I want to start with a little preface. I decided to revisit each of my blog posts many years after I originally posted them to update and revise as needed. I’m finding that I wish I had an editor and want to soften the tone of the information I’m sharing. To be honest, the last thing I want to sound is preachy or righteous because I am forever learning the depths of my soul. I think when I first wrote the posts, I was excited to share a practice that worked for me so it may have come across that way. I don’t know, maybe it’s just me. I’m definitely still my hardest critic. I wanted to revise a few things so it’s more about sharing what I’ve learned and experienced on my journey. The soul healing practices are a mix of my personal experience and past mental health professional background. These practices have been helpful for me during my journey and are continually evolving and changing just as my soul is growing and expanding. If you do try any of these practices, I encourage you to experiment with the practice in order to make it your own. Listen to your inner wisdom and change or refine the practice as needed, so it completely resonates with your soul. My only motivation for sharing is to inspire and offer support for your own unique and sacred journey. This is what I’ve found along the way.

Regret, guilt, and shame are difficult feelings to contend with and at times completely debilitating. They often tend to be the heaviest when it comes to feelings because they can be the most burdensome. I know these feelings well. They seem to have woven themselves in my state of being for a long time. In my opinion, all three are rooted in the past and can grow into the present like invasive weeds in a garden. These weeds typically emerge as distorted memories that taint our current perception. I have found in my work that memories prone to distortion commonly contain themes of being victimized, abuse of power for control, someone or something hurting or manipulating us, making mistakes, doing something wrong, hurting someone’s feelings, causing someone pain, not doing enough, not being enough, and more. The vines of these themes often grow into distorted, self-limiting, and self-defeating thoughts and beliefs creating “the burdensome trio”: regret, guilt, and shame. These feelings in themselves are not harmful or debilitating. In fact, they are quite useful as they function as a signal of an imbalance with one’s internal and external experience needing to be addressed, acknowledged, healed, and released. They are signaling an opportunity for change. They only become the invasive weeds in the soul’s garden when they are continually being watered and fertilized by a self-sabotaging, self-punishing, or disempowering source.

I have learned over the years that the past serves a powerful purpose, if reflected upon with compassion. The past contains pathways to help us learn vital lessons so we may grow and expand. The past can offer opportunities to reduce the frequency of distorted thoughts and beliefs along with its associated maladaptive behaviors, and an opportunity to transmute and transcend them. Obviously there is truth to the memories we hold. We may have indeed caused harm to ourselves and others or someone has caused harm to us. I have found taking responsibility for such pain is critical for overall healing and growth. It is also important to bring awareness of a tendency to over-exaggerate past mistakes, weaknesses, and failures. It’s helpful to remember most likely at the time of the memory we behaved from a perspective of what we knew to be true then. Our perspective at the time may have been limited in self-awareness or clouded and confused.

We also tend to discount positive aspects of our memories and mainly focus on the negative. Even in the most traumatic events, there is some positive aspects such as the lessons learned from the event. Although these positive aspects are not as apparent at first, they do become more visible and known through healing.  As much as you may have heard this before and may even make you cringe a little, at which I have found it to be true in my experience, that traumatic events can offer opportunities for spiritual, mental, and emotional growth, for gaining a sense of accountability of our energetic presence, for establishing appropriate and healthy boundaries, for learning what we don’t deserve hence to learn our self-worth, and/or for learning how to unconditionally love ourselves and others.

When we continually focus on the negative aspects of the memory, the past becomes binding like dragging around our own energetic shackles and chains keeping us imprisoned in suffering and hindering any type of happiness or satisfaction. The burden becomes so great we disregard or bypass the lesson and punish ourselves endlessly with “the burdensome trio”: regret, guilt, and shame. This excessive self-deprecating and disempowering reaction to our memories keeps us bound to the past and distorts the present. We tend to operate from this distorted space of pain and suffering, even when we aren’t conscious of it, until something in the present triggers the memory. The trigger is actually offering an opportunity for healing, growth, and expansion.

