Module Five
Module Five
Reading and Reflections
Read from your chosen book, underline and make notes as you read. Perhaps underlining sentences that 1) resonate deeply with you, 2) offer a new concept or idea, or 3) you do not agree with entirely. Make notes in the margins or journal for our discussion. Your reflections and notations will be part of the continuing conversation of your experience of transformation through loss.
Journaling
Continue to journal about anything that shows up for you that feels significant. Notice the patterns of your life or the emerging patterns, and make notes about these and anything else that feels emotionally important. How does it feel to intentionally value your losses? How does it feel to offer self-compassion and self-care? Are you surprised by what you have to say in terms of the relationship you are examining?
With your relationship graph in front of you, make journal notes about what you still have not forgiven, what you need to apologize for, and any other significant emotional statements you may need to express to this person. This exercise is primarily about expressing anything you have not said, or was not heard, or that needs to be said again. This is where you can truly clear the space that the pain of this relationship may be inhabiting in your body and life.
Ritual Action: Object as Ritual
When you come into your space to do your work for the module, begin or open the space in a particular way that acknowledges your support and intentions. You may want to include a photo of the person or some other item on your altar that represents the relationship you are currently working on in this process. Offer yourself compassion; acknowledge the depth of the losses you have experienced. Value those losses, both in their pain and learnings.
As you focus and perhaps hold in your hands the object you have chosen, use the practice of When I See/I Feel. Tune into where these emotions sit within your body. Allow emotions to flow, and memories and images to arise on the screen of your mind. Express this experience in a letter, poem, journal entry, painting/drawing.
Practices: Image meditations and self-care
Practice Slow Potentials below, or pick any one of the previous image or breath mediations to practice daily. When you wake and before sleep are always good times to do these practices. Although, any time of day is great, especially before you are going to do something that creates stress or anxiety or if you find yourself in states of overwhelm.
After practicing Slow Potentials image a couple of times, you may prefer to enter the image through your body with the support of only the soundtrack (no words).
Continue to engage in one of the self-care practices suggested from the last module, or select another one to do daily. Here are a few more ideas (Pick ONE to incorporate into your routine — either one daily or one for the week—in order to have presence to a new practice and not feel overwhelmed by the change.):
