It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, angry, immobilized by sadness and the other natural emotions when any kind of tragedy strikes.. Unfortunately, these are no longer rare occurrences.
And when you are particularly empathic.. vulnerable to really taking on the emotional states of those around you, the energy in the environment, you also want to be mindful about the ways you may be taking it on.
I ain’t no guru.. and I do not have any spiritual wisdom here, but I can share a bit of what helps me, and some of what I think may help you during these times when any sense of safety in the world is shattered, and we are bewildered and heartsick at events such as the bombing at the Boston Marathon yesterday.
I grew up in Boston..my whole life.I love this city. Grew up on the route of the marathon, had apartments on the same route..finished my last paper in grad. school to the sounds of cheers below as the runners went by, and have so many happy memories of being at the event at various places along the route.. including the finish line. I’ve known many people who’ve run this beautiful event.
I was heartsick when my husband came home early from work yesterday and told me the news..I had no idea, working in my bubble all afternoon.We watched the news reports like most people, the tallies of injuries and deaths, saw the camera footage of my town.. I’ve lived here my entire life.
Personally, I did not feel anger, only deep grief, unspeakable sadness, it was in my body.
And for three days prior, as has happened for me at other times, I felt heavy and sad, tearful and almost unable to move.. without knowing why. I have had physical premonitions before, but never know til after the fact what’s happening. Many of my empathic/intuitive friends and clients experience this, as you may too.
We have seen so many tragedies.. so much ugliness in our world.. it keeps coming. It probably will continue. And although I didn’t used to, I now have a “healthy respect” for evil. I believe there is darkness as there is light.
And what I know is that whenever there is this kind of darkness, there is also incredible light and goodness. We see it all the time. Our love and humanity shine through in so so many ways. We come together, we find our hearts and our oneness. We remember to be grateful for our lives, and the people in them.
I also want to remind you to please be mindful when there is trauma.. watching the news for too long.. absorbing the images over and over.. is traumatizing. There is such a thing as “vicarious traumatization” ..it’s not good to sit and soak this up. You are better off taking action.. finding something to do if you feel compelled and want to help.
And.. during times like these, more than ever, to remember that you are the light.
What you can do right now is come back into your body, and remind yourself that one thing you can do amidst the horror and sadness is hold the light. Light up the holy God-force in yourself and shine it into the world.. send it where it’s needed, you don’t need to be anyone official, you don’t need “special” gifts.. you are already Sacred Ground.. you are already of the Divine and a holy sacred being.
Right now you can choose to go there, to make your light force as bright as possible and direct it where it’s needed. To send prayers and love and light into the global “field”..put beauty and healing and goodness into the energy out there.
I am moving between the two, as I believe we will.. I am very weepy.. cried through my beautiful sacred yoga class this morning.. was so grateful for my teacher who provided space and light for us to come home to what is true and to reconnect..We can move between the shock and grief of what we feel and then back into holding the light for those need it, for the city, for anywhere that there is grief or pain or suffering.
Your beauty is needed. Stay grounded and don’t allow yourself to get swept off course.. when you find yourself drowning in the imagery, or the discussions of overwhelm and sadness.. you can choose to come back to center and find the light.. and put it out into the world.
I want that for you.
With so much love for you and for us all…
teryll says
We shouldn’t be surprised when things like this happen, this is the day and age that we live in, but one thing I know is that the light ALWAYS pierces the darkness. Love to you and your city! xoxoxo
Lisa says
Hi Teryll…I think I will always be shocked the destruction and cruelty..so senseless and devastating. And as soon as possible, I try to find my back to knowing that there is tons of light, everywhere.. and that it’s our job to tend it and focus there.. Much love, Lisaby
Denise Hughes says
Thank you Lisa for the immediacy of this post. There is darkness and sometimes I have struggles shaking it out of my body when I feel it. You have reminded me again how powerful the LIGHT is and what a transformational energetic tool it is. It always wins. Even in the movies. I am sending radiant golden light to you and your city. XX
Lisa says
Denise.. me too re shaking it out of my body.. having it be springtime and getting to go outdoors and move some dirt and branches around and reconnect with the natural world has helped as it always does. I believe the light is always more powerful too..and we have to remind each other when we forget.. because in the midst of it, it’s easy to do, even momentarily. Love to you.. Lisa
Teresa Deak says
Hold the light, share the light, be the light. Thank you for a beautiful post, Lisa! And interesting that you felt this before it happened. I may have had a physical premonition myself. I was overwhelmed with nausea, dizziness and feeling ill quite out of the blue on Sunday. I focused on releasing it all on the wings of butterflies, and had a nice long nap with my heat pack. I was fortunate the feelings passed, and there was space for the butterflies to flow when they were really needed. Blessings to you. Hugs and butterflies, ~Teresa~
Lisa says
Just love the idea of all of the butterflies flowing into our city, finding their way where they were needed… can see them in my minds-eye. It seems many people felt this one coming without knowing what it was..Glad you took care of yourself and grateful for your beautiful gifts.. much love, Lisa
Helen says
Oh I hear you Lisa! I have to be so careful about what I pick up from other people and events! I agree with avoiding the news – I never watch the news anymore because more often than not it’s just the bad stuff that they report.
I have to focus on shielding & realigning my energy several times a day under normal circumstances, so I can hardly imagine what you must have felt!
Sending love & light xox
Lisa says
Hi Helen…It’s so great that you are so conscious of shifts and take steps to bring yourself back.. I sometimes go too far, or let it go until I am really out of balance…especially when I am online and doing that kind of work.. You inspired me to smudge soon.. Love to you, Lisa
Christie says
I find myself drawn to try to understand why. Feeling that if I watch the news or read more about events like this that somehow by knowing the details I will understand why. I don’t thinks that’s the case and I need posts like this to remind me where my attention is better placed.
lauren says
Thank you, for writing this, Lisa. It is a beautiful reminder.
I believe the Light always outshines the Dark, most especially
if we come back to ourselves with love and good care. xo
Lisa says
Lauren.. thank you.. I believe this also. love, Lisa
Jessica says
I love that you’ve incorporated yoga and physical movement into your practice of healing and coming into the light — and I know you’re inspiring others to do the same. I had an idea as I read your paragraph about vicarious traumatization: do you think maybe the people who feel they must sit and watch reel after reel are just numb? That maybe they’re trying to ignite the feeling spark in themselves by finding something in the footage?
Lisa says
Jessica.. yes. I think we get overstimulated to the point of numbness.. where we are on overload.. so toxic that we have to shut down.. and often we are already shut down from already being overloaded by all sorts of things.. and so we don’t have the capacity to truly notice how numbed out we are.. how desperately we need a break and to fill up with sustenance.. to step away and rest. Such a great point.. Love to you- lisa