Outside on this beautiful warm breezy day. Enjoying the beautiful sweet smells of summer. Finally transplanting some cuttings from last year. Deeply connecting with PachaMama, so amazed at feeling of unity with the mother and all of creation. And as I pulled the plant out of its pot, out fell a baby snake. I caught my breath as i studied him, he was beautiful, silvery, maybe 5-6 inches long.
Great Serpent, reminding me to shed the past as he sheds his skin, over and over and over… Sometimes struggling to set himself free, only to continue growing so he can do it again. Holding on to the past keeps us from growing; just as the serpent can’t grow without shedding its skin. Holding on to the past keeps us from being able to see the opportunists right in front of us. Opportunities to grow, to be vulnerable, to truly connect. Opportunities to change the world; right here in our little corner of the world but also by raising our own consciousness we are raising the consciousness of the collective conscious; the part of us that is one with all of creation. Holding on to the past keeps us from being able to see opportunities to mend relationships. It keeps us from finding our passions. Holding on to the past makes us tired, stressed and often physically sick.
The Peruvian Shamans teach that the south direction is the energy of the serpent. A place of shedding our past as the serpent sheds its skin. Other more westernized traditions say the south is the direction of the wounded child. Either way the process is the same, forgiveness. I read a great quote today; “life is much easier if you learn to accept the apology that was never given” R Brault. And he is right! Life does get easier when we forgive.
Remember forgiveness is not something we do for the other, it is something that we give to ourselves; “I will not let what you did keep hurting me over and over”. Forgiveness releases the person doing the forgiving. It does not condone or approve of the behavior, it simply stops the hurt from continuing to live and grow inside us. We can speak our truth, and then we must then be willing to let it go. Have no expectation of what others “should” do… Just let it go. The only thing I have any control over is myself, my choices, my thoughts, my behavior…. Control over how I want to live my life. What I want to transmit to others. How I want others to feel when I am with them or when they think of me.
The Serpent doesn’t look back at his past, rather he sheds his skin, wiggling, working his way free of that which no longer serves him and then taking that opportunity to grow. Just as our past has presented us struggles, hurts and disappointments…Yet when we take an honest look back, we are overwhelmed by gratitude for the plethora of opportunities to grow. These growth opportunities appear, become manifest, when we let go of the past and become fully present. In this moment we can see how all of the struggles of the past have come together to make us this unique expression of the Divine.
Each of those struggles made us who we are today. Some of the greatest teachers in my life have been those that hurt me, because those struggles made me who I am. Hurts can be transformed into amazing gifts that Spirit can use. So Serpent reminds us to set ourselves free. Free from the past, more available for the present, for the opportunities.
One of my favorite stones to wear when I am working to forgive and let go is peridot. Peridot, much like the serpent, teaches that holding onto people and the past is counterproductive. It cleanses and activates the heart and solar plexus; allowing higher energies to come through. Here are a couple of peridot mini-wands on my site. Another great stone for forgiveness, especially forgiving the self, is rose quartz. It is called the stone of unconditional love and infinite peace. It purifies and opens the heart and brings deep healing and love.
A completely different way of forgiving is through visualization or meditation, my wonderful Reiki Teacher and dear sweet friend, Linda Backes has an amazing forgiveness meditation available on her website at www.aradiantlife.com. Her soothing voice and the channeled music will guide you through the steps of forgiveness. Including forgiving yourself, which is an aspect that we so often forget or find difficult.
No matter how you get there, give yourself the gift of forgiveness; allow yourself to feel the freedom that comes from being able to be present in this moment, available for all that life has to offer, available for connection with others and with creation. Freedom to be who you really are.
Much Munay!
