“For a seed to achieve its greatest expression, it must come completely undone. The shell cracks, its insides come out and everything changes. To someone who doesn’t understand growth, it would look like complete destruction.”
― Cynthia Occelli

Broken.
Battered.
Confused.
Lost and scared.
No extra pennies to spare.

Clutching the pain
from the past.
Preferring pain that is familiar
in the face of the unknown.
Holding on,
fearing freedom.

Broken open.
Light cuts through darkness.
Here we can choose:
Continue status quo
or begin anew.

Each cut,
each break
is an opportunity for
something new.

The seedling sprouts forth.
The bud unfolds; blossoming.
The butterfly dries its wings
and takes flight.

The soul emerges
free of self-imposed
limitations.
The real journey
begins.

What looks and feels like death is often the opportunity to herald in the new. Faith in the unseen and unknown can be a challenge. Yet there are many examples of the process of metamorphosis in nature that can be of support during the times when everything seems to be coming apart at the seams.

The seed dies before the mighty Oak can sprout and take root. If the seed remains inside of the protective acorn shell, it cannot become the that which it is meant to be. The acorn just is, without questioning its purpose it breaks up, unfolds, roots and begins to reach for the sky. Without breaking open, the Oak would be nothing but potential.

The caterpillar disintegrates, deconstructing completely in its chrysalis before reconfiguring and emerging as a beautiful butterfly. Their lives are then spent flitting from flower to flower with grace and immense power, despite their delicateness.

Just as the building must be gutted before it can be renovated , we each have things we must release, let go of and “crack open” before we can restructure.

By deconstructing that which no longer serves us,  we are able to choose differently. Sometimes this may involve moving through some emotional pain.  This is just a release of energy as we shift into something greater and better.

Our past wounds are often a good starting point to delve into where we need to release ourselves from suffering.  After all, why would we care to change if everything were just fine?

“The wound is the place where the light enters you.” – Rumi

The places where we were hurt beckon and call us to the feelings and thoughts causing our suffering. It is here in the darkness that we can choose differently, to be free of or to maintain that which reinforces our suffering.

What does someone who loves oneself do?

Namaste.

Image courtesy of adamr at FreeDigitalPhotos.net