Christ in the Body: Somatic Healing and the Death of the Old Self
Today, I was deeply moved by a post from @ashleyvelvetfrost an account I stumbled across as a former signwriter drawn to the post, truth, and meaning. The words spoke to the healing journey in such a profound way. And as I read it, I couldn’t help but think of Christ.
His message is so often hidden in the quiet spaces, like this one and brought to life through the process of healing.
I often talk about how my studies to become a somatic facilitator didn’t just teach me techniques, they expanded and awakened my faith in ways I never expected. They allowed me to feel Christ within me, not just know about Him. As Christians, we’re so familiar with the phrase “Christ in us” (Colossians 1:27)TPT
“Living within you is the Christ who floods you with the expectation of glory! This mystery of Christ, embedded with us, becomes a heavenly treasure chest of hope filled with the riches of glory for his people, and God wants everyone to know it!”
but how many of us feel that truth? How many of us experience it?
Somatic work learning to heal trauma through the body, gives us the ability to slow down, observe, and truly discern. And Scripture tells us exactly that:
“Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realise this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?”
2 Corinthians 13:5 (ESV)
Discernment isn’t just an intellectual thing.
It’s a full-bodied awareness. It’s the ability to notice what’s happening inside, bring it to the light, and measure it against truth God’s truth.
But here’s the key: we can’t do this in our own strength. We must surrender. We must let go of the reins and allow Christ the true facilitator to move within us.
Healing begins at the point of surrender.
“It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”
Galatians 2:20 (ESV)
The quote that first caught my eye was this:
“The identity you lose when you heal was never truly you.”
And it stopped me in my tracks.
Isn’t that exactly what the Bible teaches us? That the old man must die? That in Christ, we become new?
“You were taught… to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires… to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV)
Healing often feels like death and it is. It's the death of the false identity, the survival self, the one who had to protect, perform, or please to feel safe. That part of us crumbles. And it feels like a loss. But it’s actually freedom.
It’s the putting off of the old man. It’s being made new.
Too often, we’re taught to wait for a “day” of transformation. But it’s not always a single moment. It happens within us, in layers, every time we surrender. Every time we deny the false self and choose truth. That’s when healing begins.
And the most beautiful part?
As Christ works in us, we begin to embody His grace.
We don’t just receive it, we become it. That’s when we truly learn how to offer it to others.
This is why I love somatic work. It reveals how intricately and intentionally we’ve been designed. Our bodies aren’t just physical vessels,they’re sacred.
They hold our emotions, our stories, our past, and our healing. They are the very place where the Spirit dwells and moves.
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you…?”
1 Corinthians 6:19 (NIV)
So today, I’m giving thanks for the design. For the way our healing is both physical and spiritual. For the death of what was never truly me.
And for the Christ within me, who heals, restores, and makes all things new.
If this reflection stirred something in you, I invite you to continue the journey. You might find deeper insight in my other blog posts, especially "The Divine Design: The Connection Between Blood, the Cardiovascular System, and Scripture" and “From orphan parts to wholeness in Christ”. Both explore how our physical and emotional experiences are deeply woven into our spiritual design. And if you're ready to take the next step in healing and reconnecting with Christ within, our Embody His Love Somatic Package offers a gentle, faith-integrated path to wholeness. Want to learn more? Book a free discovery call today — I’d love to talk with you.
