we do it over and over again because we are trying to finish it

I learned something from one of my teachers in recent years that has been one of the most profoundly significant pieces of information that has ever crossed my path. It has moved me both personally and professionally into a perspective on healing that is perhaps deeper than any single piece of information I had previously discovered. I know that I have been to many deep wells of understanding of Life and The Bigger Picture of our presence here as humans. My quest has taken me to a vast breadth of wise people, creative thinkers, scholars of great intellect, guides who have acquired profound spiritual acumen - - teachers, all, whose gifts have shaped my vision and the bits of knowledge I can claim at this point on my journey. I feel tremendous gratitude for all the lessons that have graced my path in the many configurations that they have presented to me. And there is this moment in time, now, of feeling so moved by one particular understanding of what directs the "stories" we find our selves in over and over again.

That was a really long intro to this one thing that I realized that I wanted to write about today. I guess there were some things I wanted to share that weren't there in my awareness when I started that first sentence. Writing is a mystery that unfolds sometimes and surprises me when I see what my fingers have to say. Back on point.........

My (above mentioned) teacher's name is Yiri. Yiri has taught me some fantastically exciting things about pre and peri-natal psychology and trauma. What I wanted to talk about today is how we recapitulate, throughout our life, the unresolved shock trauma that is carried (remembered) in our nervous system from events that occur in utero and during our birth experience. The memory gets set in our nervous system because of our inability to complete, or process, the distressing events or circumstances that occur during these times. Developmentally we just don't have the equipment fully in place to deal with distressing or threatening experiences. It becomes embedded in our physiology. Something distressing produces an impact and we can't respond in a way that will resolve this. There are many things, some we typically consider routine and uneventful, that occur during this time in our development that are actually profoundly significant.

What I now understand and keep recognizing on deeper and deeper levels is how these places that are so deep in our physiology are the underpinnings of so many issues that appear to be relevant to much later events in our lives. To be able to slow down enough to touch into the sensations that indicate our earliest places of distress brings a power to the possibilities for transformation that is profound.

Every step I have taken in my life to heal what has needed healing within me has brought me more into my body and ultimately connected me to my Spirit. I believe that there is a time in utero when our Spirit enters our body and we begin this next place on our journey through learning on the physical plane. It is a time when Soul and body unite in alliance for this miraculous trip that we call our life. We will learn from what feels good and easy and we will learn from what feels painful and challenging. For me, the path of healing is an incredibly exciting part of the schooling along the way.

As Rumi once wrote, "Be grateful for whoever comes, for each has been sent as a guide from beyond."