Some symbols just hang with you for a while and are an analogy of where you are. For this blog entry I will use the pirate ship to tell this passage of conflict.

Pirate movies in my mother’s era were all the rage. Errol Flynn and his tights and sword made women swoon. He was a hero and had the bravery to beat the baddies, woo the woman and take the helm of the ship. Women would swoon.

Jonny Depp has replaced Errol and for most of us of this era his is a perfect replacement. Not the classic hero, but deadly handsome, somewhat realistic as a flawed man who can handle a sword, make women melt with his drunken kiss and revel in good dose of skullduggery.  He is human and fallible, like many of us and he knows how to get his ship back when robbed even if that means dealing with the undead! He attracts others to him that can see through his game playing and be of support when the chips are down.

If we look at the symbol of the ocean being akin to our emotions and the ship being the ship of our inner psyche we can often feel like a boat on the big seas battling the wild weather.  We may have to deal with invading pirates who jump our ship, taking the loot and robbing the ship of its instinctive feminine heroine which represents our intuitive knowing. Through this we are left feeling desolate and unsure of our direction.

Many are training to be adept at steering our own inner boat through the storm clouds and tempestuous waves, however if you don’t have any support aboard the ship you are left to watch the helm yourself.

What happens if you feel overly tired or sick and you want to go the cabin beneath to take rest? Someday’s can be very hard on the psyche and its very tempting to hide from the hurricane on the bow and just let the ship be smashed by the waves.

The worst days can feel as if your boat has run ashore and there are leaking holes throughout. This is your ship you’re the captain. What happens to the ship and where it ends up, is in your hands. It’s important not to abandon your own vessel.

The captain (a person who is at the head of or in authority over others; chief; leader) needs to keep a keen eye on all the parts of the ship and the way it is being run. Sure you can pull your ship into port, anchor it, and take out a longboat and row to shore for a rest, but be mindful you do not leave your ship behind so it rots on the sea or on the shore. It is up to you to keep the ship in tip top condition.

Now some of you may ask, why do I have to do it all own my own? Well you’re not on your own. Your inner world is yours to create.  I realize when I feel all at sea and troubled by wild or heavy storms an aspect of me is still working on the ship. And that’s when I call in spirit helpers to assist if need be. Be mindful not to let others take over your ship. Move into calmer waters for a while until you establish your inner strength as a captain at the helm.

My inner compass still points north and deep in my soul I know that’s where I am headed. To the heart of wisdom, the connection with my spiritual ancestors and great mystery. The lighthouses that are around as you move from coast to coast help you too remember that there is the guidance of light on your voyage no matter how dark.

However as I am dealing with the heavy storm I make sure I have locked the helm in place so my inner direction does not get diverted too far off course.  I can go and get some rest in the cabin, I can sulk on the bow of the boat for a time, I can call in spirit helpers so I don’t feel so isolated and I can also plan an island rest from all duties for a while, whilst getting tools and supplies so as to build up strength.

Being lost at sea is very overwhelming and can be terrifying to be out in the dark of the great ocean.  If you look at ships out in the big sea you will notice that they bob up and down with the waves. The great ocean is in control, but if the steering is kept locked in to its direction, the ship is able to move through the changes and get to its destination.

Of course there are times when the ship takes on a huge amount of water and you may fall off the ship. Many are terrified of drowning in the deep dark waters below. This is a good time to call upon the medicine of the oceans. Like working with Whale Medicine or Dolphin Medicine perhaps or even the seahorse and it ability to float in any direction.  It’s important to let the waters of emotion flow through you, knowing that you CAN breathe like the dolphin and get knowledge from the great record keeper, the whale.

This is practice in getting your sea legs and knowing how to RIDE THE WAVE of life.

Blessings

Odette.

The majority of people I meet have issues stemming from their childhood and if you dig down deep enough the same child is inside the adult still feeling very hurt and misunderstood.  We tend to get frozen in places that made a traumatic impact on us emotionally.

When we arrived here in body, we already had chosen our parents to be the ones to teach us best what we needed to learn no matter how heavy the circumstances.  However what is being taught to us is not always what is obvious.  If we take the charge out of the button that is being pushed we can see better the issue that we need to unlearn.

Many of our grandparents and parents come from a time not long after war. Emotions and how to deal with them was not a priority, surviving hardship and depression was more than enough.

Security both financially and physically was the priority. When a man found work, provided a home, food, and clothes for his family that was his concept of loving those he cared about. He would come home exhausted and want a good meal and not too much chatter so he could wind down.

Our mothers would run around organising the home, the children, and all the things in between. As long as the kids were healthy, well dressed, clean and well mannered she had done her job.

However the woman was often disappointed in her dream of what she though marriage was. Not long after the honeymoon things became more routine. If she felt needy emotionally she was taught to not display this to her husband. Not to burden him with needless concerns and just get on with it.

If you remember this era was the time of the influx of Valium ‘mothers little helpers’. Women felt lost in this day-to-day programme and other than playing bridge and going to a business cocktail party she felt she was missing something.

The woman generally didn’t have control of the finances so she had to get permission from her husband. If he went away she would have to dutifully wait for him as a good wife would and not complain (like many of her previous ancestors who waited for men to return home from war). Men of that era were not taught about how to please a woman other than formal gestures on special occasions and women certainly were not even supposed to ask. So in the bedroom much of what was felt was not shared at all. And if there were a hint of him getting it elsewhere the shame would be upon the wife for not doing her job. If the marriage failed it was always her fault in the eyes of society and especially her female friends. She was shamed both within the home and in the community and the man was left to dive into the only thing he had control over, his work.

These are the people we as children expected to learn how to deal with deeper issues from. How can we expect them to teach something they never got taught?  We need to look for the signs of love beneath what they say. Our parents loved us the best way they knew how, but they still had a lot of programming from many generations past and were even less interested in dealing with the deeper trauma’s of life. Wars bring trauma to all people, all members of families, and it follows through generation by generation.

I am a daughter of an officer and I still fill out the Vietnam vets yearly surveys to let them know how it impacts on future generations.

Our generation and the generations to come are exploding with emotion to the point that is like a volcano out of control at times. When we come from such suppression of feelings volcanic explosions are likely to occur.

Our ancestors were taught that discipline was there to control the emotions of a child, which was deemed inappropriate.  Beating a child was common, silencing a child was common. Shaming a child was common because they could not face their own feelings that had been shut down for so long.

