Chasing Ice – After Thoughts

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As a level-headed, spiritual being, i KNOW the solution to every problem is love. Finding out how to apply said solution can be a real challenge.

 
http://www.chasingice.com/see-the-film/james-balogs-photo-gal
Recently i watched ‘Chasing Ice’, about an inspiring photographer who records glaciers receding all over the world.  The sped-up, time-lapse images of these mammoth formations disappearing into the ocean, was like watching lines of ice soldiers marching to their cold death.  Rank after rank after icy rank.  It reminded me of the men going to their deaths during the invasion of Normandy (as seen in Saving Private Ryan).  One life extinguished then replaced & repeated by another and another and another.

i allowed my consciousness to zoom out in search of a global solution to the issues we face on our planet.  i see humans: all our wars, hatred & fighting between ourselves.  i see governments who value money over life and instill corresponding beliefs in their citizens.  i see all the pain and suffering unnecessarily endured on Earth because people aren’t aware of another way to live.  i see the open-minded ones, lost-in rage against societal systems and conspiracies.  i see apathy and total desensitization to all the problems we face as a planet.

My heart feels so heavy and sad.  i feel powerless against the weight of ‘all this’.  i have the feeling if i allow this one tear to escape the dam will burst and double the oceans.  i feel like no matter what i write, what i do, what i say – nothing will change because it’s all been said before.  i feel the collective guilt of how we are living in relationship to our Earth is just...wrong (not a word i use lightly).


i want to cry out ‘it’s not my fault’!  But it’s not your fault either.  And i also know, neither is it their fault.  It is how it is.  And how it is can change.

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i’m in the playground, around 10 years old & i walk past the headmaster.  He points to a crisp packet lying on the ground. 

“Put it in the bin” he instructs me. 

“But i didn’t drop it.  It’s not mine!” i answer. 

“Doesn’t matter.  Throw it away.” and on he walks.  i was annoyed by this encounter for a long time, maybe even years.  Why should i clean-up someone else’s trash?  It wasn’t fair of him to order me around like that!

But maybe Mr Munroe saw the bigger picture.  The collective picture.

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As i continue to circle the world with my consciousness, the reoccurring problem i see is ‘us against them’, separation, difference, divide.  We are investing so much of our energy and lives being against.


In 2008, i spoke with a young Tibetan at the holy Mount Kailash.  I asked him,

“Aside from freedom for Tibet, what would you like to happen in your country?” 

 He thought a while and then replied, “For all the tribes to come together.  All the people from all over Tibet to stop fighting between themselves and unite.”


It had never occurred to me that Tibetans might have their own internal feuds – that there was infighting & separation between them as a people.  It stunned me that even in the face what was happening within their country, they could remain divided.  Couldn’t they find a way to drop the rifts which had torn them apart for centuries & come together to find a solution to the bigger issues they faced?


Isn’t that what any intelligent life would say if taking a peak at humans inhabiting Earth?

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It’s time for us to unite.  If we can come together now, it is possible for us to bring about a great and positive change in this beautiful world. Our home.


This isn’t something ‘they’ have to do.  This is something ‘we’ will do.  This is where the solution of love enters. 

Love has no ‘us & them’.  Love flows everywhere.



May i offer some practical guidance too?  This is where i’m going to start…

i chose to be aware whenever my mind separates ‘us' & 'them’ and remember that we are all in this together.  100%.  Now is the time for us to Rise and Shine.

i choose to cultivate compassion for all on Earth.  i see so much positive change happening.  i keep my focus on all the inspiring, uplifting, incredible things that humans are doing for each other and for the Earth.  i join in with all projects (physically or energetically) which are healing our species and our world.

i choose to be a conscious consumer – reduce, reuse, recycle.

i choose to be grateful for every meal.  Giving thanks to the Earth, and all involved, in the process of alchemising seed into this nourishing plate of food.
i am letting go of all separation which existed within me.  i am learning how to be compassionate, kind, patient and loving toward myself.  

i am part of the solution.

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http://www.chasingice.com/see-the-film/trailer/












 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cTBlGcZCeA

I also found this trailer incredibly inspiring & uplifting...



Healing my Dislocated Knee

where it happened!
Lying in the snow with my kneecap dislocated, being unable to get it back into place, my mind was whirring with thoughts of doctors, x-rays, crutches, hospitals, insurance companies & many weeks of physiotherapy and recovery.  I made the decision right then to attempt to heal this without western medicine.  Within 5 minutes my wonderful boyfriend had pulled my leg enough (not metaphorically speaking) and the kneecap was back to its original place.  

I’d like to put a little caveat here.  This is me sharing my personal experience of handling a dislocation.  I am in no way recommending that others should follow such steps.  My only suggestion is that we each listen to our own body and act in accordance with what is best for us.  I present this as my true experience of using energy work to heal a physical ailment.  That all said, i hope you’ll find something interesting to assist you in your healing journey – be well!


