Ep 02. Into the waters we go
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Welcome to the Radiance Podcast. My name is Irene, and I'm your host. Okay, so, into the waters we go. This share is inspired by the water element, and I work a lot with the Medicine Wheel, the Native American Medicine Wheel. The Medicine Wheel is an archetype, a model used in many shamanic and indigenous cultures. There's a Medicine Wheel in the Mayan, Aztec, Lakota, and even Daoist traditions. I love it because it transcends many cultures. It's a circle, representing the self, the unified experience of all creation. In the Medicine Wheel, there are representations of the four directions: east, west, north, south. Each has a connection to the elements, seasons, and in the center, grace—a divine spark, which is us because we are divine beings. So, we are at the center. Our sacred hearts are at the center. But from the center, different pieces are manifested, and one of these archetypes is the water element.
The water element is the element of the heart, tenderness, love, compassion, softness, fluidity, flowing with emotions. It's the realm of emotions, like the ocean, a river, or a waterfall. It's movement, but also death, the realm of the unconscious, bringing into the surface all the treasures and things we don't want to see. Much of that is connected to our emotions. We've been programmed to believe there are good and bad emotions, but emotions are just energy. Like all energy, they have a frequency, rhythm, and amplitude. Each emotion has movement. If we allow emotions to move completely, they transform into joy, pleasure, love, and wisdom.
Coming into this share with the inspiration of the water element, which has a lot to do with vulnerability, opening up, I'm sharing this vulnerable story of heartbreak and heartache. I recently broke up with my partner. It was with a beautiful man, and we had an incredible journey together of cosmic love, mystic union, sacred sexuality. He embodied much of what I was calling in a partner. But that illusion dissolved into disillusion, disappointment, heartbreak, grief, sadness, and frustration. There were good elements in the partnership, but there were non-negotiables for me in a relationship. In relationships, we must be truthful about what we can tolerate and what we can't, our non-negotiables. I tried to practice tolerance until my body started to talk. My body started to talk with breast lumps. In Chinese medicine, the breasts are related to the liver and liver stagnation, related to frustration and anger. I had to be honest with myself. I was feeling frustrated, angry, and stuck because I wasn't receiving what I know I'm worthy of in a relationship. I wasn't honoring my limits, my value, my dignity, because of attachment to the dream of the relationship.
So, relationships bring a lot of teaching. It's through relationships that we learn and grow the most. We are relational beings; we can't do life alone. This is fresh in my heart, but I know it's part of the cycles of life, death, and rebirth. I'm recording this right before spring equinox, in eclipse season, so it feels very aligned with source spirit. It's about trusting that this is for the best, for myself and for him, and taking the love and everything we experienced in gratitude and love, treasuring the gifts, the journey, and letting go, surrendering, trusting. Attachment is hard to overcome, but it's part of the human experience. We have to learn when it's time to close a cycle. The beginning and end of a cycle are equally important. We have to start something new with reverence and surrender when the time comes to close the cycle.
Not all breakups have to be tragic or dramatic, ending in hurt and resentment. We can end relationships in an amicable, conscious way, giving thanks to each other for what we've received in reciprocity. There's always growth in love, and short-term relationships can have incredible value. This relationship lasted only a year and a half, short for my expectations, but it was successful because we grew in love and wisdom. We're better people because we spent that time together. We're both very grateful for having had this relationship, all the experiences, and memories we created together. I'll always see this person with love, respect, and gratitude.
So, there we go, into the waters, a little vulnerable share. I hope your heart is open to all life's experiences, and if you feel it hardening due to life experiences, find a way to soften again. Life is for loving ourselves and others, keeping our hearts open while setting boundaries. I'm here for anyone who needs support. Sending you lots of love and blessings. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this share, what inspired you, resonated with you, or didn't. Let's have an open conversation. Sending you lots of love. Many blessings for now.
