The DU Spiritual Emergency Tool Kit

[Eloriel]

Still going through some definite challenges, so find myself purposely re-remembering some of the spiritual truths, nifty inspirational sayings, metaphysical tricks and tools. And it's helping, a lot. In fact, what helped me this morning helped me SO much I decided I needed to share it with DUers. And that led to thinking of a few other from the above categories that have been helpful that I want to share as well. And that led to the idea -- hey! Why don't we have a whole thread where people share what helps them when they are going thru tough times?

I'll post a few of my favorite things from my own little bag of tricks (tools and techniquees, wisdom and inspiration at least for me), and invite you to add your favorites to the thread. Please -- I can use all the help I can get. :evilgrin:

My first is this quote which I picked up who knows where, a number of years ago. I toyed with using the first half of the sentence as the subject for this thread:

Love doesn't conquer all, but it does set all things right.

[Eloriel]

1. The Spiritual Meaning of Every Situation

Here's a quote from (of all things) a circular from the Quality Paperback Book Club re Marianne Williamson's new book, The Gift of Change:

Can you reach within yourself for enough clarity, strength, forgiveness, serenity, intelligence, patience, and faith to turn this round? That's the spiritual meaning of every situation: not waht happens to us, but waht we do...and who we decide to become because of what happens to us. They only real failures is the failure to grow from what we go through. -- adapted from The Gift of Change

I'm not crazy about Williamson and I'm not overly fond of the phrasing of this, but it still expresses something I know to be true, when I allow myself to think about it: any "problem" we have is for our own healing and betterment; every problem we have contains the seed of its own successful resolution; every problem we have contains a blessing. OUR job is to find our way TO that healing, successful resolution and blessing.

[Quakerfriend]

11. Thx Eloriel, we all need this help in preparing for what is to come

I have felt a steady tension rising inside me since *co started his 2nd term.

Just yesterday, I began 'practicing' gratitude. As I go thru the day I say aloud those things that I am grateful for in my life.

I also repeat to myself a quote that my mother loved, and that is "Love is letting go of fear".

Does anyone here know the Bubble of Light Prayer?? My mother used to say it, and I can't quite recall the whole thing. It goes something like this:

I am surrounded in a bubble of light,
Nothing but light can come to me,
Nothing but light can emanate from me, etc.:think:

[Eloriel]

20. The prayer is from Unity School of Christianity

out of Lee's Summit, MO. I don't think I have a copy around here, but I'll bet they have a website, and it's such a popular and powerful prayer (tho "bubble" isn't in it :evilgrin: ) that I feel certain you could find it somewhere there -- or call them and get it recited for you! Please share it if you find it.

And you're so right, Gratitude is fabulous and important -- what we focus on grows. I'm trying to catch myself everytime I think of what's WRONG in my life to immediately find something to be grateful for. And I just posted a specific application which I've used to remarkable effect.

Also, from Course in Miracles (which is the source of inspiration for Jampolsky), this quote (very similar): The opposte of Love is Fear. Very powerful to realize that at the bottom of our disaffection, disklike, hatred, etc. (you name it), is FEAR. (Another application of "expand instead of contract," actually.)

[Eloriel]

27. Post #24 -- is that the one you were thinking of?

Your description is a bit different, but that's the one what you posted reminded me of.

[dbt]

2. Mountain music clears all my clogs.

Hearing the fiddle yearning for the bagpipes does more for me than a Hot Springs bath and massage at the Arlington Hotel. Watching the young girls dance takes months at a time off my age.

The company of a cat on my lap, the arrival of real live Cumulus clouds in a blue sky. Johnny Cash.

OK, dish!

:loveya:

[Eloriel]

4. That's a WONDERFUL addition -- MUSIC,

whatever kind suits your fancy. Thank you.

[Eloriel]

3. Expand instead of contracting.

There's a wonderful series of channeled books by Sanaya Roman. She channels an entity called Orin. Her/their first book is "Living with Joy" and when I first found it I was so impressed that I thought to myself if I were on a deserted island and could only have ONE book, this would be it. It is underlined and highlighted nearly from first word to last.

