When Internal + External Collide
Muse 4-28-24
WHEN INTERNAL + EXTERNAL COLLIDE
For many years I studied and worked as someone who adhered to a set of internal ideas. In my work as a psychotherapist, particularly within the realms of psychoanalysis, I've delved deeply into the intricate landscape of our internal world. Psychoanalysis is built very much on the idea that we have a rich and deep internal world. And it is within this world where our interpretations of external moments impact and shape our behaviors and perceptions. The act of therapy entails the exploration of these moments that are often rife with misunderstandings, miscommunications, and unmet expectations, which, in turn, influence our emotional responses and can reinforce behavioral patterns. Both consciously and unconsciously. The work of psychotherapy lies in excavating these internal dynamics, unraveling the where and why of our behaviors, as they are intricately woven with our internalized experiences and relationships.
Much if not all of the work is about getting what is inside, out.
However, my more recent study of energy work has presented a shift. A dichotomy (in the energetic realms dichotomies are the birthplace of incredible creativity). A complementary perspective rather than a contradiction. From an energetic perspective, we exist as a being/spirit that in this moment is inhabiting a specific body. Beings need a body to create. And to create is to express. Create, with a big C as I like to call it, is much more vast than to create as an artist or to be creative as an artist. Create with big C refers to anytime we create something from nothing. This is a foundational concept of energy work. As beings inside of human bodies we create all day long. An idea is a creation. Dinner is a creation. A conversation is a creation. Bodies enable us to express our being/spirit. We cannot create without a body.
As a being, we are here to serve a purpose. To contribute in a way that is the combination of all the lifetimes before (if you believe in that sort of thing). Your being has a body right here right now for a reason. And as a being you are here to fulfill a purpose. Therefore as a being, there is nothing you would willingly do to get in the way of that purpose. Your being/spirit is only in support of your purpose.
Everything else is external.
This deserves some explanation.
Instead of the psychological perspective that we have low self-worth, or beat ourselves up, or have a fixed mindset, or have imposter syndrome, or have an inner critic, inner gremlin, engage in negative self-talk, or any of the other buzzwords we have been confronted with that are assumed to originate within us, energy dictates that what gets in the way of our purpose is external energy that we handle. We do not create it. We simply handle it coming at us. Handle is very different than have. Of course we can and do have responses to handling this energy. It can make us angry, sad, frustrated, and behave and feel in a multitude of ways that are counter to our truth.
Surprisingly, most energy we handle, no matter from where or from who, fits in just a few categories. Judgment, punishment, invalidation, and pain. It is important to acknowledge that in terms of energy these words are preceded by “other people’s.” So we handle other people’s judgment, other people’s invalidation, other people’s punishment, and other people’s pain.
Here lies the joining of psychology and energy: both affirm that what we experience from others isn't inherently personal. A person’s psychology is their own. A person’s energy is their own. Whether we internalize it or handle it, we are not on the receiving end because it is personal. What is personal and does involve who we are and what we can control, is how we respond. While psychology delves into the intricacies of the how, why, and where, of these experiences energy work transcends the details, focusing on the movement and neutralization of energies, regardless of their nature or origin.
Moving stagnant energy isn't contingent upon the specific nature of the energy or its origin. Understanding the source is unnecessary for its release. The underlying principle lies in recognizing that the energy we encounter originated elsewhere. By neutralizing it and returning it to its source, balance is restored. While this approach of sending interfering energy back to the source may seem harsh, especially when dealing with particularly challenging energy, it's essential to acknowledge that nothing is as comforting or empowering as our own energy. Handling someone else's energy not only feels incongruent but also deprives them of their vital essence. When we facilitate the movement of energy, the release of stagnant energy and return it to the source everyone benefits. By moving the energy and returning it to its source, we enable its rightful owner to reclaim it. This process remains effective regardless of our awareness of the energy's origin. The act of releasing it ensures a positive outcome for all involved.
Understanding this information takes time. It is truly dense and to be honest I teach a whole course on this, so to put it in a few paragraphs does not provide the whole picture. These concepts merit further exploration. Join me next week as I attempt to help further integrate these ideas with a specific example. Get ready to burn a very popular myth to the ground.
TTFN
xxx
LAS
SOLAR TRANSIT
5-3-24
Gate 2
The Gate of Direction of Self
On May 3, the sun gracefully moves through Gate 2, also known as the Gate of the Direction of Self, marking a celestial shift that beckons you to embark on a profound journey of self-discovery. Gate 2 extends an invitation, offering a unique opportunity to delve deep into your inner realm, with a specific focus on understanding the direction you choose for yourself.
As the sun illuminates Gate 2, it casts a luminous light upon a path ripe for exploration—an exploration of the energies propelling you toward discerning the direction you wish to take in your life. This celestial transit serves as a gentle guide, encouraging you to reflect on your own path, personal choices, and how these can be the foundation for your self-directed journey instead of conforming to external expectations.
