Pain, Intuition & The Nervous System: Why Your Body Might Be Holding On to More Than You Think

Pain, Intuition & The Nervous System: Why Your Body Might Be Holding On to More Than You Think

Ever notice how pain has a way of hijacking your entire reality? One moment, you’re fine. The next, your shoulder, back, or jaw is screaming at you, and suddenly, everything feels harder—making decisions, feeling joy, even trusting yourself.

But here’s the thing: Pain isn’t always a sign of injury. Sometimes, it’s a signal.

And if we don’t listen, it can cut us off from the very thing we need most—our intuition, inner wisdom, and connection to something bigger than ourselves.

Let’s talk about how this happens—and what you can do about it.

When Pain Pulls You Away from Yourself

Pain—especially chronic pain—keeps the nervous system on high alert. And when your system is stuck in fight, flight, freeze, or fawn mode, it’s almost impossible to tap into your gut feelings, your inner knowing, or that sense of peace that helps you make aligned choices.

Think about it:

• When you’re in pain, do you feel open and connected? Or do you feel defensive, scattered, or withdrawn?

• When your body is hurting, is it easier or harder to trust yourself and others?

Pain creates a disconnect—from your body, your emotions, and even your spirit. And that’s because your nervous system is prioritizing survival over connection.

Pain Can Be Trauma Talking

Not all pain means you pulled a muscle or need a chiropractor (though, hey, sometimes that’s the case!). Some pain is unresolved emotional trauma stored in the body.

• Ever get a lump in your throat when you’re about to cry?

• Or feel a tight chest when you’re anxious?

• Or notice your jaw clenching when you’re angry but don’t say anything?

That’s your body holding onto unprocessed emotion. And when those emotions don’t get expressed, they can turn into chronic pain.

💡 Nervous System Tip: Name what you’re feeling when pain flares up. Instead of “My back hurts,” try:

• “I feel unsupported.”

• “I’m holding in a lot.”

• “I feel stuck in my life.”
  This simple act of naming can start the process of unwinding stuck energy.

How Pain Blocks Intuition

Intuition isn’t loud. It’s a whisper, a nudge, a subtle knowing. But when your nervous system is overwhelmed by pain, that whisper gets drowned out by the alarm bells of discomfort.

Here’s what happens:
🔹 You dissociate from your body. If pain is too much, you might check out—disconnecting from sensations and, in turn, your intuitive signals.
🔹 Your body becomes a “danger zone.” When pain is chronic, your body no longer feels like a safe place. And when you can’t feel safe in your own skin, it’s hard to trust your inner guidance.
🔹 You get stuck in overthinking. Instead of feeling your way through life, you get caught in loops of doubt, fear, and second-guessing.

💡 Nervous System Tip: Ground back into your body with simple, safe movement. Try:

• Slow rocking side to side (this soothes the vagus nerve)

• Placing one hand on your heart, one on your belly

• Shaking out your hands or bouncing on your toes
  Movement helps signal to your nervous system that your body is safe, making it easier to feel and trust your intuition.

Pain as a Portal (Not a Prison)

What if, instead of seeing pain as the enemy, we saw it as a messenger?

A doorway into what’s unresolved, what needs tending to, what’s asking for healing?

Because pain is often pointing us toward something deeper. Maybe it’s:
✨ A boundary you need to set.
✨ Grief you haven’t fully processed.
✨ A pattern of over-giving that’s draining you.
✨ A version of yourself you’ve outgrown.

💡 Nervous System Tip: Ask your pain what it wants to tell you.
Instead of resisting it, take a deep breath, put a hand where it hurts, and ask:

• “What do you need?”

• “What are you trying to show me?”

• “What would make you feel safe?”

You’d be amazed at what arises when you stop fighting pain and start listening to it.

Reclaiming Your Connection to Yourself

Pain doesn’t have to keep you stuck. It can be an opportunity to reconnect—with your body, your emotions, and your inner knowing.

And it starts with small, gentle practices:
🌿 Regulate your nervous system (breathwork, touch, movement)
🌿 Feel your emotions instead of suppressing them
🌿 Rebuild trust with your body (treat it with curiosity, not frustration)
🌿 Listen to the messages within the discomfort

Pain doesn’t mean you’re broken. It means there’s something ready to be healed.

And when you create the space to listen, your intuition will come back online, stronger than ever.

The Language of Plants: How Nature Reveals Its Medicine

The Language of Plants: How Nature Reveals Its Medicine

Nature is always speaking. Every plant, tree, and mushroom carries a message encoded in its form, function, and the way it interacts with the world. Indigenous traditions have long understood that plants tell us what they do, not through words, but through their essence—the way they grow, adapt, and thrive. When we pay attention, we realize that plants not only nourish and heal us, but they also mirror the very processes they awaken within us.

