Healing the Gulf

By Rita Rivera Fox

Tuesday, July 13th, 2010

While reading a recent news report on the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, a deep heaviness settled into my heart. The disaster’s impact continued to spread further across the Gulf, wreaking greater havoc on the residents that live both along its coast, and within its waters. The article highlighted how more marine life was perishing as a result of the oil being set on fire. The destruction of fragile natural habitat was accelerating, and the flames were killing the animal and sea life. A feeling of helplessness washed over me, the same feeling that many awaken to each day when they realize the oil continues to flood into the ocean.

The heaviness in my heart was sadness and frustration at a situation beyond my ability to make sense of, or reconcile its impact on the future of mother earth. Fortunately for me, that afternoon I hosted a conference call with the Life Mastery Programs Associate Teachers and shared with them the deep emotions that were surfacing.

An insightful conversation ensued, one that helped me shift my interpretation of how I might better respond. Our sharing also helped me, in a small way, to move into a personal action here on the Pacific coast, as I connected with the larger intention of healing that many people around the globe, in their heartfelt concern, are contributing to.

Down on Santa Monica beach the next morning, the air was clear and the sound of the waves seemed to wash me of the burden I was carrying.  I became immersed in the sound, smell and energy of the ocean’s power, and transported into a place where I felt one with the water. I reached into the ocean, and whispered softly of my love and gratitude for this grand body of water and all the waters that flow across the planet. Instantly I felt my heart opening fully, and I envisioned my little prayer moving through the molecules of the Pacific around the Cape Horn, up into the Atlantic and eventually streaming into the Gulf of Mexico.

When an event of this proportion ocurrs, it touches each and everyone of us. It’s important to allow our true feelings to be expressed, as we are witness to this tragic occurrence. Likely the waters of the Gulf and the habitats of both the humans and the animal kingdom, will never be as they were. Things are changed forever. There is a valid reason to feel the real emotions that arise within us… sadness, anger, frustration and concern. As the emotions surface, we can choose to allow them to move through our bodies…I gave some of my sadness to the Pacific and to the wind that accompanied each of the waves that day.

I watch CNN; the day is number 72 and the oil continues to flow. I feel the emotion rise up in my chest and I remind myself, “What is the energy and the message I want to be contributing and sending out in this moment?” I notice that there is that vibration of hopelessness that is present and I acknowledge it by breathing into it, giving it passage through my body on my exhale. Then, once I am more present to what I am feeling, I can better answer my question and make a new choice.

Because whatever we think and feel moves out from us and into our environment, we can choose with this monumental opportunity to become even more aware of what our response is. What we hold in our emotional bodies does have an effect not only how we feel but also the energy seeps out into our environment and our interactions with each other. That is why it so imperative that we understand the effect of our both our thinking  and the quality of our emotions.

Maybe not so coincidently, the esteemed Japanese scientist, Dr. Emoto, through scientific experiments proved that our thoughts affect the crystalline structure of water. Negative words and thoughts resulted in the water turning dull and the crystals were misshapen. While positive thoughts, like gratitude, hope, and faith created brilliant and symmetrical, crystals. Now more than ever it is clear that water everywhere could benefit from our increased awareness of the intentions we are holding in our thoughts, especially as we put our attention on the Gulf of Mexico.

So, I offer a suggestion … visit a body of water nearby … a river, stream, ocean or even a sculptural fountain … and send the message you most want to convey to the most life sustaining substance on earth, water.

Dr Emoto offered a simple prayer, one that you can repeat over and over again (even in your morning shower) and could help you in moving through your hopeless feelings, to a more beneficial response,” I send the energy of love and gratitude to the water and all the living creatures in the Gulf of Mexico and its surroundings. To the whales, dolphins, pelicans, fish, shellfish, planktons, corals, algae and all living creatures…I am sorry. Please forgive me.  Thank you.  I love you.” 

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