Are you living in a bubble?

Hello.  Hoping everyone can hear me.  In this day and age, many people are engulfed in technology.  People are on their cellphones, have their face glued to their tablets, their mind immersed in their laptops, brain stuck in their computers, and earplugs stuck in their ears. Amid all of the texting and snapchatting, selfies and facebooking, somewhere in the atmosphere there's you.

And, we're back!

The Techno Generation

The question for today is:  Are you living in a bubble?

When we were here last, we had a discussion about several topics of interest.  We also did quite a bit of Journal Writing and Note-taking.

There is one major item I'd like to bring back to the Blog Table, and it is the questions that you were to think about the last time we were here.  You were to think about the questions, and hopefully write down your answers in your Journal.  To make it easy, I'll just list them once again . . .

Journal your answers

For your Journal ~ What do you think of yourself?  How do you feel about yourself?  What are the "gifts" that you have inside of you?  Do you feel good about your "self"?  Do you feel that anything is needed outside of your "self" to make you feel whole or better?  What is the reason that makes you eager to wake up each day?  What is it in life that you seek to do or accomplish?  Could you possibly be a Healer?

The last question is the question we are going to focus on in this Blog Session.  If you ignored the last question, or overlooked the last question because you think that it does not pertain to you, I'd like for you to just think again.

Think on the following . . .

1.  Do you sense that you’re meant to participate in the global shift in consciousness that is currently underway?

We can all feel it.  It is the impending shift that has been talked about for decades.  But those of us who have the ability to heal others don’t just feel it.  They feel it pulling them, like a magnet, towards leadership positions that help facilitate this transformation of human consciousness and evolution of the species.

2.  Have you been through a difficult initiation, which has prepared you for this leadership role?

In indigenous cultures, the village knew who the shaman was because he or she was struck by lightning and survived. In modern culture, you may not literally be struck by lightning, but you may have survived some other life or heart-threatening ordeal.  You may have experienced childhood abuse, sexual violence, a near-death experience, or some other trauma that forged you into the Healer that you are becoming.

3.  Are you are an introvert?

Shamans are multi-dimensional beings who dance between the realms of the seen and unseen worlds.  So if you’re of the shamanic archetype, you may have a hard time navigating the 3D realms of this dimension, which may cause you to withdraw into yourself so you can visit the realms of consciousness where you feel most at home.

Also, those who are called to the Ministry also experience a stage wherein they withdraw themselves and seek solitude so that they may gain a better understanding from God about what is happening with them.  They may experience prophetic visions, or be guided by God in higher ways so that they may gain a better understanding of their "calling". They may find that their prayers are immediately answered, and no longer delayed responses.

4.  Do you feel most at home in nature?

Those who are authentically called by God into the Ministry can hear from God better in a natural setting.  Those who are called to the service of others with special needs, the elderly, orphans, and animals are drawn to nature.  Health Care Providers, Holistic Healers, Shamans, and Cultural Leaders serve as the bridges between God, nature and humans. People who are at home in nature serve as translators between the mountains, oceans, rivers, animals, and people. You may sense that you're most tuned in when you are surrounded by the natural environment.  First Responders are in their positions because they inherently feel a need to help and serve others.  They "feel" for others.

5.  Are you very sensitive?

You may feel things others don’t feel, see things others don’t see, hear things others don’t hear, smell things others don’t smell, and sense things others don’t sense.  This may make it hard for you to be out in public, where you may feel accosted by an overstimulation of your senses.  If you are an Empath, Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), Holistic Healer, Faith Healer, or embody the shamanic archetype, you’re likely the kind of person others may have at some point felt or feel currently to be "too sensitive."  But this sensitivity is a blessing. It’s part of your "gift".

6.  Do you feel a sort of spiritual calling to ease the suffering of people, animals, and nature?

Many health care providers are called to medicine the way priests are called to the priesthood.  But you don’t have to be a health care provider to have the shamanic archetype.  It may transmute itself into healing service to animals, sacred activist causes, or conservation of Mother Earth.

