Part II: Radiance ~ Bona Dea Journal Series

Radiance is the glow that emanates from the dance of unseen forces moving in coherence. Similar to resonance in sound, where aligned waves amplify one another, or otherwise known as constructive interference, as opposed to the dimmed sounds of destructive interference. When energies move synergistically, they radiate. It’s a kind of recognition of aliveness that expands upon itself.

Radiance within the body is a sign of vitality moving freely. It arises when life is allowed to move through a person without obstruction. It’s when the body is fuelled well, it has adequate energy production, clear circulation, metabolic flexibility, and a nervous system that can soften again after stimulation. The body is a genius ecosystem made of multiple parts working in harmony, with vitality as the rhythmic current humming beneath it all. It is felt in sleep-wake cycles, appetite, digestion, libido, creativity, menstruation and the seasonal nature of our bodies.

Traditional medical systems speak of vitality as qi, prana, or ojas. These are refined life forces supported through the foundations of living well: strong and steady digestion, rest, emotional regulation, meaningful connection and a life lived in alignment with one’s values. Vitality, in this sense, is something that emerges when the system feels safe, nourished, and supported. It is cultivated slowly, uniquely, and inwardly, responding to consistency, presence, and respect for the body’s natural rhythms.

The lymphatic system offers a clear mirror for understanding radiance as it’s a system designed entirely around movement and flow. Unlike the cardiovascular system, it has no central pump. It relies on breath, muscle contraction, posture, and gravity to keep fluid moving. When we move, lymph moves. When we stop, it stagnates.

Lymph carries cellular waste, immune by-products, excess fluid, and the residue of lived experience out of the tissues and back toward circulation for processing and elimination. It is the body’s inbuilt housekeeping system, constantly clearing space so life can continue to move through.

I often also see this reflected in the gut. Under consistent stress, we tense, bracing, holding on, sucking in the belly, interrupting flow. Over time, this can progress into digestive stagnation, slowed digestive juices, disconnection from appetite and the peristalsis that is responsible for keeping the bowels regular, becomes confused. So when food arrives, and the body struggles to meet it we are left nauseous, bloated, constipated and frustrated with our own digestion.

Practices for Radiance.

Feel into where your body is restrained. Breath deeply, exhale fully, drop your shoulders, unclench your jaw, soften your tummy without sucking in. Regular stretching, trunk rotations, dancing, shaking, screaming, allowing your emotions to come and go, these all generate movement physiologically and energetically, and act as internal pumps for lymphatic movement.

Find a consistent movement practice that enlivens you, whether it be yoga, running, reformer, qigong, weight training. This movement of energy within and around you, amongst the many physical benefits of strengthening, mobilising, and restoring, generates vitality and aliveness. The dance of all these moving parts working in synergy, is where the cadence of coherence is found and radiance is emanated.

By Ebany Holloway

Clinical Naturopath & Founder of Bona Dea