I make my offering on my ancestral alter. I put a couple of crystals up there too that call me to soften.
My hopes in this is that the altar lets my inner children know that they are honored and not forgotten. I also hope that in seeing them every day, I remember to spend time with them every day.
What is your experience with your inner child? How do you honor and reverence your inner child? How do you nourish your inner child?