Nature’s Healing and Strength of Spirit

In the human spirit, which holds a place of a submissive secret that I dare not speak; is it by nature and strength within, which conquers the thoughts of inabilities that consumes a spirit on the worst of days to keep on suffering?

I received a request for a blog about the struggles of chronic pain and the loneliness in the midst of life. Now I am not an expert, but I am a person that believes everyone has a voice and if I can help get that voice heard then I will try. An inspirational post that someone can relate to, which may allow for an outlet to even just one person that may think they have tried everything, and doesn't know where to go from here. This blog post is an inspired piece that I could not have done without the help of the anonymous person that believed in me and allowed me to invade their soul and dig until I could better understand what it is that they needed out of the request they so boldly sent. So here is to her as I write this blog through her experience with chronic pain.

What is pain in all its fiery intensity, in gripping cruelty one cannot describe? But pain is pain from low to high. And within... is a human spirit succumbed by pain and submissive to it until it passes. Pain has its virtues...a teacher of great patience and great humility to know even though one is alone, it is an illusion for one is never truly alone in suffering. It's acceptance of fragility of an imperfect human body and rising of spirit within to stand and walk along with pain. -Vicki

Her Story: Inability to escape the fiery intensity of a pain in which cannot be described, is a never ending challenge in day to day life. To let the words out to which I suffer is a heartbreaking thought, with a spirit crushing weight. Nonetheless I do not need sympathy, I do not need those eyes that look at you like you are broken, like you are a child that cannot fend for themselves. The point of worry is a concept in which I do not wish to blend.

So where do you go when you cannot voice your pain to those you love? Nature… You turn to nature. My dreams are ran by faces flashing. Faces revolving within my subconsciousness, where my mind is free from pain. When I wake, the freedom I felt as I slept disappears and in its place is a pain so fierce that I must use all I have left to make it to my table. As I use my table as a support to keep myself from falling, and letting the pain defeat me; I look out my window… I look out beyond this suffering to the big oaks and maple trees, and I meditate… Until I can move on my own once again. I am a naturalist, I believe that nature holds a power over us that allows for us to borrow the strength that is needed. Shamans over tens of thousands of years believe that when you present yourself to nature that you have a direct line to a source of energy, within this energy comes the powerful means to cause healing to take place. Trees and Plants have a direct connection to all energy sources; taking the polluted energy/air around your spirit/self and transforming it back into positive energy/oxygen for one to take into one’s self. (Temple 2016 Page 1) It is a witness of many generations that has taught me to speak unto nature, nature will answer back. For nature has seen what others have not. Roots unshakable, as the human spirit is strong. A circle of life from beginning to end which holds a continuity of life as I see it.

Step away from the daily routine of technology, and timed existence and extend your soul out unto the earth. Do as the tree does; shed your outer bark, let the leaves die off and let rest among the ground. Embrace your vulnerability and slowly grow back another layer of life to renew your spirit once again.

When I wake to a normal day that starts off in so much pain I feel depressed, and over ran by anxiety from the fear of being alone. But I know it can only get better, and I am just grateful I was given another day to live my life. No matter how fierce this pain is today, it will not get worse tomorrow. To keep in a positive state, while enduring this chronic pain is never an easy feat.

I trust that a spirit is all around us, in the air we breathe, in the earth we touch, in all the living things all around us. For me that spirit is god, and praying is what gets my day started. I look out my little window and I pray, I pray for my children, my grandchildren, I pray for others, I pray for the earth, I pray with my thoughts. Once I am able to get out of bed, I count on my heightened table to lean on and I start my meditation. I meditate to find my center, to fill in those missing pieces in which I need to make this day a fulfilling one. Then I turn to an activity that I can manage within my debilitating state that can help others, even if it is just one person. But for that day, I move through it. Regardless of ones beliefs; if it is god or a different belief, you can always turn toward nature and what nature holds to give you strength. From there, I believe we need to respect the lives off all people, nature, earth, creatures and the elements within. Then I just accept whatever it is my body and mind are doing and I go about my day the best I can… knowing it will all eventually pass. The sun will always shine, even in the darkest of days.

I have had chronic pain most of my life, it started when I was a child and has advanced into midlife adult hood. Different types of pains, different diagnoses have occurred ever since. I have found comfort in water meditation. Imagine yourself part of flowing water in a creek, in a river; take the energy from that constant motion and bring it into yourself. A waterfall that flows over those jagged rocks only ends up in a calming water, that sun that glistens within the falls only ends up sitting on top of the water in which it lands, to warm from above. To be under that water and see those rays of sun, dancing above gives you the strength to move, strength to swim toward that light which will bring you into the sun’s comforting warmth. That is one of my calming effects on my mind and body. That is one I can always turn to if another does not work.

I take my experience with chronic pain and strength of spirit and I seek to help, to encourage, to inspire others. Just as I do today; within this blog that I was blessed to be of help and assistant collaborating with the gifted writer Patricia Egan. So that we may take a piece of our small world and try to inspire/help others along the way.

References

Temple (2016) Plant Spirit Healing. Retrieved on 2016 December 27th. Retrieved from: https://templeofthewayoflight.org/shamanism-ayahuasca/plant-spirit-healing