Energy and the Family Tree
For those on the healing path, going home for the holidays can be a true challenge of heart and spirit as old energy patterns kick up dust from the floorboards of our childhood. In this podcast, I discuss how the energy field of our families is stronger than we might imagine and how family constellation work can help us heal and forgive electromagnetic blocks within our own ancestral lines.
I also share a recent experience of transcending familial patterns this Christmas during a surprising ecstatic moment at the Comfort Inn in Branson, Missouri. And I encourage RS participants to share their own moments of family healing, realization, and transformation in the comments section below.
Image: "family tree" by rick on Flickr courtesy of Creative Commons Licensing.
Tweet- 12-29-08
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A popular topic this time of year, it seems.... =)
Nice bit of synchronicity here...I read this article just before this one popped up. ^_^
http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/12/29/family-brain.html
It covers some other, neurological, causes for family encounters to be so difficult. Basically, its because we process their identity through the same portion of the brain we process our own identity through. Strangers and friends we put through a different, more risk-evaluating segment.
So, basically, the reason family is able to get under your skin so easily is becuase you judge them more the way you judge yourself; instead of how you would normally judge 'others'.
That whole 'mirror darkly' thing again. =)
Nice podcast, I enjoyed it. Certainly dealing with my parents has been one of the greater obstacles on my own Path. I hate how sad it makes my mom that I have not followed a more 'sanctioned' road; hearing the tone of resigned disappointment in her voice now and again when we discuss the future, and our plans for it.
I still hear her voice in my head, in times of weariness or doubt, telling me that I am wasting time when I pursue my passions. Even now, at the age of 30, it is a barrier that prevents me from following my dreams as often as I should.
Still, I try to be pragmatic about it, and realize that this is a fairly natural process. She herself did exactly the same thing to her parents, and they to theirs. We all have our lives, and we all have to live them the way we feel they should be lived.
That's what we're here to do.
It is a sad fact, however, that those who have abandoned their dreams...will discourage yours. Don't let them.
"You must *be* the change you wish to see in the world." Mahatma Gandhi
The Family Brain & The Voice that Continues on
Thanks ChibiOne for the great link. It makes sense that our brains would react differently to our families as we have dug deeper neural pathways given the longterm and tightknit relationship with them, not to mention the identity issue mentioned in the article.
It's amazing how even as adults our parents voices seem to have a background presence in our own lives. I've seen this manifest more and more as my meditation practice deepens -- just how many subtle voices from my upbringing like to make cameo appearances. I think of how your mother went out on her own, much like you, and her parents as well, but that voice still continues. Where did it begin? Is this some subtle thought forms or energy patterns passed down throughout the generations? Perhaps our parents' voices get attached to them but could they be echoes from the worries, doubts, fears, and even loving concern of our ancestors in the past. I sometimes wonder.
Energy patterns through the generations....
Well, given the experiments showing at least the possible validity of Rupert Sheldrake's Morpho-Genetic Field resonance theory -- and the general concept of the Akashic Field (an idea that makes a tremendous amount of sense to me....see also Science and the Akashic Field by Ervin Laszlo) -- I think that your wondering is founded on something quite concrete indeed.
It is, perhaps, invisible to the "regular" five senses, but very probably quite real (doesn't that apply just as well to the signals transmitting information for/from our cell-phones?).
"You must *be* the change you wish to see in the world." Mahatma Gandhi
The link to the podcast
Link Working & Energy Defense Structures
Hi Jedi Mind Traveler, the link seems to be working. Here's the url in case you need it.
http://souldish.com/wp-content/uploads/theelectricjesus/electricjesus6.mp3
As for challenges with the family forcing us to confront issues and attachments that have been plaguing us, I think that seems basically true. In fact, I believe it's energetic rifts, attachments, and misunderstandings with parents during childhood that lead to what bionenergetics calls, "the five main energy defense structures." These were defense mechanisms we needed at certain times in our lives to get through certain situations, but the problem is they may not have been released after the initial incident or trauma, so we keep projecting these defenses into our daily life.
Seeing parents with a new sense of mindfulness and awareness can lead to the "radical forgiveness" I believe is necessary for us to truly open our heart centers to dimish those energetic defense systems and see the love around us. But of course, that's the tricky part as parents and siblings are often our number one button pushers and it can be a challenge to remain spiritually and emotionally centered when coming back into these old patterns and I would even say electromagnetic fields within the family structure.
We can all relate...
