Red Horse, Yellow Horse:
First, Red Horse came and nudged me to play.
“You’ve been in your conscious mind too long. Let’s travel into your unconscious, through active imagination.”
I was feeling sad and wondered what the emotion was trying to communicate, so as I drifted into Dreamtime I asked,
“Sadness, what message do you have for me?”
Sadness replied, “Because you are looking at your life linearly, you’ve gotten stuck. Instead, picture yourself dancing on a spiral. Try to see the connections across the circular lines.
I am Sadness. I’ve come in a minor key and clothed you in a melancholy color. Just over there, however, is happier music. And look how your brighter colors pop against my rich background.”
Then, Sadness warned, “Do not prematurely jump to positivity, but rather wait and observe. Is there anything that can coexist with the sadness you feel? Though looking at your life’s journey as a spiral will not bring back what you’ve lost, can you better see how things have worked together? Are you able to relive some of the good memories?”
I countered, “What about those things I’d rather forget?”
Sadness answered, “Ah, that is the best part. Visit them, see yourself back there in the troubling situation, but this time with the image of a guide. Ask this loving Spirit to shine light on all those involved. And if this does not shift your perspective, continue grieving the loss.
If you do not pretend to accept or forgive, before you are ready, you may be able to hold both destruction and gift in the same experience.”
Yellow Horse arrived with Illumination: “Embracing your shadows is part of becoming whole, which may be the most significant work you will ever do. Transformation is a life-long process that, bit by bit, creates Oneness within, as well as an awareness of oneness with everything.”
Our shadows never completely leave us, but take heart. They teach us how to gracefully welcome imperfection in ourselves and in other people. And if we curiously befriend our shadows, they will free us to be truer selves.
Making Spirit Flesh*
To rock yourself out of stuck-ness, negativity and blame, try entering deep, imaginative prayer. Play with a negative emotion, allowing enough time for Illumination to rise up.