Episode 78: About peace and the Middle East, with Tracy Alexander

Tracy Alexander was working as a news reporter in her home country, Australia when she got a call about a job in Israel. Excited for the opportunity to help shape a more conscious narrative in one of the most contentious regions of the planet, she accepted the job. But four years later Tracy found herself leaving the news altogether, disheartened by the fear that the media was perpetuating.

Now she is a meditation teacher and Integrated Alignment Coach, still living in Israel and helping people do deep healing work. In this powerful and important episode - where I myself have multiple “aha” moments in my education about the Middle East - Tracy helps us understand the narrative layer of the conflict better, and also how to relax our nervous systems so we can practice true compassion. 

Listen here on Apple Podcasts.

Listen here on Spotify.

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Show Notes:   

Recap

• 0:00 - Welcome Tracy Alexander to the podcast!
• 4:00 - Tracy dives into her background and her story. 
• 9:25 - Tracy’s experience preparing for the podcast, and about returning to the heart space. 
• 12:15 - How do we come from a place of compassion in the face of death? How much healing needs to be done first?
• 15:20 - What are you trying to defend? What is under threat inside of you? 
• 17:40 - Going back to the nervous system.
• 19:30 - Compassion and balance.
• 22:00 - The “How To” of compassion.
• 28:00 - Offsetting our stress and threat responses.
• 29:30 - Our collective fight or flight, and its origin.
• 32:50 - It begins and ends with healing. 
• 33:50 - Elissa asks Tracy if she wants to say any more about what compassion is.
• 39:00 - We are not the stories we have inherited. 
• 42:30 - Elissa responds to everything Tracy has been saying and shares some sensations, as well as lessons and aha moments.
• 53:00 - Our voice body connection process check-in. Elissa feels heaviness in her feet and ankles. Groundedness. Tracy feels an energetic pulse below her ribs. And, she has no desires.
• 1:00:00 - Elissa shares some insights that came from a recent meditation retreat she attended. Tracy dives into purpose and dharma.
• 1:02:25 - Tracy answers what it means to her to have a voice and speak her truth.
• 1:05:00 - Tracy and Elissa dive into truth. 
• 1:07:12 - Tracy shares how you can reach her and about her upcoming offerings. 
• 1:08:30 - A note on moving forward. 
• 1:12:15 - Tracy shares a true story.
• 1:19:13 - What is the point of making meaning? Tracy shares stories to paint the importance of context.
• 1:23:40 - Elissa’s next layer of epiphanies.

Resources

You can reach Tracy on Instagram here and her website here.

You can listen to Tracy’s guest appearance on the Social JustUs podcast, Unpacking the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict here, which includes much more detail and story than was covered in this episode.

Here’s a video of Tracy’s news show, Perspectives, this clip on Nakba Day.

This is an article by Matti Friedman from the Atlantic (a former AP news reporter) that Tracy recommends to understand how the media is a unique player in the conflict in Israel, and how that shapes the narrative we receive elsewhere.

The somatic practice Elissa studies and teaches is called Body-Mind Centering.

This video was posted on Instagram by the IDF (the Israel Defense Forces) on May 17th, regarding the Hamas charter to kill all Jews. And here is a video where they call off a bombing because Palestinian children are present.

This is the phone call Tracy was referring to in which an IDF soldier calls a Palestinian civilian to tell them to evacuate before a bombing, and the Palestinian man says he chooses to die.

A message from an Israeli Arab about how the facts get distorted.

This is the Instagram post from YK Hong that Elissa shared that began her journey to understanding this conflict more deeply, and language to use. 

This is a link from the Instagram account @soyouwanttotalkabout with a perspective on the ethnic cleansing of Palestine, sent by the follower/student Elissa mentioned. That person also shared this link, this link, and this link.

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Production Credits:

Our Editor is Sean Brennan

Our Photographer and Graphic Designer is Laura Sills

Our Videographer is Miguel Garzón Martínez

And our theme song is “Waters of Body” by Strange Weather

Please note that Amazon links in the show notes are connected to the Voice Body Connection Associates account. All other partner links are acknowledged. Thank you for supporting the podcast!