7.  Physical ailments that fall under the category of “shaman sickness.”

In indigenous cultures, shamans who have been called to service but haven’t yet said “yes” to the call often wind up struck with physical ailments.  In modern culture, these shamanic sicknesses may fall into difficult-to-treat categories like chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic Lyme disease, chronic pain disorders, and autoimmune disorders.  Acceptance of the call to shamanic service often resolves the symptoms of shaman sickness.  If you’re suffering from one of these illnesses, ask yourself, “Am I a shaman who hasn’t said yes to my calling yet?”

For Faith Healers and those in the Ministry who too have not yet said, "yes" to their call from God -- you may experience some of the same ailments listed above.  In addition, transference of ailments from others (especially for Empaths and Empathic people) must be recognized and understood.  Prayer is vital for both protection and understanding.

8.  Do you tend to have vivid dreams?

God, through the unseen (Spiritual) realm may be communicating with you through your dreams, so try analyzing them carefully.  For those called to the Prophetic Ministry, refer to your Bible and God for answers.  Dream Interpreters, pay close attention, and be sure to Journal all of your Dreams.  Have a Journal by your bedside to capture your Dreams upon waking. 

For Shaman, pay particular attention to any animal totems that may appear, for these animals could be trying to send you a message.  Identify what they are saying using a Jungian analysis exercise.

9.  Have you discovered unusual spiritual superpowers, or what the yogis call “siddhis.”

You might be psychic.  You might receive healing visions. You may also realize that you can heal people with your hands (Faith Healer).  You may discover that you can telepathically communicate with animals, people, or even inanimate objects.

10.  Have you always felt like you don’t quite belong anywhere, because you are a bridge?

Shamans tend to live on the outskirts of the village for a reason.  They are not like the others — and this is a blessing! In village life, this is understood and recognized.  But in the modern world, shamanic archetypes may feel like they never fit in.  Don’t despair.  You do fit in, and your role is essential.  You may find that you feel most comfortable surrounded by others who share this shamanic archetype.

Healers

For those of you who are called to be a Healer, embrace this very vital and important call.  Pray about it, learn more about it, Journal about it, gain an understanding, and stand strong in your calling.

For the Shamans:  Embrace Your Bridge Work

Because shamans are always bridging between worlds, you may find that you’re bridging mainstream culture and the culture that wants to be born in the new consciousness, and this may feel uncomfortable, as if you don’t quite fit in.

There is a bridge between mainstream medicine and the new world medicine that is being co-created by others who share the shamanic archetype.  There are health care providers who participate in the Whole Health Medicine Institute founded by Dr. Lissa Rankin for doctors and other stealth shamans.  I am not familiar with Whole Health Medicine, but for those who are interested in this area, you may want to research it and find out more about it.

~ Friends, until our next Blog Session ~

Peace, Love & Light,

 René

© Copyright - René Allen - JUNE 2017 - All Rights Reserved 

Healing Hands, Healers,

Highly Sensitive People

and Empaths

Welcome back to our fascinating on-going discussion about topics of interest that you will not only enjoy, but will be able to identify with and Journal about.  If you are new to our Blog Sessions, we welcome you!

We had previously been discussing Psychic Vampires, Energy Vampires, Highly Sensitive People or Person (HSPs), Empaths, and those who are inherently empathic.  We journaled about ways in which we can protect ourselves from psychic attacks, and from those individuals who drain our energy.

Today, we are going to discuss Healers, those with healing hands, Highly Sensitive People (HSPs), and Empaths. 

You'll want to get your Journal out, because we have lots to discuss . . .

Open your understanding by Journaling

First off, you'll need to write down the definition of a "Healer" . . .

Healer ~ a person who is able to cure a disease or injury using special powers that they are "gifted" with by God; One who Heals; a person who has the power to cure ill people without using ordinary medicines; a healer is a person who heals people, especially a person who heals through prayer and religious faith.

