The rioting that took place a short while ago in the UK seemed to create a form of collective madness that drew some people in to do things that they would not usually contemplate. It is very easy to condemn everyone who took part and think that our society is breaking down. However, our society as a whole can be used as a metaphor for our own selves. We can’t just cut off or ignore the annoying or destructive parts without damaging our whole selves, much like just sending the looters and rioters to prison and giving them no further thought.

The only way we can heal ourselves is to shine the light on the parts that we keep in the shadows – the aspects of ourselves we probably do not like to admit we possess – such as fear, greed, anger, hate, resentment, our sense of inadequacy etc. Instead of condemning those aspects, we can show compassion to ourselves and keep blessing ourselves just as we are. It is our negative thoughts and feelings, both conscious and unconscious that create our physical, mental and emotional pain. Taking your awareness to an uncomfortable emotion and exploring what it is and how it feels, rather than distracting yourself from it, can be very helpful in letting it go.

In our communities and the wider society we can silently bless everyone we meet instead of judging, criticising or condemning them. This has the effect of creating loving vibrations – which are healing ones – to the people around us and to ourselves. I know people who have found this discipline to be the most life enhancing thing they have ever done.

If you practise meditation you might like to imagine sending love and forgiveness to the whole world, by creating an image of the earth in front of you and projecting loving feelings from your heart towards it.

I am heartened and inspired by the reports of communities coming together to repair the destruction from the riots. Good does come out of these situations – we just have to look for it.

If you would like to learn more about incorporating blessings into your daily life, I highly recommend reading The Gentle Art of Blessing by Pierre Prandervand. This is available from www.cygnus-books.co.uk along with other wonderfully inspiring books.

Alternatively, if you wish to use my help in clearing stuck emotions, please do contact me by phoning 0208 300 8027 or email hellis@discoverholistichealth.co.uk

with love and blessings

Hellis