When we listen to our parents its important to hear beneath what they are saying. And to think of what education and behaviour they are coming from.

A client of mine recently called her parents to share some good news and instead of doing that they shared their concern. She was saddened by their response and asked my viewpoint. I shared the excerpt below and she asked if I could write a blog on it, as it was so relevant to her understanding

<The mother wants to not worry about the child, she wants you to be totally taken care of so she doesn’t have to worry any more about if your ok or not.

The father wants to tell you how to fix it.

They need to feel that they still have some authority in your life even if it’s just to tell you to be aware or not to do something.

These are the behaviors they hang onto to feel that they are still important and still needed.

Her worry is her bent way of saying she loves you. His fix it mentality is his bent way of saying that he loves you…. they just come from a whole other generation of behavior. Empathy, heart-felt communication and empowering others is not something that they necessarily learnt or were allowed to feel after war times…it was to hold tight to what was yours and get your priorities in order.

Hence we often experience feelings of rejection via their behavior. As you grow up within yourself you will feel more accepting of their INSENSITIVITY. The children teach the parents by example how to love beyond what they have been taught. >

These elders are walking into an era that they don’t understand and it is way out of their depth to comprehend at times. If we ignore our wounds and don’t assist the inner child to feel safe we will all stay as stuck as wounded children never be free from getting our buttons pushed when our parents show little interest in our deep diving discoveries.

My mother recently turned 8o years old. Our relationship was always loving but its gotten healthier over the years the more I have worked on my own inner challenges. I wrote on her card.

‘Thank you for giving me the greatest gift of allowing me to find my own destiny’.

She cried as I did writing it. My mother and father have always wanted me to be secure financially and taken care of. Well I didn’t give them what they wanted, I gave them something else. I gave them me, the real me, the authentic me. I did try to fit the mold for a while but I just couldn’t fit the costume.

Initially, I am sure they hoped I was going through a stage, rebellious hippy, some kind of spiritualist cult member etc..and when I went mad and cut all my hair off, well they thought they had really lost me.

Years later I sit being more comfortable with myself than I have ever been. I’m living the life that suits me, I am doing the work that brings out the best in me and I am more content and laugh more. I don’t have to argue my point to win as I used to all the time. I have less reason to defend myself, as there is nothing to protect and nothing to hide.

When I talk with my mum now I can hear what’s underneath. I know she loves me deeply and is very interested in my wellbeing. We have a really lovely relationship. However what I do in my counseling and journeywork is just too much for her to emotionally conceptualize. For her to dive with me into this stuff she would need to dive into herself and she is from a generation where there was no compass for guidance.

We are the egg crackers of that hard shell. We have our work cut out for us! We are teaching our parents and people of that generation by example that we are here to challenge what lurks in the deep ocean of our own subconscious inner worlds.

We are indeed the ones we have been waiting for.

It seems at present the younger generation is going all out to show everything on all levels, body, mind and soul. But that understandable as it’s a retaliation from the past restrictions and hopefully in time the balance will come and more will stand up and deal with these feelings in a balanced and insightful way.

But for now, whatever age you are. Honor those who have gone before you. Listen to their stories, they may have their challenges but they have seen and experienced things that you have never seen. They have gifts to offer you if you read between the lines of their intent.

Even if your ancestors brought great sorrow to your life. Thank them for showing you that the path you want to walk is different. And on behalf of your ancestors start making your own trail, your own path and in doing that you help to release them from their spiritual bondage of fear.

Each generation is stronger and wiser than the previous. In the name of your ancestors walk a path you can feel empowered by. By doing that you will overcome so much.

Blessings to our blood ancestors. Thank you for all your teachings both in shadow and in light. May we bring healing to the bloodline by our own self acceptance, courage, compassion and insight. Blessed Be.

Blessings on your journey within and without.

Odette

If you go into a bookshop or library and head to the travel section there are loads of travel books with hundreds of destinations in the world to choose from. The lonely planet guide is the most well read. It’s like a well read bible for most travellers on a shoe string. Within the guide it has maps, suggested destinations accommodation, tourist information, what to do while you are there, important phone numbers and addresses if something goes wrong, visa restrictions, suggestions of what to do when you are visiting, customs to adhere to, and warnings about certain areas or places that may not be wise for travel to be aware of very possible danger.

When we work or travel in the realm of the multidimensional astral world we need the same type of guidance. Sure you can travel without a guide and sometimes its ok and nothing goes awry however if you have ever been on a bad trip, whether that be ordinary travel or a psychedelic trip you will know that some good guidance may have made things a lot easier to deal with and you may well have avoided the bad part of the trip.

In regards to those who suffer from mental health issues (Acute Sensitivity) travelling the astral world is well, its normal. This is the common realm were sensitive folk get lost and some get so deeply lost on the journey they end up in hospital freaking out because they get to a place where they are unable to define if they are walking the astral path or the path of ordinary reality.

So it’s so very important that those who are connected strongly to the multidimensional astral world and all that it includes have some good thought out travel guidance to how to traverse the lands in safety.

This is what I teach. The reason is because I travelled alone in the astral for some time without guidance and ended up being terrorized by astral energies to the point I felt completely lost an isolated in fear….lost in the madness. Over time with good guidance both from teachers her on earth and those in spirit I have found ways to travel these frontiers in safety.

In my workbook there are many (not all) of the tools I use to learn to discern what I have been confronted by.  I have learned many different modalities over the years (mainly from Shamanic, Buddhist, Taoist and Wyrd pathways) and now I have my own backpack/medicine bag of tools that work for me very well. That’s not to say that I am not open to more tools that may be of assistance, but the ones I have now keep me safe enough to deal with astral encounters of all different kinds as well as the clients I work with.

Those who are acutely sensitive tend to feel that the astral world is more real than this one we have chosen to incarnate into. In some respects they are right.

Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.  ~Albert Einstein

However the great danger is that if your spirit is not grounded, you may believe any trickster or salesman that you meet on the path. Tricksters can be very convincing and initially feel your ego to the point of encouraging you to believe you are a prophet, a saviour, a chosen one, a great seer, a great leader incarnated, God…a great ego.  Think about a time when you have been scammed by someone. A salesman, a medium, a con man.  They wear the coat of Glamour. They are very good at buttering you up and showing you what you could gain before they take what they want.