What did i do during the dislocation?
1.     Became aware of my breathing & slowed it down. 
Breathing through my mouth and reminding myself that freaking out about things never helps.
2.     I used E.F.T./ Tapping
Tapped on my cheekbone point (the only one i could easily reach based on how i was positioned).  My statement was something like “Even though my knee is dislocated, it’s okay for me to relax.  Even though i’m freaked out and really scared, i choose to trust that things are going to be okay.”
3.     I asked for Reiki energy to flow through me. 
This also involved praying for the angels and guides to be with me & to help the process.


Quick List
Here's a quick list of healing modalities i used...scroll down to read about which ones interest you in more detail:
  • Watching the thoughts / awareness of shock
  • Bach flower essence - Rescue Remedy
  • Listening to my body (and how to do that)
  • Tarot
  • E.F.T. / Tapping
  • Affirmations
  • Reiki
  • Flower of Life
  • Crystals & Gemstones
  • Talking to Like-Minded Friends
  • Putting the pieces together
  • Natural Anti-inflammatory Foods
  • Elasticated Knee Support
  • Rest and Relaxation
  • Physiotherapy / Exercises
  • Walking Meditation

Healing Modalities Used
Watching the Thoughts
i became aware that i was in shock, that i was utterly overwhelmed with emotions.  Realising this helped calm me down and to accept the myriad of thoughts and emotions, without reacting to them.

Bach Flower Essences
I immediately took some drops of Bach Flower Essences ‘Rescue Remedy’ which is great for people in shock & high stress {link}.







Listening to My Body
I decided that this whole experience of dislocating my knee would be an exercise in listening to my body.

It saddens me how much control over our bodies we hand over to doctors.  I truly value many doctors & believe they do many wonderful things to help us heal.  However, it seems like we’ve been brought up believing that they know our bodies better than we do.  That they know what’s best for us.  I wanted to readdress this balance and see if i could listen to my body’s inherent wisdom.

Consider how many things our bodies do without our awareness.  Our bodies naturally want for us to be healthy.  They want to help us heal.  I knew that if i listened to my body it would guide me & whisper to me the things it needed for recovery.

How to ‘listen to my body’?
‘Listening to my body’ means tuning inside to hear/feel/see whether something i wanted to try was a ‘yes’ ‘no’ or ‘maybe’.  One exercise you can try to learn what your ‘yes’/’no’ feels like: 
1.     Close your eyes, relax and let your focus go to the area around your heart. 
2.     Ask yourself “was my name at birth…[state your birth name]?”
3.     Tune into the reaction in your body.  This is a ‘YES’.  It often feels like an opening, expansive feeling in your chest, others may ‘hear’ something more affirmative and some may ‘see’ an image which lets them know it’s YES – everyone experiences it differently.
4.     Ask yourself “Was my name at birth Reginald Morris Clark?” [unless that’s your name!]
5.     Tune into the reaction in your body.  This is a ‘No’.
You can try this with a series of questions of which you’re sure of the answer, parent’s names, place of birth, name of school.  When it’s clear to you how you’re yes & no presents itself to you, you can ask questions about how best to heal yourself.


Tarot

I love the Osho Zen Tarot deck {available online here}. i asked
  1. “What is the purpose of this injury/what will it teach me?” 
  2. “How can i heal this injury?”
  3. “What is the outcome?”
i then interpreted the cards & as they were incredibly positive and encouraging, i left them on my alter to remind me of their message.






E.F.T. (Emotional Freedom Techniques)
This was one of the major ways i cut through the trauma of what had happened.  I’m an avid E.F.T. Practitioner & it’s one of my primary healing modalities.  I’ve been using it for some years now & i give private sessions, circles & workshops.  Still, i’d never tapped on a physical trauma in my own body. 

i've detailed the whole process of what i specifically said as i tapped.  You can read about it {here}.


Affirmations
Some of the positive statements/affirmations which i tapped in (see E.F.T. above):
It’s possible for me to heal my knee.
I’m grateful for receiving support from others.
I am proud of my commitment to healing myself.
I am grateful for this opportunity to listen to my body
I am excited to use my healing tools in a new way.
I know how to take care of myself.
I care for my well being.
I am strong.
I heal quickly.
I choose to believe that my knee will have a full and complete recovery. 
It’s possible for my knee to be even stronger after this experience.
The healing of my knee can happen at a quantum light speed, as i’m using quantum light speed tools!
I am curious to discover what lovely surprises the Universe has in store for me & how it will help & support my recovery. 


Reiki
Reiki is, for me, completely indescribable.  To have pure, universal love flowing through one’s hands.  It is a high vibration healer.  As a Reiki Master (of the Usui lineage), i have practised a lot of Reiki and it was exciting to use it on one of my own physical issues.

I asked for Reiki energy to flow through me, with the help of my angels, guides, spirits and all the masters who’ve gone before.  i put my hands on either side of my left knee & allowed the healing to take place.

Straight after the dislocation, I used Reiki in conjunction with E.F.T.  Sometimes the tapping would get too intense and i would need a break, so i would chanel Reiki for the specific issue, then after about 5-15 minutes return to the E.F.T. practice.

In the days following the dislocation, i used more Reiki and less E.F.T.  It seemed like I had tapped through all of the trauma and fears around being able to heal myself.  Thus I would sit with crystals & flower of life and ask for Reiki to flow (see below).