Anyway, somewhere in that or one of her/their later books is the concept that when "bad things" happen, we tend to do the exact opposite of what we should do. We tend to contract, whereas we should expand (energetically and spiritually).

Roman and her colleague who channels DaBen have a website, if anyone's interested:

Sanaya Roman and Duane Packer
http://www.orindaben.com/index.htm

[Eloriel]

5. Add Light

This one is SO powerful that sometimes I can feel the shift happening while I'm doing this exercise.

So simple: Whatever the problem or concern, hold it in your hands (if possible) in your mind's eye and Add Light. Then add more. And even more.

(I am pretty sure this one came from Sonaya Roman and Orin too. I think it's on one of their cassette tapes.)

The cool thing is that you can also do it "on the fly" -- a problem crosses your mind and threatens to send you into a spiral of worry, you can virtually dismiss it by simply saying to yourself and quickly imagining (with eyes open, even) adding Light.

VERY powerful in my personal experience.

[Eloriel]

6. Hand It Over to Spirit

or the Universe, or a Deity of your choice. This one is wonderful and powerful too.

In my experience, there's a physical difference between "thinking about" a problem or concern (productive) and "worrying" about it (not just unproductive but potentially counterproductive). The worrying involves some physical symptoms like solar plexus in a knot, feelings of anxiety, whatever. Most of you probably know exactly what I'm talking about. With THINKING, insights and guidance and good ideas we've asked Spirit for can slip through, but with WORRYING, there's a wall of negativity that makes it very difficult for that guidance and insight to get through. It's actually quite destructive.

So, all you have to do when you get to WORRYING or fretting or any negative mulling over a problem (instead of objective and emotionally neutral thinking) is to Hand It Over to Spirit, or the Universe, etc.

I've had absolute miracles happen as a result of this. I've seen things that I couldn't have figured out a way to handle get handled effortlessly and easily and miraculously, in ways (again) I'd never have been able to solve.

You can also put people you're worried about or otherwise concerned about (even feuding with) in Spirit's hands. "Here, YOU handle them." LOL.

It works.

[LWolf]

7. Laughter.

Joyful laughter releases tension, cleanses, and fills me up.

We all need to laugh more.

At those times when I'm wound tight with frustration, I remind myself to smile at the next person I see, say something friendly, and "lighten up."

Any time I can get together with friends for no purpose other than to relax and have fun, there's sure to be plenty of laughter.

[Eloriel]

8. Sub-Personality Work

There's a really interesting book called Embracing Our Selves by Hal Stone and Sidra Winkler, a therapist couple, about the various types of parts of ourselves, sometimes disowned, which can create problems. It's quite useful and helpful. IIRC, tho, while they explore a lot of cases of dialoging with those subpersonalities, their careful and responsible advice to readers is to only do this with a trained therapist.

Well, you can do a certain amoung of work with subpersonalities yourself (assuming you're a reasonably mentally healthy human being). I certainly have and used the technique twice in the past week, to great effect. It's miraculous the relief and breakthroughs I have been able to achieve with this technique, actually.

It's very simple. Identify a part of yourself with which you're having some trouble, acknowledge it, allow it to take on physical appearance and name in your mind's eye (imagination). And start talking.

Oh! IMPORTANT: I would definitely:
* Surround yourself with White Light of Spiritual Protection
* Affirm that as a Child of God only good can come to you or through you
* Ask your spiritual guides to be with you and assist

(It's not impossible to attract unhealthy discarnate entities when you open yourself this way. You want to avoid that at all costs.)

The other most important part:
And this is from Sonaya Roman and Orin too. These troublesome subpersonalities are "unevolved parts of us," according to Orin. (That works for me!) So what we want to do is evolve and mature them, as quickly as possible.

Ask your subpersonality to accompany you on an ascent of a mountain. I've also been either taking a Wise Man with me or meeting one at the mountain top. Today I met an Angel with a Magic Wand (s/he spontaneously appeared) who added Light to my subpersonality and very quickly evolved it into something quite wonderful and helpful -- which is exactly the whole point.

You might want to job down your conversation and other details, because since you're in an altered state, the details get lost fast when you come back to regular consciousness.

The work I did today helped lift a fog I've been in for at least 4 months. I'm not sure I'm "cured" but I'm sure as heck way better and VERY grateful. I've had more energy and bouyancy today than I can remember any time recently.

