Facing Your Fears

There are some people in the New Age community who feel that if we just face our fears head-on, they will all go away. "Don't worry about the future, because that hasn't happened yet. Don't worry about the past, because that is truly past". Even F.D.R. came out and said "We have nothing to fear, but fear itself."

Actually, those statements are true. Fear is not a thing as such. It is not an object that will physically assault us when our backs are turned. Fear is a belief. It is a belief that something can or will go wrong, and we will be hurt in some way; physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually. Sometimes the fear is actually quite well-grounded. For example, if the company you are working for has been doing poorly for the last few years, then fearing for the future of your job is something that may quite possibly arise.

Some fears are unfortunately, quite logical to have. If you've never jumped out of a plane before, then it is quite understandable that you might fear doing so. Further, if we try to start listing our actual fears, even the ones we refuse to acknowledge to anyone else, we'll pretty soon come up with quite a substantial list.

Yet what does fear accomplish? If handled properly, it can stimulate us to take the steps necessary to prepare for any consequences of the feared event becoming reality. If we have a fear of being in a car crash for example, we might want to make sure we buckle up carefully; that our car is in good working order; the weather is suitable; and even listen to the radio to check the news for any problem spots on the highways.

In that case, the fear can produce useful, reasonable steps of action. Once those steps are taken, the fear may very well go down. Yet in the majority of instances it seems that the fear does not result in proper steps being taken or, even if the steps are taken, the fear remains, as strong as ever.

What can you do to help deal with your fears? Just saying you will no longer have any really isn't very helpful. We are all humans and as such, are subject to changes in our environments that may not be positive. It is natural to fear the changes. It is unnatural to let the fear take control of our lives.

Following is one suggestion for dealing with your fear.

1. Get in your calm place. If you use a Native American spiritual system, then smudge yourself and your work area. If you follow another path you might want to do a salt warding, or to envision golden or white light flooding and purifying the area around you.

Relax, calm your mind, and focus your thoughts.

2. Open yourself to the presence of your guardian angel. Know that you do indeed, have one or more spirits that are working with you at all times. Even if you can't physically sense the spirits, say something along these lines:

"Guardian spirits, I bid you welcome. I ask that you lend me the strength necessary to confront my fears. I thank you for the help you have given me, and ask that you remain with me in the future."

3. If you follow the Native American spiritual system you will then want to call upon your animal totem to help you face your fears. Bear, for example, is a good totem for strength. You should also call upon your plant totem(s). The Giant Redwood is a good plant totem for strength. Then call upon your mineral totem to help grant you strength to face your fears. Granite is a good mineral totem for this.

4. If you follow a different system you might want to call upon other guardian spirits, upon the Goddess and/or the God, upon Mother Earth, or upon the energy that makes up the entire universe.

5. Now is the time for some rudimentary mathematics. On one side you have your fear. It may be composed of many smaller fears, but it is still your fear.

On one side you have your fear.

On your side you have: (1) your own inner resources; (2) any guardian angel and/or guardian spirits that you have; (3) any animal, plant, or mineral totems that you have; (4)the general energy of the universe and (5)also any energy/help your friends are giving you.

6. Know that the odds are 5 to 1, in your favor!

7. See your fear appear to you as a mist in the middle of a circle on the ground. Watch as your guardian spirits lash out at that fear, and chase some of it away. See your animal totem do the same, then your plant totem, then your mineral totem. See the energy of the universe coming to your aid and washing over your fear like a giant tidal wave. See the love of your friends as a form of energy surrounding your fear, making it shrink further and further into itself. Then stand up and look down upon the last bit of your fear. Step down on the fear, and squash it. You are in command, not your fear!

8. When finished, thank the guardian spirits, your animal totem, your plant totem, your mineral totem, the universal energy and your friends for the aid and strength they have given you.

9. When the meditation is concluded, go do something positive.