They are very good at feeding this adoration to the point that you have lost your ground completely and then they turn and start to gnaw at your spirit, feed of the life force, and prey on you in the most terrifying ways. These trickster are shadow teachers, they are offering you a way to learn you how easily you can be lead of the path in your own ego’s hunger.  Once recognised for what they are and using spirit tools to move them out of your aura you can then move on the path to more adventures.

In any loving spiritual encounter you never feel full of yourself, you feel humbled by the encounter, deeply moved and unconditionally loved.

I imagine someone about to set off on a journey and filling their backpack/medicine bag full of necessities for their journey. You will need a spiritual bag full of useful tools to work in the astral and not come to danger on the path. Think about what should go in your backpack/medicine bag, that suits you and what you experience.

Many people on medication for mental health issues very commonly jump off their meds. Initially they feel connected again to the astral in a light and harmonious way, they feel aligned with spirit again more fully and that is often what they miss. However after the medication (which takes time to move out of the body) wears out, the astral world becomes more of a reality and that which they did not deal with before in this regard will come flying back with a horrifying vengeance and inevitably many find themselves back in hospital on a massive dose of meds because they can’t find ground and have totally lost insight.

You see having insight, what the path of mediation teaches is one of the most important things in your spiritual first aid kit that must always be in your backpack/medicine bag, where ever you go and how ever far you travel.

Without insight, you will be lost between worlds and that my friend is what can take people to kill themselves either by accident or by choice. I have seen too many of these losses and it’s heartbreaking for those that love them.  So if you are sensitive or acutely sensitive start by practicing simple non-dogmatic meditation: Mindfulness. It is what you will need, it’s what we all need to help us survive these challenging times we have chosen to live in.

Another great tool in your backpack is: Compassion.

Throughout history, religion has taught people, that the devil and demons needed to be sent back to hell, from whence they came.  In dealing with shadow tricksters, negative thought forms, archetypes, entities…whatever you like to call them, doing a religious exorcism and sending them to hell….NEVER EVER WORKS! (See my article on mental health and exorcism at my website. You can download it for free)

What I have found is the best tool is compassion. These beings/energies are as lost as you on the path and they need to be negotiated with, listened to and then moved onto the light with thanks. They are teaching us about our own fears and shadow worlds and in working with them and moving them on in this way, well lets just say that I didn’t end up in hospital and I think other than being very very lucky….this way of working with what I was encountering helped so much more than any other battle I had thought would.

There are quite a few more tools in my medicine bag like recapitulation, Quantum Dynamics, Inner House Cleaning, Meditation For Sensitive Souls….and more.

I wish you well on your Journey. Remember before you set off…..

Get good grounded guidance and pack for all types of weather

so you can enjoy the adventures of this multidimensional Universe.

Blessings

Odette

© Odette Nightsky (copyright Title and writings)

The Astral Planet Travel Guide.

Through all my practices and teachings in this life (and very probably others) there is one practice that I count as one that has built my resilience and ability to overcome adversity;

Being a witness to my life through the path of meditation.

The only way the witness can be developed within is by the path of meditation.  In meditation you are taught to be a witness to your life rather than being dragged along by it.

 

For example: If you shut your eyes for just five minutes…where does you mind go? And what story do you find repeats itself?  It’s usually a worry, and unresolved issue, other people’s drama’s you want to save, a hunger maybe for a lover that you just cant let go of, a fear of dealing with something you don’t want to deal with, an action that you have been procrastinating over and still haven’t done it, a movie that you watched that wont leave your mind, an argument you had and it just keeps repeating itself because you know you were right and you know you should win this time…..and it goes on.

Meditation is like coming home after you have been on the road for a long while. When you get home you need to unpack all that you collected on your journey (your thoughts, opinions etc) then you need to wash everything including yourself (emptying your mind of all that stuff) and then you can relax and just appreciate that your home and see your journey from a broader perspective.

To do this however one needs to be in the place of the witness. The witness has no ego, no right and wrong and does not sit in judgement….all it does is observe.

The link between Shamanism and Buddhism (devoid of religion) is that when there is a storm or struggle from within, the view of the storm and the struggle is perceived from the eagle’s perspective.

The awareness can be akin to pulling back into the air like a great bird that flies high and has a look at the whole picture and from that place they can then zoom in and see the detail (mouse medicine) if need be or just continue to view from a space that can take all the area in its sight.

When you just simply watch your breath going in and out your nose you will find that your mind will wander off on journeys of its own design. All of a sudden you are caught up in a story of someone else that you have absorbed on an energetic level. This can show you how much you take on of other people’s issues and how you’re still holding their stories within your own psyche. Why are you carrying other people’s issues? What is your attachment to the story? Why can’t you or why don’t you want to let it go? It becomes an addiction.

Just by being in the state of witnesses these stories can dissipate naturally on their own accord and for some who are psychically sensitive you can use the technique of recapitulation (see earlier blog postings) to release energy you have taken on that does not belong to you.

During times of acute sensitivity and heartbreak I have often felt like I was drowning in overwhelm on all levels and sometimes I have looked at meditation as something I have to make an effort to do.

But that’s just resistance to caring about myself and making other things a priority rather than my own well-being.  The majority of people waste so much time each day worrying, complaining, daydreaming, watching TV, procrastinating, faffing around in chat rooms, on Facebook etc. Now don’t get me wrong I have no judgement on doing those things as I do them myself but when they take precedence over some time to just come home to yourself and reboot, fill up and nourish….then I question why you talk about being a conscious being who wants to grow spiritually when you choose not to nourish yourself with an action that takes no money and no cost to your life. Are you not worth that time?

Indeed there is proof that mediation enhances your life and as a parent, partner, lover and friend, I would think  that by feeding yourself, nourishing your spirit and quieting your mind you would have more to offer those that are dear to you and less hungry for your ego desires to be met.

You may discover that in time you will have less irritation, more patience and insight into others real needs because you have been a witness and a carer to your own. This is not a hunger for perfection this comes from a need for balance.

Like a car you need to fill yourself up with something that gives you energy to keep going. Like a human you need to drink water every day to keep you hydrated. Like an animal you need to feed yourself to survive. As a spiritual being living in a human body you need to nourish your inner being to be able to handle the adversity that life inevitably throws you.

Be aware that meditations of bliss and high vibrational contact is not what I am referring to here. I have personally found the practice of Vipassana mediation to be my lifesaver over many years. I feel the reason that it resonates with me so well is because it keeps me in awareness of my body here on earth rather than a practice that takes me out of my body into other realms. I do that enough in my life as I am sensitive and often leave my body to either do work in the astral with others or in dream work where I often come back feeling I have travelled the earth all night long. Vipassana and similar grounded meditations are nourishing for the body, mind and spirit.

