Befriending All of Me: Including my Mitochondria

by J. Lucier

What a strange and intriguing word—mitochondria. Does it name a sea creature living on the bottom of the ocean? Is it an exotic animal from Tanzania? Is it related to muscles or other body parts? Maybe people from other cultures even call their friends something like: “Yo Mitochondria”?

But no, mitochondria are the powerhouses of the cell, involved in the respiration and energy production which take place inside cells. We are in fact made up of energy—which Einstein tells us can neither be created or destroyed—only transformed. Energy can become dysfunctional, however. Symptoms of mitochondria dysfunction include fatigue, muscle weakness, exercise intolerance, balance issues, hearing loss, blurred vision, arrhythmias, etc. This highlights how essential the mitochondria are to a human’s overall health and wellness.

I have been working on befriending all my cells, organs, bones, cancer, sensory organs—all of me—including the dysfunctional as well as my well-functioning parts. I start by expressing gratitude to my heart for being such a responsible, faithful, and trusted part of my life. Thank-you heart for beating even when emotionally my heart was broken or when I failed to take my blood+

Cancer cells are the hardest to communicate with or have the courage to ask “what do you need? Why are you here?” Previously, I had felt cancer was my enemy and assumed a warrior relationship with it. I could not imagine anything good coming from having developed cancer cells in my breast, lungs, and lymph nodes. I felt deeply conflicted about taking medications that were poisoning me. The whole experience was baffling. My relationship with the cancer is not static but changes over time. Slowly, I began to reach out to communicate with this dysfunctional part of my overall wholeness. This felt better than fighting with myself or feeling like I was a helpless victim.

Now, my daily practice is to relate to and touch base with my major organs, arms, legs, blood, lymph, etc. The gradual consequence of this practice was gratitude for all my experiences and all parts of myself.  Slowly, awe and wonder of the miracle of the body grow and I feel a deep connection to my body, thoughts, emotions, illness, and finally a sense of unity and oneness with All That IS. The realization arises that just as I am not perfect, neither are the visible and invisible realms around and within the inner landscape. My sense of belonging and connection gradually mounts. From time to time, I even become present in the moment-to-moment awareness that life is a gift, and it is a miracle to be alive.

The more I tune in to and welcome all parts of myself and all my environment, I find motivation to practice self-care which includes tending the health of my mitochondria. I try to keep my stress level low, exercise, eat whole foods, build my immune system, practice resistance training, and add supplements, minerals, and vitamins where I may have been deficient. I try to keep my body in an alkaline state and lower inflammation. I use plant allies like mushrooms, teas, food, and tinctures as agents to rebuild and restore my health.

I like to think the most important part of my health regimen is to welcome and befriend all my parts—including my ally—the mitochondria. My prayers of acknowledgement flourish as I regularly call out and speak to each part, thanking them for their continued contribution to keeping me alive. As I speak with reverence to each organ or part, asking “do you need anything? Do you have a message for me?”, my interrelatedness builds. No part is left out, shunned, betrayed, or abandoned. Why? Because as part of the One, emanating from Source, I am realizing my unique purpose and manifesting my calling. I end these periods of initiation, activation, and communion by feeling my pulse or placing my hand over my heart or another place of discomfort. The regular pulsing of blood and soft lob dub lub dub creates calm. I am reminded that everything is made of energy and that same energy is always available. My faithful heart is always beating and sending blood, nutrients, and oxygen to my cells—taking away toxins and repairing damage. A sense of wellbeing and peace many times follows the practice of this ritual. I also notice a growing desire to pray and send healing energies to everyone else who is coping with cancer or illness too. Compassion and knowing we are not alone on this journey is extremely healing and sacred.

Deep peace to my mitochondria and all parts of this human vehicle. May I be kind and accept myself just as I am—imperfect but alive and endeavoring to care well for both myself and all other shards of Source. May I be satiated with safety and ease, and may I be safe from inner and outer harm. Namaste!

J. Lucier (Jan) is a mystic. She is a retired mental health, holistic, and public health nursing professor. She practices and teaches shamanism and Mindfulness Meditation.