By Sally Teixeira

How do you feel about your feet? Do you love them and take care of them, or do you hide them away under socks and shoes and prefer not to ‘go there’? The emotions that arise when you think of your feet are actually very revealing about how you feel about yourself. We all know that in the popular holistic therapy of reflexology, the physical body is mapped out in miniature over the feet, but what is less accepted, is that your emotions, feelings, way of thinking, personality traits and spiritual well being are also reflected through your soles.

All you have to do is tune into the Language of the Feet and you will discover messages from the inner you, about you. From your soles to your soul, a doorway opens towards discovering your true self. A doorway to connecting with the Universe and to discovering the love that surrounds you and that is a part of you, but which we all commonly deny ourselves the joy of feeling.

So have a look at your feet now. Don’t think; just be open to feel the first impression that comes to you. Once you are aware of that emotion, look at the physical characteristics of your feet. Are they perhaps slim and narrow, puffy on the top or bony and angular? What colours do you see, what is their temperature, what form do the toes take and what is the condition of the nails? There is a message within everything that you see.

These messages are your soul’s way of communicating your inner emotional un-ease (that you might not even be aware of) but that is affecting your wellbeing on all levels. All physical dis-ease comes from an emotional root cause; it’s just that in the western world we are so focused on the physical and material that we forget that we are a spiritual being of energy... of light and love.

Disconnected from ourselves, we become unbalanced through the experiences life throws at us. We get caught up in the stresses of modern living, we start developing negative thought patterns, hold onto unhealthy relationships, we are fearful of consequences and we listen to our head rather than our heart. And before we know it, we are tied up in knots, our physical health is failing, we feel lost or trapped and even if we don’t realise it, we are unhappy.

All the while, your feet are reflecting this un-ease right back at you so that you can do something about it and help yourself. It’s time to listen to your feet and to open your heart to healing. Of course, true healing involves taking action, so whether it is through finding forgiveness for yourself and others, letting go of the past, making practical changes in your life or seeking medical assistance, you are the one that has to face and resolve the underlying issues and make that first step forward.

So here are a couple of pointers to get you started. Puffy feet are full of emotions that have yet to be shed, especially if it is the top of the feet as this represents what you have hidden away in the past and not resolved or released. Let go! Bunions show that you are putting everybody’s needs in front of your own, and this is leading you off track with your own life purpose. This doesn’t mean that you have to become selfish in your actions, just that you need to listen to your heart and find fulfilment for yourself too. Hard skin over the balls of the feet reflects barriers or protection from your feelings and keeping your heart closed to the outside world. Don’t be afraid to feel; open up!

Discovering yourself through your feet is a healing journey that will take you back to your true spiritual being. With this soul/sole reconnection comes the joy and peace of feeling and knowing love for yourself, for your life and the Universe. Love is at the heart of everything, so start loving your feet today!

Sally Teixeira
www.reflexologyinrio.com
Email: sally@reflexologyinrio.com

Sally is a British reflexologist and reiki master living in Rio de Janeiro. She was entrusted by internationally renowned reflexology author and visionary Chris Stormer-Fryer to continue the worldwide sharing of the Language of the Feet and Universal Reflexology and she shares these workshops wherever there is a calling. In 2009 she released a double CD Universal Reflexology and the Healing Journey with intuitive musician Courtney Ward, to unite a guided reflexology treatment with inspirational music. She also runs Universally Rio, an international website and e-zine publishing her blog and original holistic articles from around the world.