The following is an excerpt from Bhante Gunaratana from the Vipassana Fellowship.

 

Vipassana is the oldest of Buddhist meditation practices. The method comes directly from the Sitipatthana Sutta, a discourse attributed to Buddha himself. Vipassana is a direct and gradual cultivation of mindfulness or awareness. It proceeds piece by piece over a period of years. The student’s attention is carefully directed to an intense examination of certain aspects of his own existence. The meditator is trained to notice more and more of his own flowing life experience. Vipassana is a gentle technique. But it also is very, very thorough. It is an ancient and codified system of sensitivity training, a set of exercises dedicated to becoming more and more receptive to your own life experience. It is attentive listening, total seeing and careful testing. We learn to smell acutely, to touch fully and really pay attention to what we feel. We learn to listen to our own thoughts without being caught up in them. –

I like how Bhante refers to it as a system of sensitivity training as that was what I was having the greatest difficulty with, my sensitivity. I am still and will always be a  very sensitive person but what I have gained over the years has assisted me greatly. Meditation has been the greatest gift in understanding how my mind works, what it craves and hungers for, what it runs from and what I can do to become more than just my mind and not be a slave to its demands.

If you are moving through a time of ‘acute sensitivity’ and you are under the mental health act you can ask for those that teach “Mindfulness Programs” which the mental health now approves of. This is a way you can learn the tools in bite size pieces rather than going to a retreat where it may be far too intense.

The retreats are for people who have enough insight and wellbeing to handle not having individual attention. I have been very lucky in that I came to this life with a huge sensitivity but I was also blessed to have enough insight to hold onto my own sanity enough to get me through situations others have ended up in the clinic for. Both my training in Contemporary Shamanism, working with Chinese Medicine and Buddhist meditation retreats and techniques have been my lifelines.

All spiritual teachers speak the value of meditation because they are trying to get the message across that the freedom that we are all seeking and hungry for is the freedom from the caged mind. Meditation is the tool that can open the cage door.

When you recognize that what you think is not who you are then you will identify more with the witness. The witness has no me, no I, no authority at all. It just observes your mind in process. I can tell you, those moments you get when there is no craving, no aversion…. its like drinking from a fresh water well and one feels totally hydrated. And naturally those moment often come when you’re not craving for them.

There are many meditations and many teachers. I offer you to experiment a little and find what fits you best. Osho shared a huge variety of meditations and some are great at releasing energy before you move into the more still state: Gibberish, Kundalini, Nataraj…just to name a few (again be mindful if you have any mania that these meditations may not be wise unless under guidance from someone who has knowledge of dealing with mania).

I personally find the meditation with the least dogma attached is the best and that is probably why I prefer the practice that comes straight from Siddhartha the Buddha, which is Vipassana (in mindfulness techniques you are following the same path).

Within the world of the Contemporary Shaman it is imperative that mediation is an intricate part of the pathway of learning. Without the ability to witness from a more observational perspective then it is just touring the astral without insight. Being a witness in all that you do is the path to having insight and helps you get out of your own way to see the whole journey, not just outside your front door.

If you have never practiced meditation in your life it’s a good idea to go and join a group just to get you started in the practice itself. Find a group with the minimum amount of dogma, get the practice grounded and build your witness within. If you have issues with joining groups and you are too absorbent at this time, there is a plethora of Utube post on mindfulness meditation that you can begin with and CD’s from your local library or if you are under mental health ask your case worker to acquire some for you.

After some time however you will find, like I do that when you are in what is called ‘The Buddha field’ of mediators it can be very supportive to you enriching your meditation. This will happen when your core self is stronger, take your time, this is your journey and there is no rush or pressure, just fill your self up a bit each day with the practice of being the watcher on the hill, watching your thoughts, desires, fears go by and then coming back to your breath, to the body you chose in this life and get nourished from within.

 

YOU ARE A SPIRITUAL BEING LIVING A HUMAN EXISTANCE.

 

NOW GO AND NOURISH YOURSELF.

Blessings

Odette

Many of our ancestors were taught that emotions came last in the in the need for survival. The men went off to war, many of them terrified but they had to swallow their fear and vulnerability, disown it so they could keep up with the rest of the soldiers. The only time you knew when someone was vulnerable was late in the night hearing weeping that couldn’t be controlled.

The common phrase of “children should be seen and not heard” is a program that many of us are still struggling with that has been handed down unconsciously through the generations. Through many centuries emotions have been belittled and shunned mainly because people have not been taught how to deal with the feelings of grief, sadness, low self-worth and issues around abuse.

Anger is the protector of the vulnerable child and we see much more of that than we see the vulnerable self because it seems more powerful and less helpless. When we have shown the vulnerable self others have not dealt with it well at all and that just makes it more difficult to accept that part of us. Instead we shame it.

As a sensitive person I have often attracted people in my life that have issues with being what they term as ‘weak’. They are uncomfortable with vulnerability and they are out of their depth when it comes to support. They try to fix it, change the subject, give a fluffy response or minimize its importance.

To connect with someone who validates your vulnerability is like finding a gem in a pile of rocks. For many of those who are highly sensitive, that’s not easy as most people are in denial of the depth of their vulnerability and to be honest they feel helpless in this regard most of the time.

I have had moments of acute vulnerability when at one time the person was so uncomfortable with the feelings that were arising they actually told me to ‘shut up’. I had only said one sentence regarding the death of someone close that I was missing and the knife was stuck in. The person that stuck the knife in was clearly not managing the vulnerable feelings that were arising and my guess is that’s what they were doing to their own emotions when they came up, but because I was close by its easier to deal with it by pushing it out than by looking within. At the time I did not understand and retreated hurt and wounded, but now I see more clearly. I see that part of what I am doing in their life is to display the vulnerability they have disowned and in turn they display to me the disowned part that doesn’t want to deal with emotions at all.

Many of us grew up having our deep feelings dismissed. It seems that we could share happiness, adventure, accomplishments etc but when it came to the shadow side of emotions….well that was uncomfortable for many of our parents.

Those of us who walk a highly sensitive path tend to identify with the suffering of humanity so deeply that it’s important to have tools to separate ourselves from the collective pain.

I myself was not made to avoid my emotions. I have tried believe me! It’s just who I am, I am a very vulnerable sensitive soul, however within that I can see the gifts.

