Becoming a Hollow Bone - Moving Beyond Conflict

I’ve long been heard sharing several foundational teachings found in the work we do with the Power of Our Way Medicine Wheel. Lately, due to the themes I am seeing, one of the most significant of these teachings is;

All conflict is sourced in the beliefs we hold within our mind; a mind conditioned through our experiences and energized through cultural beliefs and teachings.

Conflict appears in our lives in all sorts of ways. For some, it may be a conflict held only in the privacy (and illusionary aloneness) of one’s thoughts. For others, conflict shows up in our relationships, our bodies, or in feelings of inadequacy or lack of control. It may be situational, meaning it appears to be isolated, and is very focused on one area of your life. Or, it may be such that everything is tainted with an energy of chaos. Regardless, in a world where we love to feel “in control” and clear and often gauge our sense of “wellness” based on the degree to which control and clarity is present for us, any sense of conflict can feel uncomfortable.

One type of conflict is doubt. Conflicting ideas about what you believe is possible (or not) and what you are actually seeing in your life can feel discouraging, to say the least. For most of us, however, more often than not, the conflicts, struggles and annoyances we are experiencing in the “here and now” are really a lot less about life as it is today and more about unresolved conflicts from the past. This awareness, and one’s commitment to engage in whatever practices they need to clear out the emotional and mental back log, are major keys to living peacefully in the present. In fact, most of what irritates us was implanted in our pasts and we operate quite unconsciously and obviously don’t even know it.

Down the Rabbit Hole We Go

All of a sudden, we find ourselves spiraling down a rabbit hole of muckiness. Whether reacting in defensiveness, anger, judgment, fear, resistance, avoidance, procrastination, or even a lack of clarity, the conflict is always within. As much as we would like to think that conflict often exists “out there”, the fact of the matter is that the genesis of our conflicts is never really outside of us. Rather, it is 100% sourced in our beliefs and they way we think.

Historical woundings or imprints (conscious and unconscious) surface through various triggers. A trigger can be just about anything and most of the time we are unconscious of what set off the chain reaction of uncomfortable feelings, thoughts and behaviors. Sure, you might know some of your touchy spots, but in reality, most are buried in our subconscious beliefs and perspectives. Interestingly enough, the subconscious is not known for being founded in absolute reality and truth.

Because we’ve been taught to resolve conflict that exists “out there”, because we are not healing the disparity that exists within, the external outpicturing of our lives continues to reflect the internal. When we remind ourselves that we create from our thoughts and feelings about things, we immediately access the wisdom and opportunities that exist to heal within ourselves.

The Divided Mind

All conflict is a manifestation of a divided mind – competing parts within us that are out of alignment and disconnected from the greater essence of the moment – and the opportunities we face to allow our resonance, as opposed to some form of linear logic, to bring clarity and direction in our lives.  When conflict exists in relationship with another, it is still a result of two divided minds bringing their personalities, beliefs and histories into the mix.

I ask you to reflect upon that which exists in your life in harmony, clarity and ease? Odds are it is because you have a sense of self confidence and worthiness. In fact, even in places and spaces where things may not be unfolding in the ways we might “think” we would like, it is possible to be in harmony and peace with uncertainty. It is possible to be at peace with parts of ourselves that are unclear. So much of the stress experienced in a consciousness of uncertainty is because we somehow have come to believe that uncertainty is a bad thing.

Trust in Divine Unfolding

Trusting in Divine unfolding and emergence, and having (and exercising) faith in your ability to be present and respond in the ways you are guided – in the moment – create foundation that is less attractive to struggle and doubt. It allows for more spiritual guidance and intervention as well, largely because we are not operating from the illusion that we should know everything or figure it all out ourselves.

What if uncertainty and living in the mystery of your unknowing was something you just simply surrendered to? What if you lay down the weaponry of your own self judgment and stopped “shoulding” all over yourself? Instead of blasting yourself with ideas such as “I should be clear, I should be further along,” we trust in the perfection of wherever it is that we find ourselves. If your tendency is to add pressure by telling yourself, “I should be trusting more, doing more, taking more action…” I ask you, “Should you? Really?” How are you so sure? Where does that belief really come from and who’s voice is actually talking to you?

Awakening to our inner healer (and inner conflict resolver) is largely reliant on becoming aware of our thoughts and how the past has created filters that prevent us from seeing and acting from the highest truth of our beings. We must release all that is not aligned with health, wellness, peace of mind and compassion. Releasing the Past is ongoing too because every moment we are creating a past moment. It is not as if we do a one time “spring cleaning” and life gets easy.

Becoming a Hollow Bone

In my spiritual practice, one of my main priorities (and practices) is to become a “hollow bone.” I seek to be a hollow bone in all of my relationships and endeavors. Easier said than done, right? A wonderful explanation of this powerful concept is found in an article about the Teton Sioux Ceremonial Chief, Fools Crow. Called the “Historical People of Power” and found at http://www.powersource.com/, the author says;

“Fools Crow agreed with Black Elk when he said, "I cured with the power that came through me. Of course, it was not I who cured, it was the power from the Outer World, the visions and the ceremonies had only made me like a hole through which the power could come to the two leggeds (people). If I thought that I was doing it myself, the hole would close up and no power could come through. Then everything I could do would be foolish." He believed that the Higher Powers taught that this healing power comes in and through a person first to make us what we should be, and then flows through us and out to others.

In his becoming a hollow bone, Fools Crow believed that he went through four stages.

·     First, he called in Wakan Tanka (Great Mystery) to rid themselves of everything about them that would get in the way, such as doubt, questions or reluctance.

·     Then he recognized himself as a clean vessel or tube, ready to be filled with hope, possibilities, and anxious to be filled with power.

·     He experienced the power as it came surging into him.

·     Finally, giving power away to others, knowing that as they are emptied out, the Higher Powers will keep filling them with even greater power to be given away.”

This is really the only reason we travel into the past. We travel backwards only to develop awareness and clear away anything that could possibly clog the bone of our spirit and mind. And, it really isn’t as painful as we might think. Healing (as I have experienced countless times) can be instantaneous and it often does not require as much mental processing as we might believe. In fact, this belief alone often becomes the reason for staying stuck.

The Wheel offers an experiential tool for all sorts of healing at the individual and collective levels but to truly work with it, we learn other practices (breath work, energy clearing and cultivation, visualization, journeying, energy healing, and intuitive opening exercises).

The Awakening the Healer Within Tele-Retreat in DECEMBER (info at http://www.powerofmyway.com/awaken.html) will focus on this and so much more.  Only 14 spots are remaining and we begin with an orientation on Dec. 8!

Tap into some f*ree audios on this subject at http://www.powerofmyway.com/awakeningthehealerwithin.html   and check out the retreat at http://www.powerofmyway.com/awaken.html

Namasté…Aho Mitakuye Oyasin, Ani

Rev. Anita Pathik Law is the founder of The Power of Our Way Community and hostess of Conscious Dialogues. Visit http://www.powerofmyway.com/teleseminars.html , www.powerofmyway.com/heal.html, www.powerofmyway.com/awaken.html, and http://www.aligningwithdestiny.com, for upcoming programs and events and http://www.blogtalkradio.com/anita-pathik-law, for Conscious Dialogues.

Comments

[Mystical Maria]

Anita, thank you! I have been in the rabbit hole for the past week (also pms-ing..haha! lovely.)...i cried when i read this today. Thank you for reminding me. I am so grateful for your Presence.
Love,
Mystical Maria