Flower of Life
The flower of life is an incredible piece of sacred geometry.  I absolutely adore this symbol and see it as a representation of a healthy cell.  I placed an image of the flower of life under my knee and instructed each of my cells to replicate this image within them.  I imagined the flower of life symbol being the pattern of each cell around my knee.

I combined this visualisation with Reiki (see above).
You can read more about the flower of life {here}.


Crystals & Gemstones
I respect crystals and gemstones as natural healers on our beloved planet.  A few years ago i would have considered this crazy, but i’ve had way too many healing experiences & connections to crystals to doubt them! 

I used a very special apophyllite crystal on top of my knee, with a flower of life symbol below my knee.  I did this mostly as i channeled Reiki.  However, at other times, i just let them hang out there, as i did something else.

I also used rose quartz for compassion & gentleness, kyanite to connect to guidance & clear quartz as a master healer.

You can read more about my love of crystals (and see some of the crystal necklaces i've made) here:  crystal-light-web.blogspot.com


Talking to Like-Minded Friends
i talked to 3 close friends (thank you Imana, Ashika & Jennifer), who i knew would support my decision to heal myself.  i asked for their prayers & supportive energy.  i decided not to tell anyone else about the dislocation, in case their worry & beliefs about healing flooded me with doubt.  After about 4 days i felt that i’d healed enough to tell my family (whose beliefs about medicine are different to mine, but i am grateful for their support). 


Putting the Pieces Together
This is a more cerebral part of the process, as i'm interested in finding the underlying pattern in things.  I knew i’d:
-       dislocated my knee
-       on the first day of spring
-       as i was walking into a yurt (like a hermit’s cave!)
I was aware that my thoughts were positive when it happened, so that didn’t seem related.  However, i took the rest of the pieces and received some insight into the deeper meaning of my injury, then i did some E.F.T. on what i’d discovered.


Natural Anti-Inflammatory Foods
I found a website with natural anti-inflammatory: some of the veggie items i already had at home (like broccoli, olive oil, turmeric).  I drank turmeric water & made some rice with a lot of turmeric.


Knee Support
I bought an elasticated support from the local pharmacy to assist me when i moved around.




Rest and Relaxation
I slept as much as my body needed (that was 14 hours the first night).  Before I fall asleep i ask the angels to give me the healing i need as i sleep.  I would also give myself Reiki before I fall asleep, which is standard practise for me!


Physiotherapy / Exercises
i found a couple of youtube videos with some simple physiotherapy exercises to strengthen the muscles around the knee.  I practiced these after 7 days of total rest.


Walking Meditation
After about 4 days of completely resting the knee, walking only the absolute minimum, I decided to walk around the yurt.  I have practiced walking meditation in the past, which involved walking incredibly slowly (so you are aware of each centimeter of your foot contacting & leaving the floor).  As i walked, i put special attention on my knee:  how it felt, was it painful? how was the alignment with my foot & hip?


What *did* i do that i wouldn't recommend?
Ice Pack
i filled a ziploc freezer bag with snow.  This is designed to reduce the swelling and associated pain.  I continued with ice packs for 24 hours, until i read this:

“From the viewpoint of Chinese medicine the opposite is true. While ice numbs and stops the heavy influx of inflammation and infection-fighting cells thus decreasing the pain, the long-term results are blocked energy and blood (which coldness causes), a slower healing process and a longer-term pain. Ice and coldness slow down circulation and congeal the blood, just as ice on a river stops the flow of water on the top. The flow of energy is then blocked, also.

With the application of heat (the sooner the better), fresh energy and blood are immediately brought to the location for healing with continued circulation. The heat also alleviates the pain and actually quickens the healing process, especially over the long run.”
http://www.planetherbs.com/therapies/barefoot-doctor-healing-techniques.html

Whilst we can’t believe everything we read online, this ‘felt right' (see 'Listening to my Body'  above) to me, as i’d had reservations about the ice from the get-go. i stopped the ice pack.   Knowing what i know now, i wouldn’t use an icepack at all.


Googling
Googling medical injuries has never made me feel better.  Ever!  But i did it anyway!  I was reminded of much of what i’d heard the other 3 times my knee had been dislocated:
      i should to go to A&E/E.R. get x-rays to check there wasn’t floating cartilage & that the patella was properly back in place,
      i would need around 6 weeks on crutches for my knee to recover before i could put weight on it,
      it would then take a further 6-16 weeks of physiotherapy for my knee to be healthy.

i didn’t believe it.  The last time it dislocated i was travelling in India & after taking x-rays, the doctor told me the most important thing was not to put weight on my knee for 7 days.  He gave me antibiotics to make sure i didn’t get an infection and anti-inflammatory to reduce the swelling.  (I refused pain killers.)  That was all 6 years ago & after the 7 days i was able to start walking around (very slowly).
So, straight off the bat, i didn’t believe that i needed such an extensive healing time.  However, i wanted to take care of my knee as it’s not something with which to gamble (walking & dancing are two of my favourite activities!).  i had to find the balance.  E.F.T. helped a lot in addressing those concerns.

