In this episode, we take an unflinching look at our most primal sense – touch.
Here, we explore sensitive themes around touch, shame and vulnerability.
At birth, touch begins so naturally and innocently, yet as we grow up, events, fears and taboos often begin to weave shame into our skin. From the innocence of a child’s need for comfort, through layers of explorative experiments, seeking attention and expressing desire, some more perilous than others, human contact can start to feel claustrophobic and threatening. However, it is possible to trace how the body learns to guard itself and to withdraw from the very connection it craves.
We’ll look at what happens when tenderness is taught to hide and how, even after decades of caution, the body is able to learn to trust again. For some, this story may be painful, both physically and emotionally, but it might also lead to the rediscovery and celebration of one’s ability to touch and be touched, thereby bringing about healing and allowing one to find the quiet courage it takes to reach back out toward another.
Where has touch felt safe, or unsafe, in your own experience?
