When we speak with our fear, listening to it with unconditional love, acceptance, and the desire to learn from it, transformation can occur. In the following communication Anayaya imagined sitting down with the fear that she experienced when moving forward to obtain her goals. She envisioned that the fear was another person, someone she respects and cares about and, just as she would give her attention to another person, she gave it to the aspect of fear. Then, imagining her fear as another person sitting across from her, she conversed with it.
A: Fear, what are you protecting me from?
F: Failure. Ridicule. Being wrong. Being free and clear and productive. Living a life that is different than you've yet known this Earth life.
“I take fear's hand and I see that she is but a reflection of myself. She is a mighty force that I can decide to work with, fight against, or give into.”
A: Fear, what do you need, want, or require to feel safe as I move forward to be creative, productive, and successful in my skills and crafts?
F: I need to be held, like a child, and reassured. To be loved and welcomed as a protector, as the wisdom that I have, hold, and the precautions I warn of. I can then serve a greater use to you, to our self, and enrich our experiences as Protector rather than as a stopping point.
Envisioning Transformative Teamwork
I take fear's hand and I see that she is but a reflection of myself. She is a mighty force that I can decide to work with, fight against, or give into. I choose to hold her hand and we gaze into each others eyes. "Let's do this, side by side, sisters embraced and joined together", I tell her.
“It is I who had turned her, in thought, into a monster, into something to fight, ignore, and cower before”
She is my protector. The wisdom of caution, a spiritual aspect of myself that is loving, giving, wise, strong, and filled with desire and determination to assist me on this life's journey. It is I who had turned her, in thought, into a monster, into something to fight, ignore, and cower before.
Now as my partner, we move forward, drawing in breath, sharing each other's insights and challenges. We move forward and, in a mighty force of daring, we create together.
Self-Reflection
Following the above interaction, Anayaya wrote the following'
Earlier I spoke with fear and I learned from her. I learned that she tries to protect me and that it is by not befriending her, not working with this aspect of my larger self that causes a sense of separation and stops my forward motion. That is what turned fear into a monster.
As I look at myself, my life, I see the areas where I used fear as a stopping point rather than as a wise guide. I think that I have much to learn from her and I look forward to journeying deeper into our history together. I am reminded of the spiritual journey and that as we move inward, ever deeper into the truth of who and what we are, we go so deep as to open up into the wholeness, the Oneness existing.
For so long I used fear as a scape goat to cease forward, outward expansion to achieve and act on my dreams, hopes, and my goals. It is near time that I cease hiding. That I stand and indeed take fear's hand and step forward with her, forward into the way of life that I say I desire, hope for, and seek. It is time, for if not now then when?
Forward Motion
I do not know the way before me. All that I know is what has brought me this far and that I am promised a safe passage into a new way of living, a new way of being in the world. I am told that I am guided. I am told to meditate and to bring through the messages that come to and through me. I am told that I have skills and talents. I believe that I am ready to truly and fully use them.
Writing this, I feel fear rise in me. I listen, then I reach out to her. "Take my hand," I tell her, "and neither of us shall be alone. I will be the light that guides us into action in the world and you will be the voice of caution that lights the way. Together we are one, strong, determined, and brave." She reaches out and takes the hand I offer and we smile, reflections of one another, and step outward together into the unknown.
Take Away
Acknowledge the road and pathways of fear in my life
People pleasing
Playing it small
Tuning-out through use of distractions: television, people, sickness, food, work, etc.
Integrate the lessons learned with fear as a teacher
Speak with my fearful parts:
Ask what it needs in order to know that it / I am safe
Send genuine love and blessings to my fearful self
Take fear's hand and converse with her as often as necessary, repetition leads to self-mastery,