Tip: If you get into this experience and don't quite know what to do next ('cause you're the director of this little documentary), ask your Guides to give you a next step to pursue.

Also, if you're removing anything from your body or energy system (such as getting rid of one or more kinds of emotional pain), be sure to fill all the energetic holes left with Light. (This alone is an energizing and beautiful visualization.)

[NJCher]

9. turn the situation to your advantage

I recently went through a big problem and it could have been an awful experience. I disciplined myself to only think about it during a designated hour during the day. If I found myself thinking about it at any other time, I did this visualization where I took my fingers and plucked the thought right out of my brain. Sometimes I would even go so far as to fling that thought right into the waste basket. Then I would visually fluff my brain lobes back up and think of something else.

I also decided I would make the experience constructive. I am writing up my experience as a guide to help others in this particular sector of the marketplace where the law is allowing this fraud to procede undeterred. Our legislators aren't doing their jobs but that doesn't mean I can't take action and perhaps even make money from the experience.

I'm using my creativity to turn a bad experience into a positive.


Cher

p.s. btw, I have a million of these. I'll be posting some more!

[Eloriel]

13. Cool

You reminded me of another one. Thanks! Looking forward to the other 999,999,999.

[silverlib]

10. Breathe in the good

breathe out the bad.

It's old and well-known - but the simplicity works for me in a crisis when my thoughts are rather wild.

[Me.]

12. This Is A Lovely Thread

I don't have a contribution to make aside from what has been said, but I thank you all for techniques I didn't know about.

[Desertrose]

14. go for a walk....sit on the rocks....

and with every step I breathe in light and breathe out love...or I switch them around.....


Like LWolf :hi: ...just getting *giggly* and passing time with friends is always a mood lifter.

Music helps...loud and with a good middle eastern rhythm and just M O V E. (I sit way tooo much).....I also sometimes hear dbt's fiddle in my head ....& heart ;)

Journaling helps....it can take me quite a bit of writing sometimes to get all the mind chatter out of the way and to get to the *real* issue I'm working with.LOL

Being in the studio and just creating...I can think and yet somehow I don't get caught up in the circular mind chatter nearly as much as other times.

I've found that I just plain & simply ask for help from my guides and angels and higher self ( or ascended self). If I am in a place of fear or worry...I ask them to please help...to remove it, give me clarity or whatever seems appropriate....and believe me, I'm not too proud to ask them -a LOT. I was always told that unless we ASK, they cannot help or interfere.

Also, knowing that I've lived many lives before and probably dealt with many similar things and remembering all that others have lived through, -are living through, puts things in perspective and lets me know it is possible for me to make it too.


Geez, I know there are others....will see what else I remember.....big big :hug: to you El.
:loveya:DR

PS GREAT thread!!!!! we needed this here:)

[LWolf]

15. Space and quiet always help for me.

I'm really struck by the "remembering," though.

In this lifetime, I've often run away from remembering. It never works. It does help to put some distance between the "now" me and the "me" that was in crisis, but eventually those memories have to be faced and processed, and hiding from that task keeps us from moving forward.

Remembering that I've done this before (and obviously survived just fine!) can help. Feeling all of those lives behind me is a kind of support for walking through what needs to addressed in this life.

Thanks for reminding me. :hug:

[Eloriel]

18. Great list

Yes, I had hoped that it could be a permanent sort of resource for people (as long as they bookmark it, of course). Thanks for your input (and the hug -- always welcome).

[Eloriel]

21. Ask and you shall receive

GREAT list.

I have to remind myself to ask for help more often as well, tho lately I've been doing much better. :-) Thinking back over my lifetime, I cannot recall a single time when I asked for help and did not get it, usually amply. Wonderful reminder, thanks.

[stellanoir]

16. my snake oils are as follows. . .

Ye old Edgar Cayce trick of ritualistic cleansing baths of 2 parts Epsoms Salts & 1 part Baking Soda (I add Avalon's Lavender Bath Gel as well) for total psychic detox.

Laughter always.

And this Blessing. . .

