What is baggage, anyway? Well, we’re all accustomed to the term “emotional baggage”, the traits we may be working on that we’ve picked up along the way based on our previous life experiences. These can be trust issues, things that trigger anxiety, issues related to self esteem, etc. All of which tap our emotions in one way or another.
The kind of baggage I’m focusing on today is the stuff that weighs us down otherwise- our problems. Some of theme may even cause grief.
On September 11th, (2021) my church had an evening service dedicated to all that’s been lost over the past 18 months or so. It was pretty much a coming together to grieve and to also give hope.
Some of you are probably saying to yourselves, “She goes to church?” Yes, I am a believer of God. God is my higher power. The God I know is so much bigger than what the traditional church may elude to. I usually refer to God as “God of the universe”. To me, I need to emphasize the bigness. The creator of ALL THAT IS.
Anyway, as we were gathering before the service, we were given a white paper lunch bag cut short and a sharpie. The instructions were simple. Write what you have lost, it could be loss of a job, lost opportunities, lost loved ones, anything that has been a loss to you personally during the last several months. Write as much on the bag as you want, take another bag if you need.
Once we wrote down our sorrows on the bags, we were given flameless tea candles and we put them in the bags.
This was an evening service. At some point, around the middle of it, the congregation was asked to approach the alter and drop off their bags (candles lit) at the alter and on the rails. It was quite the vision— seeing all the bags, candles flickering in the dim sanctuary. All the lost opportunities, lost jobs, vigils of the lost loved ones, lost momentum of new business growth, lost education, lost experiences, lost vacations, lost healthy bodies, lost mental health, and it goes on.
Allow the emotional wave to happen.
There was something very healing about recognizing the pain and feeling that loss. Allowing the emotions to rise up and arrive right there in front of us, God, the Universe. The emotion showed up, and we were able to give this pain it’s due, very hard look in the eye, and assimilate. We were in a safe place, with others going through a similar experience. Sure, all at varying levels, but the energy exchange and wave of heightened emotion- the ride we all collectively took as that wave crested and eventually gave way and came to a break as we all seemed to have taken a collective sigh once the music stopped. You see, it was much better once the wave started to recede back to the aether from where it came. There wasn’t a second one. We came out differently on this side of the experience.
The simple act of calling up that painful experience, naming it, (giving it attention) and then truly acknowledging it even though it is hard- is one aspect of the healing. Another, equally important aspect is allowing the emotion to come through and let the wave arrive and happen, not to stuff it or ignore it, but really face it and feel it. The most beautiful part of this type of healing experience is handing it over to the Universe; handing that baggage over and asking for help with dealing with it. Do you see how big that is? You are not alone- we are never alone.
I forget sometimes that perhaps the greatest comfort is that we can ask God/the Universe for help with the burdens we carry and the physical act of handing our baggage over in a literal way is powerful!
Hand it over!
I encourage you to do this! Give yourself a ceremony, a service. You don’t have to go to a church to have ceremony or ritual- Put on some Stevie Wonder (Have a talk with God) or whatever music you want, and get that bag out. And start writing!
Got a candle and a fire-safe dish? Lite that sh*t up. Tear each loss and light them one at a time; you can make a little outdoor ritual, fold the bag into the tea light… Send the whole damn thing up to the Universe /God/Your higher power and do so with all the emotions that arise within you. Watch it burn, the smoke rise up to where we get that unconditional love from. Give thanks that you are supported and loved, and never alone.
We are all on our own human journey in this life on planet earth. All making our own way and learning as we go. Sometimes we are dealing with stuff we can’t exactly pinpoint or we don’t necessarily want to speak to others about. There is one very BIG EAR that is never turned away. Just engage, just ask, just know that you’re supported and unconditionally loved!
I know it may sound a little EXTRA, or overly optimistic. But I have seen time and again the benefits of intentionally acknowledging, feeling, and handing over tough stuff, the baggage. A weight gets lifted, breathing becomes easier, feeling emotions and moving along with them actually allows them the attention they seek and need. So often, we need to express emotions in order to heal and move forward.
Looking for a good read when it comes to emotions and looking within? Check out Boundries & Protection by Pixie Lighthorse.
If you’d like to book a healing session with Jamie D. please reach out HERE
