Healing Henna
Tonight I am mixing up a fresh batch of henna for a very special workshop that I will be attending this weekend.
natural henna powder in its raw state
Since 2016 I have been attending and assisting at BodySex® retreats held by Natasha Salaash in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
Bodysex® is a transformative and undefinable weekend-long, sex focused immersion for women, of all ages and sexual orientations, interested in the empowering freedom that comes from shedding the masks, roles and clothing that we hide behind everyday. This sex positive, nude workshop centers on body acceptance, letting go of shame, collective consciousness raising, creating sisterhood and celebrating self pleasure.
natashasalaash.com
My very first retreat coincided with the time that I was beginning to practice henna on people other than myself, and that little group of seven women opened my eyes into the incredible power that henna has to connect, uplift, break open, and heal. I had just started practicing henna about 4 months earlier, creating designs on myself and my kids, and I was looking forward to the opportunity to try out this new art form on other people. I was shy about it because I was still so new and not very good at it, but I knew this retreat would be a safe place to be vulnerable. These designs left a lot to be desired, but the magic wasn’t in the design itself: but what was felt in the moment. Natasha leads these retreats with joy, curiosity, and her bravery to be fully seen allows all of us to do the same.
Since that first retreat, Natasha has invited me back to each one to continue to offer my henna art as an included part of the weekend. It’s been a gift to be valued in this way and I truly cherish the intimate moments we spend together sharing our personal stories and allowing henna to be the connection that lasts well beyond the final good-byes.
Sometimes the designs I do are specific requests, and sometimes it’s a fully intuitive design - I just “let it flow” and see what happens. It’s always fun to hear the person’s reaction when they see the design and notice the things they appreciate about the design.
we loved the bold henna leaves on this chest piece. The orange hue is the fresh stain that darkens to dark brown the next day.
Sometimes they want the henna design to be a spicy reminder of their reconnection with their sexual energy over the weekend.
I loved this sexy ‘henna selfie’ one of the participants sent me the week after the retreat.
Sometimes it’s deeply impactful; a request to adorn (not cover) a difficult scar, or to bring beauty to a difficult part of their body.
bringing love to difficult parts of our bodies with henna designs + sharing our stories
One of the women I adorned with henna a couple of years ago had birthed multiple children via c-section and expressed that she felt numb in her lower abdomen. As I created a swirling vine down the centre of her chest + torso, she shared her story and I continued to draw leaves, spirals and flowers on her skin. When I drew nearer her scars under her navel, she stopped breathing for a second and then gasped gently and said, “I can feel that”. She expressed that the gentle touch and attention without pressure allowed her senses to reconnect with that part of her body in a way she hadn’t considered before. The healing power of henna.
jewelry style henna to adorn and appreciate
I’ve had the honour of attending 13 of these retreats so far and each one has added to my love of shared vulnerability, celebrating pleasure, seeking connection through a circle of women and being open to new experiences. Over the course of the weekend we share belly laughs and tears, anxiety sweats and glorious confidence, a deep satisfaction and a hunger for more. I love the way henna has brought me this sisterhood of women seeking to do this hard work of shedding our outer selves and through connection with our own bodies, finding out who we really are. Thank you to all of you who have shown up for yourselves, and allowed me to adorn your skin with the healing power of henna.
If you are interested in learning more about the BodySex® retreats, please visit Natasha’s website to read an explanation of the weekend.