How do we take advantage of this opportunity and liberate ourselves from this bondage? The following soul healing practice is a way to free yourself from this oppression.

SOUL HEALING PRACTICE

The soul healing practice involves transmuting and transcending the memory. You energetically change the memory to how you would want it to unfold with the wisdom you have in the present, which includes the knowledge gained from the lesson you learned from the past event.

If the idea of changing a memory brings resistance, then it is absolutely understandable and a common reaction. But I have found in my experience it is even more of a reason to try this intervention. To me the  resistance represents the energetic shackles and chains wanting to keep us captive in a cycle of suffering.

The resistance may also be due to the memory involving someone or a situation that caused you significant harm and pain. It may feel as though changing, transmuting, and transcending the memory takes away any justice for the other’s wrong doing, especially if amends haven’t been made or consequences haven’t been received. However, in my opinion it is much greater injustice for you to carry the burden of these restricting and oppressive feelings causing you to be punished endlessly, every day of your present life. Why are you being punished for another’s wrong doing? Their wrong doing certainly may have caused you to feel unsafe and disempowered, but you still have the ability to access your power and regain your empowerment. The soul healing practice is not denying that a wrong doing was done, it’s about helping to release you from it. By transmuting and transcending the memory, you are dissolving their energetic power over you, the memory’s power over you, and releasing the negative energetic cord/attachment you have with the person or situation who harmed you. This frees you from being held captive to the memory allowing you to implement healthy boundaries and/or pursue appropriate consequences for the injustice from a space of clarity rather than confusion. Thus releasing you from the disempowering energetic trap of continually being victimized. In my opinion, this is forgiveness and empowerment.

On the other hand, if you caused harm, then by releasing and transforming these shackles and chains you can offer an authentic amends and take responsibility for the pain for which you contributed. The whole goal of changing, transmuting, and transcending the memory is to help release the captivity to the past and to “the burdensome trio”: regret, guilt, and shame, so you are free to be the person you desire in the present moment. A person who is self-aware and takes responsibility and accountability for their actions and behaviors.

I have found memories are meant to teach us, not to imprison us. Let the memory do its job of teaching so it may be transmuted and transcended into light, and so you can get back to the present without the burden of the past.

Ok, that’s my argument for trying this intervention, if you are still not convinced, absolutely understandable. May you be embraced by your divine sacred self, and find a practice that helps you to release your burdens and find peace in your soul.

As alluded to earlier, the soul healing practice involves visualization and meditation. Before implementing this practice, the first step is to address any excessive anxiety or distress that may have surfaced from the memory being recalled or triggered. Effective means to reduce distress and to regulate emotions may include: grounding/mindfulness, diaphragmatic or deep belly breathing, objective/rational thinking, empowered self-talk, meditation, exercise or whatever is your personal practice or technique that helps to clear your head and make you feel calm and centered. I like to do a four-count breath technique, where you count to four as you inhale expanding the belly (1, 2, 3, 4) and slowly exhale as you count four backwards (4, 3, 2, 1), repeating the practice until you feel more calm and relaxed. In my experience, I have found practicing from a space of clarity where I feel calm and centered, helped me to be more open to healing and expansion, while decreasing any resistance to it.

Begin the meditation by imagining a column of pure white light that is above you, and is descending down towards you. The column of light can originate from source energy, your divine sacred self, your spirit team, God, or whatever resonates with you. As the column of light reaches your head, it widens and completely encases you in it. The light continues to move beyond your feet, and anchors deeply into the earth’s core. This column of light that you are now standing in offers protection and support during your healing.

Now recall the memory as if you are seeing it on a movie screen. Flood the memory with white and golden light so the light fills the entire space of your mind’s eye as you are observing the memory. Imagine the light as a bright light that is turned on in a very dark room. The light has extreme purifying power and can soften, transmute, and transcend any darkness.

