More On The Shadow Self

 

 

 

In life there is always an equal balance of good and not good.  In he world there is equal balance.  In situations there are both.  Within us is the Universe, the world, the sun, the moon, and the stars, and so it is that all things are in balance.  It may not seem like a balance, but it is.  Negative energy is there.  Positive energy is there.  It is here within.

Releasing negative energy within is tricky because sometimes we are not conscious of how our energy is sent out into the ether.  Oh, it is easy to point the finger outwards, but, you see, the choice is always within as to how we act, react and how much we work to be more positive.  We are not talking false positivity, although sometimes we might fake it ‘til we make it!  But seeing it all from without removes one’s sense of personal responsibilities for the negative that is put out.  We may think our thoughts do not enter the ether.  They do! 

So many things affect the ether.  Consider all the dehumanizing ways our life is going.  Bad behavior/non-rule-followers, and the crises they keep us in with preventing passing of covid.  Passive bystanders, like a group of teenagers egging a fight on with no care who really wins, just the care that they love the violence.  Refusing to relinquish any power to anyone in family, community, society, the world and the ‘crab-in- the-bucket mentality that trickles into our every day as we accept that someone has to be in control and that it is life or death.  Things are chaotic and disordered as people clean the selves, still, and no one knows when or where to get the vaccines.  It feels like the scientists and politicians are just as confused.  Many have settled into a type of apathy and feel like their lives have no meaning without the usual ‘normal’ lifestyles we are used to.  People are attacking other cultures, like Asians and those from the Middle East (typical targets those) and with the USA in political turmoil following a sense that they have permission to do harm, well, it is a mess and we see it beginning to happen in Canada.  There is definitely an us versus them consciousness as we become more and more divided.  Isolation is getting to those young and old.  And, there seems to be a lack of accountability during these crises as people seem to sense a bit of righteousness about making foolhardy decisions that there just is no way to be handled in overloaded courts.  It only takes a crisis to have people begin to show their shadow sides.  Think of all the negative energy that is floating around the ether.  Man, I have met my shadow side a time or two and I really did not like it. 

All we can do is tidy up our own lives and try to add to the positive rather than the negative.  The art groups are helping me stay even-keeled.  I work hard on self to not let this overwhelm me.  It does not mean that it doesn’t.  Betimes it does.  But I am finding ways to counteract all the negative I possibly can.

How are you finding things going for you?  Do everything we can to add positivity into the world, into our communities, into our families and everyday life. 

©Carol Desjarlais 3.17.21

 

****painting done with Jenny Manno’s  and her by Next JENeration Art inspiration.

 

Intentional Thinking

 

 

 

“When you become more aware of your thoughts, you take off the blindfold .  you don’t necessarily stop the thoughts, but you have ore clarity.”  -Elissa Epel, Phd.

 

Life has been so much under a microscope, in so many ways, this year.   It has been an opportunity to really SEE within, around, above, below.  Bit by bit, we have changed, our psyche has changed.  All of us are not who we were at the beginning of this pandemic. 

 

We have had a time to be more conscious (or unconscious, as in food for comfort, ugh) of our body and how it is working, or not.  We have had time to think.  Not all our thoughts were empowering, to be sure and, maybe we have conquered shutting down the negative thoughts a little more than before – maybe our thinking is broken now too.  Our hearts have been broken, in many ways.  Our spirits have learned not to let this crush us, even if it feels it is going on forever. 

 

I think we have to have learned patience, we have learned we cannot have life as we want it all the time, we have learned to be selective about the messages, and messengers, coming through our daily lives.

 

I think we may have met our shadow-selves.  I have.  I found it easy to slip into bitter feelings, resentment, and have worked really hard to hold that at bay.  When the shadow side emerged, I acknowledged it was there and did something about it to turn it around.  Ok, except at Walmart with snuffy people, rude people and 'deniers of mask-wearing'.  They still are sources of my feelings of ire.  Oh, and conspiracy theorists and the panhandling of misinformation from those people, places and things.  Ok, so I need to work harder on this part. 

 

I stopped being so critical of self as I became more aware that I was using food to comfort myself, unconsciously.  I did many projects to keep the blues away, and to keep my body, mind, heart and soul busy.  I joined a soul-refining group and kept it just for myself as I nurtured self.  I downloaded lots of music on spotify and have listened to much much music of my own choosing.  I stayed away from daily television and used Netflix and youtube exclusively so I could, again, choose what entered my space.  I cleared junk out of body, mind, heart and soul…oh, and house.  I have a yard sale ready to go when the time comes.  I have bags of things to take to salvation army.  I cleared out stagnant friend’s lists, nurtured relationships that are important to me... like sisterfriends on a little goddess within, of course. 

 

Now is the perfect time we may never have again, to really take long looks at how we have changed,. and what we will discard, when things become a new normal.  What have you been up to in ways of survival beyond just body? 

©Carol Desjarlais 3.16.21

 

Our Spring ATC Swap and more

 

 

 

What a loving experience doing all the fifty ATCs I have made since we began our swap.  I know each card I receive comes from the soul of the creator.  I took the ATC cards to another level for my granddaughter and her buddy (a boy who declares that he is gay/Bi and a darling boy (both uniquely innocent and both turning fourteen this year)  .  They are both experiencing bullying at their middle school.  So often we feel powerless to help counteract it all, but, the ATCs gave me a vehicle to help empower them.

I decorated five boxes for each, and each box has five cards in it.  Once a week, they chose a box.  Every morning they are to chose a card and read it and then tuck it in their pocket.  The sayings on the back of each card is a phrase of empowerment, supportive phrases, declaration phrase and things to focus on for that day of the school week.  It is all a grandma can do from afar.

There are myriads of ways to store cards we receive.  What have you thought up to keep your received ATCs in?  I am using plastic sheets from an old photo album and have stuck a bit of painter’s tape to keep them within the little pockets.  I may try to do a homemade ATC book later. 

I do not know what you all think, but I am thinking we could do a new them every month and I could chose each one of you to decide on the theme for the month so we all get a chance to choose a theme.  What do you think?

©Carol Desjarlais 3.15.21

 

https://feltmagnet.com/painting/My-Introduction-to-Artist-Trading-Cards