~ Trauma Embedded in The Land
Setting: Northeastern Texas, USA
Most of our travels have taken us to the western United States. This winter we decided to spend some time in the middle-south to get to know that area of our beautiful country.
Due to the content of this post, I have chosen to keep the exact location anonymous. At this particular location, our campground was along a lake. They had experienced high rainfall so the ditches and any low areas were filled with standing water. It was difficult to find a campsite that was not flooded.
Wisdom
I come away from this experience more humbled than ever and way-less righteous about anything. Who am I to judge? And yet, who am I to look the other way?
I learned that as One with all humanity, we each are responsible, in some small part, for human’s mistreatment of humans over the eons. In one lifetime a person might have been the evil tax collector and in the next may have been the peasant placed into forced labor. This is how karma works, unfortunately. We each get the opportunity to feel what we had bestowed upon another in a prior lifetime. It is the ‘school of understanding’ one might say. So, none of us can plead innocence when discussing mistreatment of other humans. We have all been a victim and the perpetrator. This is not an easy realization to digest. But, it simply IS truth.
And what does one do when faced with this ugly truth? Open one’s heart, cease judgment, and honor those who took part in the process. This may seem less than impressive, but it defuses the heavy energy that binds the situation. It starts the process of healing and completion.
Deeper Dive
From other posts, readers might know that I bring healing and energies of awakening to the land. As we travel, we move from beautiful settings to breathtaking vistas. We stay a few days so that I can commune with the land spirits around our campsite. I ask permission to stay. And I ask if there is anything I may choose to assist them with. Sometimes they assist in my spiritual growth and healing. Other times I assist them. Generally, the spirits will show me visions of what they need assistance with. Other times my emotions are affected. Sometimes, like in this case, both.
Disturbing Visions
On day two at this campsite, I sat and meditated amongst the waving, groaning pines, and I received a vision. From the ethers a large black man ran through my campsite. Out of breath, exhausted, and trembling because he was running for his life, literally. I was dumbfounded. I felt his fear push adrenaline into my veins and his heartbeat thumping in my ears. As he pushed on, I tried to look away. I tried to pretend it didn’t happen, this huge wound in our country’s history. I thought “who am I to address this atrocity? I am a white woman from the north born over 100 years after slavery ended in this country.” Then I heard my higher self say “who are you NOT to address this atrocity? How dare you look away.”
Later that afternoon, I walked my dog along the campground road. As he sniffed along the water-filled ditch, I had another vision. This time, the slave owner with his pack of dogs was on the hunt. My sniffing dog became his sniffing dogs … seeking the scent of another human being. I was appalled and again tried to look away as a lump formed in my throat.
Though the vision had been over for a few minutes, I found myself still upset and shaken. We do not talk about slavery in this country. We sweep it under the rug and pretend it never happened. So, why was I shown these scenes? What did they mean? Then a calm came upon me, a knowing. The land spirits were asking my assistance. The traumas of humans’ mis-treatment of other humans was locked into the land here, and they needed my assistance to bring resolution. They had tried to release it themselves through hurricanes and droughts, but still it remained. Their message told me that perhaps another human could release the human trauma. I agreed to assist, but I was unsure exactly how.
Resolution
That night I awoke. From the ethers, I felt the land spirit representative approach. With her came representatives of both sides of the slavery issue. She nodded to my left, thus introducing the representatives of the slave owners who stood there. She nodded to my right where those representing all the slaves stood.
I instantly knew that I was the witness and arbitrator. I knew that these are ancestors who, in a past life, played the role that they now represented. They had come to assist in releasing their trauma from the beautiful land.
I followed my instinct and allowed my higher self to conduct the session. I turned to the slaves and asked if they were ready to forgive. “Yes” they all nodded. I turned to the slave owners and asked if they had anything to say. Speaking in one voice they looked to the slave representatives and asked for forgiveness. They spoke a long oratory with sincerity showing their remorse and grief at what had been done. When they finished, I turned to the slaves and spoke on behalf of all slave owners from all corners of the globe from all prior histories: “I am so sorry! Please find it in your hearts to forgive me, please!”
With great honor and reverence, the slave representatives bowed slightly first to me and then to the slave owner representatives. Thus, they showed their acceptance of the apologies. I asked the slave representatives “do you forgive?” They spoke in one voice as they said “Yes, we forgive.”
I said “Thank you. I love you.”
And just like that, they all disappeared. As happens so frequently, once the issue is resolved, it all evaporates instantly. I lay there for some time questioning who I am to play such a role. And who am I to refuse to do so. All in all, I decided to stop questioning. I had been in a neutral state of non-judgment when the land spirit approached me. And I was so grateful for the opportunity to serve in such a significant process.
Healing the Trauma
As with any trauma, it takes time for the wounds to heal. In the case of healing trauma from the land, nature plays its role in removing that which was released, bringing in the ointments to encourage healing, and moving forward with high energy of peace and joy.
The early morning hours after the resolution brought in downpours of rain. Nature was cleansing the wound. The next day, the water levels were higher than ever. Much of the land was flooded. “The ointment to encourage healing,” I thought. Later that day we walked along the road to the lake. I was shocked to see the lake looked like a boiling cauldron. The wind swept across it creating the surreal motions upon the surface. I knew it was the sacred waters also releasing the traumas. I sat for a long time witnessing the rise and fall of the huge waves having no rhyme nor reason to them; just turmoil being released.
The next day, most of the water had soaked into the land and the lake was completely serene. The wounds had been healed and the land had moved into a peaceful, joyful state. Birds sang and the pines whispered a happier tune. I had a vision of a young indigenous native man quietly passing through my campsite as he peacefully hunted upon his sacred Mother Earth. All was set back into harmony.
Conclusion
I do not have the answers. I am just an energy worker honestly writing about what I experience in hopes that it will be beneficial to others. There are times when this energy work is fun and exciting. And other times, like in this experience, when it is humbling.
This was very disturbing for me. Yet, to do justice for the land and all affected, I needed to be strong, step outside my own emotions, and act as benevolent witness.
Aho, Nakeetah.
With loving intentions, Lila