Next imagine rays of white and golden light extending from your heart to the memory scene. The light and heart connection to the memory helps to transmute and transcend any heavy, restricting energies attached to the original memory such as guilt, shame, regret, anger, resentment, sadness, fear, and so on. If just flooding the memory with this purifying light brings some relief, less pain, or a sense of empowerment, then you can close the memory as described below or you can continue to replay the memory in this space of healing light.

If you choose to carry on, you will continue to flood the memory with the healing, purifying white and golden light while you replay it. However, when you replay the memory, you do it as the elevated person you are now or desire to be, who learned the lessons from the past, the wiser person, the more empowered person, and the person who desires to respond to the memory’s events from an elevated, compassionate, and loving perspective. From this more empowered perspective, you may notice the memory scenes actually begin to change or the continual projection of light may soften its sharp edges. Hopefully, the pain lessens and a sense of empowerment is restored.

Once the memory is complete, offer gratitude for the opportunity to heal the memory, which subsequently heals the present moment because energy doesn’t know the concept of linear time. Close the memory with another burst of white light and see the memory dissipate into the expansive space around you, and eventually disappear. Imagine the column of light from the beginning of the meditation seals off to form a white, golden sphere of light surrounding you. This sphere of light is an energetic shield or boundary that protects and repels you from any lower, denser energies desiring to hurt you, manipulate or control you, take advantage of you or just holds you back from your highest potential (which could be from your own mind). The shield or boundary compassionately reflects any denser energies back to its source for them to heal. Sometimes I add a ring of fire pending how strong I need the boundary to be. It just gives a little burn to those lower energies like touching a hot stove, to send a clear message you are fully protected. I like to add the following intention with the ring of fire: no one can manipulate or guilt me, control me, hurt me, or take advantage of me, you will be burned, you can no longer get to me, I am fully protected (again just a little burn, for the energy to back off). This energetic boundary helps me to feel safe and empowered.

In addition to the act of protection, the sphere also reminds you of the elevated soul you are now, especially if the memory involves you hurting someone or making a mistake. The sphere may help you feel protected as you make amends or take responsibility for your wrong doing no matter the outcome or the receptivity of the person hurt. Remember to imagine the sphere as fluid and allows you to give and receive unconditional and supportive love. I have learned until you feel safe within, can you have genuine love and compassion for anyone, including yourself.  

The soul healing practice may need to be implemented several times if the memory continues to have its claws in your mind and heart, and you find you are still carrying the burden. Its grip should lessen with each use of the practice. You may also utilize this practice in written form. You can literally rewrite the memory using similar aspects of the meditation/visualization. It will be more effective to handwrite than to type. I have found there is a some sort of magic between handwritten work and the soul. Remember as you try this practice, change or refine it as needed so it truly resonates with your soul.

MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE SOUL HEALING PRACTICE

My beloved dog of 13.5 years passed in February 2017. Guinness was a chocolate labrador full of anxiety, but a most beautiful soul that was completely devoted to us and yearned to always take care of us. Initially, when we first adopted her which was a few years after the death of my husband, I disliked her, in fact I thought I hated her. She was needy and constantly intruding into my space. It took me a bit of time and patience to begin to like her and eventually to love her before I could understand her purpose in our lives. She taught me so many valuable lessons, mainly unconditional love even for the anger and rage I suppressed following the death of my husband.

Five months after Guinness’s passing, we were ready to bring a new dog into our home. We adopted a handsome, young golden mix male from the shelter. My daughter named him, Apollo, because he’s a golden color and has the energy of the sun, as well as, a healer. The picture included in this post is Apollo.

As I began to care for him, such as buying his food and accessories, feelings of regret and guilt were seeping from my subconscious into my conscious awareness. My mind was being plagued with negative thoughts such as: I didn’t buy Guinness the top brand dog food at a specialty pet store like I do for Apollo, I didn’t give Guinness filtered tap water, and I definitely wasn’t as tolerate with Guinness’ puppyish behaviors, her shedding, and her misbehavior, like I am with Apollo.

