The Healer's Wound

Chiron

The epic wound is found in the mythology of heroes, healers and shaman. For each, the wound is a requirement of the status. The wound is often the moment of initiation and opening to the path. If the path is not taken the person is crippled. If the path is taken and the wound not healed the person is crippled. Health for the healer is in resolution of the wound. Through the wound each of us can journey beyond the limitations of the present moment into the presented opportunities. The wound is a crossroads of choice. Each of us can choose to remain in the anguish of the wounding, stay sealed forever in the scaring or grow through the injury into purpose. The offering of the wound is transformation.

Healing the wound is not being born again or starting anew. It is growing on beyond the wound, beyond the crib of childhood, beyond the anguish of adolescence and beyond the apathy of adulthood. Healing the wound is growing up, growing on and becoming again response-able.

For many healing the wound breaks open the door of the hiding place. The healing cracks the concrete of our certitude and presents the dilemma of decision. Whether a rape of the soul or an unkind word in a conversation, the wounding will close the coffin or present the ten thousand opportunities of our life.

It has been said, “the healing of a wound must come from the blood of the wound itself.” (Frank MacEowen, Monthly Aspectarian, 1997).

Many healers carry emotional wounds. These wounds can both enhance and hinder their healing ability. This
exercise invites the work of recognizing and resolving an emotional wound. The invitation is to create a symbolic totem or design to represent and carry the energy of the wound.

First, consider the emotional wound you wish to resolve. Look at and experience the elements of the wound: thoughts, feelings, ideas, and sensations. Ask how this wound has served you. How has is been part of your survival and growth? Is it an experience and memory that you are ready and willing to let go of?

As you review this wound consider how it might be reflected out into a totem or design.
Elements to consider are pictures, drawings, inks, colored pencils or crayons, weavings, twine, string, rope, wool, cotton, sculpture, clay, wood, natural elements, twigs, branches, grasses, leaves, stones, plants. From these or other elements make totem structure, a design or drawing representing the wound and all its elements. As you craft this object allow the held energy of the wound to transfer into the totem. The totem may include healing herbs, plants and essential oils. A drawing, Mandela or design may include healing symbols. The totem is not to represent any other person or life form. The totem is to represent your experience and the blood of your wound.

Chiron by William Blake

Once the totem is complete hold it in your hands, focus on all pent held energy, emotional blood and meaning this wound has carried and blow all of it into the totem. Continue to blow until the energy of the wound has been transferred from you to the totem. As you blow out the wound energy, breath in clear healing energy to fill the space. Through this process maintain clarity of focus that the experienced energy of the wound is let go of and placed into the totem or drawn design.

The healing of the wound is in letting go and resolving. In creating the totem the wound and the blood of the wound is let go of and placed in the totem. The healing of the wound is in the resolution of the totem.

Consider now a resolution and a ritual. The totem can be burned or cast into fire, buried or entombed, cast into the water, sealed and placed in a shrine. The totem cannot be sent or given to another person. The focus is to return the emotional wound to the natural universe for its injury and energy to be cleansed and healed. Its purpose has been served.

For all that is and ever be 

I freely give and cast from me 

This totem of my injury 

© J. Digby Henry, MA, CHF, June 2010

Originally published in the "Provisionary".

For Digby, Connie, and Devyn

Sailing

From the first time we met,

a light shone.

Not from the movement of your graceful hands as you spoke

Nor from the laughter dancing on your face.

But seeing it, somehow I knew that I was not alone.

You told stories of the cottages that held broken children you cared for;

the ones you so humored and loved.

Not pushing away their pain

Nor denying their will to heal,

You embraced it all and gave away your secret: a gentle spirit from above.

The sense of wonder upon our meeting,

knowing a special path was yours.

Not afraid to watch or wait for others to join in,

Nor reluctant to let them seize their own path,

I witnessed a shaman’s humility, filled with love for his brothers and sisters, born.

Our paths did not cross again for thirty years,

yet there was no mistaking.

Not the lilting brogue that rolled across your words,

Nor those sparkling eyes reaching out in invitation.

It was hope, Digby, that you gave me—first and always; a belief I was not forsaken.

Only now do I know that in this new, short time together,

why we, your friends, were filled with gratitude and wonder.

Not thinking about what we had to prove; just saying,

Nor troubled with whom we should be; just being,

You loved and honored us all, gifting us with your quiet thunder.

Thank you for touching me, and us, with your shimmering spirit and sense of hope, Digby. I will always hold you close to me. Sail free, my friend, sail free.

Kath Richter-Sand

August 25, 2013

From Em:

I wrote a song a few years ago - inspired by the natural world. It's called "Live On". I created and recorded it on my music software - not professionally recorded. When I listen to it, I feel Digby,.

In honor of Digby

https://soundcloud.com/wakingup8/live-on

Much love,  

Em 

From Shelley Bredeson

A Life Ends...A Blog Begins

"There are times when the universe goes 'click' and makes an irreversible change." --Digby Henry

The universe has gone click once again....

Digby Henry has gone home, he has made his transition, he has shed his mortal coil, he is no more in his this limited realm. But he lives on in his writing.
I've always found wisdom in his writing and now, as I mourn his passing, I find great comfort.
It is my hope that all those of us whose lives were touched and are touched and will be touched by Digby can enjoy his writings here, post recollections and share his wisdom and kindness.

It starts, as always, in medias res.



Here's a post by Don Travis, who was in the same writer's group as Digby:
http://www.dontravis.com/2013/08/on-loss-of-treasured-and-gifted-friend.html

Here's a link to Connie and Digby's Therapeutic Environments website, which has a section called 'Digby says': http://www.bodymindspiritplace.com/digby_says

For now I end with the most beautiful haiku I've ever read, that I discovered posted on the side of a bookshelf in his study:

Some times a ripple
moves quiet on the water.
Sometimes a white swan.

           digby (undated)