In my counselling/journey work I tend to attract people who are very vulnerable and have a hard time walking ‘with‘ society in general. The majority of clients have never had their vulnerability validated, which to me is so sad. They are not young people either.

To feel safe to be vulnerable is so important. The majority of the time I am able to provide that space but being human I fall over as well and need to walk within for sometime to nurture that vulnerable child inside myself.

One of the greatest healing balms is the communication and relationship to our inner child. Our parents or elders did the best they could with what they were shown, but the best guide for the spirit of your inner child is you.  YES, YOU!

When you start working with your inner child, you can find comfort and nurturing from within. Often when we feel really vulnerable we reach out to people for validation and comfort. Some folk have no one they feel that safe with and there are times also when you think that friend is up for being there for you, but it turns out that they were unable for whatever reason. This is part of the lesson.

So when that occurs what we can do, is go within

• You can use the shaman’s tree and go down inside through a doorway and create a lovely space where you can connect with your inner child. Don’t be put off if you go down there and your child is grumpy or needy or aloof….these are refection’s of your own feelings. Listen to what your inner child says, feel and trust what you hear. This can be a way of understanding the child’s needs. The child may like you to lighten up, play more, listen, listen and validate how the child feels. Don’t get caught up in “this is only my imagination”. Allow your inner child some time to be heard. Come back the same way you went in and say a little prayer of gratitude when you finish.

• Write in your journal from you inner child’s point of view. Give it a try. Don’t criticise it, don’t try to make it sound good. Write from the inner child’s perspective, let the child in you speak and be heard no holes barred.

• Light a candle and sit in meditation. Relax your breath. See your inner child sitting on your lap and meditating with you. If your child is scared, talk to them, validate their feelings, tell them you want to do all you can to look after them and listen to their needs.

Being vulnerable is a gift and owning your vulnerability assists you in being your own self-nurturer as others may not be able to be relied on depending on the lesson that you are learning in this life. So if you can feed and nurture your own inner child then you will feel a fullness that no other person can bring in those times of acute vulnerability.

Because I identity with lost children, when I go into my sanctuary I have aspects of many children that have been disowned from other people who hang in my sanctuary till they are called back home. This is not a burden I carry, as they are free and happy to come and go as they please —- my sanctuary has no limitations and is well looked after by my medicine kin. The child that I lost in miscarriage lives there also and works as a helper too all of them.

I often wondered why I did not become a mother in this life and in my training saw many other lives where I gave birth to babies into death or they were ripped away from me and killed. I do understand now that I was given a break in this life and my work in spirit is much like being a midwife to those who have lost their inner child through abuse and trauma. I feel honoured as a spiritual midwife to assist in bringing the inner child home to its rightful place.

When you see that your vulnerability is your inner child crying or screaming for attention then turn inward and start LISTENING. All the child wants is to feel safe, heard and validated.

Embrace your vulnerable self, as that’s where the truth of your wound lies. Embrace and nurture that child and HAVE SOME FUN!!

Blessings

Odette

One of the main differences between contemporary and traditional shamanism is that of the title of ‘healer’ which is often mentioned in the same breath when visiting or talking about a traditional shaman.

 

Those called ‘Shamans’ have the ability to see through into other worlds and pick up what is out of balance within you and with their healing ability and their wisdom assist in freeing you from it. In the traditional way a shaman would take on the energy of the wounded person and then transform it. They move into a state of trance to exorcise the imbalance and get the clarity they need to bring healing to the person in need. That may be by taking herbs, smoking the aura, doing rituals, rubbing the body with oils, instructing the person to do follow certain instructions etc.

Contemporary shamanism goal is not so different in that its aim in bringing healing to the imbalance is similar however the contemporary shamans main credo is to empower you to be your own healer by teaching you ways to free yourself from the challenges that hinder your life.

 

In time we will not be able go back to the small village where the local shaman does healing as they are all disappearing and the ones that are left are doing all they can to pass on the medicine they know so it does not die out in this ever-changing modern world.

 

Contemporary Shamanism can bridge the worlds of the traditional and the more modern by respecting the traditional ways and laws in how the medicine and teachings are used as well as create ways in which you can incorporate this medicine into your busy daily lives of modern living.

 

Shamanism is often referred to as a religion. I strongly disagree. If we look at the origins of the word religion we see that the word comes from old Latin: religio meaning “taboo and restraint” and even looking even deeper into the meaning we find the core: ‘return to bondage’.

Shamanism originated within the indigenous tribes throughout the world. A shaman is one who knows and see’s between the worlds and honors the laws of nature. The shaman is called on to assist people to be free of spiritual bondage.

The word religion comes from Roman times.  From the view of the western-based religions they saw the shaman as the priest and with the rituals projected the label of religion onto this ancient practice. This image was also projected onto Buddhism, even though Buddha was very clear that the middle path was not based in religion, it was and is a way of life.

Shamanism and Buddhism are very close cousins as they both adhere to respecting the mother earth, the laws of nature and all that live upon her, being in total awareness of existence beyond the body and teaching ways to find balance.

So I prefer to work within the shamanic world without dogma and to be honest you don’t need it, it can trap you and keep you in ‘bondage’.

In traditional shamanism plant medicine was a very important path for moving beyond the fears to access the other worlds without limitations. Today the plant medicine like ‘Ayahuasca’ and others has become a very popular pathway to accessing other dimensions and healing. However if not done with wise and supportive boundaries it can be very difficult to integrate what has been experienced after coming back into ordinary reality. Some people who are drawn to it (often there is a deep hunger to leave this ordinary reality) unfortunately end up in psyche wards as the journey was too fragmenting for them. The plant path is not one to be taken lightly so be sure in your motivation of why you are doing it and it’s very important to take responsibility for your energy and wellness after the journey. Without integrating the medicine into your day-to-day life you have lost the lesson completely.

Within the path of contemporary shaman plant medicine is not needed, as it is not necessary. The alpha state of where a drum or plant can take you can be easily accessed by deep guided relaxation techniques and believe me you can access all worlds just as you would do with a plant if your guide contains and supports you well. The difference is that the plant isn’t the vehicle that you are riding in. You are totally conscious, and fully aware of what is happening moving at your pace within a safe space.

You still get to face all the fears, challenges, bliss moments but without ingesting the plant. Integration then is easier and more natural.

