Fear

This meditation involves cultivating a non-judgmental awareness of fear-related thoughts, emotions, and sensations in the present moment. Through gentle observation and acceptance, this practice encourages individuals to become more attuned to their fear without getting caught up in reactive patterns or avoiding it. Developing a compassionate and curious relationship with fear might help individuals develop greater resilience, emotional regulation, and a sense of empowerment in the face of it.

Transcript

Welcoming everyone to the first session of the Year of the Rabbit.

I really follow this Chinese zodiac,

Although I don't know much about it.

Then I tend to,

As each animal appears,

Bring all the elements from different traditions that I follow.

I'm then curious how it all relates to different cultures that are even present on this call or whoever is listening afterwards.

So we are entering the year of the energy of the Blackwater Rabbit and the way how they all interchange is quite peculiar with earth branches and how the system of the zodiac goes and follows.

I could never really figure it out completely.

If you just come in to any personal reflection on what does the rabbit actually mean to you?

Have you ever had a rabbit as a pet?

Have you ever connected with that animal in a way where you perceive it with any specific metaphor?

In some traditions,

The foot of a rabbit would represent luck.

In some traditions,

It would actually be the representation of abundance.

And in some traditions,

It represents fear.

And in some,

All of that would be available or present in mythologies.

And yes,

A rabbit can also be a delicious meal.

So some people would eat it.

For me personally,

Whenever I enter a zodiac where the animal is alive and present in our daily making,

I actually stop eating that meat.

So during the year of the ox,

I didn't eat beef at all.

And I will not eat rabbit.

I usually don't.

I did try,

But I will not eat it this time.

So caution and curiosity,

I hear that that is representation.

So if that is what is alive,

Just notice what that represents for you.

Any other reflection on what is actually a rabbit?

What does rabbit mean for you?

And just let that animal come up with this characteristic.

And what does it mean for someone to be hunted and eaten,

For example?

And how might rabbit go about it?

Some would connect with rabbit as Bugs Bunny and be a clever rabbit that always manages to kind of like outwit everyone.

For me personally,

It's representation of fear.

And the rabbit really goes around and it's not easy to catch it.

It moves really fast and is always being afraid.

And in the recent blog,

I also shared that story about the rabbit,

How it came to be afraid.

Actually,

There was a moment when it had,

There was a friend who was supporting it.

When it was,

Rabbit was hungry,

It would create,

The witch would create a carrot when the rabbit was thirsty,

The witch would create a body of water.

And actually,

A rabbit became suspicious and then decided to really stop the friendship with the helper,

With the witch who was using the magic because he got afraid of the magic that was coming as a help.

So,

I would like to talk about that today.

Looking back at your life,

Were there times when you were afraid of receiving too much from life?

Looking back at the situation now,

When you can see that actually things were going really well,

But at the time you didn't see it.

And at the time you were afraid,

The debt that you were receiving was somehow masked as something that was not good.

Maybe there was some friend who was sharing their space with you and you thought that what was coming up from the friend was not really honest,

Or you should protect yourself somehow from it.

Or maybe someone or something was,

You got a job that felt really wrong,

But now looking back,

Actually,

It was really the right thing for you at the time.

And maybe there were some fears that were preventing you from really opening up to the occasion completely.

And then gently reflect also on what might be some fears that are present for you at the moment.

And for the sake of the session,

Let's just stay in self-reflection mode and continue to notice and maybe even write down anything that comes up for you.

And so,

Looking back,

Things that happened in your past when fear was present,

But somehow you can see the gifts of that at the moment.

So,

If you knew what you know now,

If you were to go back into that moment in the past,

What wise words could you share with yourself to soothe your fear?

There are times when we resist a situation or we don't want to make certain decisions because fear is too strong.

So,

Gently,

Kindly,

Lovingly looking back and hearing that soft inner voice that might be telling you words that you really need to hear when you get afraid.

Could be some validation of the fear.

Yeah,

That's right.

This is really scary right now.

There could be some revelation of the need not to be alone,

To be together with someone who can support you.