If you really want to Google…consider adding keywords like “holistic”, “natural”, “healing” to what you're searching.  And remember that you don’t HAVE to believe what you read.  You can co-create your own healing process based on your beliefs.


Outcome
It is now 16 days after the dislocation and my knee is feeling fantastic.  I am careful not to walk too far & as much as possible i walk on even surfaces (like paved roads, as opposed to all the snow and ice which surrounds our yurt!).  I still wear the knee support when i’m walking further than a few steps.

i’d say she feels 90% healed.  When i can dance i will know i am completely healed, but i am not in any hurry.  Looking back it feels like a beautiful experience showing me that it is possible to heal physical issues with energy work.  This is a lesson i am so grateful to receive.  i feel a renewed strength in my beliefs of & commitment to holistic healing.  i am grateful to my body for telling me what she needs in order to heal.

Read the specific details of how i used E.F.T. during the knee healing process {here}.
Visit my E.F.T. website here:  EFTharmony.com 
Visit my crystal website here:  crystal light-web 
You can read my humorous account of the dislocation story on my yurt blog {here}.

Healing my Knee with E.F.T.

When my kneecap returned to its normal position, after a dislocation, i used E.F.T. to tap through the trauma.  Here i give a full script of what I said as I tapped.

I’d like to put a little caveat here.  This is me sharing my personal experience of handling a dislocation.  I am in no way recommending that others should follow such steps.  Nor am i suggesting that it is better than going down the route of western medicine.  My only recommendation is that we each listen to our own body and act in accordance with what is best for us.  I present this as my true experience of using energy work to heal a physical ailment.  It is important that we each take responsibility for our own bodies & listen to ourselves rather than anyone else.  That all said, i hope you’ll find something interesting to assist you in your healing journey – be well!

With E.F.T. it’s best to start on what is triggering you the most.  Within 5 mins of the 'relocation', I began tapping on:
"Even though I’m still in shock and it was very scary: I’m okay now.   It’s possible for me to tap through this experience with my knee and to feel calm."

Throughout this, taking deep, relaxing, breaths is incredibly important.

E.F.T. Tapping Points
Telling the Story Technique
I dived straight into the ‘telling the story’ technique.  I tapped through the E.F.T. Points {see above or watch this video} and told the story of exactly what happened:


"I am walking down the path, almost at the front door.  I feel happy because it is still snowing even though spring is almost here.  I lift my leg to take a step up onto the decking.  Then I don’t remember what happens but i’m falling and i think “my knee is doing that weird thing, when it almost dislocates but is then okay”.  But it wasn’t okay…it dislocated and i’m lying in the snow.  And my knee is dislocated."

Naturally, when i got to this point in the story huge bursts of emotions, shock and tears needed to be released.  A few rounds of tapping on:

"It felt wrong. But i’m okay now.  Right here and now, I am okay.  I am safe.  Even though i was so scared.  I still love and accept myself as I am."

After the intensity reduced further, i went into the specifics of what 'felt wrong':
"The bones were in the wrong place.  It felt bluerugh *shiver* *shudder* bleurgh.  I accept myself as I am.  I am still a good person.  I love my body as it is.  Everything’s going to be alright."

I had to do quite a few rounds on how ‘wrong’ it felt for the bones to be like this.  Which included going back and tapping on the 3 other times it had dislocated.

I continued telling the ‘story’ aloud…
"i was so scared because i was trying to push my knee back together, the way i had done in the past, but it didn’t work.  And i hated touching my knee and feeling the kneecap out there in the ‘wrong’ place.   And even though I was so scared, it’s possible for me to remember that everything was still okay. I can accept the reality that even though it felt ‘wrong’, it was actually perfectly ‘right’ because that’s where my kneecap needed to be in that moment.  And I can remember that in around 5 minutes it goes back into its usual place.
"Even though i felt so helpless i am still a good person.  Even though i hate feeling helpless and i hate that word: helpless, helpless, helpless [turbo tap!].  I deeply and completely love and accept myself exactly as i am.  It’s possible for me to realise that it’s okay to ask for help and support.  i don’t have to do everything on my own.  Even in those moments when i felt so alone, scared, out of control and helpless, I was still being supported by the Love of the Universe, of my angels, spirits and guides. I’m grateful to the angels who helped me in those moments. I was still supporting myself & doing what was best for me in that moment. I’m grateful to myself for taking care of me!"
"My cries attracted Antoine [my boyfriend] and he came, but he couldn’t reposition my kneecap either.  He was so calm & even though i was still terrified, i felt more relaxed just looking at him.  He changed my position and i was scared that he’d make it worse but it was okay.  He looked me in the eyes and reminded me that he’d studied this in his first aid course.  He asked if he could pull on my leg and i said yes.  As he pulled he asked if it was okay.  I told him it was.  I realised that i was breathing really quickly and i reminded myself that stressing and fast breathing never helps anything, so i calmed down my breathing. 
"But it wasn’t working.  It wouldn’t go back into place.  I was so scared again.  I thought I may have to go to the hospital.  And I had no idea how we’d get there, as there was a snow storm and the car is a 5 minute walk away.  Antoine told me he was going to put his foot on my chest to pull on my leg more.  I nodded.  But as he changed position he put his hand on my leg with the dislocated knee and the pain increased. 
"I realise this was an accident.  Even though it hurt so much.  Even though it was silly and thoughtless, i realise that he had my best interests at heart and was doing everything he could to help me.  I forgive Antoine for putting weight on my leg.  I release any bad feelings I have towards him for hurting me.  I am so grateful that he was there.
[This may seem silly & obvious to some, but it’s good to be totally honest with yourself as you go through the story & really tap on EVERY aspect of it.]
"I remembered to tap a little, so i was doing that.  I was focusing on my breathing & asking for help from the angels. Antoine pushed on my chest and pulled on my leg & my kneecap went back into place.  I felt so relieved, but completely overwhelmed.  As he helped me up i walked over to where I’m sitting now.  I thought I was going to vomit, but that feeling passed.
"And now I’m sitting here, tapping and it’s okay.  I honour how traumatic that experience was for me.  I am grateful that I’m taking care of myself right now.  In this moment, everything is okay.  I love and accept myself as I am.  I am strong and brave.  I am in the process of healing.  I trust that everything is going to be okay and that my knee can be strong again."

