An Exchange of Value

Every word you speak into the ether has the same weight.

Whether it's a megaton explosion,

Or the tender kiss of an angel upon the listener's brow,

Every conversation carries an equal force of change.

When you speak healing words,

They not only heal the listener,

But they heal you, too.

In this way, we exchange value with one another.

This exchange of great value is called Karma,

And it simply means that we, not one of us,

Can avoid being the change we see in the world.

When you strive to float along aimlessly through life,

You are buffeted and beaten by the wind and the rain,

But once you open your eyes and realize,

That you've been drowning in the font of your own energy,

You gain the sense to come indoors and weather the storms.

In the center of yourself, within your own magical chi garden,

Is a fountain, the font of your divine presence.

Allowing others to freely drink from this healing drought,

Is part of why we healers are incarnated here,

But we must remember to save some for ourselves.

Keep a reservoir of healing and use it on your own wounds,

Because only when we use our words to heal ourselves,

Will others believe that they can be healed by them, as well.

It takes a significant commitment,

You must see yourself as the person in crisis who needs to be counseled,

And offer yourself the same comfort and love that you give the world.

It's not only alright for you to do this, it's imperative,

Because when we speak healing words from an unhealed soul,

They often bite and cut at those whom we most want to help,

We become abusive and abrasive,

And those who needed the shelter that we offer stand in the fountain and drown alongside us.

Before you can teach someone to do something,

You have to learn to do it yourself.

The old adage, 'Those who can – do', 'Those who can't do – teach'. Is both right and wrong.

The best literature teacher is a writer,

And we all know you don't have to have notoriety to be an amazing writer,

Just as the only one who can teach dancers to move fluidly,

Are those who move fluidly as well.

Our words, our craft, our experiences are our gift to the world.

We wouldn't have the gift of experience to give,

If we had never been through the trials and tribulations ourselves.

I couldn't be sitting here, doing this healing meditation with you,

If I didn't at some point need to hear these words myself.

I have healed incrementally as I have written and spoken these words,

And I know that these words can help you find your own healing as well.

But be aware that your healing will look different to mine,

Because we are only as alike and as different from one another as two snowflakes.

You have to be willing to do the work,

And make no mistake, what we are doing here is work,

Evoking our emotions and really staring into their faces,

Is exhausting and potentially dangerous.

You must remember to always put your shadows back into their crannies,

Because they are as much a part of you as your light is.

You can't have healing without shadow work,

But you can't be a force of change if you are hiding in the closet.