Gate 2 embodies the energy for receiving the abundance of life. It recognizes that life is a delicate balance of feminine and masculine energies, understanding that true abundance comes from receiving the gifts life offers. However, it also grapples with tendencies to spend resources recklessly, harboring doubts, worries, and anxiety about meeting its needs and lacking faith in the ability to receive abundance.
This gate acts as a catalyst, inspiring contemplation on what aspects of your life are working well and what can be energized moving forward. It encourages you to avoid getting stuck or fearful of limiting beliefs and ancestral stories. Instead, view challenges and obstacles as opportunities for ingenuity and creativity, transforming the narrative of scarcity into one of resourcefulness and self-directed empowerment.
To raise the frequency of Gate 2, it is crucial to learn how to feel "positive" emotions like abundance, joy, and gratitude. This self-directed journey invites you to embrace the energy of gracefully navigating life by strategically directing yourself to overcome limitations, all while learning to receive the abundant gifts that life has to offer.
However, there's a potential for falling prey to external rules, societal boundaries, and imposed limits. In this state, you may lean towards a victim mentality, acting out when faced with unclear self-directed boundaries, and opting for the safety of your comfort zone rather than harnessing your creativity to overcome challenges.
The key to elevating this energy lies in identifying the specific requirements in which your self-directed journey can thrive.
Here are some journaling prompts to deepen your understanding and engagement with this transit:
1. Explore the link between the direction you choose for yourself, your innate creative capacity, and the boundaries you set.
2. Recall moments of peak creativity in your life. Reflect on how these instances can guide the direction you choose for yourself and how to recreate conditions for unlocking your creative potential.
3. Consider the concept of establishing fair self-directed systems and structures. Identify areas needing balance and how your creativity can contribute to creating systems aligned with your authentic values.
4. Explore conditions, environments, or rituals that enhance your self-directed creative process. How can you intentionally create a space nurturing your unique creative energy during this transit?
Gate 2 offers a journey of self-discovery focused on creatively directing yourself, overcoming limitations, and learning to receive abundance. This celestial transit encourages reflection on self-directed choices and boundaries, transforming them into fertile ground for creativity and resourcefulness. Gate 2 embodies graceful navigation through life, leveraging creativity to surpass self-imposed limits, but cautions against falling into a victim mentality by emphasizing the importance of clear self-directed boundaries and identifying specific conditions for optimal creative expression.
NEW PROMPT!!
Do you know about Tapping? It can be an effective addition to energy work and nervous system regulation. Many of my Mentorship clients include Tapping as part of their daily ritual. You can learn more about Tapping and how to do it below.EFT - Emotional Freedom Technique Tapping Prompt for this transit.
“Even though I fear being guided by scarcity, I now trust the expansion of my havingness and I deeply and completely love and accept myself.”
Have a great week exploring these transits! Ready to learn more about your Human Design? Hit the buttons below to schedule a reading with me and download the free Human Design information sheets to learn more!
THE CREATIVE
Welcome to The Creative. Twice a month I share quotes from the books, Art is the Highest Form of Hope and The Creative Act. I find perspectives on the creative process to be so meta when it comes to life. We are a creative process and everything we do is subject to the same rules. Creation is non-linear. It's messy. It moves forward and backward. And also gets stuck. Oftentimes we do not realize the purpose of a singular creative process until years later. Creativity likes to surprise us.
“I'd rather have no style than any style.” - Ed Ruscha
The creative process is seductive. I am reminded of the Evil Queen in Snow White, disguising herself as an apple peddler. Offering Snow White something bright, shiny, and new in the form of a perfect red apple. We all reach that point in the creative process, sometimes through frustration, being stuck, inspiration, or surrender where we wonder about what happens next? Where we contemplate the outcome. Will the work be accepted? Will it be successful? Have we set out what we intended to do? This is a vulnerable place. A part of the process where many ideas, procedures, and outcomes different from our own look very, very good to us. Like a bright, shiny apple.
When we create an object/project it is common for us to be swayed by the outcome. Will people want what we have created? Will they buy it? And these are good questions to ask. As a professional these questions matter. Yet, where we lose our way is when we ask these questions at the risk of losing our strong perspective and point of view. Creating or designing something for everyone not only results in a watered down version of creativity, but it is also a terrible business decision. Making something for everyone is as good as making something for no one. At some point a creative decision must be made that is divisive. Ultimately this decision will result in excluding someone. Whether it is price point, fabric, overall style, materials, etc. We begin to make decisions about who our work is for throughout the creative process. This is not born from a desire to exclude anyone, but a natural result of choosing one color over another, one font over another. If you choose green, people who hate green are not going to be your people for this piece. And that’s okay.
This quote reminds me that what we are here to do as creatives is to NOT make everyone happy. Not to speak to everyone. Choices benefit the work. NO style is better than ANY style.
