The darkest crevices reside in the corners of the mind and the holes in our soul.

As a healer, writer and human this writer acknowledges that the difficult work and healing must first be done on a personal level and then a societal one. All healing is possibly if we acknowledge the wounding and take responsibility for our own behaviours and healing.

The difficult work is personal and often life- long.

Sitting with the pain is part of the process. There are parts in all of us that do a job to get things done and needs met as an individual. Defence mechanisms, coping and adapting are ways we get through this life.

Holding a mirror to our self we see the image in physical embodiment.

Holding the mirror to the soul we see the cracks and wounding of self.

When we hold the mirror to society we see the failings on a macro level. We see the intergenerational trauma that wounds humankind.
There are many people that are born into the world already traumatized. For these individuals  life is very different and every experience is a  unique reminder of wounding and inadequacy.

Such individuals are caught in vicious cycle of shame and remorse.

These individuals will chase the tail of the serpent the venom of craving in a world of addiction.

Addiction occurs on many levels from those that society sees as non-functional to those that suffer silently while maintaining the image of success and grandeur.

Addiction crosses all boundaries and does not discriminate. On a personal and societal level it is a silent killer and a war that we continue to battle with many dying by their own swords.

For those struggling with addiction the  desire is to relinquish pain and suffering.

Nothing can fill the void of pain and the cravings are insatiable.

We all have wounding this is true however, those that struggle with addictions often have layers and the wounding is not “ being good enough”. We all want and need to be seen, heard and loved. This is fundamental. Thus, what we seek from external is what we lack within a sense of identity and self- love.

Chinese Buddhism has a concept called “Hungry Ghosts” these are beings that are driven by intense difficult emotions. These mythical beings have deficits which make it impossible  to get what is needed for survival.They search for external things to soothe and yet they are unable. We too may reach for food, drink, sex, intoxicants, exercise, possessions, prestige, work and fame to fill us up. When we search for the external solace there is never enough and we chase the serpent tail.

Writers like Gabor Mate and the Buddhist activist and writer Michael Stone have both used “ Hungry Ghosts” as metaphors and tools to explain addictions.

I believe there is a “Hungry Ghost” if not in all of us then in every family. Thus, healing needs to occur on various levels.

How do we heal?

It is this writer’s belief that healing occurs when we confront and acknowledge and when we learn to sit with discomfort.

We can learn to crack open surrendering to surrender. We realize we need others.

Healing is required on all domains.

How can we have compassion for others if we are not able to have it for ourselves?

Healing “Hungry Ghosts” is therefore, a path back to love, the real love that is unconditional like that of a parent. This love is selfless and infinite.

This love is key to healing the core wounds.

Maybe love can heal all things?

This is the love we have within.

If we love ourselves we are able to fully love one another and this is what a healthy society is built on.