For acutely sensitive people going the plant way is NOT recommended and a traditional shaman who is in their integrity will tell you that also. It is not worth the risk. Acutely sensitive folk are fragmented already and having a plant blow you out is setting you up for time in the psychiatrists chair with psyche medication, which will not be what you are looking for!

Traditional shamanism offers great insights and ways of listening to the earth and the world beyond. The elders that are left must be listened to, respected and honored for the teachings they have brought forth.

In contemporary shamanism we  respect the tools that have been offered from the original people and give thanks to the elders both in spirit and in form that have shared their teachings through the ages and dimensions.

We cannot go back in time to the old ways, and to be honest some of the old ways were very brutal, but we can take the gifts of the teachings with great respect to create a grounded recipe for each individual that works for them in this time of change.

This is not a watered down version of the path of the shaman, this is a grounded empowered recipe of the best of what shamanism has to offer in a safe and supportive manner. This is a path of medicine that you can learn to integrate into your own day-to-day lives at your own pace.

Blessings

Odette Nightsky

 

” The Guide To Contemporary Shamanism In Your Own Home”

Workbook. Avail now $30 Aus

Written by Odette Nightsky

for purchase inquiries please email

shamansunlimited@hotmail.com

 

 From earliest times people have believed that the dead can return from the grave to visit their loved ones. Certainly an evil criminal or someone, who has been the victim of such a one, can return after death as a ghost. These tormented souls can haunt the world of the living until someone helps them to find peace. – Molly Perham (ghouls & monsters)

 As children, we often remember our elders telling us that there was no such thing as a ghost, and the thing hiding under our bed scaring us silly is simply not real.  Our parents would tuck us in and reassure us that we were completely safe, we felt protected from the bogeyman (momentarily).

 As adults many of us have grown out of being afraid of the dark. The fears of today are ones we all seem to have in common, war, physical attack, bankruptcy, relationships breaking down, our children being abducted or disease and death of a loved one. In general humans fight what they fear. This may seem to work in the physical dimension. However as many sensitive people know, when you fight what you fear, you are doubling the chances of its manifestation. You are feeding your fear, instead of acknowledging and embracing it.

 

Do you remember the Star Wars trilogy? While studying philosophy at university, we were given an example of the battle between good and evil. The darkness of Vader and the emperor, against Luke Sky-Walker, the Jedi Knight. In the final confrontation the emperor encouraged Luke to hate him and feed his anger so that he would join them in the darkness. The Jedi replaced his hatred with compassion for his father. As the darkness was attempting to finally destroy what light was left, Darth Vader found a glimmer of light beneath the darkness that had consumed him and chose compassion as his friend once more…. Hence he was released from the torment of the darkness. There is an old saying, you can take a candle of light into the darkness, but you can’t take the darkness into the light.

 

I have realised that hating what is tormenting us leads to greater torment. We can choose to be a warrior of light as Luke did, but he only became a true Jedi when he acknowledged and accepted both qualities inside him…only then was he free. All of us are born with both the qualities of light and dark. Each person will experience his or her darkness in this lifetime. It is just dressed in many different clothes, but it comes down to the same thing. Feeling a separation from the source of love. A feeling of disconnection.

The tormented entities that dwell in the astral plane are like Darth Vader; they are simply lost in the world of the darkness, just as you may be. These energies are trapped. However malevolent they seem, they only know the ways of imbalanced living. Having left this plane of consciousness, these beings and fragments are living in the world of the astral and have not moved on for various reasons. They have no idea how to free themselves and believe that there is no escape.

 These entities become so used to the existence of imbalance that they appear to not want to be anywhere else but in the world of limbo. The Acute Sensitive needs to work on befriending these spirits/energies and setting them free everyday, until they are at a point of inner core strength where a simple clearing meditation can be a part of daily practice.

 Embracing the darkness does not mean becoming the darkness yourself. It means loving it as Jesus, Buddha, the Divine Mother would a child that is lost in the forest of the dark. You are not without these qualities, no one is. If you feel you must fight the darkness with fear and anger, then you will be the one to lose, you will find yourself drained and exhausted by the battle. I suggest you see yourself as a warrior of love, fight with the sword of justice, compassion and light.

Let them know that you know who they are, and why they are here. Indirectly, they have come to you to be set free. Send them back to the source of light with compassion and love, they are here to teach you to be strong inside yourself.

 One of the main challenges in relationship to the darkness is, when we are in the midst of it, we are certain it will never end. We think there is no light at the end of the tunnel. The more we believe that the darkness will continue, the more the darkness stays with us. When we can smile at the darkness and say, ‘ hello my friend what have you come to teach’ we will be on the road to freedom from suffering. The darkness will then become a signpost not a hole that we fall into all the time…

Blessings

Odette

Excerpt from The Bridge Between Two Worlds. A Shamans View of Schizophrenia & Acute Sensitivity. Copyright Odette Nightsky. (Please ask permission to share)

People are talking about the significance of this date as with the previous post I wrote on the end of the Mayan Calender. On the 28^th there was an opportunity to let go of old patterning and belief systems that have bled through the collective into our personal lives. On that eve I led a let go ceremony that initiated a beautiful night of music, dance and one heck of a jam session.

As we walk to 11.11.11 many of us have been feeling like we are on a see- saw of balance. I myself had to get a B12 shot just to lift my blood platelets as I felt I was drowning a little in the collective transformation time. So be mindful, if you have and old wound that is gnawing at you or an old behaviour that is running your story now is a good time to bring it to the surface and bring medicine to the wound.

Be brave enough to step outside the cage of fear and access that assistance because when you get facilitated well you are able to get out of your own way faster and bring the wound out of hiding to give it the attention it needs to be embraced and find balance.

Now is the time to end the belief pattern of dualism that has been predominant in the world for an incredibly long time (the Piscean era). So the 28^th was an opportunity to let go of that pattern of dualism that says there is good and evil, right and wrong, black and white etc. This dualistic era has brought humanity great suffering and so many wars.

I have found in my work that many people who lose themselves to madness and have grown up with religious hardline principles find that they are often living in the realm of this dualism. The fear of the devil and hell is paramount and they have literally split into the collective dualism and are stuck in an inner battle of good and evil. Beyond that I have worked with others that didn’t have a religious upbringing but they still got the patterning from the collective regardless. Guilt and shame has been projected on women especially for centuries and we are still to the day working hard to transform that old patterning.

