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SPIRIT
LODGE
LIBRARY
Healing
Page
8
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(Main
Links of the site are right at the bottom of the page)
Some of the almost 100 pages in this Healing section are below, to see the links to all of the pages please go HERE
Beyond Fear
© Lotus
For many of us, our parents were
too damaged or distracted by their own pain to give us what
we needed most, their love and attention. Like countless others,
my home atmosphere was one of abuse instilling in a very small
child the word “fear.” Traumatized by my childhood
and teen years, fear was my companion until I reached my late
thirties. The time had arrived to face my demons, resolve issues
and move forward.
What is fear:
Fear a debilitating emotional behavior that:
F– festers
E - expands
A - alters attitude
R– repeats responses
Fear is a prime motivator and from
a very early age fear helps shape our perceptions and determines
how we will react in given situations. Young and old, rich and
poor, woman, man … each of us experiences the “shadow
of fear” and what plagues us most … fear of not knowing
the outcome of an action, decision, or relationship.
As we strive to heal the shadows
of our life we begin taking better care of ourselves determined
to stop punishing, criticizing, and repressing our thoughts
and emotions. Nurturing the seasons of our soul, we discover
our rhythms, cycles and seasons. We learn to name and confront
our “demons," face our pain and walk through the valley
of “woundedness,” conquering whatever has kept us
prisoner. We also learn about acceptance, and how the act of
forgiveness sets us free moving us through passages of abuse,
rejection and abandonment.
We have awakened! It becomes clear
that love serves the higher purpose of our soul. We are ready
to embrace the mysteries of life, say good-by to negative beliefs
and behaviors and begin to experience moments of grace and gratitude.
Then the inevitable happens, a fear enters our mind and begins
to manifest.
We are tempted to believe “now
that we’ve connected all the dots,” there should be
absence of darker emotions. But of course, life isn’t like
that. Even with our best efforts, we will experience a time
when the energy of circumstances isn’t right for us. It
may be a personal healing process, an unresolved issue, a past
wound, the world around us, or perhaps for no reason we can
discern. And we learn, even as our spiritual awareness grows,
we cannot avoid the hurts of being human. Yet if we can learn
to acknowledge and embrace both the light and dark side of our
nature, we can move through life giving way to true acceptance
of ourselves and of others.
Before dismissing Negative Emotions,
be Honest While it’s true negative emotions, attitudes,
thoughts and feelings can throw our spiritual, mental,
emotional and physical bodies out of alignment; they are, as
Carl Jung states, a vital part of our psychological well-being.
Believing in life means to trust the process, be honest and
pay attention to what you are experiencing. Difficulty only
arises when we repress what we are truly feeling and hide behind
a mask … this is what stifles our growth and wisdom. I’m
not suggesting that we should invite more negativity into our
life, quite the contrary. I’m proposing we move into what
we fear and not away from it, that we meet the shadow side when
experiencing a difficult period rather than trying to avoid
it. That we acknowledge it, feel it, sit with it, embrace and
dance with it, allowing “it” to dissipate into a mist
of clarity so that it won’t manifest as disease or some
other problem.
When we live each day with an open
heart and mind, we enter a realm of balance and peace knowing
full well that whatever arrives we will look it straight in
the eye, neither “grasping” nor “resisting”
but embracing. It’s Okay not to Know As most of you know,
last November my husband and I decided to move to the mainland.
Living closer to our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren
filled our hearts with immense joy and excitement. I was thrilled!
Upon arriving, you can imagine our shock to discover the building
we had chosen to move into was in a state of disarray, and due
to circumstances beyond our control we had little choice but
to move in. My home, which had always been a peaceful sanctuary,
was now a construction site! Along with the never-ending sounds
of jack-hammers, electric power drills, saws, compressors, unbelievable
delays, inappropriate inspections, paint fumes, workmen, [you
get the picture] everywhere turmoil existed and compounding
the problems was my health. Frustrated and running out of patience,
it was difficult to remain in a state of calm. Mindful of how
to redirect negative energy, that didn’t stop me from having
what I call a “melt-down.” My energy depleted I was
exhausted and teary-eyed, battling with the constant challenges.
When would this nightmare be over I wondered. I was aware harmony
was within reach but I had entered a stage of fear. In the back
of my mind I knew what was needed, time and practice had taught
me well but where would I find the peace and quiet I so desperately
needed to listen. I found myself struggling to remain calm until
I chose to engage with what was going on. Looking at my situation
with complete honesty it was time to stop resisting and experience
what I was feeling. As the saying goes, “let it all hang
out,” and so I did! As the poet Rilke says, "What
fights with us is so great.”
Reclaiming my power I found refuge
during the wee hours of each morning. Before the sun had time
to rise, silence ruled and I had time to sit with Spirit. Days
became weeks, weeks became months and with each passing day,
I sat quietly not asking or questioning but simply being. Learning
to see my adventure with quiet understanding challenged every
fiber of my being but I knew in time there would be an outcome
for the truth about life is that everything passes and life
does change. And so I chose to draw closer to what I was feeling
rather than run.
Seven months later, a workman couldn’t
be found. No more pounding, paint fumes, sand or dust. I could
use the elevator, sit out on the patio and enjoy the beautiful
mountain-view, open and close
the verticals, see out the windows, take a bath, cook without
the alarm screeching, wash and dry clothes, and best of all,
the power of stillness had returned! Sometimes we forget to
embrace what we fear choosing to run rather than reap the benefits
of facing the challenge. Who we become, how we grow, change
and face the challenges of our lives, is intimately connected
to accepting all parts of our selves. Listening and becoming
sensitive to our needs restores our natural balance. Learning
to release all the blocks that stand in our way including the
“shadow” parts is empowering and freeing.
Light versus Dark ~ conclusion The
call to pay attention and address our fears is beyond question
and it becomes clear that the Shadow part of our being holds
significant positive features and needs assimilation not rejection.
But wait a moment, here we are discussing how to work on and
integrate our fears yet I can’t help but wonder do we resist
the noble aspects of our character more strenuously than the
dark sides? Do we dismiss the light we radiate outward, forgetting
the beauty of our soul presence or the ember that glows within
us? Are we quicker to judge or blame rather than embrace and
love ourselves? To own one’s shadow consists of embracing
not only aspects of our character that have not been given a
conscious place in our life but to also embrace the light and
love we exemplify. Within each of us lies the power to be all
we can be. Honor and embrace all that you are and remember there
will be an outcome for the truth about life is that everything
passes and life does change!
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Libraries
are on this row
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INDEX
Page 3
(Main Section, Medicine Wheel, Native Languages &
Nations, Symbology)
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INDEX
Page 5
(Sacred Feminine & Masculine, Stones & Minerals)
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©
Copyright: Cinnamon Moon & River WildFire Moon (Founders.)
2000-date
All rights reserved.
Site
constructed by Dragonfly
Dezignz 1998-date
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