A theme that winds through much of the conversation around health & healing, our collective predicament, and our paths as individuals and as a whole, is TRUST. Do we trust ourselves, our community, our bodies, our minds? What does it mean to trust the path? And how do we cultivate this in an authentic and grounded way, so that it helps us to create a solid foundation from which to blossom. What stands in the way of trust? Well fear of course!
There is so much unknown at this time in our history. It appears that from where we stand, there are possible futures. Which path we will take, has yet to be revealed on this physical plane of existence. Fear, has wound its tendrils throughout the collective consciousness, planting itself like a seed that has created immense division. The Pandemic has brought this aspect of human consciousness and experience to the forefront, which like everything in this dualistic reality, has its shadow and light aspects.
When fear drives us, we tend to look to external sources for guidance, and in this situation, we see how this has created the perfect circumstances for the supposed Dominant authority to exercise its capacity for Control. Control painted with the illusion of safety, empowered by the emotional state of fear, is what we are seeing unfold as we speak. We see how so many are willing to essentially hand over freedom & sovereignty, for the promise of safety; the irony being of course, that this safety is not guaranteed, nor likely.
Collective Mistrust in external authority is also a dominant theme we are seeing. And for good reason, it is the direct result of misuse and abuse of power that has pervaded human society for generations. And yet, one can still be resisting out of fear, and this can in ways still perpetuate a disassociation from inner guidance towards or against external authority, clouding our instincts and putting us on the defensive.
From the wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fear is related to the Kidneys, the water element. Fear as an energy, causes constriction, blocks the flow of energy, and stifles the natural unwinding process of our bodies and lives in general. The Kidneys supply the primordial essence that allows for life to exist within us, so one can imagine how detrimental to health it can be for this energy to be blocked. When translated into our Western medical language, fear triggers the fight or flight nervous system, cortisol is released from the adrenal glands (which sit atop the kidneys), causing overall constriction and hyperawareness. It essentially shocks the system out of whatever it was doing–digesting, healing, resting, etc–into a state that is ready to fight, run or freeze. We often notice that when caught in a web of fear, we stop breathing. We spiral into anxiety, which can then lead to rapid mental spinning about what it means, what is the truth, what do I do, what if the worst happens?
Unfortunately, answers rarely come from this state. Or rather, the answers from within, from our inner guidance systems. Instead we tend to seek answers from outside of ourselves, we look to authority. This is not to say that support or guidance isn’t helpful, in fact it is often essential when we are in vulnerable spaces. And yet discerning between that which is truly supportive, or that which is taking advantage of an opportunity to exercise control or power over, is important to keep in mind/heart here.
From the perspective of Trust, we could say that everything is happening exactly how it needs to, for the evolution of humanity. That the forces pulling us away from freedom, are inviting us to essentially dig deeper and discover our inner authority and true wellbeing. This can also be said for dis-ease states. As uncomfortable as we may be, there is a golden lining to every hardship, that being that we discover inner strength, we unwind harmful habits, behaviors and belief patterns. We are brought into a state of deeper self-knowing and love, it is inevitable along the path of healing. We learn to accept responsibility from a foundation of self-trust and love, rather than finding fault, which is often rooted in self judgment, blame and shame.
Trust waits on the other side of facing our fears. It is the gift of walking through our shadows and finding ourselves more whole on the other side. Trust is a gift of taking time to listen to our inner voice and honor the messages. Honor what feels like a yes or no. Allow for the natural progression of life to unfold, trusting that the challenging times are a necessary part of the process towards sovereignty and optimal well being. In the body, trust invites deep breathing, the nervous system relaxes, and things are allowed to flow as they need to, as they do naturally.
The first step to finding trust and detaching ourselves from being taken away by, or controlled by fear, is to get to know it and identifying your personal fears.
- Where do they come from? Are they inherited, are they a result of trauma?
- What does the energy of fear feel like within you?
- How does it affect you, what is your response to this energy?
- How can you be compassionate with your fears, without letting them guide your actions and choices?
- What does trust mean to you?
- What would it mean to trust yourself? How would you approach your life, your relationships if this was the dominant belief you held about yourself and life, that it is to be trusted?
Getting to know how it feels within, will better help you to stay present with the experience rather than being taken away by it. It also offers an opportunity to adjust. To bring back the breath. To speak affirmations or mantras to ourselves to activate the desired state of trust. Imagine breathing energy straight into your Kidneys and adrenal glands, relaxing any tension in your muscles, heart & face. Coming back to your center, acknowledging the Fear, and settling back into Trust.