This understanding aligns with an ancient concept known as the Doctrine of Signatures, which suggests that a plant’s shape, color, environment, and behavior reveal its healing properties. In other words, nature leaves us clues if we learn how to see them.

From vines that weave light to roots that detoxify, let’s explore how some of nature’s most profound medicines reveal their purpose through their very existence.

Ayahuasca: The Vine That Weaves Light

Deep in the Amazon rainforest, Ayahuasca grows in the dim, tangled underbelly of the jungle. It is a vine, one that climbs toward the light, weaving itself upward, forming intricate networks that bind the canopy together.

This is exactly what it does for us. Ayahuasca medicine pulls us from the depths of our unconscious, illuminating what has been hidden—traumas, suppressed emotions, ancestral imprints—so that we can weave ourselves whole again. It cleanses, purges, and rewires, much like the way it purifies the jungle, helping to balance its ecosystem. The vine teaches us that healing is not linear but an intricate, spiraling journey toward the light.

Mushrooms & Mycelium: The Web of Connection

Beneath the forest floor lies the mycelial network, an underground web stretching for miles, connecting trees, exchanging nutrients, and allowing the entire ecosystem to communicate. This intelligence—hidden from sight—is the foundation of life itself.

Psilocybin mushrooms embody this same wisdom. Their medicine dissolves the illusion of separation, reconnecting us to the web of existence. Just as mycelium strengthens the forest by redistributing resources, psilocybin rewires our neural pathways, fostering neuroplasticity, emotional healing, and deepened awareness. They remind us that we are not alone—we are part of an interconnected whole, speaking a language older than time.

Dandelion: The Rooted Cleanser

Dandelions are relentless. They push through concrete, thrive in inhospitable places, and refuse to be tamed. Their deep roots draw nutrients from the depths of the soil, cleansing and replenishing the land.

And this is precisely what they do for us. Dandelion is one of the most powerful detoxifiers, cleansing the liver, purifying the blood, and restoring vitality. It clears stagnation, physically and emotionally, helping us move through what’s stuck. Like its roots pulling up hidden nutrients, dandelion helps us unearth what’s buried within, making space for renewal.

Lotus: Rising from the Mud

The lotus is born in darkness, its roots buried in thick, murky waters. And yet, it rises—its delicate petals unfolding untouched by the mud below.

The medicine of the lotus is transformation. It teaches us that no matter how deep our suffering, we have the power to rise above it. Emotionally, lotus medicine clears toxicity from the mind and heart, bringing peace and clarity. Spiritually, it reminds us that our circumstances do not define us—it is our ability to transcend them that shapes who we are.

Cacao: The Heart Opener

The cacao tree grows in warm, fertile environments, thriving among other plants, sharing space in the ecosystem. Its fruit holds sacred seeds rich in theobromine, a compound that translates to “food of the gods.”

Cacao medicine nurtures the heart. Just as its fruit protects the seeds within, cacao creates a space for emotional safety, allowing us to soften, to feel, to love. It enhances circulation—both physically, by increasing blood flow, and energetically, by expanding our capacity for connection. Used ceremonially for thousands of years, cacao is a gentle yet profound heart opener. Drinking it with intention often leads to deep emotional release, creative flow, and a profound sense of warmth, as if the heart itself is blooming open.

Pine: The Breath of Life

Pine trees stand tall and ancient, their needles releasing a crisp, invigorating scent that cleanses the air. They endure the harshest winters, unwavering and resilient.

Pine medicine is breath, purification, and longevity. Its needles clear the lungs, its resin heals wounds, and its very presence revitalizes the spirit. Just as pine trees filter the air, their medicine clears emotional congestion, helping us release grief and breathe deeper—literally and metaphorically. Their towering strength reminds us to root deeply while reaching for the sky, standing firm through life’s storms.

Listening to the Wisdom of Plants

Plants are not just medicine—they are teachers. They show us how to heal by embodying their wisdom in their very being.

• The vine reminds us to weave ourselves back into wholeness.

• The mushroom teaches us that we are all connected.

• The dandelion clears what is stagnant so new life can grow.

• The lotus shows us how to rise above darkness.

• The cacao tree opens our hearts to love.

• The pine teaches us to breathe, to endure, to thrive.

When we listen to plants, we remember that healing is not something outside of us—it is something we are a part of. Nature holds the answers; all we have to do is pay attention.

Step outside. Take a breath. Listen. Nature is speaking—what is it telling you?

What plants have spoken to you on your journey? Share your experiences in the comments—I’d love to hear how nature has guided you. 🌿✨