To just read this aloud daily , helped me tremendously many moons ago

> BLESSING
>
> I send you light to hold you, to hold you in love.
> I send you light to heal you, to heal you in love.
>
> May you love, honor, and cherish the preciousness and
> uniqueness of your own being and of each other being in
> this world.
>
> May you see your own goodness and beauty reflected
> wherever you look.
>
> May you be contented and appreciative of all life's
> bountiful gifts.
>
> May the splendor and majesty of your being guide
> your thoughts, words, and actions.
>
> May your pain and fear be transformed into strength,
> understanding and compassion.
>
> May the shining light of your being radiate peace and
> harmony wherever you are.
>
> May you be suffused with happiness, joyfully
> celebrating each day you are alive.
>
> May you be abundant in all wealth and rich in generosity,
> sharing your blessings freely.
>
> May you be a soothing balm of kindness and a fragrant
> blossom of love to everyone you meet.
>
> May you be well, whole and healthy.
>
> May the great love and compassion of your heart
> embrace the suffering of all beings everywhere.
>
> May the inner light of your purity and perfection
> dissolve the clouds of discord, despair, and conflict.
>
> May the intelligence and wisdom of your infinite mind
> give you clarity in a confusing world.
>
> May you trust that you are loved, cared for and supported
> by the infinite-always.
>
> May you possess the precious magic jewel of gratitude
> that transforms all life into a paradise.
>
> May you pause for a moment each day to remember
> this blessing upon you, and calling forth the full power
> and magnificence of your own being, may you pass it
> on to all beings everywhere.
>
> I send you light to hold you, to hold you in love.
> I send you light to heal you, to heal you in love.

[DemExpat]

17. My emergency kit - but I think I will add some items after this thread....

Breathing - just breathing and being grateful for the process.

Writing - putting anything and everything that is really bothering me down on paper just the way I want to - let it rip - and this releases tension and feelings of helplessness by putting it down raw and true in a place outside myself so that I can go on to other things.

Pets - walking, playing, cuddling with my dog. Instant relaxation for me, instant grounding and instant love.

Cleaning the stove, counter-tops and sink......very therapeutic for me :D

Picking up a good book that I have read long ago like Gerald Jampolsky's "Love is Letting Go of Fear" (Thanks for reminding me of this book earlier in the thread! :-))

Or any book by Bernie Siegal - for some reason his books emanate such feelings of love, acceptance, and peace in the context of dire suffering that they never fail to help me put my upset in perspective and to see it through eyes of acceptance and love.


I'm sure that I have many more, but these come to mind at this time.

Great idea for a thread here!

:grouphug:

DemEx

[Eloriel]

19. The Magic of Appreciation

Somewhere, once upon a time, I read the technique of improving difficult interpersonal relationships by simply finding one thing to appreciate about the other person or people. This could be something as simple as their nice smile, their taste in clothing, WHATEVER you can find to genuinely appreciate about that person. All you have to do is spend 30 seconds or more each day, or several times a day if you can, thinking about how you like and appreciate that one aspect about that person. That's it. Watch things improve between you over the next few days or weeks.

I tried this once upon a time when I was working for a small company with maybe 10 - 12 employees. Things had gotten SO political between everyone that I literally couldn't stand it. It had become a very toxic atmosphere.

In desperation one weekend, I tried this. I visualized each person and whatever it was I could appreciate about them. I did it whenever I thought about them, maybe 5 or 6 times each day. And never spent more than about 1 - 2 minutes total.

When I went in on Monday morning, everything was different, and I mean DRAMATICALLY different. I couldn't believe it. The political, toxic environment had simply evaporated, as if it had never existed in the first place. I felt like I may have Shifted Reality, because the place bore almost no resemblance to what I'd left on Friday.

(This is also a good way to "expand" energetically instead of contracting.)

[NJCher]

22. wow, that's an amazing story

I felt like I may have Shifted Reality, because the place bore almost no resemblance to what I'd left on Friday.


Very creative approach.


Cher

[Eloriel]

29. It really is amazing

I worried about "overselling" this or raising expectations too high after posting it, but that really was my experience. I've used it otherwise and had very, very good results tho none quite so spectacular as this first instance, but then none of the other times I can recall were as difficult, entwined, or involved 10-12 people.

