"A Safe Place"

Todays image in titled "a safe place."  It depicts a beach scene I painted in silk and then hand embroidered the foreground. It is modelled on a beach I visited in Guernsey. For anyone who has undertaken therapy then the concept of a safe place is one you will probably be aware of. The idea is to have a very strong image of somewhere you feel safe and to conjure it up as vividly as you can in your mind. Thinking about the images, the sounds, the smells, the textures. Personally I always find it easiest to work with a real place I have visited and experienced. The purpose of this is to practice when you feel relatively stable and then when you are struggling or triggered in some way to be able to go to the safe place in your mind and feel more grounded and settled again. It has become one of my go to techniques but it is something you have to practice. My safe place imagery is linked to a lavender smell, and now I only need to smell lavender to jump into my safe place without having to go through a long process. I carry a little bottle of lavender oil in my handbag in case I need it. Maybe see if you can think of a pleasant smell connected to your own safe place and give it a try. Leave a comment to let me know how you got on!

We all need a safe place to retreat to, a place to take a deep breath and remind ourselves "We are ok! We can do this!" Whether that is a real place or a place in our minds matters little. Take your safe place with you. Practice going there often.

"I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety." Psalm 4:8

I wish you all a safe and peaceful week.

Rachel.