I could feel the pull of regret and guilt wanting to anchor me into a cycle of suffering, my mind spinning in self-punishing thoughts, but I resisted. I was certainly being tempted to only focus on the negative times with Guinness, but I persisted with an objective and more compassionate recalling of the past. I began reminding myself, I did my best caring for Guinness at the time. I was in a dark time in my grief when we first brought Guinness into our home and I was exhausted, angry, and devastated. I reminded myself I loved her deeply through the years and became a better pet owner over time. I recalled how she helped me to heal my anger, helped to make the house feel safe, and with this realization I offered her so much gratitude and unconditional love.

After I felt more elevated by recalling the memories with compassion and objectivity, it opened a space for me to accept and to not resist this opportunity for healing and expansion. I settled into the healing meditation and imagined a column of white light surrounding me. I flooded ALL memories of Guinness (good and bad) with purifying white and golden light. I opened my heart, extending rays of light and unconditional love to her spirit and to the memories. Any feelings of irritation, anger, or annoyance were dissolved, transmuted, and transcended into light. I replayed all the memories of caring for Guinness by replacing it with my current knowledge and wisdom, as well as, my desire to be a better pet owner, and noticed the memory began to change: as I continued to flood the memory with light, I saw myself providing her with the best food, filtered water, and tolerating her jumpiness in her youth, her shedding, and all the other irritations/annoyances. I was consumed with extreme happiness, peace, and love with a deep inner knowing I healed and released this past burden. I also knew I now have access to this elevated energy and can bring it into the present moment for myself and Apollo.

I closed the memory, released it with a burst of white light and unconditional love, and saw it dissipate and then disappear. I saw the column of light seal off to form a sphere of white, golden light surrounding me. I felt it was complete. I also had a solid confirmation that Guinness’s spirit always knew and loved the true essence of my soul and paid no mind to my human mistakes and blunders. With this new knowledge, I was filled with absolute gratitude once again for my beautiful earth angel.

In addition to the example above, this soul healing practice has also been quite effective in healing, transmuting, and transcending my memories of childhood trauma. I used the practice several times over a period of time as these memories tended to surface, especially as I focused on my inner work. I flooded the memory with the purifying white light to help soften the pain, confusion, and disgust of the memories. I replayed the memory, but primarily focused on my child self. I imagined picking her up and holding her tightly and securely. I provided her with an abundance of love, reassuring her that none of what was happening to her is suppose to be happening and is very wrong, that none of it is her fault, and she is now safe and forever protected by her adult self. As I set her back down, I surrounded her with a sphere of white, golden light as her protection. I also added a blazing ring of fire for extra protection so no one can harm her, manipulate her, or control her. I then closed the memory as described above. Each time I used the practice, the feelings of deep pain, disgust, betrayal, and helplessness continued to lessen, as well as my own self-punishment, guilt and shame. I began to feel more empowered in the present, worthy of happiness and abundance.

Thank you for an opportunity for healing, expansion, and soul elevation.

The purpose of this blog is to share with you how I integrate my personal experience, spiritual growth and expansion, and past professional mental health experience in the form of soul healing practices. By sharing my experience, it is my hope it will provide a practical example of how to interrupt and eventually resolve the cyclic energy of suffering and to elevate your soul.   

These practices work best when you are ready to heal and expand. It is OK if you are not quite ready. Please be gentle and patient with yourself. You will heal and expand when you are ready. Sending you so much love, warmth, and compassion.

Visit my website if you want to learn more about me and to check out my poetry.

https://www.baresoulworks.com

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Thanks again for visiting my blog and for your support. Stacy 💚

 PLEASE BE ADVISED

The soul healing practices provided in this blog are meant as a tool to aid in healing and not for psychotherapy or social work practice requiring a contractual, professional relationship. If you need consistent therapeutic care and/or crisis intervention due to being at risk of harming yourself or others, then seek professional and/or emergency services immediately.

© Stacy L. Pintor 2017. All Rights Reserved.

Revised and updated 2023 by Stacy L. Pintor.

(No part of this blog may be reproduced without written permission from the author)