I then tuned in to see which parts of the story still had an intensity rating.  Then I told the story over again from the start.  I tapped a little more on the bone being out of place.  And I tapped more on the helplessness, until those had significantly reduced.  I ran through the whole story another time, realising that there was no shaking in my voice, no tears and that i felt neutral about the whole experience.

Completely amazed!  I tapped IN some of that too.  How proud i was of myself for being able to clear such a traumatic event in about 30 minutes.

Related Fears
i was aware that i was afraid to go outside.  i had slipped on the snow & as soon as i walked out the front door i would have to walk on snow again.  we live in a yurt, with a toilet a good 25 steps away, which meant i had to clear through that.

i asked my boyfriend to mirror me as we tapped through this fear.  The script was something along the lines of:

"Even though i'm scared to go outside and walk on the snow.  What if i fall and hurt myself again?  I deeply and completely love and accept myself.  This fear of walking on snow, leaving the yurt, walking on slippery snow.  I am a good person.  I accept the reality that in this moment I am scared of walking on snow.  That's okay.  It makes sense that i am trying to make sure I don't injure myself again.  I am grateful to myself for taking such good care of me.  
I also choose to remember that at some point in the future, it will be possible for me to walk on snow.  I can do this whenever I choose.  I can take this at my own speed.  If i have to find a way to stay in the yurt for a whole week, without going outside, i can do that.  Whenever i am ready i can walk on snow.  i can walk on snow *slowly* and *carefully* (repeat several times those words).  
Even though there's still a part of me which is scared of walking on snow, i can feel how this is lessening & i am becoming more ready to venture outside.  i am so grateful to myself for all this healing.  i am grateful to my body for repairing itself so well.  i am grateful to my mind for upgrading its beliefs so efficiently, with what is in accordance with my highest good.  
i forgive myself for any fear i had about walking on snow.  i realise now i was trying to keep myself safe.  The truth is that if i walk slowly and carefully on the snow, taking Antoine by the arm at first, I am ready to give it a try.  I can use my stick as I walk slowly and carefully on the snow.  If for any reason I don't feel comfortable, i can come straight back inside.  I feel ready to give walking on snow a try.  I love an accept myself however this goes."

About 15 mins after starting the tapping i was able to walk on snow without fear.  Antoine held my arm in the beginning, then i walked alone with my stick.  This was incredible!  Fifteen minutes earlier I had been trembling at just the thought of walking on snow, now i was able to feel confident in my slow and careful steps!


Further Tapping 
Tapping through the following fears, beliefs, self-talk: 
–      I can’t heal this myself.
–      Deeper fears around being helpless.
–      My desire to be ‘dislocated’ from society, like a hermit.

I also tapped through:
–      Unhealed memories/emotions from the 3 other times it dislocated.
–      The Conditioning (one of my tarot) from what doctors have told me in the past about knee dislocation.

Positive Statements / Affirmations
Some of the positive statements/affirmations which i tapped in where:
It’s possible for me to heal my knee.
I’m grateful for receiving support from others.
I am proud of my commitment to healing myself.
I am grateful for this opportunity to listen to my body
I am excited to use my healing tools in a new way.
I know how to take care of myself.
I care for my well being.
I am strong.
I heal quickly.
I love my knee!
I choose to believe that my knee will have a full and complete recovery. 
It’s possible for my knee to be even stronger after this experience.
The healing of my knee can happen at a quantum light speed, as i’m using quantum light speed tools!
I am curious to discover what lovely surprises the Universe has in store for me & how it will help & support my recovery. 

You can read more about the other healing techniques i used to heal my knee {here}.
Visit my E.F.T. website:  E.F.T. Harmony

The Slump

There are many types of ‘slumps’. I’m writing about a kind of intense negative overwhelm, which descends like a rain cloud, swamps you & renders you a sobbing, snotty mess for anything from a few hours to a couple of days.  This place feels lonely, depressed & dark:  as though you’re never going to experience happiness or light again.  Generally it feels pretty uncontrollable too.  It’s not that you really want to be there, but escaping the mood seems as impossible as lifting a house from your slumped body. 


