Encounters with Autistic Souls

So many variations of autism and the abilities and disabilities are there. Every community should have educational forums for parents and their children to outreach and educate them on what methods work for their child’s autism and or special mental abilities. I say abilities because a child that is different from others is not a freak or mentally ill and not to give up hope on their potential. 

They like to wear certain clothing, eat certain foods, and some textures turn them away in environment and foods, etc. Even the temperature of things. Sometimes, they pace to soothe and let them pace as they are thinking and needing the excess energy while thinking to move because it feels intense. There is no set way of working with autistic and being with autistic individuals…Their sensory is at a high level and that can overwhelm them. Sometimes, they do hum to soothe as well or rock but that’s a signal to learn what is working to soothe and what were they soothing themselves from? What do I take note of to understand and assist if I can to get them to the place of calm with their puzzles, games, toys or favorite blanket, hat, jacket, shoes…etc. 

I have seen if they know an aggressive individual towards them that they become erratic and difficult because they don’t like their presence is not calming. At times I have seen them spin to recenter or feel in control afterwards.

Autistic folks like a stable routine and schedule. They are good at what they love to do and focus well on this. This is the strength when we can apply it to living together and at home and the community. I encountered autistic person who loved intricate puzzles, even the rubric's cube and animal type toothbrushes so the best place was to treat him on an intricately designed and colorful oriental rug. I would hand him the tooth brush and he would smile and then play calming music and the same so I had to make note of this…I remember he wasn’t feeling well and he was fussy but the new music upset him so I played the same one I used on his other sessions as I was doing ionic footbath on him because he was from Netherlands and the the fish had mercury in it and his mother wanted this gentled detoxification for him but he wasn’t having it…the music set him off and he wouldn’t sit still so his mother apologized and took him and said he wasn’t feeling well. I told the boy calmly I hope you feel better and enjoy your new toothbrush.

Another young man who was autistic was highly functional and worked and engaged in serving and helping his mother with her catering business. He was pleasant and when we had the art center with our program; he was drumming, laughing, telling jokes and doing yoga and accompanied me when sound healing was offered on paint and jam nights. His favorite shirt was a large yellow striped one and he loved to play the crystal bowl. He could tell which note the crystal bowls were by just a tap and hearing it. He was amazing. He was awesome at gaming as well.

Another autistic girl was upset because of the change of environment recently coming from another state and would yell if taken out of the car because of the new environment was uncertain for her and I could tell she felt life…They feel so much and it can be overwhelming if the environment changes….it is best to bring their favorite toys or games they can soothe themselves with. We were drumming by the water and my husband asked her to drum but she didn’t want to hold it but listen to it and I said, “It’s okay; she feels the music and she wants to feel it and her face calmed down.” The parents looked at me as if I said something phenomenal! I said, I know someone with this and I think she feels things and that’s okay and she must love EDM music because she can feel it. Her Dad confirmed with a smile. So he had a few kids with his wife and possibly Mother who lived where we did and seemed overwhelmed and then he had a younger son who was autistic as well and he drummed so I played my rattle and didgeridoo to his beat. He was having a great time. Of course, he didn’t want it to end but they had other places to go and we were heading out for our lunch together on such a beautiful sunny Fall day.

The variations of having some type summer ‘camp’ where they go for a few hours and we learn from them what works and doesn’t work and never force but find ways to get them motivated at their own pace and interactions…Creating an environment of calm regular stable music, the patterned rugs and art and just let them know and accept who they are and their world is deeper than we think and patience and understanding and making changes to how we engage and see these different souls is essential to teach and be a society that unites to understand and do things with unconditional love.

The autistic person goes at a certain pace, usually cannot handle money and business finances but has skills on products and regular tasks. Routine is important…it’s as if the footage on earth needs help planting them and they function at the slower pace in engagement but with patience; you learn what works for them and go from there. A society willing to be open to learning, to understanding and not forcing the autistic person into a pace and way of doing and allow the exploration of this with them and sticking to what works. It’s not easy when the parents have no resources or offerings to help them not think the label is the end and pat themselves on the back for being there and making this world a place their child can thrive in their own capacity.

I am not an expert but there are a lot of mental labels and it’s just scientific classification and understanding that is not a badge of shame but a sign of expanded creativity in how the mind works and how it can resolve into its own pace and peace in this fast moving world. Love one another and be present and see potential and find ways that work to thrive instead of shame and restrict. 

I am not a therapist or psychotherapist or psychologist but sharing my encounters with the autistic variations of people like the color of our skin and shape of our bodies and the way we find passion in life and carry ourselves is so diverse…Prayers we come together for understanding and find ways to elevate each other. Just sharing so others understand my encounters may help them as I learned.

Well, you have a great rest of the year. Enjoy the potential and explore this in yourselves and others around you. Everyone has a story to share and tell and the living lessons they present to each other is a way to harmony and understanding. 

Have a Happy Holiday you all. I am out of town November 29 until Feb 3.  Much loving light wisdom hugs transferring from above.