From long ago, experiences we may have thought were once lost to time never fully left us. Whether they were terrible or pleasant in memory, they remain etched within the psyche of our subconscious mind; which functions much like a museum for these memories which we rarely feel the need to visit. Although in the case of negative experiences, similar in taste to a past episode, chances are very good that they will trigger a sounding of the guard within us. At which time, our own safety mechanism of fight or flight springs forth into action like a noble knight. After all, this is war and there’s a new battle waging just above the surface of our subconscious.
Once our guard has been roused into action, we naturally fear the worst, believing this new threat might even fair worse than its past predecessor. In response we often retaliate in such a way that we overcompensate in the hope of warding off or even destroying this new menace. I prefer to think of these unwelcome beasts as dragons, randomly manifesting throughout our waking life to remind us of unfinished business, often spiritual in nature and desperately in need of our attention.
In terms of our response, we might attempt to ward off the beast with substances like drugs, alcohol, self-inflicted physical abuse or possibly just shutting down or isolating ourselves from the living world altogether; until the dragon takes flight and temporarily leaves us once again, just long enough for us to regain our emotional and psychological equilibrium.
In order to overcome the unfinished business of any past hurt, many might assume that we need to challenge the beast head-on to a duel. Although ironically it’s really not necessary nor productive to work against these forces in this way, largely due to the fact that we are destined to lose such a fight. No, what’s needed is to welcome the beast, even shine a light of understanding across its body in an effort to acknowledge the wounds of another age. In the end, pain needs a home and by providing safe harbor from the wreckage of our past, gradually we transmute ourselves from survivors into thrivers.
This sort of inner alchemy begins with the soft and almost whisper-like summoning of patience for ourself and our predicament. And it is this same spiritual elixir which need not mire itself in judgment or any kind of conditional expectation. Instead, patience is the beginning of healing, of finding the way back to our higher self as well as reuniting us with our true path. For a nice reminder, one might meditate upon the Major Arcana tarot card, Temperance. Overall this card offers a recalibration that leads to balance, as well as inner calm, inner peace.
Until next time, be well.