Prayer ~ a solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God or an object of worship; an address (such as a petition) to God or a god in word or thought; "She said a prayer for the success of the voyage"; a set order of words used in praying; an earnest request or wish; the act or practice of praying to God or a god; kneeling in prayer.

Some individuals have discovered by accident that they have the ability or "gift" of healing others.  In fact, you may be a "Healer" and don't know it.

There are Christian Healers for example, they stumble upon their "gift" of Healing.  It is normally called "Faith Healing".  Faith Healing is the ritualistic practice of prayer and gestures (such as laying on of hands) that elicit divine intervention in spiritual and physical healing, especially the Christian practice.

Touching upon another area that is not discussed much, there is the world of Shamans.  Because modern culture doesn’t have a role for the shamanic archetype, many people who grow up outside of indigenous villages are in fact Shamans (Healers), who have access to the spirit world — and they are not aware of it.

Shaman ~ a person regarded as having access to, and influence in, the world of good and evil spirits, especially among some peoples of northern Asia and North America. Typically such people enter a trance state during a ritual, and practice divination and healing.

There is a segment of individuals who may unknowingly be a Shaman, but because of lack of knowledge, they may naturally wind up in overtly healing professions, such as medicine, psychology, or life coaching, because they do not understand that they have a Shamanic gifting.  They'll take part in various forms of sacred activism and spend their lives healing the planet, for example, rather than healing people.  But some wind up in professions where they may feel like they don’t fit in at all.

Know Thyself

To know thyself is the first step in gaining knowledge and wisdom. . .

"The body is the house of God."

 That is why it is said: "Man, know thyself"

Journal Thoughts

For your Journal ~ What do you think of yourself?  How do you feel about yourself?  What are the "gifts" that you have inside of you?  Do you feel good about your "self"?  Do you feel that anything is needed outside of your "self" to make you feel whole or better?  What is the reason that makes you eager to wake up each day?  What is it in life that you seek to do or accomplish?  Could you possibly be a Healer?

What about Hypersensitive People or Highly Sensitive People?

Are you a Highly Sensitive Person

or a Hypersensitive Person?

The Highly Sensitive Person

Is this you?

• Are you easily overwhelmed by such things as bright lights, strong smells, coarse fabrics, or sirens nearby?
• Do you get rattled when you have a lot to do in a short amount of time?
• Do you make a point of avoiding violent movies and TV shows?
• Do you need to withdraw during busy days, into bed or a darkened room or some other place where you can have privacy and relief from the situation?
• Do you make it a high priority to arrange your life to avoid upsetting or overwhelming situations?
• Do you notice or enjoy delicate or fine scents, tastes, sounds, music or works of art?
• Do you have a rich and complex inner life?
• When you were a child, did your parents or teachers see you as sensitive or shy?

You are not alone . . .

• Your trait is normal.  It is found in 15 to 20% of the population–too many to be a disorder, but not enough to be well understood by the majority of those around you.
• It is innate.  In fact, biologists have found it in over 100 species (and probably there are many more) from fruit flies, birds, and fish to dogs, cats, horses, and primates.  This trait reflects a certain type of survival strategy, being observant before acting.  The brains of highly sensitive persons (HSPs) actually work a little differently than others.
• You are more aware than others of subtleties.  This is mainly because your brain processes information and reflects on it more deeply.  So even if you wear glasses, for example, you see more than others by noticing more.  (Spiritual Sight as well).
• You are also more easily overwhelmed.  If you notice everything, you are naturally going to be overstimulated when things are too intense, complex, chaotic, or novel for a long time.
• This trait is not a new discovery, but it has been misunderstood.  Because HSPs prefer to look before entering new situations, they are often called “shy.” However, shyness is learned, not innate.  In fact, 30% of HSPs are extroverts, although the trait is often mislabeled as introversion.  It has also been called inhibitedness, fearfulness, or neuroticism.  Some HSPs behave in these ways, but it is not innate to do so and not the basic trait.
• Sensitivity is valued differently in different cultures.  In cultures where it is not valued, HSPs tend to have low self-esteem.  They are told “don’t be so sensitive” so that they in turn feel abnormal.

