Earth Mother, Heal Thyself
They are nurses, therapists and employees of nonprofit organizations. They come for healing because they are burning out on a life of giving. Earth Mothers often are depressed and exhausted, and their lives are not going so well.
I came up with the term Earth Mother because the energy fields of these individuals are wide open as they extend their hearts and healing hands to others. Energetically, they "carry the weight of the world on their shoulders".
As Earth Mothers reach out to try to heal the pain of the world, they end up absorbing negative energies into their bodies. This can be toxic, overwhelming and depleting. Earth Mothers can become so stuffed with the energy of others that their own bodies feel dense and heavy--even numb.
Much of the healing that Earth Mothers engage in comes from the heart. However, there is generally an aspect of the giving that is driven by unconscious needs.
If you are someone who feels compelled to heal and take care of other people, the chances are good that you are absorbing emotional energy that isn't your own. This excess emotional energy can contribute to depression, anxiety and fatigue.
The act of giving is a wonderful thing. But, it is important to give in a way that doesn’t end up leaving you overwhelmed, exhausted and--ultimately--burned out.
Here are some suggestions for overcoming Earth Mother Syndrome:
- Make a commitment to focus more energy on healing yourself. The nicest gift you can give someone who is suffering is to be a peaceful, grounded presence.
- Engage in a process of inquiry about why you feel driven to heal and take care of others. Ask yourself what you are getting out of being a giver and healer. You may find that you are engaging in an unhealthy barter with others. (A classic example is "I will take care of you if you won’t leave me".)
- Learn how to ground yourself. Proper grounding allows you to anchor and integrate the healing energies of Shiva and Shakti. (See Getting Grounded, Staying Grounded, May 13 posting.)
- Develop skills for clearing other peoples’ energy from your system, and learn how to “own” your space so you don’t take on negative or unbalancing energies. I recommend reading John Friedlander and Gloria Hemsher’s book Basic Psychic Development for guidance in this area.
These are the first steps towards taking back your energy, your power and your health. Our planet desperately needs healers who are grounded and empowered, so don't hold back! Just take care of yourself first.
Be Well,
Rebecca
"Tule Tree" image by Jennifer Hopkins ( http://jenhopkins.com/about/artwork-2/ ) with a Creative Commons license
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