"If you hold your dreams too tightly, you'll crush their little ribs."

                                                ~Rob Brezsny,

                                                  Astrologer

 

When I read this today I laughed out loud, but I also realized its innate wisdom. Mr. Brezsny reports having read this on a men’s public restroom wall. Who would have guessed how enlightening a place the boy’s loo could be?

 

Dedication to our goals and dreams is important, but when that dedication becomes a death-grip, we can indeed crush all the life out of what we desire, or smother it until it needs life support just to survive.

 

When I catch myself attaching to an outcome, when I find my breathing is quick and shallow as I anticipate, worry and stress over what may be or will be, when I feel tension in all my muscles or get the feeling that my ears are about to meet at the top of my head; I stop. Usually one deep breath will do it, and I’ve found one of the best ways to get a deep, cleansing breath when I need one is to first exhale completely. Emptying the lungs allows the next breath to come in slow, deep and revitalizing. That feels so good and calming that I’ll take a few more.

 

At that point, the visualization that works best for me is the image of my own hand tightly clenched into a fist. As I envision my hand – knuckles white, fingernails digging into my palm, tendons pushing out against the skin; I acknowledge that no matter what beautiful gift Spirit is trying to give me, my closed fist can’t receive it. And, whatever I am clinging to with all my might is trapped in there, suffocating.

 

Then, I envision my hand opening palm upward and my fingers relaxing like the petals of a flower, receptive and welcoming. Whatever I am holding is still there, free to expand and grow; and whatever gift is on the way has a place ready and waiting for it to arrive.

 

If you find your dreams, desires and goals on hold due to a strangle-hold, give this a try and let me know how it works for you!  And, if you’re looking for the best way to connect with and manifest your dreams, desires and goals, call me for a Tarot reading and together we’ll explore your possibilities.

Love and peace,

Dona

Destiny Tarot® Copyright 2007 by Dona C. Murphy. All rights reserved.