[Blog (Non-channeled) May 2010]

I’m a big proponent of the Slow Food movement, which encourages mindfulness in eating. According to Wikipedia, the Slow Food movement “strives to preserve traditional and regional cuisine and promotes farming of plants, seeds and livestock characteristics of the local ecosystem.” This is all about making conscious choices in food while providing an avenue to truly connect to the natural world around us and bringing that world inward into our bodies with the foods we consume.

It struck me, through my recent feelings of discouragement with my personal healing, that there is something to be learned from slow healing as well.

I’ve mostly felt good with my process. Joyful. But the other night someone asked me, “Aren’t you frustrated about not being able to get out much and get around?”

Well no, actually I was quite fine with it until you brought it up, thanks.

I started thinking about the long road ahead. The fact that no, I don’t get out unless someone is willing to drive me, to stand by my front steps while I get down them in case I lose my balance, to open the car door for me and then stow my crutches behind my seat, all just to get out the door. And I don’t yet know when I can drive, when I can walk, when I can go back to a normal life.

And I got discouraged. I wake up in the night from a dream with the half-asleep realization that I’m still here, still in this state, still healing, still not perfect. And there’s nothing I can do about it.

Only one thing makes the feelings of frustration go away. One thing. That’s to bring myself, once again, to the instant moment. Right now. In my right-now there is always contentment. Joy. Even if in the right-now I acknowledge frustration or pain or fears about what’s ahead. It always feels better to return to this moment.

The other day a friend came over and spent some time with me. I appreciated her visit and the conversation, but knowing that she is an energetically-sensitive person who doesn’t manage her sensitivities well, I cleared my energy after she left and again before I went to sleep. But things continued to feel “off” the next day and Matthew and I found ourselves snapping at one another. Finally it was clear what had happened.

Clear the space.

I hadn’t cleared my house after my friend left. She left something behind that she had picked up somewhere.

As much as I value my space being, in some ways, an extension of myself, I don’t think often enough to clear my home. So I did and it made a huge difference.

Space-clearing

In my experience, space-clearing begins with intention. First you must believe that it works and believe that there are unseen-but-felt energies around you that can make you feel uncomfortable or “off” a bit. Then you must believe that you have the ability to create space around you that is free from these energies.

If you feel resistance about holding these beliefs in any fashion, you can use it as an invitation to explore further. It’s not uncommon to hold a core belief, for instance, that one is powerless and must “accept what comes.” So if you are thinking about space-clearing and feel any sort of resistance, examine that first before you go on.

After that, it’s easy.

Another thing to think about is good vs. bad energies. I use the phrase “non-beneficial energies” when asking to clear my self or my space. I also believe that there’s nothing inherently evil anywhere — that’s a matter of perception. When I ask for non-beneficial energies to be cleared, I also intend that they simply change to something more useful someplace else. Some people think intentionally about energies transmuting into light, and that’s fine. Whatever works for you and feels right is the right way to go about it.

Sage is a common space-clearing tool. I love the scent of burning sage and I like watching the smoke filling my space, imagining it filling every corner and crevice. I don’t use sage much any more, though.

Pendulums are great tools for space-clearing, and very easy to use. The technique is very similar to the one I’ve described for clearing oneself. This is primarily what I use in my clearing.

Singing bowls. I have two, a Tibetan bowl and a gorgeous crystal singing bowl. I use the bowls for various things, but in space-clearing I use one after the pendulum. The singing bowl creates vibrations in the room that carry the intention of placing a space of harmony that is long-lasting and impenetrable.

Other-seeing. I also look for energies or entities — energetic attachments that can be hanging out in various places in the space — and I use various shamanic methods to remove them.

[I offer space clearing for people who are selling their homes or are moving into a new home. If this is something you’re interested in, let me know and we can talk about particulars.]

Slow healing is a new path

I know it’s a long road. I am okay with not making plans, and I rather think that IS the plan for now. Yes, it’s a pain not being able to get out much, and I am frustrated by the feeling that I’m not accomplishing much. I’m still resting a lot, which keeps me from doing more. But I'm listening to my body more and pushing it less. This is a way of making friends with it, finally after all these years of struggling, that I would have missed without this experience.

I miss walking. I miss seeing people in my neighborhood. I especially miss being in the forest and by the ocean, smelling the rich dark soil under the tall trees, and heaing the cries of the seabirds as they wheel up in the sky above. That may be the biggest regret right now, my connection with the natural world, and I'm looking for a way to feel it from where I am.

But moment by moment, breath by breath, this is all good. There is a richness to bringing my experience to the micro level that I miss when moving around quickly, accomplishing things. I keep receiving messages that there is nothing wasted, that this experience will serve me well in the future, and for that I am grateful. It's all good.

Comments (3)

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"Slow" is also a perception, eh?
written by TheGirlPie, May 27, 2010

You write so beautifully about the clearing, about your visitor, about your tools and skills and awarenesses. But what caught my fancy is the idea of the Slow Food Movement being akin to the Slow Heal Movement.

I can just imagine a family vegetable (and herb!) garden, and one little baby carrot thinking every single day:
"Am I done yet? And I a carrot? Huh? Huh? Is it now yet?!"
It takes what it takes to grow a seed into a vegetable, right?

So despite the time table (which can absolutely be speed up with the guided equivalent of sun lamps, plant food and fertilizer), it seems like you've got all the sun and water and tending and grounding and intentions and protections that you need to make a whole carrot -- er, healed-better-than-ever Karen. Day by day.

Thanks for sharing the hobbled but far-ranging journey with all of us ~ !

~GirlPie

"still not perfect"
written by Julie, May 27, 2010

OMG, was it me?? Was IT ME???? I know it was, I am always leaving bits and pieces of my diet coke-ness behind, at least I didn't use your bathroom. I only sat on the couch and snooped delivered stuff to your kitchen....

I did shower before I came over if that makes it any better, not something I generally do these days. I bet you know about that, eh?

This was just to lighten your evening.

Much love,
Julie

...
written by lightspring, May 27, 2010

@GirlPie, sun lamps is what got me here. But yes, one day I'll be a carrot!

@Julie, it absolutely was not you. And you are welcome back anytime!

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