Healing Is Captured By The Energy Of The Spiral

To be human is to experience grief. That experience proved to be emblematic for our encounters with conventional Western medicine. As we began to read more widely and talk with a range of holistic practitioners, we discovered a broader range of traditions from across cultures to support healing. After Paul’s death five months later, I continued my exploration and extended my personal practices as I searched for answers, for comfort, and for wisdom. Over several years I made changes in my work life, broadening my base as an educator to become a leadership coach. Every year millions of us die and each one leaves behind family and others who try to make sense of their loss. I regularly use some of these myself and teach them to others in therapy and in workshops, integrating cultural and spiritual practices that have demonstrated their value. These resources focus on those parts of us that are affected when we grieve, and demand our attention as we heal. My experience of grief and healing is captured by the energy of the spiral. Many moments in grief when I felt myself fall lower or spin out of control. As my recovery and healing began, I had moments where I was aware of a shift or a change, a glimpse of peace or hope, and my energy spiralled upwards and outwards in incremental steps. Many times, I thought I was on my way out of it, only to discover that my recovery was slipping away.

All Sold Out

It draws on the wisdom of lived experience and on customs and practises that reflect the wisdom of ages and cultures. It uses that same lens to identify some pathways for healing. We might experience this when out in nature, or after a holiday, or in other peak experiences. Our vitality is an expression of the universal life force that unites all living things. This vitality can be disrupted and depleted in times of grief. Conversely, it can be restored and balanced as part of the healing process. The word chakra is the Sanskrit word for wheel, and the chakras represent energy centres within and beyond the body. Chakras are part of the ancient wisdom and have been taught in a number of spiritual traditions and approaches to healing. While there are many chakras, the main seven are numbered from the lowest parts of the torso and continue to the top of the head. Each of these seven positions is allocated a colour from the rainbow. Just beneath the body is the earthstar chakra, which sits about thirty centimetres below our feet. It supports our existence and our other chakras, and is often represented by the blacks and browns of the earth.

Feet in the Clouds

Just above the body is the soulstar chakra, which sits about fifteen centimetres above the crown of the head. Also known as a transpersonal chakra, this connects our energy with spiritual consciousness and is often represented by a golden colour. There are several chakras in our hands, with the main ones sitting in the centre of each palm. These are an extension of our heart chakra, and through them the energy of love and belonging flows within and without. For our purposes it will be represented by the colour magenta. Each one also has a range of expressions to allow us to build awareness and access these portals to our life force. These short mental announcements repeat key ideas to ourselves and to others. As we make those statements over and over, we change the physical structure of our brains, making it easier to experience those thoughts again. Such patterns can hold us in a rigid mindset that makes it hard to see possibilities and solutions. These statements reinforce present difficulties and predict a difficult future. These affirmations have momentum and energy. They reinforce capacity and predict even more success.

Stick To Your Guns

Positive affirmations can be used intentionally to change patterns of unhelpful thoughts. They are more than wishes for things to be different. They declare in active language and in the present tense, those patterns you are claiming now, in order to shape your own story. They can replace negative and critical scripts that keep you stuck in unhelpful ways of thinking about yourself and your circumstances. Using affirmations each day can deepen a sense of calm and possibility. If you become aware of a negative or critical statement, you might then modify it slightly. For example, if a regular affirmation is Life has been so hard, you might change the emphasis by adding your intention so that it becomes Life has been so hard until now, or Life has been hard, and it is getting easier. Eventually you can shift to a positive affirmation such as My life is in flow. This takes some practise but is really worthwhile as our minds are so powerful. Whatever we think becomes our reality, so affirming the positive rather than the negative is a powerful resource for recovery from grief. To journal is to reflect on the day and then capture those thoughts and feelings in text or drawing or symbol. Sometimes the first time we become aware of our thoughts and feelings is when we read what we have written. At times you might choose to write your answers, while at other times you might just reflect on a question over time, allowing it to open new thoughts for you. Withdrawal from everyday activity for a few moments or for sustained periods Stillness, supported by conscious breathing Gentle observation of thoughts, allowing them to arrive and pass Intentional focus on desired states such as awareness, peace, serenity, or compassion. When I first began to meditate it gave me small glimpses of a hidden calm between crowding thoughts as I concentrated on my breathing. With practise, those moments began to extend beyond the meditation itself and flow across my life. I no longer struggle to do it the right way, but rather notice myself and come back to my own deep breath.