by Jeff Fasano, Author, Channel & Photographer
Open Another Doorway
You
are now ready to take a series of gradual steps towards intimacy. You are
beginning to trust—first yourself, and then others—as you break free from the
cocoon of a life where you have held yourself in lack, limitation, separation,
and isolation. Even as you say, “I want a much larger life than I have now,”
your next step is inward rather than outward. It is now time to open a doorway
inside and receive love.
The intention for everyone who moves onto the pathway
towards the unknown is to receive love—each of you says this is what you want.
Look now to grow towards it, to embrace love from where you are. To achieve a
community of harmony, acceptance, and compassion in the world, it is important
to move within and begin to love you.
With acceptance and compassion, you can be where you are in every moment and
feel exactly what you are feeling, knowing that just being you is more than
sufficient; it is essential.
When you hit a sticking point, such as a moment where you
experience feelings you don’t want to feel, or aspects of self that you don’t
want to accept or acknowledge, you habitually use something to avoid feeling.
What is your modus operandi for avoiding places in yourself that don’t quite
resonate for you anymore? What “old trick” do you use to avoid your feelings,
to avoid being where you are? Do you put up a mask when you feel that who you
are and what you are feeling in a given moment is not lovable? Do you use this
mask in an attempt to be what someone else wants so you will be loved?
We speak to you about beginning to open your heart to
receive love. You ask us, “How can I receive love? Am I
good enough or worthy enough to receive love? Am I perfect enough to receive
love?” This process is about moving to new depths of intimacy
within, so that you can begin to receive love from yourself. It is most
important to move through this process with tenderness because you could feel
exposed and vulnerable.
Stand in front of a full-length mirror. We suggest that you
do this process naked and learn to accept yourself where you are in the moment
as you do. Of course, if you are not comfortable doing this exercise entirely
nude, you may do it partially clothed.
Approach this exercise with an attitude of gentle curiosity.
Every time you do it you open another doorway leading you gradually from your
head to your heart. Take out a paper and pen so you may record your responses
and discoveries.
Begin with your eyes closed. Breathe deeply into the depth
and breadth of your body three times—in through your nose and out through your
mouth.
After the third breath, inhale deeply a fourth time and
retain the air for five seconds. Then release your breath on the sound, Ahhh.”
Allow the sound to reverberate through your entire body and through the room in
which you are standing. Fully release and let go and allow the sound to move
where it will move. Repeat twice more.
When the reverberations of sound have ceased, open your eyes
and look directly into the mirror. As you look directly into the reflection of
your eyes, breathe three times, inhaling through your nose and exhaling through
your mouth with the sound, Ahhh.”
Do not take your eyes off of yourself as you breathe. Feel
the emotions that surface, and allow them to be present. Simply observe and
take notice of what you do here.
Do you avert your gaze to avoid looking at yourself? Is
there shame?
Do your thoughts become active? Are you judging and
condemning yourself?
Do you suddenly think of an “urgent task” to do and walk
away?
The idea here is to focus upon your eyes, and maintain an
intimate connection with yourself. With your eyes still open and looking at
you, after the third breath, if you are ready, write down what you are feeling
in the moment. Move your focus into your heart, and then spontaneously write
down the five most important feelings that surfaced.
After you have recorded your insights, return to the mirror
and stand in front of it. If you are still wearing clothes, now is the moment
to disrobe.
Close your eyes and breathe three times in a row, as you
previously did. After the third breath is entirely released from your body,
open your eyes and look directly into your eyes in the mirror again. Hold your
own gaze for five to ten seconds.
Then, allow your eyes to travel and scan your body. Notice,
where your eyes go first. Look at yourself. What do you see? What do you feel?
What do you judge and shame? What do you enjoy?
Keep on breathing deeply. Remain in front of the mirror and
scanning your body for several minutes. What might occur could be quite
shocking to you. You might feel embarrassed. Or, rather than criticism, you
might find you enjoy yourself immeasurably.
Most importantly, you will begin to find out how you feel about your physical body.
Most importantly, you will begin to find out how you feel about your physical body.
When you are ready, sit down and answer the following
questions:
“What am I feeling?”
“Am I shaming and judging? If so, what?”
“Can I accept with compassion where I am in this moment?”
“Can I accept what I am feeling in this moment?”
“Can I have compassion for myself?”
Now, move away from the mirror. Seat yourself somewhere
comfortable and breathe once, deeply, and inwards through your nose. Hold the
air for five seconds, and then release your breath through your mouth on the
sound, “Ahhh.”
After this, close your eyes and move into the depth of your
heart space. Imagine your wounded inner child. When he or she comes to you look
into the little child’s eyes and remain focused on them.
Look at them as he or
she looks at you.
Feelings will surface here. Just be with them and allow
yourself to feel what you are feeling in this moment. Then ask your inner
child, “What do you need in this moment?”
After the child answers, ask yourself, “Can
I give this child what he (or she) needs in this moment?” And,
“Do I love this child enough to give the child what is needed
in this moment?” Open your eyes and write down
what was asked for, and your response.
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