[Behind the Aegis]

23. A few from me

I tried breathing techniques, but I am too much of a spaz, so I let the breathing techniques act more as a game. I will hold my breath, take lots of little short breaths, do cleansing ones...I usually end up making myself laugh because it is so silly.

Sometimes, I write down problems and burn them up in a cauldron.

I play with my pets.

I look at photos I have taken and appreciate the good job I did, or see how I can make them better. Sometimes I just look and remember what I was doing before and after that "captured" moment in time.

I talk to other people I am really close to about nonsense stuff...it makes me happy.

If it is really bad, I try to recite the "Serenity Prayer" and evaluate the problem based on that saying.

OK this is really embarrassing, but....I will act out things in the shower. I will play other roles of people in situations. Act out the way I wish things had gone. I will also enact "stories" where I am the hero. I am an odd person, but it works for me! :)

I listen to sad music to get the tears out, angry music to get the anger out, and happy music to get the happy out.

Another odd one...I will stare in the mirror and let my true self show itself. I remind myself that I am not perfect, nor should that be my goal. I look at flaws, then comment on the things that make me good. I call it a form of "mirror magick." It works well for me.

[justsomegirl]

24. unity prayer of protection

Substitute your own preferred higher power. I learned this at a Unity church and liked it.

The light of god surrounds me
The love of god enfolds me
The power of god protects me
The presence of god watches over me
Wherever I am, god is,
and all is well, thank you god.

[Delphinus]

25. Thank you.

I had learned that about 13 years ago and totally forgotten it. I like it a lot.

[Eloriel]

26. Well, I just learned one thing NOT to do

I've had a busy but very positive day, and they've been quite rare lately (until REAL recently).

And then I came and looked at the news and analysis and discussions on DU. Ugh. I won't even mention the topics, but some were about recent bills passing. Pretty soon my Solar plexus was drowning in fear and loathing again. I had to go meditate again. :-(

I'm either going to have to really limit my DU browsing, come stronger, or something. I am really shocked (and dismayed) at how low it brought me.

[Digit]

31. Eloriel, me, too

I thought of the millions who would be negatively affected.
We will leave it at that.

I started thinking the pod people have taken over or it has become a stepford congress and senate.

So, I laid down and began visualizing.

[Eloriel]

32. I had an interesting experience this morning

And I'm not entirely sure what to make of it (other than the fact that what I did worked, so to continue doing that or something like it next time).

One of the "challenging" things I've been going thru, which I've posted a little about prior to this, is depression. I've done a few things which helped, but nothing has cured it -- well, until the "breakthrough" I posted about in this thread which has gone a LONG way toward a cure, and I keep building on that, so maybe it'll work.

ANYWAY, as I was waking up this morning, that old familiar wave of depression swept over me...again. But this time I just said something like, "Nuh huh. Nope. That's NOT going to happen. I'm not going to let it." And I mentally visualized myself waving my arm at "it" as if waving off a pesky fly, then mentally turning my back on "it," as I relaxed back into my semi-snooze while continuing to wake up.

Hooray! It worked! That wave of depression did NOT settle over me as it had so many, many times over the last 4 months.

[LWolf]

34. I hardly browse at all any more.

I pop in to check on some of the non-political groups, but rarely browse through the rest, except for the education forum.

I don't want that energy.

[Eloriel]

28. Pink Bubble Technique

This is from Shakti Gawain of Creative Visualization fame. I waas meditating earlier and something popped into my mind which ended up reminding me of this technique, which for some reason I never used a lot, tho I did find it very helpful when I did. Really, you can devise all manner of creative visualizations to positively address all manner of problems. This one's quite nice, tho.

This is how I remember it: Simply envision your problem, care, concern, person you're worried about, etc., whatever, enclosed in a Pink Bubble of Light and Love. If it's something you'd rather be rid of or have solved, visualize it floating away.

[Eloriel]

30. Bless It and Release It

This is wonderful for those times when you've done or said something you REALLY wish you hadn't, and it's too late to undo it.

I've used it a number of times and this one too has been at times miraculous for me. I used it when I flubbed up BIG TIME at work, and in one instance dreaded my boss finding out but he was GOING to find out and I was probably going to be in big trouble. Flubbed up bad enough to possibly be fired.

