Soul Words: Traumatic Wisdom
The paradox of trauma is that it has both the power to destroy and the power to transform and resurrect. – Peter A Levine Throughout 2022, Succeed and Soar will offer eight posts. Each names a heart and mind, a soul and spirit condition. Some concepts are new to me. With some, I seek better understanding. This first “Soul Song” examines Wisdom of Trauma, the positive adaptation to psychological pain and turning those wounds into wisdom. Resilience. I’d never heard Wisdom of Trauma and decided to research and present a little information right before February 2nd. In the United states, that date is called Groundhog Day. In other cultures, the moments between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox are called Candlemas, a Catholic ritual of purification, and Imbolc from ancient Britain, a celebration of ‘the washing of the earth’s face.’ Winter’s frigid barrenness can represent loss, disappointment and grief. During such periods, spring’s lush green, budding trees and flower-scented warmth can seem like memories from another life. Six weeks after the darkest day of the year seems a good time to consider what Dr. Bruce Perry calls,” the experience where you’ve been able to get through adversity, and … take what you’ve learned and use that to see the world differently. You use your pain and transform it into power and help other people. I think of the most transformative people I’ve ever known. Every single one of them had personal pain and traumatic experience that was a core element of who they became.” See more. Just as at Candlemas and Imbolc, a time when lambs are born and roots are developing from seeds fallen beneath snow and ice, some cultures address troubles in healing ways. The Japanese prepare for spring with mamemaki where they prepare lucky beans and throw them at people costumed as demons. Here’s a water ritual for grief and trauma from the Wicca tradition. Competent medical counseling is an important way to turn trauma into grace and empowerment. I hope these insights have been helpful. I’m definitely glad to know about ‘Traumatic Wisdom’ and that it means: … redirecting your pain towards something constructive, preferably something that affects the lives of others in a positive way. It can enable you to search and find true positive meaning in your life. As well as ultimately become better versions of yourself. Source Dr. Gabor Maté Quotes: Can we be human beings in the midst of civilization? Because what we call civilization demands the denial of human needs. Every human being has a true, genuine, authentic self. And the trauma is the disconnection from it and the healing is the reconnection with it. Why do we get disconnected? Because it’s too painful to be ourselves. Trauma is not the bad things that happen to you. But what happens inside you as a result a result of what happens to you. — In my opinion, people who develop cancer have a hard time expressing healthy anger. I just want people to see the truth. Solutions are right there if people, when they concern themselves with the truth, when they are not afraid of the truth. Succeed and Soar! Shop Succeed & Soar Galleries Buy art framed, on canvas, as posters as well as puzzles, shirts, infant onesies, phone cases, ornaments, journals, blankets, caps, coffee mugs and more. Each item is individually created. Shop All Collections HERE.
Einstein #2: Gift of Fantasy
The gift of fantasy has meant more to me than my talent for absorbing positive knowledge. – Albert Einstein During my childhood, I liked Saturday morning cartoons like Mighty Mouse [“Here I come to save the day!”] and Bugs Bunny. At night, I always enjoyed Hollywood musicals like The King and I, Oklahoma and State Fair. There were so many fabulous songs. A favorite is from South Pacific’s “Happy Talk,” which says, You gotta have a dream, if you don’t have a dream, How you gonna have a dream come true? Listen here. In the United States on this coming Tuesday, some will watch a ground hog to learn how much longer winter will last. Because February 2nd is halfway between Solstice and Equinox, winter will always last six more weeks, whether or not that chubby critter sees its shadow. Ancient cultures celebrate this mid-winter event as a time to “wash the Earth’s face,” a time to clean all that’s become old and haggard so that fresh, pure possibilities can shine. This week, why not fantasize about 2021? Pick three, wonderful dreams. Write them each morning. See what comes true, what gifts arrive by year’s end. The gold in Earth’s core could cover every inch of this planet [the oceans, mountains and continents] with a four-foot-thick layer of that shining metal. Source Over 13 billion years after the universe was born, that birth can be watched in the static on television. Source I’ve heard there’s more space between the stars than between the particles in atoms. I just read that – if the contents of the atoms from all 7.8 billion people on Earth were gathered, that mass would fill an apple. Essentially, we’re 99.99999% empty space. Source Diamonds and Triangles Baby Quilt & Wall Hanging Diamonds and Triangles is my one-of-a-kind, reversible, dual-purpose 24″ x 36″ quilt designed to both cuddle babies and display as wall art. Dramatic African prints form the top. “Diamonds and Triangles” is reversible and is backed by a single fabric of joyfully-dancing figures. To display as wall art, a sleeve for a rod [of this dancing figures fabric] will accompany the quilt. 100% cotton. $250. Shop here