Our goal today is to recognize the various aspects of the people we come in contact with, as well as understand our innate "self".

To understand our "innate" self, we must keep in mind those things about us that are inborn, inbred, inherent, indwelling, natural, intrinsic, instinctive, intuitive, and unlearned.

NOTE in your Journal those things about you that are INNATE:  Originating in or arising from the intellect or the constitution of the mind, rather than learned through experience, for example an innate knowledge of good and evil. 

Healing Hands

Our hands are instinctual healing tools.  If you have ever experienced your Grandmother's or mother's outreach when you were sick as a child then you understand how naturally love and touch together will bring about healing.

Holistic medicine is a form of healing that considers the whole person -- body, mind, spirit, and emotions -- in the quest for optimal health and wellness.  In this way, if people have imbalances (physical, emotional, or spiritual) in their lives, it can negatively affect their overall health. May 1, 2015

In Holistic Healing Therapies, hand applications are used. There is also a level of healing that also takes place during Massage Therapy.

Massage therapy is manual manipulation of soft body tissues (muscle, connective tissue, tendons and ligaments) to enhance a person's health and well-being.  There are dozens of types of massage therapy methods (also called modalities).

Empath ~ a person with the paranormal ability to apprehend the mental or emotional state of another individual.

One item that we have not mentioned is SPS . . .

Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS), a personality trait, a high measure of which defines a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), has been described as having hypersensitivity to external stimuli, a greater depth of cognitive processing, and high emotional reactivity.

Emotional sensitivity refers to the ease or difficulty with which your children respond emotionally to various situations.  Some children are highly sensitive emotionally to their own feelings and feel things very deeply, while others do not seem to be aware of what they are feeling at all.

Journal Exercise

For your Journal Exercise this evening, take time to write down your thoughts and feelings about the topics we have discussed today, and make sure you indicate anything that you've read that rings true for you personally.  You may also be able to identify others that you know who have some of the traits that we've discussed here.  If you practice Journal Writing daily, then you will find out a lot more about yourself, and you'll be all the better for it!

Friends, until our next Blog Session . . .

Peace, Love & Light,

 René

© Copyright - René Allen - JUNE 2017 - All Rights Reserved 

Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder

BLOG SESSION

JUNE 2017

We're back with another enlightening Blog Session!  If you were here for our last Blog Session, then you have written in your Journals and completed your Empath Journal Assignment.  If you missed our last Blog Session, you can catch up by just scrolling down to view it, or by clicking on the link in the far right-hand column.

Everyone was encouraged to complete the Empath Journal Assignment, which consisted of the following . . .

Empath Journal Assignment:

Write with empathy about your "self".

Tips:  Be aware of your feelings;

Use understanding as you explore your feelings;

Capture your thoughts as they appear while you write;

Be sensitive to both your thoughts and emotions;

Finally, Empathize with your "self "

Hopefully, you were able to complete the Empath Journal Assignment, and found out a little more about your "self ", and also discovered a little more about "empathy".

We are about to enter into an area of mental health that we had mentioned in a previous Blog Session, and promised to have a discussion about. . . 

Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder

What is Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder?

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) is listed in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic & Statistical Manual (DSM-IV-TR) as a Cluster C (anxious or fearful) Personality Disorder.

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) is defined by exhibiting at least four of the following:

1. Preoccupation with details, rules, lists, order, organization, or schedules to the extent that the major point of the activity is lost.
2. Showing perfectionism that interferes with task completion (e.g., is unable to complete a project because his or her own overly strict standards are not met).
3. Excessive devotion to work and productivity to the exclusion of leisure activities and friendships (not accounted for by obvious economic necessity).
4. Being over conscientious, scrupulous, and inflexible about matters of morality, ethics, or values (not accounted for by cultural or religious identification).
5. Inability to discard worn-out or worthless objects even when they have no sentimental value.
6. Reluctance to delegate tasks or to work with others unless they submit to exactly his or her way of doing things.
7. Adopting a miserly spending style toward both self and others; money is viewed as something to be hoarded for future catastrophes.
8. Shows rigidity and stubbornness.

