Holistic health for mind, body, and spirit
Holistic health for mind, body, and spirit
*Opening the Heart*
As I walk over the threshold into the new year,
I want to be softer, gentler, and more transparent.
I have decided to tear down all the walls
I built around my heart over the decades,
the same walls I’ve been hiding behind,
throw into the fire my shield of defensiveness
and my arrows of arrogance, attack, and judgment,
and risk hanging out my white flag.
“OUCH!” I exclaimed as I pulled my hand away. I got home from my holistic health practice and joined my husband Brice in preparing a late dinner. He took a frypan out of a 400-degree oven and set it on top of the stove. I needed to move the pan a bit to use one of the burners. Thoughtlessly, I grabbed the handle.
I was enjoying my climb when I slammed my knee into one of the handholds on the rock wall. It hurt. This was not an uncommon occurrence. I’ve banged various body parts plenty of times while at the rock gym. This was the first time I needed to apply ice afterwards.
I was in the middle of packing when I decided I needed to do laundry before I could finish. I was going on a three-week trip to California to stay with my daughter Rebecca and her partner Henry and help them with their newborn.
A couple of weeks ago, I came down with an ear infection. At first, I treated it at home with hot compresses and herbal antibiotics. I also did a healing session for myself, but I couldn’t access the subconscious reason…
I love the energy of a new year. Fresh. Inspiring. Catalyzing. Each time New Year’s rolls around, I attempt to identify my goals, lessons, and the theme for the upcoming year.
Last New Year’s 2024, I sat down with my journal to meditate and do this inner work, when I heard an unexpected message. “It’s time to heal and let go of that old story, Deb,” my soul said to me. I assumed this was about my longtime challenges with money.
I woke up from a sound sleep and couldn’t figure out where I was or what day it was. Occasionally, I’ve been similarly disoriented when traveling and sleeping in a new place or when waking from a midday nap and wondering if it’s the next morning. But, this was different. I had no clue about the time, day, or my whereabouts. I attempted to orient myself or simply recall the day of the week.
I was hanging onto the rock wall roughly 30 feet above the ground, knowing I had to let go. I’d been pretty calm and pleased with myself for completing the climb. Now I was unable to move as if glued to the wall. I focused on my breath, working to muster up courage to move through the fear. I knew ultimately I had to use my will and decide to let go…to surrender.
“I trust Spirit has a plan,” I would say over and over to concerned friends, family, and clients. Our landlord gave us plenty of notice. However, when he first mentioned his plan to sell the three-bedroom house where we lived, we had no idea we were heading into a pandemic-related housing crisis. We’d been saving money to purchase a small house or condo. Yet, when it came time for us to move, housing prices had sky-rocketed and bidding wars had become common practice.
My tooth was acting up and painful, so I went to my dentist office where a staff member met me to take my temperature and ask me questions related to Covid. Another person took my blood pressure. As they did so, I consciously prompted my body to completely relax. I wasn’t attempting to control my blood pressure, but rather to stay relaxed during the upcoming dental procedure. This is a common practice since I generally don’t use Novocain or other pain relief.
Holistic health for mind, body, and spirit.
239 Main Street, 2nd Floor, Suite 6
Greenfield, MA 01301
Hours: Tuesday to Thursday, 9 am to 8 pm
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