Returning From The Abyss
“In the depth of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.”
Nature, where have you been all my life!
I struggled for decades with connection; to the fellow humans, to nature, to self, to human experience in general. This emotional numbing is also known as coping survival skill during adverse childhood events. According to Psychodynamic perspective in psychology, self disconnection is a direct result of childhood trauma, which affects our subjective experience with ourselves and the world around us. When we experience overwhelming fear and pain in early life, our survival systems are activated to protect us from danger. Once these survival mechanisms are activated, we move onto a different developmental path and begin to live an altered life biologically and psychologically.
We now know that emotional trauma is also passed down across generations as our ancestors carried unresolved trauma. Consequently, the trauma is hidden biologically in the nervous system and locked away; therefore, we must remain disconnected to avoid any emotions from surfacing. We may even create a desperate need for control and sabotage any healing process.
The good news is, recent studies show that having contact with nature has unlimited positive effects, biologically, and emotionally. Nature offers nourishment so freely, healing our health right down to the cellular level. Over thousands of years, humans evolved in an interwoven relationship with nature, and in today’s world, we are far more disconnected from our mother earth just like we are disconnected from ourselves.
Reconnection with our mind, body, and spirit requires a deep grieving process, as we begin to reconnect to our severed heart. There is no shortcutting, and seeking a solution in talk therapy or a pill will not solve the suppressed emotional pain. The process of transcending demands surrender and letting go of the control we’ve built to avoid bringing conscious awareness to those aspects of ourselves that we have masterfully ignored.
The earth is our home, our sacred living mother. We must restore our relationship with nature. Commit to going out to take a walk even if it feels uncomfortable. In time, something inside will shift, and nature will reflect back to us our inner landscape and maybe, we may drop our tricks and come to terms with the reality that was no longer is. We must learn to walk in freedom with awakened hearts feeling truly connected. Great Mother Earth, Pachamama, continually giving life to all and to her, we will return.
Love and Gratitude
