The title to this post is the motto of my beloved House Raven, a pagan-based group of tight-knit individuals who are doing our best to be the change we want to see in the world. Each of us as individuals as well as collectively have dedicated our best efforts to not only our own self-realization and consciousness journeys, but also to the concept of helping to lift others around us and be beacons of light in these turbulent times all of humanity finds ourselves ensconced in. We have a very diverse group of folks (we also often mention "unity through diversity") and our skill sets are varied ~ and this has proven many times over to be a formidable crew!
Of course, everything in life offers an equal exchange despite the fact that life is never "fair", and solid foundations are certainly in exchange for facing insurmountable odds...
Between April 23 and May 2 both my home and now my community have been rocked by several traumatic experiences that feel tragic and the process to find the light again in the darkness has not been easy. As someone who finds self-worth partially in my own strength during difficult times, finding myself crushed under the weight of these tragedies has been doubly hard to accept. While still reeling from the weight of our family's traumas that sent me on a week-long sabbatical to be able to collapse where our children would not see me in such a state (I know you parents can relate to this one!), a sudden death in our greater community hit just as I had pieced myself together enough to come home. While still feeling in shambles, I was presented with an opportunity to tap in to part of my own skill set and knowledge for a dear friend who has now been thrust front and center in the position to save and protect a child left without their rock through the death that happened.
I am grateful to have all of the skills and knowledge and wisdom I have gained over the years and the opportunity to help others (especially people I have love and respect and admiration for), and yet even in the midst of this whirlwind I found myself reflecting on how I have acquired these tools and the sheer amount of pain and suffering that led to this toolbox that I carry with me.
It has been often said "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" and also "it is when we struggle that we truly are able to grow". Yet, each milestone earned, each battle won, ultimately leads to a more difficult milestone to overcome, a more powerful foe to defeat in battle. It is of note here that the "foe" I speak of is only sometimes another human; sometimes it's ourselves, sometimes it's just a metaphor for the challenges of life.
The tools I pulled out of my toolbox for my dear friend have been gained through decades of milestones, of battles ~ some of which I have overcome and some of which have overcome me. During my sabbatical I had to reconstruct myself in a way to accept once again that failures are a part of life and do not define me, and I had to once again accept that what I may view as a failure today may seem tomorrow like a tool at my disposal. I had to be reminded by loved ones as well as my own inner guides that these things don't make me a failure. I had to remember that giving up isn't a realistic option. I had to swim back to the surface, to the light, to the air, to myself.
Even as I type this, I am still reeling and working to accept the words that are flowing onto the page. Even as you are reading this I am still piecing myself back together. There are new wounds, there will be scars that last the rest of my life. The events that caused the most recent round of personal traumas in our home are far from over, and so closure isn't currently an option, and I have to accept that not understanding at this time the lessons of spirit being presented (or to whom) is just the way it is. I have to accept that the battle is by no means over, and there will be more wounds before it is done.
All of this I have shared with you, dear reader, to remind myself of "who we are, what we do", with the faith that sharing my own pain will help lessen that of another. We love, we live, we embrace something much higher than ourselves. In the most challenging times in our lives, it can be the hardest to have faith, to trust in spirit, to let go of our pain. Yet that is when we need those tools the most. Loving can hurt. Caring can hurt. Acting through word and deed for a greater purpose, accepting the role as a protector and healer of children/the meek/the innocent/the wounded/Mother Earth ~ this conscious choice comes with an exchange of having to deal with the horrors of metaphorical war, of standing as a shield even knowing that you become the target. Yet time and again, this is my choice. Truth flies straight as a perfectly aimed arrow, love heals all wounds, and we are never alone when we make the choice to be the arrow of truth, or the shield of love.
From the darkness the light is born, and to the darkness of the void the light will one day return. From the cracks we all receive throughout our life experiences as living beings within these human clothes, we become a prism, able to bend the light into rainbows and back into light again to share with others. Sometimes we are tempered as a sword on the anvil with fire and blows, sometimes we are given the softness of the gentlest butterfly's kisses to share the beauty of life, but at all times we are weaving ourselves into the tapestry of this universe in the way of our choosing.
To all of you who do your best, even when it doesn't feel like enough
To all of you who choose love, even when it hurts
To all of you who seek the path, even when it is hidden
To all of you who dedicate your very souls to the journey of the unknown, trusting the guidance of something higher than ourselves
I say unto you ~ we are united, we are power, we are change.
Our circle may be open but it is never broken.
Hello. Thank you so much for sharing your words of acquired wisdom. Heartfelt condolences if in order. Feel better soon as you emerge triumphantly.