Interesting. There's definitely something about going back home that challenges the transformation that we think we've had. I tended to fall into old patterns, sarcasm, and even revelled in personal battles. I do feel that I at least brought a new perspective to my family's struggles, specifically seeing that nature forced upon my father a natural death and rebirth sequence as an opportunity to grow and dissolve such a strong, structured belief system. I feel that the psychadelic literature has a lot to offer people who haven't gone there (yet) but may be experiencing a very similar life lesson as forced upon them by their own subconscious, for their personal growth. This is basically when circumstances that appear to be objective, force the subject to confront rigid patterns, retreat into a state of formless chaos, and finally rebirth themselves into something new, maybe more open and wiser.
As Aldous Huxely describes in "The Doors of Perception,"
"The man who comes back through the Door in the Wall will never be quite the same as the man who went out.He will be wiser but less cocksure, happier but less self-satisfied, humbler in acknowledging his ignorance yet better equipped to understand the relationship of words to things and to apply systematic reasoning to mystery in an attempt to comprehend."
So that's my hypothesis - that the universe will put obstacles in your way that force you to confront your attachments if you're not doing it yourself, and provide experiences that are similar to the psycadelic experience, yet on a longer timescale. In essence, we are all living the hero's journey, one way or another. And this is why people like us may be in a position to guide our friends and family along it. I think this is especially relevant in this time when the universe seems to be throwing us these challenges at an ever more feverish pace and of greater intensity, for the individual and collective.
the umbilical cord
My son also went through the near-death experience at birth, and had me incredibly worried. I remember having to stop pushing when my whole body was telling me to push-or-else! The fear that I would lose him was my strength.
Interesting how you relate the frozen wasteland that was missouri to it being devoid of spirit. Living in MN which is also a frozen wasteland right now, and out of the city at that, I have also had that feeling. And esp. coming from NYC, I bet it was disorienting. The opposite is how I feel when I go to NYC - so many people, infinite culture, and everyone is nice enough but it can be completely overwhelming. I imagine you're used to it while I am used to being surrounded in blah - dirty white covers everything, people come from mostly the same culture (scandanavians abound here)(and a certain amount of ignorance), and if you thought you wanted to go outside for a bit the wind chill quickly changes your mind. The exception being the Twin Cities of course, which isn't even comparable to the big apple, but holds the sweet gems of culture and such, and skyways to keep you from the chill.
Is your Mom a fire sign? I think I have the same Mom ;)
Anyhow this is the first podcast of yours I've listened to and I loved it. Thanks!
"The only thing constant in life is change" -François de la Rochefoucauld
The Mother's Perspective & "Vibrational Realities" of Places
Thanks, Bridget, for providing a mother's perspective on what a birth like this can be like for the parent. I couldn't imagine the fear and strength you must've felt at that time. In the bioenergetics healing that I practice, we consider the idea that children "choose" to be born to their parents to work on certain issues, energy patterns, or belief systems in the Earth plane. Of course this may sound a little strange, but it's at least a possibility that your child may have "chosen" a difficult birth to learn from that experience as part of their spiritual path. I'm so glad you're child made entry into this world and is bringing you joy in your life.
As for vibrational realities of different places, NYC definitely has it's own ambition-driven quality, I feel, which is great when you're trying to manifest things in a career or spread a scene out into the world, but it has its own intense challenges, especially when you're seeking calmness and peace of mind. Many of my friends (and I) find getting out of town periodically as a necessity for staying centered in the city. Fortunately, there's lots of great retreats and centers up state. There's also quite a few good ones in the city if you bring ear plugs to block out the taxi horns outside.
the chosen ones
I am certain we were chosen by both of our children, and it doesn't sound at all strange! In comparing Griffin's chart to ours, there is an almost equilateral triangle between our 3 essences (my mother archetype through the moon and cancer, the father archetype through saturn and capricorn, and balancing Libra Griffin, plus we are all of cardinal modality.) Togetherness in teaching, learning and working. And the new baby Skyler a Gemini with much potential to teach us all something, in challenges, and as a great companion to his older brother, both air elements. I
It sounds as if wherever one is, they need a taste of the other side to keep them balanced. When I lived in cities I would also find a natural place to retreat to on a regular basis, the Boundary Waters being my personal favorite. Now I live on a lake and take trips to the city (or another city/state) for shows, meet with friends etc.
"The only thing constant in life is change" -François de la Rochefoucauld