It is important to note that while a person may exhibit any or all of the characteristics of a personality disorder, it is not diagnosed as a disorder unless the person has trouble leading a normal life due to these issues.

A formal diagnosis of OCPD requires a mental health professional to identify 4 out of the above 8 criteria as positive.  Some people with OCPD may exhibit all 8.  Most will exhibit only a few.

Every relationship between a Personality-Disordered Individual and a Non Personality-Disordered Individual is as unique as the DNA of the people involved.  Nevertheless, there are some common behavior patterns.

Following are descriptions of characteristics and behaviors which may be observed in an individual who suffers from obsessive compulsive personality disorder.  This list includes direct traits which occur in OCPD sufferers and co-morbid traits from other related personality disorders which may also occur in an OCPD sufferer.  The list below contains descriptions as observed by family members and partners. Examples are given of each trait, with descriptions of what it feels like to be caught in the crossfire and some good (and bad) ideas for coping.

Characteristics & Traits

Please note that these descriptions are not intended for diagnosis.  No one person exhibits all of the traits and the presence of one or more traits is not evidence of a personality disorder.  For a list of traits used in clinical diagnosis of OCPD refer to the OCPD DSM Criteria.

These descriptions are offered in the hope that non-personality-disordered family members, caregivers & loved-ones might recognize some similarities to their own situation and discover that they are not alone.

(Please click on the links to read more about each trait).

Alienation - Alienation means interfering or cutting a person off from relationships with others.  This can be done by manipulating the attitudes and behaviors of the victim or of the people with whom they come in contact.  The victim's relationships with others may be sabotaged through verbal pressure, threats, diversions, distortion campaigns and systems of rewards and punishments.

"Always" & "Never" Statements - "Always" & "Never" Statements are declarations containing the words "always" or "never". They are commonly used but rarely true.

Anger - People who suffer from personality disorders often feel a sense of unresolved anger and a heightened or exaggerated perception that they have been wronged, invalidated, neglected or abused.

Avoidance - Avoidance is the practice of withdrawing from relationships with other people as a defensive measure to reduce the risk of rejection, accountability, criticism or exposure.

Blaming - Blaming is the practice of identifying a person or people responsible for creating a problem, rather than identifying ways of dealing with the problem.

Catastrophizing - Catastrophizing is the habit of automatically assuming a "worst case scenario" and inappropriately characterizing minor or moderate problems or issues as catastrophic events.

Circular Conversations - Circular Conversations are arguments which go on almost endlessly, repeating the same patterns with no real resolution.

Denial - Denial is the practice of believing or imagining that some painful or traumatic circumstance, event or memory does not exist or did not happen.

Depression - When you feel sadder than you think you should, for longer than you think you should - but still can't seem to break out of it - that's depression.  People who suffer from personality disorders are often also diagnosed with depression resulting from mistreatment at the hands of others, low self-worth and the results of their own poor choices.

Entitlement - Entitlement or a 'Sense of Entitlement' is an unrealistic, unmerited or inappropriate expectation of favorable living conditions and favorable treatment at the hands of others.

Hoarding - Hoarding is the practice of accumulating items to an extent that it becomes detrimental to quality of lifestyle, comfort, security or hygiene.

Hysteria - Hysteria is inappropriate over-reaction to bad news or disappointments, which diverts attention away from the problem and towards the person who is having the reaction.

Manipulation - Manipulation is the practice of baiting an individual or group of individuals into a certain response or reaction pattern for the purpose of achieving a hidden personal goal.

