| Hello Dear One,
The USA election is moving me to write this. No matter the outcome, the feelings of separation, betrayal and mistrust will continue to be intense. There’ll be anger, fear, and uncertainly. Many of our hearts, spirits, and minds will be tender and ultra-stressed.
How do we come back to each other? Where will be find common ground? Those are questions that stretch way beyond politics.
In sticky or stressful situations, I don’t know where the common ground will be, but I believe it is up to me to create spaciousness for it by becoming a welcoming presence. That is not always easy.
Recently I went through a few weeks where a series of heart-wrenching circumstances converged and jangled my nervous system. My mind went into over-drive, my belly tied itself in knots, my breath found it’s comfort zone in shallowness. On top of that, the election shenanigans amped up everything. I couldn’t find my own ground, much less common ground.
At times like these I have my favorite practices that bring me back to myself. I’ve shared them with you before but here I go again. For me they’re a version the homeopathic Rescue Remedy except they’re not just for emergencies.
These are each stand-alone practices, but linked together their medicine is super-charged. It doesn’t take much to support healthy change. Play with these and take what serves you.
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Feel it:
Stay with your body sensations. Can you feel what’s there without spinning a “this is why” story? Is it possible to feel what is arising in your body without even labeling it – see what happens when the labels “fear”, “anger” “sadness” slide away. What’s left in this moment? Yes, stay with your body sensation and it will begin to soften and move.
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Shake, shake, shake it:
Energy wants to move, and shaking is one of the very best ways to do that. Super-charge your shaking with sound and breath.
You’re making room for something new, fresh – maybe even surprising. |
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Restore harmony:
Once I’ve got some energy moving then I can turn my attention toward a fresh, heart-felt connection.
I love the beautiful Hawaiian practice of Ho’oponopono. Ho’oponopono means “to make things right”.
There are many versions of this available if you’d like guidance. Here’s one – 3 Minute Ho’oponopono Meditation
Holding the person you feel separate from in your thoughts and speak these statements, giving yourself time to bring deep intention to the words:
I’m sorry.
Please forgive me.
Thank you.
I love you.
Repeat these several times.
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Cultivate Compassion:
After the ho’oponopono meditation I’m ripe for the simple and potent Compassion Exercise from the Avatar Personal Integrity Course @ AvatarEPC.com You can find a video of this practice here – The Compassion Exercise
Similar to the ho’oponopono practice, this does not take much time. The quality of attention you bring is more important than the number of minutes.
With attention on the person, repeat to yourself:
“Just like me, this person is seeking some happiness for his/her life.”
With attention on the person, repeat to yourself:
“Just like me, this person is trying to avoid suffering in his/her life.”
With attention on the person, repeat to yourself:
“Just like me, this person has known sadness, loneliness, and despair.”
With attention on the person, repeat to yourself:
“Just like me, this person is seeking to fulfill his/her needs.”
With attention on the person, repeat to yourself:
“Just like me, this person is learning about life.”
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After these practices check-in with yourself and your answers to these questions:
“What can I do now that I couldn’t do before?” and
“What do I want to have happen?”
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| And because we don’t have to do things all on our own, I find valuable support through Soul-based Coaching sessions I receive from one of my colleagues. Her artful guidance leads me to insights, wisdom and a full-body feeling of resourcefulness that helps me meet challenging situations with clarity and love. I am grateful.
Then from that ground of my own being, I find that field that Rumi talks about in the passage below.
Let’s meet there.
With love and possibilities,
Sharon
If you’re curious about the Soul-based Coaching approach or could use some support finding your own inner wisdom, please reach out to me.
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Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing,
There is a field. I’ll meet you there.
When the soul lies down in that grass,
The world is too full to talk about.
Ideas, language, even the phrase each other
Doesn’t make any sense.
Rumi
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