Could it be that you might need help or sometimes it might be even feeling fear because we are doubting ourselves and our capacity.

Whatever that was in the past,

You just gently place your hand over your heart or any other soothing place just to bring that soft,

Gentle and kind attention to yourself right now,

Acknowledging that there are seeds of fear inside of you.

Perhaps the first emotion even since the day you were born,

Very familiar.

Fear of falling and fear of abandonment,

Some of the primal fears we carry within us.

Fear of loud noise.

Every child will respond to that.

The fear will be obvious.

As you're holding your hand on your chest or any other soothing place,

Notice if fear is willing to reveal itself to you.

Perhaps there is tightness in your belly or tension in your shoulders,

Willingly inviting it to show itself up like an old friend.

As we enter this year of the rabbit,

Gently,

Kindly,

Lovingly ask your dear friend what I might be afraid of in the coming year and without any judgment let it reveal all that concern and just show up there and be willing to listen.

Just listen.

There be fear of uncertainty,

Fear of failure,

Good old fear from being left alone,

Fear of making mistakes,

Just letting it all appear and no matter what it shares with you,

Just gently,

Kindly,

Lovingly acknowledge.

Yeah,

Many people are afraid of that.

So many people would feel afraid of that exact thing.

Fear is part of life.

I see you.

And then gently,

Kindly,

Lovingly ask fear what does it really want?

What does it really need?

Could it be that it still needs what it used to need in the past?

Validation or support,

Help,

Acknowledgement,

Authenticity.

As it reveals this deep universal need,

Could you really see it?

Could you really hear it?

Your fear,

The deep universal need that it triggers,

That fear that you might not be able to get it.

So gently shifting the focus on that need and noticing how important it is for you.

Also gently acknowledging how many people,

How many humans out there might share the same universal need so that you know that there's nothing wrong by needing that.

And then gently reflect on how might you go about it,

That need that is so present and triggers fear from appearing.

How might you go about it in the coming year?

What could be some ways that you could get that you really truly need?

What are some ways that you already get that need fulfilled even now?

And noticing the resourcefulness that you have and all the resources that are already providing for you on a micro level.

Even in this moment you might be having that need fulfilled just by remembering how you go about it.

And then gently,

Kindly,

Lovingly letting your fear know,

Letting your fear remember that you have full capacity to provide this need for yourself.

Sometimes in some situations it might be a little bit more difficult.

In general,

There are so many options,

So many ways to go about it.

And then gently acknowledging that fear often happens when we think that there's only one resource of that need and we fear that that resource is not going to go on forever.

Which might be true because nothing goes forever.

But we can experience all these resources in many many forms.

And gently reflecting on all the changes that are about to happen this year.

Nothing stays fixed and in that change you always have an opportunity and potential to find new ways,

To find new resources,

Meet new people.

Could you give some space of being surprised by certain things not really going according to the plan but surprising you with some magic,

Sudden acquaintances that will show you the way,

Give you a sign,

New places where you're going to learn a little bit more,

Be surprised by different ways of doing things.

And letting this little creature,

The rabbit,

Show you the way.

And sometimes even when we go into a hole,

Like following the little rabbit,

We can discover the magic even though it might seem dark and scary.

A whole new world appears gently,

Kindly,

Lovingly.

Letting yourself be open to magic just a little bit.

Letting yourself be open that things might go unexpected just a little.

And this is where that magic exactly really happens.

And then one more time validating your friend fear and bowing to it and letting it know that you know that it's going to be there with you all the time.

This time whenever it appears you will know that behind it it's just that this need of yours has not been fulfilled and that the message of the fear is really only that.

It's asking you to pay attention when you go about your life,

Discovering the magic,

Exploring,

Learning,

Growing.

That this need of yours really needs nurturing as well.

And in this awareness just releasing the practice and coming back to embracing yourself and respecting this need and all that it means for you.

And just releasing the practice by taking three deep breaths and as the breath goes in just nourishing all the cells and as the breath goes out gently releasing.

Just giving space for some newness and whenever you're ready you can gently begin to open your eyes and settle in in the next moment and giving yourself a smile as the magic already begins to happen.