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What Migraines are Teaching me About Embodiment, Surrender, Peace, And Sovereignty

Writer's picture: SaraSara

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If you've ever had a migraine - you know they are debilitating. I've dealt with migraines on and off since I was in high school. They arrive unannounced, come with the awful geometric aura, and last from 3-7 hours. And for all their torture, I repeatedly find that there’s something about migraines that feels spiritual. When a migraine takes hold, the body says, stop everything—there is no negotiating this. And in that stillness, when I have no choice but to let go, I have experienced a number of interesting states of consciousness and insights.

The Surrender of a Migraine

At first, a migraine feels like a loss of control. My plans, my energy, my focus—all of it comes to a grinding halt I can’t push through it, and I can’t fix it with sheer willpower. The only thing to do is close the curtains, get the eye pillow, take the excedrine, set up a guided meditation, and lie down.

But what I have found is that within the arc of the migraine are moments of profound relaxation. It’s not the kind of relaxation you plan for, like a bubble bath or a yoga class. It’s deeper, a release of everything I’d been holding too tightly, a full on surrender. Resistance softens, thoughts slow dramatically, and with this shift comes a presence that can be incredibly hard to come by in this demanding world.

Embodiment Through Pain

Exhaustion helps - anyone who has migraines knows you want to move as little as possible as it unfolds. You keep very still and quiet. The mind isn’t racing to solve problems or achieve anything. you're too tired to be ambitious or curious, and what's left is simply presence - existing.

During my most recent migraine, something much deeper unfolded. As the worst of the pain began to subside, my body relaxed. I pictured myself sleeping within my self, like another Sara an inch beyond the skin. I began to notice a deeply embodied feeling - very "with" myself and the moment. My thoughts were blissfully calm and slow. I was abiding in a pure place of profound simplicity. Then I felt something that I imagined a mother might feel when she cradles her baby for the first time - I felt, this is mine. Deeply mine. It wasn't that I had a baby, but almost like my life were my child. I felt a complete liberation from the external world, from outer pressures and expectations. My boundary was pristine. I was with myself in this moment, and I was entitled to that. My existence was completely affirmed, my value not conditional. It was a primal state of being. It was my sacred sovereignty. My rest was not something I had to earn or explain. It’s a non-negotiable need, and in honoring it, I felt an unexpected confidence. My body reminds me that I’m allowed to exist as I am and care for myself without justification. That feeling of embodied sovereignty, as profound and affirming as it was, proved to be fleeting. It came to me in a rare, quiet moment in the migraine aftermath. But within the hour, the usual state of being crept back in. A level less connected, back into the turbulence of a society that does not deeply understand or honor this sovereignty. Now, I find myself on a journey of learning how to recover that feeling, how to protect it, and how to integrate it into the everyday. It’s a significant process of remembering, over and over again, that my life is mine—not only in a divine sense, but in the choices I make, the boundaries I hold, and the way I allow myself to rest and simply be.


I've found over and over again that migraines come with a lesson and a purification. While they are truly awful experiences that I wouldn't wish on anyone, I am not going to miss out on the opportunities they hold.


A Few Reminders for Preventing Migraines

  • Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day and replenish electrolytes as needed. I drink Ultima electrolytes every day - I love these! You can get them at Sprouts in Boulder!

  • Eat Regularly: Maintain stable blood sugar by eating balanced meals and avoiding long gaps between them.

  • Sleep Consistently: Prioritize 7-9 hours of sleep each night with a consistent routine.

  • Manage Stress: Incorporate calming practices like meditation, yoga, or gentle movement.

  • Know Your Triggers: Track and avoid common triggers such as certain foods, sensory overload, or weather changes.

  • Avoid Overexertion: During physical activity, warm up, cool down, and respect your limits to reduce strain.

  • Monitor Hormones: Track menstrual cycles and consider magnesium or vitamin B2 if hormonal changes are a trigger.

  • Limit Caffeine and Alcohol: Keep intake moderate and consistent to avoid withdrawal or overuse. If you drink caffeine, avoid sudden changes (missing a day, drinking twice as much as usual).

  • Protect Your Neck and Shoulders: Maintain good posture and stretch regularly to reduce tension. Use a foam roller and utilize massage therapy if you have the means.


Supporting Migraines with Reiki Energy Healing in Boulder

If you suffer from migraines, you know the intensity and helplessness they can come with. As someone who deeply understands the suffering of migraines as well as the opportunities they can present, I'd love to work together to help you receive some of the gems hidden in these awful experiences. Feel free to reach out to get in touch - somatiquehealing@gmail.com - or book a session to get started supporting your migraines with Reiki energy healing in Boulder, CO.


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