When we see the overview of what is happening on the planet at present its like the last strangling moments of the Piscean era is being played out. The battle of good and evil is still very evident in many places in the world and the religious institutions have a great deal to do with this program still continuing. The media has brainwashed many to keep that battle continuing. There is so much talk about the cruelty of terrorist Muslims but we must not forget how much cruelty and suffering has been done in the name Catholic and Christian institutions.

11.11.11 is a wonderful opportunity to move beyond all that dualistic thinking of light and dark, good and evil, right and wrong. This is an opportunity to connect with the greater whole of humanity both on a physical level and most importantly on a conscious level and create true liberation from the old programs. Even if your alone at home you can still connect with the greater whole, that is the beauty of the energy we are now moving into. We all may stand alone as unique individuals but we are connected as a larger tribe in the name of ‘Peace’ for the mother earth and all that dwells upon her. If you feel able to step outside your hearth go and find a group of people who are celebrating this shift in consciousness, go and connect with the group frequency and that may help to bring transformation to your own inner shift.

There are many events being held on this date. The old reference to this date is Armistice Day, an agreement between the Allied Nations and Germany who ceased hostilities after the Great War in Western Europe and honored those that died in the name of peace.  Many countries and nations still adhere to observe this date to commemorate the fallen and refocus on the cause for world peace.

Although I honor what my ancestors have done in the name of peace (I was born into a military lineage) I do not believe the two words WAR and PEACE have anything to do with each other. And 11.11.11 is the perfect day to see this concept dissolving and to envision humanity making sure there is no need for war.

If all children were fed, housed, educated, healthy and safe from abuse do you think we would have any need for war at all? The wars of today have much to do with dualism of the righteous and greed of resources. We have a wonderful opportunity to come together as a collective and put out a resounding resonant call for peace in all areas.

As mother earth regenerates and transforms from the abuse that has and is still being done to her, we too can regenerate into a universal mindset of manifesting a way of honoring and respecting the earth that we live on.

We may also envision a ‘Wholistic’ way of caring for humanity, from the most basic needs of food and water to the more world-wide community based needs of social integration and inclusion rather than separation. This would also alleviate much of the breakdown of the psyche of people who are classified as mad. Many who now live mostly in the astral world of fragmentation have done so as a collective response to the world that has literally gone bonkers!.

“Insanity — a perfectly rational adjustment to an insane world.”
R. D. Lang

So on the 11.11.11. Take a moment or many moments and still yourself in line with the wider community of aware beings and see a vision of peace both within you and outside of you. You may see yourself holding hands with others circling the planet or envision earth transformed and all its land, waters and animals restored existing in harmony with humanity as a whole. Be grounded and clear in your vision and remember that as you envision a prayer of peace for all don’t forget your own manifestations of a peaceful co existence with yourself, your body, your mind, your spirit, your soul and your sovereign self.

The medicine of the Otter offers the balance of the feminine for both male and female. Otters are very caring of each other and move together as one in a group, so unity of spirit can be achieved. This medicine provides the opportunity to honor the rights of all people and all beings to ‘be’. All you need to do is get out of your own way and connect with this receptive caring energy and spread that medicine out amongst all that you encounter.

Walk gently on the earth, with others and with your self.

Give thanks to the mother for all she provides for without her we would not be here at all.

Blessings & Peace to you and your beloveds

Odette

Depending on what you read or who you talk to there is much chatter around what will happen at the end of the Mayan calendar. People are debating at what dates the calendar ends on depending on what stream of belief they are following. I have had quite a few people ask me what should they do? How do they deal with the concept of the possible end of the world?

In the shamanic world death is seen as a state of transformation. A letting go of that which does not serve you any longer. When the shaman goes through this initiation there is much ripping apart of the old self to be rebirthed into the more aware self which has embraced all that has gone before and transformed it.

This is what is happening on the planet now. The world is in transformation. It is ripping apart and in that ripping much is being brought to the surface to be healed and cleared. When all is brought into balance the shaman is then able to be of service to the community as a whole.

So rather than getting caught up in the negativity and fear of the horrific images we see and hear about, think of it as a somewhat painful transformation that when brought to balance has great insight and better tools to work with for the service of the planet

When we are trapped in fear, we are disconnected from the source. So if your watching all the news programs or reading all the details of every horrible event then you are going to absorb the collective negativity at the same time.

Either watch it with this concept of awareness or simply ‘change the channel’ both on the TV/Radio and in your mind.

That doesn’t mean that you close the door and deny all that is taking place, not at all.  Keep your eyes open, just do it with awareness of the bigger picture.

Embrace, let go and transform all of the violence, the corruption and the darkness within you and then when you watch the world transforming you will see it as a journey to balance for all rather than pure destruction.

Today Oct 28 is one of the end dates of the Mayan calendar and said to be more definite than other dates in 2012. I see it as an opportunity to ‘begin’ to let go of the old program of fear and conditioning that no longer is needed.

What belief systems have you picked up that do not serve you anymore?

What old fears would you be happier living without?

Find some time, slow down your breath, lie back on the earth and give your old programs of dysfunction to the mother earth. She is the great transformer of all things; she is formidable and incredibly strong and will transform all that needs to be shifted.

The illusion of man to think that he can control nature is proven false when we look at the great natural disasters in history and in recent times. She will survive and transform our impact; there is no doubt about it.

It’s important to remember that we all chose to be here in the body at this time in history. No one is here for nothing and no one brought you dragging and screaming to this life. You chose to be here.

Each of us is an important part of the transformation to a more aware planet so ask yourself in what way are you being of service to the planet. Is your service beyond ideas and concepts? Are you walking your talk?

Is it the end of the world, as we know it? I feel it’s the end of the way of the battle between dark and light, the end of dualism. This may take quite some time as when people are fearful they hold very tight to their beliefs and in holding tight they are fighting the natural transformational journey that is part of growth. If you fight the change within, the transformation within you,  you will find yourself in the depth of depression and for many losing yourself in the realm of multi-dimensional madness.

We are in the Age of Aquarius where the key is to work as a whole community not separate towns battling against each or stealing their horses to be the head warlord (Corporation). We can see the seeds of transformation taking place by the protests in regard to Wall St and secrets being brought to the surface in all areas of power.

The institute of religion also needs to be dissolved and transformed.  The secrets of the imbalances coming out of these institutions are the ripping apart of the way that no longer serves humanity or the individual. I am not arguing people choice to believe in a higher power or archetype that represents that, but religion is behind so many imbalances in the world.

