** TW: I don’t specifically go into detail about sexuality/abuse - but it is implied. One of the wounds of the sacral chakra is sexual abuse and sexual interference. I caution extreme gentleness and slow pace in working with the emotional wounds in this area. Please find resources linked at the bottom of this teaching. **

Ah guilt… you motherfucker.

Guilt is useful when reflecting on our past behaviour, actions and thoughts because it helps us establish healthy boundaries and shows us where we can make changes. Guilt is an appropriate feedback guide - not a demon… but oh how we have misused guilt in the control and shaping of the human being.

Emotions are the first language of the child.

Emotions are expressed and known through the instinctual, natural expressions of our body. Jubilant, orgiastic, spontaneous expressions of aliveness. Well, shut down that triggering shit, right now.

Spontaneous expressions of joy can be very triggering to wounded, repressed, self-critical adults.

(We are all wounded in some degree.)

Any criticism, repression or suppression of the spontaneous emotional expressions of a child leads to restrict the expression of their identity in the world. It leads to the belief that the natural, authentic expression of self in the world is not to be trusted. Core wounds: unlocked.

Empathy and effective emotional mirroring are required for a child to form emotional literacy and connect their inner and outer experiences of the world into a coherent whole. Emotional literacy in childhood develops into the rich field of interconnected meaning available in a world where you and your expressions of Self are accepted as you are.

Emotions vs. Feelings

Yes, I emphasized this in the last teaching. It’s that important.

Feeling guilty about your emotions - or being delivered the very clear message that the emotions you have, or the way you express them are not acceptable, leads to those emotions being repressed, denied and buried. This is a lost part of self that gets put into the darkness.

Religious and spiritual trauma is deeply rooted in guilt.

Western religions are based in the suspicion of the body, the Land, Nature, the Self and denial of desires. Repress and deny any aspect of joyful life because it is a distraction from your reward in heaven. There is a deep religious suspicion of the natural joyful functions of being alive.

How many of the 7 deadly sins are admonishments against pleasure of the flesh? I get that anything in excess can be a problem - but the reverse becomes true too. Religion tends to restrict and repress all pleasure “just in case”. Better to live a guilty-ridden half-life than risk eternal damnation that we made up.

Don’t be too accepting or loving of yourself - that’s the sin of pride. Don’t have too much or you’re greedy. Don’t be angry at all, ever, especially if you’re a woman or you’re committing the sin of wrath. Be sweet and pleasing always. Don’t be bitter about what someone else has… okay, I accept that one. Envy is useless. Don’t eat too much and definitely don’t enjoy it. Don’t relax or enjoy your leisure time - “idle hands are the devil’s playground.” God forbid you have a moment to think for yourself and question blind allegiance to harmful belief systems.

Click images to open in lightbox to read.

This one is the absolute worst. We see lust as being strictly sexual - don’t be a whore. It’s so often only applied to women. Women who enjoy the sexy times are lustful.

Lust is actually just pleasure and desire.

Which encompasses far more than just sexuality.

Both pleasure and desire, when used as spiritual compass tools can lead us to great growth and self discovery. We desire self knowledge and self knowledge can bring much pleasure. There are all kinds of pleasures and desires, including sexual, which are healthy, needed and an integral part of the sweetness of being alive.

Western society is steeped in Christian belief and ideology. Religious education so often represses the sacral chakra of pleasure and enjoyment - just in case you should ever be excessively excited about being alive.

Religious indoctrination and control wants you to sacrifice the experiences of your life here in favour of a supposed reward in the afterlife and are keen to kibosh pleasure and desire and to guilt you for becoming excited about being a human being alive on the planet. SINNER! lol.

The teaching of the Christian world view in western society is long-lived and immersive. Our ancestors have absorbed these teachings for generations.

You don’t have to be religious to have your mind and beliefs colonized by Christianity.

The sacral growth is a time of establishing independent identity.

Most religious organizations act as surrogate parental authorities and are structured to prevent you from entering into soul sovereignty and maturity as an individual. Denying your right to access the fullness of your pleasure and your desires is a sabotage to your Spirit-directed navigation system.

Religious trauma is a major way of wounding the sacral center of pleasure and desire - but any restriction of spontaneous expression of emotion will do it. Judgement, criticism, repression, restriction of natural self expression in any aspect will create a guard at the door to restrict joy.

A guard at the door of this level suppresses the total flow of energy in the entire system.

Access to the fullness of our feelings and sensations help filter incoming energy information and determine our own level of healthy boundaries. Guilt destroys that layer of emotional intelligence. We deny, repress and disconnect from our feelings which affect the healthy, natural boundaries of ourselves and our interactions with others. Needs are necessities. They can be denied and they can be overindulged, but needs and desires never stop communicating the need for fulfillment.

Needs and Desires are real and must be fulfilled.

Unfulfilled needs and desires can become compulsive when not fulfilled. Compulsive activities are driven by guilt robbing us of our enjoyment the first time so we are forced to return and repeat the behaviour in the hopes of being nourished. This can be a source for addiction. Food, sex, exercise, leisure activities… can all become compulsive if we deny our ability to enjoy the pleasures by attaching guilty feelings to them.

Saint Lezley and how I didn’t think I had perfectionism.

Guilt is the prison guard of the Shadow.

The rise of guilt is often an indicator that the Shadow is at work. Perfection is required to keep us safe from the Shadow, and since perfection is impossible, we let the Shadow loose and then fail at the simple task of keeping ourselves safe. More guilt.

Perfectionism requires black and white, either/or thinking which develops rigidity and stagnation in the flow of duality. Feelings and emotions are ambiguous and nuanced. Embracing our feelings requires allowing ambiguity and grey areas.

The practices in this teaching will help to gently loosen or contain our hold on expression of self, and begin to thaw the frozen door of guilt blocking our flow of joy and delight.

SA Support Resources:

https://www.salalsvsc.ca/indigenous-support-programs/

https://www.reescommunity.com/resources/

https://www.sadvtreatmentcentres.ca/

https://www.sadvtreatmentcentres.ca/other-services.html

https://endingviolencecanada.org/sexual-assault-centres-crisis-lines-and-support-services/

https://littlewarriors.ca/about/information-resources/regional-resources/ontario-resources/

The Practice