Dr Seuss wrote “un-slumping yourself is not easily done” and i’m inclined to agree.  But, it is possible!  The ‘un-slump’ is inevitable!  i want to share some suggestions to assist in the slump process: what to do in times of emotional overwhelm. 
mount kaialsh, tibet, 2007
Talking with friends, i discovered that the slump is a common experience: gone through by many normal, lovely, fully-functional, happy people!  Although something rarely discussed, at least not openly & at ease.  Many want to give the impression that they’re happy all of the time.  Believing they will be judged, if admitting to occasional deviations from that general state of happiness.  (This seems especially true for us so-called ‘healers’.  We believe friends/clients/strangers will see us as weak or unqualified to work with.  Although by being honest, transparent & vulnerable in our healing process, is it possible we can inspire others that they’re in a familiar place & they too can overcome their slump?)
~♥~
As i was searching for un-slumping methods, one friend advised something which initially surprised me:
“Let the energy [emotion] reach the bottom - it's where it wants to go.  Just let it go down.  Eventually it will hit bottom & you will naturally begin to come up again.”  
This seems to go beyond just 'accepting'.  

Many of us relish the concept of ‘going with the flow’ & we feel good when we’re flowing with life.  Perhaps sometimes the flow takes us DOWN: it’s still ‘the flow’, but rather than floating on the river’s surface, we’re pulled under.  Fighting to stay afloat is akin to struggling upstream, against the river’s natural direction.  What if we can just surrender and, as my friend suggests, allow the energy to go down, until it naturally begins to flow back up?  Also, when we reach the bottom of a body of water, we can kick ourselves up from the bottom & propel ourselves more quickly to the surface.

~♥~
After realising all this, i was discouraged to share any techniques about un-slumping, as i don’t wish to deprive anyone from the experience life is gifting them.  Pondering this a while, i realised that these techniques should be shared, & you can decide for yourself which direction is best for you.  As a friend put it ‘sometimes you just need a breather’, may these suggestions bring breath & space to your being.

with love, 
jennifer
EFTHarmony.com


UPDATE 2015: More than anything that's noted here.  i would recommend checking out www.worldtappingcircle.com which is the BEST resource for when you're feeling down.
~♥~

WISDOM & APPROACHES – things to remember
~ Remember it will pass.  The I Ching says that no emotional state will persist for more than 3 days.


Make peace with the torment & then let it go.

Pay attention to the ways you’re feeding your mind & emotional body (e.g. the people around you, the media you’re absorbing).

Practice time-travelling!  Imagine fast-forwarding in time to when you feel better & you’re telling someone about the 'slump' experience.

~ Go to the present moment & appreciate it as fully as you possibly can.


~ Remember the answer is LOVE & stay focused on LOVE as the solution (rather than focusing on the issue).


~ Try laughing kindly at yourself, or hearing your guides/angels/helpers in the unseen gently, lovingly laughing at/with you. Or try this funny video: “STOP IT!” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow0lr63y4Mw&feature=share

Forgive yourself for feeling however it is that you feel.  Remember it’s a part of your evolution.  Perhaps you feel you’re going in the wrong direction, but you’re not.

~ Buddhist nun once asked me “why do you take your life so personally?”  Fantastic question…why am i taking this mood so personally?

~ Remember this is a normal experience, albeit an unpleasant one.  This is not something experienced by you alone, it is something which many, many people go through.  So there’s nothing wrong with you for having such feelings.  Here’s a funny illustrated blog about one girl’s experience:
http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2011/10/adventures-in-depression.html

~ Know that you are strong enough to handle anything that happens in your life.  We are NEVER put in a situation which we are unable to deal with. (This is probably from Eckhart Tolle.)

Be wary of analysing how you’re feeling & trying to look into it too much. That’s all very mind orientated & it can be a messy place to navigate when the thoughts are negative, attacking & depressed.  Occasionally it’s a good time to go into it, when it’s all triggered & prominent, but often it’s not the best time & self-investigation will lead to further entanglement.  Try to get clear on whether it’s the right moment for analysing (which may involve postponing some of your healing practices like EFT, tarot, astrology etc. until you’re feeling more balanced).

~ Remember the experience you’re having allows you to empathise with others when they are suffering.  Rather than judging those who always seem to see the negative, we are able to empathize with them, as we relate to how they feel.   If we were born ‘ready enlightened’, it would be nigh on impossible to connect with anyone & support their journey.   So especially for those of us committed to raising the love-level & human-consciousness-level on the planet, seems like we need to remain ‘slump-aware’.


Learn E.F.T.  This is an incredible healing technique, which is self-administered & can even be learnt for free on the Internet.  i’ve written guidelines about how to practice (www.eftharmony.com) & there’s loads of info online (www.eftuniverse.com).  It’s used globally by millions of people & is akin to a magic wand!
~♥~
PRE-EMPTIVE PHYSICAL ACTIONS - ideas for before you're 'in it'
Look at your overall health: diet, nutrition & exercise routines.  During the winter (or just generally in Scotland!) make sure you are absorbing as much sun as possible, jumping into it whenever it shines.