Those that hold the power in the name of religion (the three main monotheist religions, Christian, Muslims, Jews and nowadays a few more could join that elite rich group) could feed all the children of the world if they gave up their treasures, but they hold tight to the old masculine ways and unfortunately the old ways seem to have leaks that ooze poison. E.g. child abuse, children dying from Aids because contraception is frowned on, clerics who misinterpret writings to their own end, cultures not forgiving others for the past hurts but inflicting the same kind on others from other faiths.

The traditional religions have ‘Negative Lies’ that many (who have never been to church) have absorbed through the collective consciousness.

That you are:

Guilty

Unworthy

Shameful

A Sinner at birth

These are beliefs that many still hold close and when you scratch the surface of most people’s issues, these statements often appear.

So its time to get rid of the negative lies we have been told or absorbed so we can move with the natural feminine flow of the transformation. Like nature we need to move with the seasons.

The tree grows from a seed to grow and transform into its blossoming state, soon it moves to the time when it leaves change and then let’s go of its leaves so it can be rebirthed and offer new shoots again in the spring.

If we follow the natural laws then everything we are witnessing is part of the natural transformation of life and the planet that we live on. Some things will indeed have to die, some will move into parallel dimensions and some will simply move and adapt with the changes.

When people ask me, am I scared of death? I reply

“No, I am not afraid of death but how I walk to my death”

I have had many little deaths in my life and each one has taught me the power in transforming fear into insight. Each time has left me with more knowledge and more awareness than the last.

It’s not death that’s the problem, it’s the attitude towards it that matters.

My attitude to the world transforming and the end of the Mayan calendar is that

‘Living in the moment is paramount’

‘Being of service is vital’

‘Getting out of your own head and being of use to others’

‘ Seeing the cosmic joke of how silly some of these world games are playing out’

‘ Do actions that nourish you, feed your soul’

‘ Meditate’

‘When things are difficult, take a breath, ride the wave and don’t struggle to stay afloat, let go’

The Shamans death can be very confronting, but the transformation brings you into a state of wholeness and the journey is just as important as the destination. Don’t get caught up in the dream of the destination. Face the transformation with all your heart, ground your spirit and connect with the source. You are safe, no matter what transforms, just get out of your own way and receive the medicine.

(Then you can ponder what new seeds would you like to plant for the future of humanity and the planet)

Blessings

Odette

Depression is one of the greatest challenges in life especially in todays times.  I found this view below quite spot on. I have walked the swamp of depression in my life and its a dark place but this too can change. I do not follow any religious ways but I honour the natural paths of life and Buddha was clearly one man who brought great insight for all. Blessings Odette

A TEACHING

ON DEPRESSION
by Ven. Thubten Gyatso

Depression is a state of extreme unhappiness, described by sufferers in a recent BBC radio program as a black, dismal, dungeon of despair; as a stifling hot room with no means of escape; as a heavy overcoat of pain with the buttons soldered together; and as like walking through treacle. It is characterised by a sense of loss of control over one’s life, a loss of enthusiasm, and the inability to enjoy pleasure. One may know what to do, but cannot summon the energy to do it.
Depression may be precipitated by bereavement, illness, unemployment, and perhaps sometimes a neurological abnormality. According to Buddhism, however, the overriding cause of depression is self-cherishing – seeing one’s own physical and mental pleasure as more important than anybody else’s. Self-cherishing is irritability when our spouse asks us to do something that interrupts our own enjoyment, such as watching television, playing sport, or talking with our friends. It is the desire to get the best food for oneself, the best seat in the cinema, the best result in an examination, and the most praise from someone of influence.
How can a small thing such as selfishness, which we all have, be the cause of such a major illness as depression? There are two main reasons. The first is that unhappiness arising from selfishness is cumulative. When we do not obtain what we want, or are stopped from doing what we want, we often over-react to a ridiculous extent. Examine your own experience – how many domestic arguments have exploded out of incredibly petty causes? Even though we chastise ourselves for our stupid behaviour, we repeat the same thing again and again. At home, at work, at the club, wherever we go to relax, our selfish behaviour isolates us from others. The accumulation of small failures in life erodes our self-confidence, we are unable to be happy, and we spiral into depression.
The second reason why selfishness causes depression is because it prevents us from doing the one thing that is guaranteed to bring happiness – cherishing others. Self-obsession smothers consideration for the needs of others and we stop giving love. The constant whirl of self-centred thoughts in our heads, “I am so sad, I need to be happy,” blinds us to the needs of our family and friends, and we do nothing to help them. Our self-confidence takes a further battering because we no longer receive the feedback of love from them, or the pure satisfaction and joy of making them happy. The joy of making others happy is pure because we do not crave it again and again, unlike the joy of self-indulgence which is impure because it never brings satisfaction. Cut off from the world, we sink into unhappiness, self-doubt, and the thought that we are going insane. This is depression.
Buddha’s diagnosis of the cause of depression is not petty or discriminative. We all have self-cherishing, and if we allow it to take over our lives and block our love and compassion for others, we will be in danger of following that awful path into depression. Depression does not cause misery, depression is misery, at its worst. In the human realm anyway. Depressives may not believe this, but it can get far worse in other realms of rebirth.
To indicate our own part in the development of depression is not to point the finger of blame and cause guilt. If we can see that the cause is in our own mind, we will understand that the cure is also in our own mind.
Seeing the shattered self-confidence of depressed people, many new-age creeds attempt to cure the problem with the philosophy of “love yourself first.” But this is the cause, not the cure. The great Indian Bodhisattva, Shantideva, said, “If you want to be happy, you should never seek to please yourself.” Instead, we should seek to please others.
If we ask, “But, don’t I have to protect myself from suffering?”
Shantideva replies, “If you wish to be protected, you should constantly protect all others.” Buddha’s prescription for happiness is to forget yourself and love others. The more we look after our family and friends, the more they will care for us. It is so simple, so obvious, but we have to do it. Not just our family and friends; our purpose in life should be to protect every living being from suffering. When this attitude is supported by wisdom, we will never know unhappiness.
Should you flush your Valium and Prozac down the toilet? No, not yet. Begin with small actions to help others – empty the garbage can without being asked, clean up your own mess in the kitchen, polish the shoes of others. Smile occasionally.
Gradually build up the courage and determination to confront your self-cherishing mind and declare yourself a slave and friend of all living beings. Then you will extract more joy from cleaning up somebody else’s mess in the kitchen than you will ever get from watching the football on television. Not only will this lift your depression, it will place you on the path to bliss.