Mood Swings - Mood swings are unpredictable, rapid, dramatic emotional cycles which cannot be readily explained by changes in external circumstances.

No-Win Scenarios - No-Win Scenarios and Lose-Lose Scenarios are situations commonly created by people who suffer from personality disorders where they present two bad options to someone close to them and pressure them into choosing between the two. This usually leaves the non-personality-disordered person with a "damned if you do and damned if you don't" feeling.

Objectification - Objectification is the practice of treating a person or a group of people like an object.

Panic Attacks - Panic Attacks are short intense episodes of fear or anxiety, often accompanied by physical symptoms, such as hyperventilating, shaking, sweating and chills.

Passive-Aggressive Behavior - Passive Aggressive behavior is the expression of negative feelings, resentment, and aggression in an unassertive, passive way (such as through procrastination and stubbornness).

Perfectionism - Perfectionism is the practice of holding oneself or others to an unrealistic, unsustainable or unattainable standard of organization, order or accomplishment in one particular area of living, while sometimes neglecting common standards of organization, order or accomplishment in others.

Projection - Projection is the act of attributing one's own feelings or traits onto another person and imagining or believing that the other person has those same feelings or traits.

Proxy Recruitment - Proxy Recruitment is a way of controlling or abusing another person by manipulating other people into unwittingly backing you up, speaking for you or "doing your dirty work" for you.

Push-Pull - Push-Pull is a chronic pattern of sabotaging and re-establishing closeness a relationship without appropriate cause or reason.

Ranking and Comparing - Ranking is the practice of drawing unnecessary and inappropriate comparisons between individuals or groups for the purpose of raising one's own self-esteem or lowering someone else's sense of self-worth relative to a peer group.

Selective Memory and Selective Amnesia - Selective Memory and Selective Amnesia is the use of memory, or a lack of memory, which is selective to the point of reinforcing a bias, belief or desired outcome.

Sabotage - Sabotage is the spontaneous disruption of calm or status quo in order to serve a personal interest, provoke a conflict or draw attention.

Selective Competence - Selective Competence is the practice of demonstrating different levels of intelligence, resourcefulness, strength or competence depending on the situation or environment.

Splitting - Splitting is a psychological term used to describe the practice of thinking about people and situations in extremes and regarding them as completely "good" or "bad".

Thought Policing - Thought Policing is any process of trying to question, control, or unduly influence another person's thoughts or feelings.

Triggering -Triggers are small, insignificant or minor actions, statements or events that produce a dramatic or inappropriate response.

Tunnel Vision - Tunnel Vision is the habit or tendency to only see or focus on a single priority while neglecting or ignoring other important priorities.

As promised, we are going to discuss how people with Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) have the capacity to experience great emotional depth because of their hypersensitivity.  You'll find that discussion in our next Blog Session.

And we will also discuss the difference between Empaths and Highly Sensitive People.

Be sure to join us!

~ See you back here shortly Friends ~

Peace, Love & Light,

 René

© Copyright - René Allen - JUNE 2017 - All Rights Reserved

Notes:  Movies Portraying Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder Traits

These movies portray individuals with the closely related Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

As Good As It Gets - As Good As It Gets s a 1997 romantic comedy starring Jack Nicholson who portrays an obsessive-compulsive author and Helen Hunt, who plays a waitress who has to deal with him.

Mommie Dearest - Mommie Dearest is a 1981 biography of Hollywood Actress Joan Crawford, played by Faye Dunaway, who, according to the account in the movie, exhibited Obsessive Compulsive, Borderline and Narcissistic Traits.

Sleeping With The Enemy - Sleeping with the Enemy is a 1991 psychological thriller starring Julia Roberts, who tries to escape from her abusive husband, who suffers from Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder.

The Aviator - The Aviator is a 2004 drama film starring Leonardo DiCaprio based on the life of aviation pioneer Howard Hughes, a successful inventor, film producer and aviation pioneer who exhibits a number of severe obsessive-compulsive traits.