Touch Time Alone and in Community

Do you have a space that is yours alone? There are several spaces that are solely mine.

During the warm seasons of the year I have my backyard gardens to enjoy. There are what I call the social gardens where I sit when I am ready to welcome company—my husband, a grandchild, a friend. Then there are the meditation or quiet gardens where I sit or kneel when I wish to be left to myself. Inside my house there is both my bedroom and meditation spaces in two other rooms: our living room and our dining room.

In all of these places I am able to go, shut a door (if I wish to be left to my self) or sit with the door open if I am willing to receive another. I own several Touch Time inducing items. One is the large flat vibrator that I call my Baby Thumper. It does a marvelous job of breaking up the tension that likes to find a resting place in my back. I also have a sound machine, a falling rain chime, a rain stick, tingshas, zen chime, and a hot rock spa that does marvelous things for my body whether I place these hot rocks across my forehead, between my fingers or across my upper chest.

As you can see by my examples, there can be Touch Time for when I am alone with my thoughts, my Godde, my visions, my dreams. These kinds of Touch Times – when I allow God to touch me with new understandings – is essential to my health and wholeness. They strengthen me. What do you do that is organic and gives you strength? What might you try?

Touch Times can happen in special places with other women. Touch Time can be getting up early at the retreat center in Carefree, Arizona to leisurely watch the sunrise over the labyrinth set in the desert soil. Such Touch Time has us feel the boulder beneath us as we sit as we touch our own soul through our eyes. We are reminded anew of God’s amazing creation. Our heart weeps with thanksgiving.

Another Touch Time is exploring Godde with one or several other women. Let me tell you a story.

There were ten of us. We gathered in the desert to consider how to pull unity from the division that society has given us as women from different so-called races, different ages, different parts of the country. Our discussion ran deep and more than once these women forced me to open myself more fully to God’s grace.

The Lord had brought us together. It was my task to facilitate our discussions. I had to listen with my heart relying upon Godde to give me understanding. I had to speak consciously, made fully aware by Godde of the impact any and all of my words were capable of having. Godde was faithful.

We touched. Our souls touched. And, the Touch Time was not singularly between myself and the other women. We began our five days together with each of the women having their relationship with me as their primary link. With each over a number of years I had cultivated affirming levels of trust. This was their first time together as a group. They proved to me the spiritual value of Touch Time as they turned from me to each other and, sometimes timidly, at other times boldly, touched each other. Touch Time.

So, Touch Time can be talking about our most important treasures with another person who treasures the same things. For the women in the desert our common treasure was the God that dwells in each of us. Their natural link was myself – their Touch Time took us into a holy space that I know we will all recall for years to come.

Touch Time is time spent allowing Godde to simply fill our senses, soothe our cares, and direct our path. Touch Time is taking the time to allow God into our lives, our dreams, and our relationships. It isn’t always named but it is always intentional.

Touch time with Another Can Feed Soul

Buying a new pair of shoes or new dress is a bit closer to feeding the soul—depending upon the feeling these items bring but this immediately means these CANNOT be purchased for their status value. Status is simply a position. Status has no feeling. Trying to make a visual or social impression or convince ourselves of worth through the accumulation of certain things touch no part deep part of ourselves--or others.

Touch Time is about touching and being touched. Ten minutes of touch-time is worth an hour of mall shopping and a trunk full of new things on any day because touching is what our soul-body connection hungers to receive. Touch-time can be flesh touching as in rocking babies in a hospital nursery, counseling a young mother, or massaging hand cream into another woman’s hands.This last is something I enjoy doing while praying for another woman.

As a Reiki Master I practice Reiki on myself on a regular basis. This kind of touch is for the purpose of healing but all nurturing touch conveys God's healing presence.

Let me tell you another way I do this: I always ask permission of a sister-friend. It is not a good idea to assume a sister would welcome being touched – we are always at such different places in our development and this can even vary from day to day.

Luckily, I have never had a woman say no when I asked if I could touch her hands. I heat about a tablespoon of virgin olive oil in a small microwave proof dish. To this heated oil I will add a touch--just a touch of an essential oil. I like the combination of clary sage and cedar wood.

I begin with a talking prayer that shares the wonderful virtues I know this particular woman possesses. She is always offering a service – whether through a professional or volunteer vocation, I know of her enough to praise God for her service. I inform her of how her hands are symbolic of all her service – all that she gives from a generous heart. I will stroke each finger, and apply gentle pressure to each soft web between the bases of her fingers as I praise Godde for her being a vessel of God’s grace.

I will gently knead the mounds of her palms as I tell her of God’s love and her testimony of that love. I ask Godde to continue to strengthen my sister, to keep her clearly focused on Jesus who is the author and finisher of her faith. And, then I will stroke the back of her hand, gently massaging her knuckles as I thank her for being such a gift.

Such touch times are remembered as an intimate time, a worship time, that would be totally impossible if it were not about touch. I believe any touch time can be turned into a worship time.Care for self can also mean a woman carves out her own space and time. Every woman needs her own space and time. It can be a small altar area in her own flower garden. I have settled on one after many years of searching.