I've used it in work situations where I screwed up to lesser extents.

I've used it when I've said or done something that might have ruined a friendship, alienated someone I didn't really want to alienate, etc., and it wasn't exactly the kind of situation where you could just straight-up apologize. (I can't remember the details of any specific instance, I just remember that I've saved my sorry self a few times with this wonderful technique.)

It's simplicity itself: every time you think of the situation, simply bless it and release it to the Universe, Spirit, your favorite Deity. In a sense, this is putting the past in the hands of the Universe instead of the present or future. But what I've seen with this is that you can almost CHANGE the past, or at least render it quite a bit less damaging than it otherwise might be.

[davsand]

33. Earth bind it let no one find it...

In the past when I realized I was carrying a negative attitude or non-productive view, I have used this little saying to do, essentially just what you suggest, Eloriel.

I visualize my negative mindset or bad attitude as a big old rock with great big tree roots growing all around it carrying it down deep into the warmth of the earth. I then think:

Earth bind it let no one find it...

In some traditions they call it grounding... I'm trying to use it now with some of the energies from my current work environment.

Laura

[wovenpaint]

35. I forget where this quote came from

but my Dad gave it to me as I went "out into the world" and I keep it in the picture frame with his photo, he passed in 1991.

Look to this day
For yesterday is but a dream,
And tomorrow is only a vision.
But today well-lived
Makes every yesterday a dream of happiness,
And every tomorrow a vision of hope.

I, too have read the "Living with Joy" books by Sanaya Roman/Orin. "Living with Joy" was given to me when I was at a low point in my life.
I recommend it highly and have given at least 3 copies of it away...hmmm, that reminds me, I think I need to get another copy for myself again.

[Eloriel]

36. Rhought I'd kick this

:kick:

Just for kicks. :D

[loudsue]

37. Good idea.....good timing!

I'm grateful that this thread got kicked today! I just returned from a trip to Atlanta, and because of all the work I've done recently starting a project, which took me away from reading all the DU threads I wanted to, I missed this one!

Serendipidous??!!

My sister-in-law shared this with me once when she knew I was facing some REALLY trying times (and HOW she knew about them, I'll never find out, I'm sure! ) . But, at the moment she sent it, it was EXACTLY what I needed to hear.



HUT ON FIRE

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for GOD to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.

Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect himself from the elements, and to store his few possessions.

One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened, and everything was lost. He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger. "GOD, how could you do this to me?" he cried. Early the next day he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island.

It had come to rescue him. "How did you know I was here?" Asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied.

It's easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn't lose heart, because GOD is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain, and suffering.

Remember that, the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground. It just may be a smoke signal that summons the grace of GOD.

:loveya: Thanks, Eloriel! I needed this thread! :hug:

:kick:

[Eloriel]

39. Serendipitous? Ah, there ARE no coincidences

(but you knew that) though "serendipity" is a pretty good word for all the little miracles otherwise known as coincidences.

Great story. Reminds me of one I can't repeat because I don't remember all the little ins and outs. Basically, it's a peasant telling his story and at every turn, the listener says, "Oh, that's too bad," but the peasant says, "Well, not really..." and goes on to explain how something good came out of the misfortune. The chain of events (all little tragedies with a silver lining) culminates in the peasant's only son having a broken leg, and the good fortune behind that was that with the broken leg he couldn't be pressed into service for the emperor's war.

Glad the thread was of some value. I rather like it myself. :-) :bounce:

[Cerridwen]

38. First - I ground myself...

I visualize my "roots" growing, reaching from my body into the Earth, branching out, lovingly dispersing "excess" energy and drawing into myself healing and grounding energies. Having one of my dogs in my lap helps with this process. :D

Drinking water and eating a "comfort food" also helps though I take my nutritional needs into account. For example, ice cream is a comfort food of mine but I'm lactose intolerant - it may help to ground me but the sugar and lactose will ensure I pay a price, it's not worth it.

If I'm truly being "whacked" by something and I'm at a place where moving a pinky is work - I focus on moving my pinky and returning to my body, one pinky, one digit at a time. I've found when I'm that weighted down, I'm not anywhere near my body and I need to return to it in order to continue the healing. YMMV.

