J2S: Divination, Forgiveness, and Expression: Tools for Reconnecting with Your Lost Emotions (Episode 8)
As a wannabe Igbo Dibia, writer, and philosopher, I believe that emotions are a vital part of our being, and losing touch with them can cause great harm to our mental, physical, and spiritual health. This has been on my mind ever since the turn of the new year. In Igbo culture, emotions are viewed as a reflection of our inner selves and can guide us toward our purpose in life. Therefore, it is essential to reconnect with our lost emotions and use them as a tool for growth and healing.
Steps to Reconnecting to My Lost Self
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Recognize and accept my disconnection
My first step in reconnecting with my lost emotions has been to recognize that I have disconnected from them. For most, this may happen due to trauma, societal conditioning, or simply neglect. However, it is essential to acknowledge that our emotions are a part of us and cannot be ignored or suppressed.
In Igbo culture, we believe that emotions are the language of the spirit, and by ignoring them, we are cutting off our connection to the divine. Could this explain my lack of connection with the higher forces? I wonder lately. My uninspired feeling. The feeling of doubt and defeat. I felt for a while like my conquering power was dwindling, and in deep thought, I felt a lack of emotional connection to the things I hold dear could be the reason.
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Know your emotional landscape
Once you have recognized the disconnection from your emotions, it is time to begin the process of reconnecting. This involves delving into the depths of your being to explore and understand your emotional landscape. In Igbo culture, we use divination to aid in this process. Through divination, we can connect with our ancestors, who guide us toward the root of our emotional issues. However, this time I choose to be the source of my divination by casting away whatever foul spirit brought this mood upon me. Know where your emotional strength comes from.
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Be present in the moment
Another aspect of reconnecting with your lost emotions is learning to be present at the moment. In Igbo culture, we believe that time is not linear, but cyclical. Therefore, it is essential to be present at the moment and fully engage with your emotions. This means being mindful of your thoughts and feelings and not allowing them to control you. Learn to disengage from your past. Let your memories not control you.
Bro C. Freeman El stated, “The psychological assumptions automatically provide the means to fulfill the dream desired.” This statement I choose as my way to emotional stability.
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Express your emotions
To reconnect with your emotions, one must also learn to express them. Our Igbo culture has various forms of expression, including dance, song, and art. These forms of expression allow us to communicate our emotions to the world and connect with others on a deeper level. Through expression, we can release pent-up emotions and free ourselves from their hold. Just like my writings enable me to free myself from the burden of holding on to too much emotional load.
On closer inspection, the burden on my chest was the hurt I felt was unfairly handed to me. My past decisions which I owned, and the fact that I didn’t feel accepted by those closest to me. At least that has been my conviction, be it true or false.
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Healing and connecting through forgiveness
This brings me to another critical aspect of reconnecting with your lost emotions, forgiveness. To our ancestors, forgiveness is essential for healing and growth. It involves letting go of the past and releasing the emotional burdens that we carry. Forgiveness is not about forgetting, but about acknowledging the hurt and choosing to let go of it. By forgiving, we can reconnect with our emotions and move forward on our path toward wholeness. To free myself from this weight I carry, I must forgive, but how to go about it, I don’t know. However, I will give it my best shot to see that all returns to how it was built to be.
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Connect to the divine/Spiritual
My next step is to recultivate a relationship with my spiritual self. It is our belief in Igbo spirituality that our spiritual self is the essence of our being and is connected to the divine. By cultivating a relationship with our spiritual self, we can access the wisdom and guidance of the divine and reconnect with our lost emotions. This involves engaging in spiritual practices such as meditation, prayer, and ritual. For me, this means rekindling my morning routines, even if it has been so difficult to keep up with lately.
To end this thought bubble, my reconnecting with my lost emotions has become a journey toward wholeness and healing.
It requires
- recognition(acceptance),
- exploration,
- expression,
- forgiveness, and
- the cultivation of a relationship with my spiritual self.
My realignment with my Chi. In my culture, emotions are viewed as an essential part of our being which is in connection with our spiritual self. Therefore, it is crucial to reconnect with our emotions and use them as a tool for our growth and healing.
Remember, emotions are the language of the spirit, and by reconnecting with them, we are reconnecting with our divine nature. My story on my journey to self (J2S)
Watch Out for the Next Episode