Feel-Good-Book!  Keep a notebook full of things that make you feel really, really good.  Only the most positive, pure, loving, beautiful, divine things go inside.  Some ideas for contents:
  • compliments people have said to you,
  • memories which fill you with joy (Robert G Smith recommends 22 powerful positive memories: where they happened, how they made you feel)
  • moments you’ve felt ecstatic,
  • quotes which lift your spirit (check out Rumi & Hafiz),
  • inspiring, feel-good pictures,
  • photos of loved ones: gurus, friends, masters, family, pets
  • pressed flowers, leaves from happy places,
  • things that make you laugh,
  • a list of things for which you’re grateful.
Imbue a crystal/gemstone with all the energy you need to make it through a slump.  Keep this stone separate, in a pouch & use her only when you’re in a tough place. (But don’t forget about her for months: remember to love her by cleaning & charging her!) Great wee video about crystals here: http://www.youtube.com/user/TheSpiritScience?feature=watch#p/u/15/xoUOn4Vbrz0


Tibetan Monk/Dancer: Ladakh, 2011

PHYSICAL ACTIONS (when you’re ‘in it’)
I’ve tried to divide into mind/body/spirit, but of course they’re entwined:

For the Body
Eat well – healthy, fresh food.  Avoid sugar, caffeine & wheat.  Drink a LOT of water (best is warm, body temperature).  Drink ginger, lemon & honey (Phoenix Potion!).  Eat bananas, cashews, quinoa, amaranth & other foods which allow your body to produce serotonin.


~ If there’s sun…bathe in it, soak it in.  Ask it to light up every cell in your body.

~ Ask a friend for a hug.  Sometimes this will be a big challenge, making such a request, but gentle physical connection can lighten things.

Dance – to music or silence…let your body express itself however it feels.  Choose the music to suit your current state (a dose of Matisyahu’s ‘Warrior’ & ‘King Without a Crown’ from Live at Stubbs?).

Yoga and/or stretching.  Moving the body encourages the emotions and energy to shift.  The 5 Tibetan Rites (http://vimeo.com/34391036) or chi kung are also great.


~ Shake!  Stand with your feet shoulder width apart & shake your whole body.  Allow the shaking to arise from within & spread through your being.  Throw everything out!  Remember to breathe!

~ Go for a walk in nature.  If the negative thinking continues, put all your focus on your feet…how are you walking?  Where does the weight shift as you move?  You could try walking yourself until you’re so exhausted all you can do is sleep.

~ Find an animal (preferably a big furry one, like a cat or dog) and give it some lovin’.  Animals never judge us & love us unconditionally.  Bury your face in the soft fur.  It’s that ‘connection without words’ thing.
~♥~
For the Mind & Emotions

~ If you made a ‘feel-good-book’: read it! (see above for details)


~ Know when to ask for support.  If you’re stuck & none of your tools are working, reach out to friends (by phone, skype, email, psychically whatever works & connects you to your lightweb).

~ If you need a session, take one.  There are so many gifted healers, have a session with someone!  If you’d run a race & had sore muscles it would feel okay to take a massage…same goes here! (psssst...i give EFT session over skype: EFTHarmony.com)

Tell the people around you that you’re having a hard time.  If you can’t do this verbally, write them a note or an email.  This will prevent them from taking it personally.

Imagine all your closest loved ones around you.  Holding your hands, giving you a hug, sitting in a circle with you.  Feel their love for you.

Do something simple for someone else.  This takes the focus away from our own crap for a moment & allows us to connect with another.  

~ Osho’s Gibberish meditation (for 15 minutes talk in another language of which you don’t know a single word, fully expressing yourself). Osho Dynamic meditation is also amazing if you don’t have neighbours (although there are variations of it you can do)!  Also Osho's Nada Bramah & Kundalini meditations are also superb.  (for more info: google is your friend!)

~ Use mantras (aloud or in your head) like “this is just my pain body” (to disassociate) or "i welcome this thought" (for more acceptance).  there's a wealth of sanskrit & pali mantras: 'aum tara tu tare ture sawaha' (goddess of compassion) or 'aum mani padme hum' (for connection the mind with the heart).

~ Imagine what you’re experiencing is something happening to your best friend.  What would you say to them?  What would you advise them?  How would you act with them?  This should allow at least fractions of compassion to creep in.
After the earthquake, Pakistan 2005
~ Read Eckhart Tolle (power of now, new earth), watch his videos, listen to mp3s of his books or talks.  Or any other masters who remind you of your true essence (Osho, Amma, Rumi).  Randomly open their texts/websites & ask for ‘what you need to hear’ to be there.

Write a letter to yourself from future-you.  What does your inner-grandmother want slumped-you to know?

Meditate:  Put all your attention, focus, concentration, awareness on your breathing.  Or use guided meditations.

~ If there’s a lot of disturbing noise where you are, plug yourself into some relaxing music on your player. 

~ Watch a beloved movie or cartoon from your childhood (mine would be The Labyrinth with David Bowie).  Or watch films & cartoons which have a really HIGH feel-good factor.

