Working with Fear
What is Fear?
Fear is defined as “an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.” The language of this definition tells us quite a bit about beliefs regarding fear. Fear is unpleasant, a negative thing, and it is driven and created by our own beliefs. In other words, despite what we may feel, we are actually the ones in charge, not the other way around. When we fall into Group Think and also allow our own limiting beliefs to run the show, we lose sight of our own agency and it affects our entire reality.
Recognizing Group Think and identifying our own limiting beliefs is an important part of shamanic healing. Identifying what we ourselves feel and think as opposed to being swept away by collective panic helps prevent our fight or flight response from being triggered. If our unconscious belief system is set up to limit what we can experience, the life we can live, then we will find ourselves getting triggered by events and getting stuck in a repetitive cycle that delivers the same experience over and over again. Becoming conscious of the beliefs and wounds driving us is critical to changing our reality and weathering what comes our way. Those beliefs whether from family, religion, society or our own trauma, are the backbone of fear and our relationship to it.
Coronavirus as a Master Class in Fear
Today we are all getting a master class in fear. Coronavirus and our collective and individual response to it have set the stage for an unsettling and uncertain reality. We are bombarded with minute by minute news, often with misinformation and fear-mongering. Depending on what country you live in, your experience and perception will differ. But it is hard for anyone to feel confident wading through this kind of overwhelm. For my clients who are in the midst of making major changes in their lives and doing the work of healing, it all feels even riskier, even more dangerous, to proceed. We find ourselves searching outside ourselves for a safe harbor and feeling that there is none. And when we hear the news and adapt to the newest changes in our communities, it only seems to be validated.
It is precisely during these times however that showing up as our authentic selves and being brave is so important. It’s the doing of it, without guarantees and no matter what, that offers the healing. So, turn off the noise as frequently as you can. Get the information you need and then shift gears. The safe harbor begins within ourselves first. This is true no matter what the external conditions are at the time. It is our best form of protection and sanity. If we allow fear to become our master in these moments, then we have given up the opportunity to be brave and to learn. We have given up our choice and signed on to everything without a moment’s reflection.
In shamanism, we work with many allies who teach us to reflect and act. Coyote for example teaches us to shapeshift so we can change our perception, to be adaptable and resourceful in even the most challenging times. Coyote is a survivor who can thrive in any environment, and they take care of their pack. If anything, let this time period teach us to be resourceful and help us to remember that we truly do depend on each other. Let us reflect on how we can learn from this and change our world into something that supports our communities at every level.
Being of Service to Our Communities
Being of service to the most vulnerable becomes more difficult if we blindly allow fear to master us. Instead, we can choose for fear to be our ally and inform us so that we can be a part of the solution. A good analogy for this is a dive buddy. If you can stay calm while your buddy is panicking then you have a much better chance of both coming out ok. There are many ways that we can offer anchor and support to those around us if we can work with our fear and be brave at the same time. Follow best practices for yourself, your family and your community and provide support for those who need it - remote or otherwise.
How to Make Fear our Ally
A good first step is recognizing that fear is a signal that tells us something we need to know. Is there action we need to take based on that awareness or is it a case of our own stuff running amock? The key here is that we recognize the signal and take action accordingly. We are consciously choosing rather than letting fear shut us down. Another helpful practice is to take a minute to differentiate between your own fear and that of the collective. Have you just taken on the entire collective Victim imprint after reading that Twitter feed or watching the nightly news? Take a moment and separate yourself from consensual reality. Remember that as shamanic practitioners we strive to be self-referencing. If any of you have been in trainings with me, you’ll remember hearing that we are people, not sheeple. Ask yourself is this true for me? What can I do about it?
This isn’t easy at times. Jaguar, the archetype of the West direction on the wheel, is a wonderful ally to work with on fear and anger. Jaguar teaches us that rather than allowing fear and anger to be the motivators of our decision-making, it’s better to approach these emotions simply as signals we learn from in the moment. Emotions are fluid, they will always pass and change. We want to be able to observe this, stay in our center and then make the best decisions we can for ourselves. The shamanic practice of decoupling can be very helpful when we are in a fight or flight response. Decoupling resets our system energetically to make the world safe again, bringing us out of the fight of flight response by matching the rhythm of the second chakra to the heartbeat of the Mother, Earth, or Pachamama. In training it’s also referred to as “bringing the jaguar down from the tree.”
Right now, it may feel difficult to view fear as an informative signal. But the more we can perceive our own fear and work with it as a tool, the more we are able to empower ourselves and others. I’ve included some helpful resources that may be useful to add to your toolbox, from meditations to herbal remedies. I’d love to hear from you below in the comments about your own experiences with fear and how you are moving through this intense time. If you’d like additional support, I’d love to work with you one-on-one as well!
Resources to Overcome Fear and Improve Immunity
In addition to my blog posts on self-care and shamanic resources, here are some readings, practices and herbal offerings specifically related to fear and improving immunity. As with all things, these are offered as part of a broader support system for you to explore and find what works for you. I’ve also included the link to the World Health Organization’s resource page on Coronavirus. Please reach out if you have any questions in the comments below or send me an email.
How to Snap out of the Fear Response - a Four Winds article by Dr. Alberto Villoldo
Cutting Through Fear by Tsultrim Allione - Based on the traditional Tibetan practice of chöd (literally "to cut") and drawing from root visualization practices, Allione shares a four-step process that helps us meet and release what the ancient Tibetans called "demons"- fear, anger and other emotions. I have found this a very powerful tool.
Herbs for Immunity by Rosalee de la Fôret - Rosalee has extensive experience working with the immune system and has gathered her best recommendations for using herbs for immunity as well as the particular symptoms being reported with Covid-19.
Core Coronavirus and Flu Kit by Herban Wellness - These formulas are based on recommendations provided by Stephen Buhner, herbalist, researcher, and award winning author of the books Herbal Antivirals and Herbal Antibiotics. These are hand blended by herbalists at Herban Wellness.
World Health Organization Guidelines on COVID-19 - WHO has published resources for the public on Coronavirus.