Reading over your article felt like I was reading my life history all over again. It opened up some areas long shut-in, capped off, never to be felt or spoken of again.
When you say:
If there ever were a statement so true, it is that. The soul can never continue to be weighed down with the burden of darkness. It has to rise towards the light. Nothing can stop it, no matter how hard we try. Eventually it will burst through. From that, we gain knowledge and wisdom.
Take care.
Powerful and heartfelt post. While I don't know anything about the recent traumas you've experienced, I can tell you this truth which I've corroborated through my own journey: none of us is ever gone, even as we leave our physical form, we expand toward new levels of awareness. If you ever have need of speaking with your loved ones who have departed, create a ritual especially for it and you shall see feel the, eventually even see then and hear their voices again with practice, I guarantee this.
Blessings to you in your process!
Thank you for the words of encouragement. I know I was cryptic about the traumas happening, other than mentioning one death in our community. There were actually two deaths in the community during this time period, but one was an elder and not unexpected, though it still caused it's own ripples. The traumas in our family are not dealing with death but rather dealing with things that I am not at liberty to discuss here, but I can say that the deaths were the easiest parts of what we are dealing with!
I agree with you wholeheartedly that none of us is ever gone. I have taught all my children that if you love someone, then you are together forever in your hearts, and no amount of miles or time will ever truly separate you. I have not ever performed a ritual to be able to hear the voices of loved ones passed on, but perhaps one day I will share the story of my best friend speaking to me long after his death in a moment that saved my own life!
Thank you so much again for sharing to uplift my tattered heart.
My dear @freemotherearth I am so sorry to hear of the traumas your community has faced. I was brought to tears reading this and my heart goes out to you all. I can feel the energy in your post. It comes from the heart and I think sometimes just writing it all down is a way to process and heal too.
You are so right when you say:
It is strange this human consciousness and for those of us that understand that death is part of the life cycle, it can still be really hard to not get upset. Our tears flow and our emotions reach heightened states.
Sending heaps of healing and positive energy vibes to you and your beautiful community.
Much love
💚🤗
Thank you for the "heaps of healing and positive energy vibes"! It is truly a wonderful feeling to have the love and support of community. I certainly never looked for community anywhere other than in person until I found Hive and the natural medicine tribe ~ it has opened my mind and heart to connecting through the world of technology and being willing to share with the global consciousness in a new and exciting way!
You are most welcome. I totally hear you. I recently came back to the platform and my friends were still here, welcoming me with a warm embrace. It was like no time had passed at all. Hive really is a fantastic place to be online.
Much love to you 🤗💚🙏
I can relate to so much of what you said on so many levels. But instead of talking about that I’d rather just say thank you. Thank you for your openness, your honesty, your empathy and so much more. Cheers to your personal growth
<3
As I read your comment, I am just again reminded of how important it is we share all of ourselves with each other and the world ~ unabashedly, without reservation. I completely believe it is truly through the masks that people wear that healing is suffocated and slowed. I dream of a world where people are all just themselves, instead of what they think others want them to be.
One love my brother.
Goodness, you are quotable today. The spirit is moving in you. Thankyou for your shining wisdoms that settle on my heart today like gems!
Thank you for the kind words @riverflows! Perhaps one of these days I will be brave enough to record and post the song I wrote that talks about those masks.
It's cool seeing the graphic you made with what I said! I love it!!!
It could even be me floating in the ether behind the words...redheaded and barefoot describe me well!!!
Yes.
This post really hit me in the heart and guts this morning - it's something that we've been talking about in class with First people reconciliation issues in Australia. We talked about how sometimes we have to scratch the scars to bring the blood to the surface.
I'm not sure what you have been through but I extend to you lvoe and strength, and admiration for this support you've extended to others even in your own grief. Trauma is absolutely cumulative - having the toolbox to integrate it into our life experience is a blessing.
Walk light.
Walking light is what I am doing my best to do...some days it's easier than others, for sure. I am really grateful to have the ability to process and churn out writings to go with what I am processing, I know a lot of people get lost in the fogs of despair when things get really tough, but gratefully the universe never lets me stay lost for long. It really is taking every single tool in my toolbox these days to keep it together...more bad news came today even...and yet I am so paradoxically grateful for all the absolute YUK that I had to survive prior to now to get those tools to make it moment to moment now in the middle of this seemingly never-ending nightmare.
On a different note, I would love to know more about the First People and their teachings. I have studied about, and also with, several tribes here in the US over the years as I can, and it is heartening to be able to learn from tribes who have not completely lost their way in the world.