~ Use cards (like tarot, angel, wisdom, inspiration, animal medicine).  If you’re really in a slump perhaps don’t get too into the analysing of what’s going on.  Rather, ask ‘what do i need to know to help me love and accept myself as i am right now’.  Be aware that the slumped part of you will attack & see the negative in any card.  i find it useful to write down my interpretation of the cards when i’m doing a reading for myself.  And i generally insist upon making at least one positive interpretation of each card.

Paint or draw.  Not necessarily anything in particular, or something beautiful.  Just allow everything you’re feeling to flow out onto the paper.

~ Take Bach Rescue Remedy (or other flower essences which help soothe & calm you – there’s a great spray from Findhorn called ‘sacred spaces’).

Write it all down.  Try to stay away from analysing, but just write it all out.  You could do this journal style, giving yourself permission to write whatever you feel like saying.  You don’t have to show this writing to anyone - afterwards you can always burn it.  

~ Write a letter to the trigger (generally a person!), expressing exactly how you feel.  Generally these are best burnt afterwards.

~ Note impartial observations of what’s going on, as though the slump is an experiment in a lab.  e.g. "triggered by X, i experienced a pit in my stomach (bodily sensations), and frustration & anger (emotional reactions).  i then went for a walk (physical action) and my thoughts were generally about…what triggered me & anger towards myself & others.  Then i was hungry & craved sugar (what did your body want?)." Etc etc.  This way, you may get clear on your slump pattern & possibly what actions/thoughts lead you up or drag you down.  (This may be best done once you're out of the slump, once you're more impartial!)
Cow by monsoon Ganga, Rishikesh 2005

For the Spirit
~ If you made a crystal with intentions to help you through it, use it (see above for details)!


~ Ask for help from your angels & guides.  Ask for a deep healing & be specific in what you request (i.e. rather than saying ‘i don’t want to feel like this’ make it ‘give me the ability to reconnect to the light within’ or ‘help me to accept the way i currently feel’).

~ Give yourself reiki (or receive a session). Don’t know reiki?  Try this: If you become aware you feel unsettled or unhappy, sit in a chair or on the floor, place a hand on your stomach and one on your heart, and simply breathe through the emotions until they clear and release. Tell yourself that all is well, and trust that your body and your heart can deal with the size of what you are feeling, and that you can guide this process for yourself.” ~Lee Harris, from February Energy Forecast-Resolutions and Solar Balance http://www.leeharrisenergy.com

Shield your aura. There’s a super quick exercise here: http://www.devinemiracles.com/quickshielding.html

When you ‘come out’ of it & unslump yourself.  Please remember to give yourself a lot of gratitude for surviving it.  And gratitude for *being you*!  Remember that you’re going through these experiences to heal ourselves, so you can evolve into the best version of who you truly are.


Other un-slumping ideas are welcome in the comments below!

~♥~

Vinod, Rishikesh 2005
Quotes
“i wish i could show you
when you are lonely or afraid,
the astonishing light
of your own being.”
~ Hafiz

“Bring the pure wine of
love and freedom.
But sir, a tornado is coming.
More wine, we'll teach this storm
A thing or two about whirling.”
~ Rumi

“Sadness to me is the happiest time,
When a shining city rises from the ruins of my drunken mind.
Those times when I'm silent and still as the earth,
The thunder of my roar is heard across the universe.”
~ Rumi



“Birds make great sky circles of their freedom.
But how do they learn it?
They fall.
And falling,
They’re given wings.”
~ Rumi

“If you want to awaken all of humanity, then awaken all of yourself.  If you want to eliminate the suffering in the world, then eliminate all that is dark & negative in yourself.  Truly, the greatest gift you have to give is that of your own self-transformation.” ~ Lao Tzu


"No mud, no lotus."  Thich Nhat Hanh

“Fear is love trying to keep you from pain & hurt.  Fear is the messenger.  So don't kill the messenger because it is wanting to free you as well as protect you.  Embrace the messenger, release the message of pain. 
Love is fear's purpose which is to protect us from the lies of pain.”
~ The Bible?  (from a Robert Smith video)

"The eyes of the future are looking back at us, praying that we can see beyond our own time."
~ Terry Tempest Williams


“Your joy is your sorrow unmasked.  And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears. And how else can it be?
The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.
Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter's oven?  And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives?
When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy.
When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.
Some of you say, "Joy is greater than sorrow," and others say, "Nay, sorrow is the greater."
But I say unto you, they are inseparable.
Together they come, and when one sits, alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed.
Verily you are suspended like scales between your sorrow and your joy.
Only when you are empty are you at standstill and balanced.
When the treasure-keeper lifts you to weigh his gold and his silver, needs must your joy or your sorrow rise or fall.” ~ Kahlil Gibran


here’s Osho talking on what i call slumps & he calls loneliness & darkness:
http://oshotimes.blog.osho.com/2012/02/loneliness/#more-161


~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~
a H U G E  heart-felt hug to my dear friends who answered my email asking for ideas of what to do in a slump & provided more than just ideas…you gave the inspiration i needed to share this post.  i love you all! 
Ardh Mela, Allahabad 2007

~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~
All photographs (c) Jennifer