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Fear is natural. It can be our friend, warning us of impending danger.

Or it can be our worst enemy, paralyzing us.

In Tibetan Buddhism, they utilize Yamantaka as a way to redirect fear to free our psyche so that we may move forward in our lives, unencumbered, with light in our hearts. I love the idea of visualizations to assist us in transformation. I would love to share one with you, so that you too can live a self-actualized existence.

But first, a story.

A few months back, I was out walking Russel, my sweet canine companion. We were taking our usual Saturday route along Moore Line. It’s one of the most beautiful walks, as it’s near both water and farmland. Well, on the way back, as we approached the little bridge which connects country to ‘town’, a stirring in the woods caught my eye.

What I saw to my left emerging from the bush struck me so deeply—a coyote!

She sauntered across the road, and disappeared into the woods to my right, like a spirit—there one minute, gone the next. Russel remained silent the whole time! Usually, he is a barking maniac—he will bark at my blender, and any other slight noise, or unfamiliar sight, so this was truly astounding for him!

But, the story doesn’t end there.

A few months later—again out walking Russel, but this time taking River Road—it was night time, and we were on our way home. To my right, I heard a shaky male voice say, “I’ve been waiting for you to come back this way.”

I’ll be honest, at first, I was kind of shocked. I stood there frozen, and analyzed this man. He appeared to be about 85 years of age, with a slight limp, so I wondered if maybe he was injured and needed help. But the conversation that ensued was so interesting to me, and not at all what I expected.

This sweet soul had actually waited for me to come back around so that he could give me a message. The message was not merely in his words, but in his kind deed. He said to me, “I worry about you out walking alone, the coyote’s come out at night. I hear them howling behind my house. There are no cats left in this neighborhood, you know.”

He began to cross the street to continue our conversation. I wanted to reassure him, so I said the only thing I could think of, “I know this sounds crazy, but every time I go out walking I surround myself with Angels and ask for protection.”

He went on to tell me a story about his son, a detective in the area, seeing a coyote, too. He also reassured me he would watch out for me, as he’d been doing for some time. In the end, I assured him I’d do some research on the topic. I then thanked him, saying “Bless you.”

It’s amazing how, the love we have for others, along with the desire to be of service, can transcend anything.

Now, that story could be taken in numerous ways. I could be seen as a fool, out walking around at 9:30 p.m alone. We live in a small community, but the coyote’s alone could be my end! I could have felt shame, or anger at this man for trying to tell me what’s what. Likewise, some may consider me insane for talking to strangers; maybe this man meant to do me harm.

When I returned home, I shared this story with my husband of 15 years. He said to me, “Denise, you can’t ward off coyotes with your mind!” I wanted so much to respond to that with laughter…but instead, I felt very frustrated, and remarkably, I felt he was very wrong about that.

It is my greatest wish for all of humanity to live in peace. If we continue to respond to one another with fear in our hearts, we will only destroy our chance for peace. When we operate at a frequency of love, we attract more love to us. That is why I think the coyote did not attack Russel and I that day, I felt only awe at the beauty of that solitary creature. And the irony of the whole story lies in the timing of the coyote’s appearance—not at night when they are supposed to be out hunting for food, but during the day, the very time I am supposed to be ‘safe’ while out walking.

I will take that man’s warning to heart, and make more of an effort to walk at earlier hours for sure. But, not out of fear, rather out of respect. If God speaks through all of us, and this man was thus compelled to deliver that message to me at a risk to his own personal safety, I’m taking that as a sign of sorts.

Visualization for Harmony

To begin, surround yourself with golden loving light; let it permeate your every living cell. See yourself glowing and alive with life force energy—here you are completely safe, nothing can harm you, for you are eternal.

Now visualize that light forming a sphere. Only love can enter or leave this sphere—so, you are nice and safe in your orb of light! You may feel sensations of warmth in your body; just allow those sensations to flow where they will.

Next, ask your higher self to come in, leaving your thinking mind behind for now. See your fear as it truly is—my favorite visual is of a silly monster, big and furry with funny features. He is jumping up and down like a small child. Now, go over to him—he will not hurt you, he merely wants your comfort. You begin with soothing words of love, and as you speak, he shrinks in size, becoming rather cute! Then, surround him with light—that very same light that surrounds you now. He shrinks even further, now very small, like a stuffed animal from your childhood. Hold him in your arms, cradle him, see him falling asleep in your arms—just as a tired child at the end of a long tantrum will do.

Take a deep breath, and know that you are safe; your biggest fear is now a small sweet sleeping furry creature.

Whenever you feel that fear arise again (and it will, for you are human, after all), do this exercise again. This works wonders for me—I use it often, and have since made friends with my fear. You can even use the ‘Where the Wild Things Are’ story to help you visualize this experience.

I wish you much joy as you approach your day with the curiosity of a child!

Many blessings,

Denise.

Denise Fortin is a Mother, Healer, Yogini, and Artist—but, most of all she is a spirit experiencing what it is to be human!  It is with great joy that she writes to serve her fellow human, to share the many tools she has utilized in her own life and practice. Her website is otherworldlystudios.weebly.com.

 

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Ed. T. Lemieux/Kate Bartolotta