Learning How to Hold the Content of Our Pain within the Context of Our Spirit

by Diane Renz, LPC, ATH Asst. Editor of PsychoSpiritual on Allthingshealing.com

I am in awe of the power and process of the psyche. Our nightly dreams are offered in code, in symbols that we can assimilate and slowly digest for our full integration. Our dreams teach and gently guide us to what we need more of, less of, or is unfinished. If we are able to hold the content of our psyche within the context of our spirit, there becomes the possibility of facing unspeakable pain, as spirit gives the space where meaning can be found.

Unconscious of any immediate need to process unresolved pain, I enter a day that I chose as my “resourcing day”. I take a day to myself, away from work tasks, away from being present to helping others, knowing that my own healing is necessary in order for me to hold any container of healing for another. I find my balance in movement, in nature, in contact with my horse, and in each breath that I choose to be conscious to. I feel a tug from the energies in me that orient to order and time, “I should be following up that email, or finishing that essay, or planning my next workshop.” I gently note this voice, and thank it for how much it contributes to my life, but negotiate with another part of me which needs to be heard; the part that relies less on clocks and calendars, and listens deeply to my own heart.

I take a mindful run around the reservoir, surrounded by snow-topped mountains, and fresh snow mixing and mingling with the burnt orange and red leaves on the ground, as Fall dances with the encroaching Winter, which offered an early snow in October just to heighten the senses and wake up my appreciation for a Fall I am not ready to let go. My body is fatigued, feeling the pain of my sedentary work the day prior, the missed exercise, the late meal. I send good tidings to this dear body, apologizing for my neglect, register this heaviness, and vow to keep the engine more in tune. My heart is longing to connect where no words will be, and I visit my horse, “Baby Hughy”, a 16 hand, black and white gelded Paint, with one blue eye, who just turned 18. He neighs as I come close, smelling the carrot in my pocket. I hug him, my arms around his big neck, “let’s play Hugh”. My heart is full; the beauty all around, the grace of this moment, how lucky I am, right here, right now, all is good. My contemplative resourcing day brings me to a long luxurious hot shower, a full hot meal, some time with my efforts at learning how to play the Djembe drum, (the use of both hands, finding the rhythm, I know must be good for my brain). I even manage to get in a great meditation and hit the pillow by 10pm, a miracle for me, as I am always pushing past midnight and vowing for earlier nights. The perfect day, my soul nourished, I will be ready to pick up the world of calendar and clock when I wake.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
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Abbe A.

4:49AM PDT on Jul 4, 2012

hard to transcend a headache but will try

July 4
send a green star

Carmen S.

9:10PM PDT on May 12, 2012

thanks for sharing this wonderful article

May 12
send a green star

Chinmayee J.

8:45AM PDT on Apr 21, 2012

This was a beautiful article, and now this is a rarity - it's one I'm going to print out and keep! Isn't the Universe wonderful? At this time in my life, I can really relate to your article and hope that writing it was cleansing for you :) I've been through a lot in my life, and I'm not even 30 yet! I've always been very strong and able to cope with things...However over the past couple of months, many things suddenly became quite overwhelming (physically/mentally/emotionally) and I found that I had a massive anxiety-related heart chakra block that only got worse as I tried to meditate or consciously relax. That's when I realised that perhaps now is the time for me to start writing out everything that's been bothering me - which is an exercise I have been putting off for a very long time. I believe that slowly, as I voice all my troubles, the physical/mental/emotional manifestations of my worries will gently release and I can begin my own true process of healing. Once again, thank you for shaing...

April 21
send a green star

Judy A.

12:10PM PDT on Apr 18, 2012

Thank you.

April 18
send a green star

Nadine H.

8:17AM PDT on Apr 18, 2012

Marianna B M.

11:47AM PDT on Apr 16, 2012

thanks

April 16
send a green star

Jessie D.

8:27AM PDT on Apr 16, 2012

thank yo

Past Member .

8:22AM PDT on Apr 16, 2012

i am a cancer survivor and when I went through my treatment I had alot of complications.I went through alot of painful moments and their were two things that helped me with thhe pain.One I know it sounds simplistic but I tried to ignore the pain and just told myself it would pass and the second was the really important part I handled it with humor.I made myself and others around me laugh aaaaaa lot!That helped to strengthen me.I still feel alot of pain these days because the chemo did alot of damage to me but I laugh through it.

Jane B.

9:45PM PDT on Apr 15, 2012

There is no "meaning" to pain and there's no real cure for pain nor is there a cure for cancer.
Sleep helps, animal friends help, distraction helps (music), and other fun things. Religion dulls the mind, stifles innovation and murders creativity and destroys lives so stay away from that.
Freedom from religion relieves a lots of pain. Pain is not only "all in your mind", it's "all in your body" too, very hard to escape. I think yoga is stretching for the pretentious but to each his own.