I notice Eloriel mentions depression as a current challenge. I'd like to refer Eloriel and all others for whom depression is a factor to a book entitled "Circle of Stones; Woman's Journey to Herself" by Judith Duerk. Men can benefit from reading this book, also. :D

In "Circle of Stones", Ms. Duerk posits that depression is a gift to the Self that reminds us of our true nature and Self. She says, in part, that depression comes to us to remind us to slow down, examine ourSelves and our journey; look at where we were planning to Be and where we in fact are. What dreams have we left behind or set aside? What parts of ourSelf do we not love, should we release, should we in fact, love though the parts may be "broken" or which may not fit someone's definition of "good"?

The reality for most (all?) of us is that we live in a world which does not honor Spirit or Self. We have jobs and families, children, responsibilities and financial obligations which do not allow us freedom to Be ourSelves. We are paying an astronomical price for our denial of Self. (sweeping generalization alert!) For women the price may manifest as depression; for men the price may manifest as alcohol or drug use. Many of us smoke, eat poorly, exercise little, medicate ourSelves, work in dead-end or Soul-numbing jobs, etc. OurSelf responds by creating illness in our bodies in an effort to signal that something is wrong, out of balance, contrary to our Nature. Depression is one of those "illnesses".

For mySelf, I accept that I cannot change "others" or the "outside world". I can however create within mySelf and my surroundings a Sanctuary of love, sanity, peace, compassion and healing (with varying degrees of success ;)) I use my rudimentary skills and ample intuition to Feng Shui my home, car, and office (heehee, I just verbed a noun, twice!). I use affirmations, visualization and ritual to create and attract loving and healing energy and people into my world. Also, with varying degrees of success. I also lovingly and consciously release that which is not "mine" or which is no longer of use. I embrace and love that which is Me - whether it be depression, my Shadow Self, my playful Self, my logical Self, my insane Self, whatever - I embrace and love in mySelf all that I Am.

And finally, perhaps most importantly for me, I have fun, I play. A good friend once told me I have a playful heart; the highest praise and nicest compliment I've ever received. :D I un-learned play as a child; as I believe, we all have. I believe we must all reclaim our "playful hearts" that we may heal ourSelves, and by doing so, heal our world. To paraphrase something I read a few years back;

"Dance, as though no one is watching; Sing, at the top of your lungs, as though no one is listening; Play, as if you are a child; Love, as if you'll never be hurt; Live, as if your life depends on it, it does".





:bounce: :bounce: :hi: :grouphug:

[Helga Scow Stern]

40. What gave me strength....

ever since this experience six years ago, I find I am much calmer about anything that might happen...

All of a sudden I was deserted by friends and family who had been helping me care for my husband who was dying of a brain tumor. It was a real hell--he was blind, had lost all of his normal mental faculties, but was still ambulant. He peed everywhere and would not do anything I asked. He ripped off his pajamas. He was like a huge, unruly child.

I remember just sitting on the floor of our apartment, thinking, this is just about as bad as it gets...there is no one to help me, I am completely on my own.

Suddenly, this peace swept over me. I am not alone. Some caring presence is with me, and there is nothing we ever go through alone. Suddenly then my husband calmed down, I was no longer afraid of what lay ahead, and I always sense this presence whenever I need it.

[seventythree]

42. I like this prayer

God, give me faith
that expects greater things..
Whatever I do,
let me give it my best...

Anxious in nothing,
at peace with the promise --
That when I've done all I can,
You'll take care of the rest ...

Wonderful ideas and inspirational stories here -- appreciate it.

[Whimsy]

41. New and Need Help

Hello Everyone! I am one day old on this site. I was directed to it by someone who knows I am in distress. My husband of 34 yrs. has had cancer for 11 yrs. and after a stem-cell transplant, his non-Hodgkin's lymphoma has returned. I do not know how to find the strength within to be a grown-up about this. I keep asking him to reassure me and that is ass-backwards I know. How do you deal with the illness of the person you most love in this world and stay positive and strong? The prognosis is iffy - this disease has remissions and relapses although is usually utlimately fatal. Can anyone send me advice,thoughts,prayers? Thank you so much!