The Guest House
I went to an energy healer in Belmullet, Ireland. One thing she said was that sometimes the emotions I feel aren’t mine. She explained this by saying that I hadn’t developed proper barriers to prevent other people’s feelings from coming in.
Whether this is true or not I find it helpful.
Why?
It’s a reminder to check each emotion’s I.D. at the door.
Why would that be helpful?
First, it’s extremely helpful to notice that an emotion has entered or surfaced.
Then what?
I might ask, “Is this emotion even mine or might it be from someone else?”
On one level, no emotion is really ours. It’s all from conditioning we’ve gathered. But what if it’s from someone else’s conditioning? You can just dismiss it out of hand.
What’s also helpful is to see our thoughts and emotions as visitors as in this Rumi poem, The Guest House.
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.