A Personal Fortress

Each of us in our own way, has constructed a personal fortress to protect our self from the harsh world into which we found ourselves thrown.  To survive, we prostituted ourselves in some way.  We sold out on who we are and denied what we are here to do.  We made compromises with our integrity, said yes when we meant to say no, and gave ourselves in ways that demeaned our sacred gifts.  Some of us even came to believe that defense and denial were all that life was about, leaving us to wonder why we are even here.

Meanwhile the tender child within us lives.  The innocent, trusting being has survived all of the holocausts, and rests secure in a harbor untouchable by the winds of outer change.  The child did not die;  she or he just took refuge until it was safe to come out again.  Place that child in an environment of trust and love, and watch it come to life.  There is no greater joy than to reclaim the tendersness of innocence.

I HAD IT ALL THE TIME
Alan Cohen



For some who read this, tears will be shed while others may only feel a slight resonance to the meaning of these words.  Nevertheless, we are all called to lay down our sword and to remove our armor.  It is time.  It is time to let the past go. 

We all have an inner child in need of nurturing.  We can talk to that child who was once left unprotected and affirm now as an adult, we will personally protect and unconditionally love her or him.  Something we could not do earlier in our lives. 

During creative visualization, incredible work has been done. Documentation reflects there are those who find their inner child to be very vocal and angry to have been ignored for so long.  Some people have seen themselves interacting with their inner child: rocking in a chair, reading stories, or singing to soothe frayed nerves.  One woman visualized giving her inner child a cleansing bath and then taking her outside to play in the sunshine after being hidden within for so long.  Another brought their inner self into a garden of vibrant flowers allowing the child to pick a bouquet.

Hindsight provides all types of wisdom, but in the present moment we simply did not have this knowledge or we would have acted entirely different. There is a saying I find to be very healing. You did the best you could do at the time with the information you had.

In life, there seems to be either good or poor choices and sometimes the good choices turn out to be mediocre and questionable choice may turn out to be a stoke of genius.  How do we ever know?

It is hard to lay down your armor and sword after being a warrior in life, but it is a wise and worthy choice.  It is frightening to stand without protection as vulnerability is most uncomfortable.  Take some deep breaths and welcome life in.  Step out of the fortress and create your heart's desire!