Gentleness is a powerful force.
I could probably write a book about this topic. Instead, I’ll share how a novel I read recently inflamed my need to proclaim the importance of gentleness, particularly in the spiritual life.
At the final climax of the book, the protagonist is by herself and has a breakthrough meditation that leads to awakening. The trouble is the whole thing is horribly painful, including peeing on herself and having a sort of seizure.
Ugh. It just sounds so traumatic.
I know too many people who have had surprisingly strong breakthrough experiences of energy in their meditation that were just too scary.
This is a very tricky area. There can indeed be strong sensations when the body is detoxifying itself. Nausea for example.
In my early twenties, I visited a Buddhist temple and I broke out in a sweat and thought I might toss my cookies. I didn’t have anyone to help me interpret what happened. The whole thing scared me off of meditation for years.
Fast forward another decade or so, to a time of miraculous healing and awakening that arose from a very serious health crisis. I’ve written before about the turning point in one particular healing session that connected me to an incredibly peaceful place in the universe.
Yet how did I arrive at that healing turning point? Gently. Gradually.
It was still hard. There is a reason the poet Rumi describes the path of spiritual awakening as “dying before you die.” Yet the thread of more aliveness and more love always pulls me onward.
If you want your spiritual journey to feel gentle rather than shocking, here are three key elements:
Accompaniment. Healers, mentors, and guides are essential for helping you access gentleness even in rough spots.
A structured practice. Not only can the familiar words or motions of a practice create a container for our spirit to fly beyond form, they also create a grounding rod to bring us back home if things feel like they are going off the rails.
Trust. Trust in unconditional love, trust in yourself, and trust in your right timing. There is no gentle way to push a river.
Gently yours,
emily
Have your encounters with the Mystery of life got you feeling mystified, stuck, maybe even a little scared? I love helping people find their way through spiritual tight spots through qigong healing and mentoring sessions. Schedule a complementary 15 minute exploratory conversation to see if this is right for you.