Chronic Lyme: Immoral Pioneers of Health
Chronic conditions suck. Literally and metaphorically. They are draining, depleting and compromise the quality of Life. Period. Plain and simple. I had one Andean teacher who really nailed healing 100% dead center. Many people talk about the need to make peace with an illness, to understand why it came. He noted that was crap ( my word/ interpretation). His very clear and indisputable response was: A person does not need to come to peace with an illness. If a person has cancer… if you remove the cancer from that person, Peace is going to come into their Heart.
As someone living with chronic Lyme.. I couldn’t agree more. And in response to holistic energy healers… no, I was not vibrating on a frequency that attracted this to me. At the energetic levels- there are huge cosmic flows. And there is an absolute quantum, random nature to the universe. Sometimes stuff… just happens. In my own case: I lived in CT, I went to school in Central CT. I owned and trained hunting dogs… in Central CT. ‘nuff said.
As anyone with Lyme, or any chronic condition might know… it is a game changer—in huger ways even than Cancer, HIV, etc which are “known” understood and recognized quantities. If a person has cancer… everyone knows it is “something,” and more—vaguely and energetically-emotionally “what” it is… There is a lot of support, compassion and MEDICAL help.
People with Lyme, and other chronic conditions are true and hardy germicidal pioneers in a vast unknown wilderness of immunology, micro-organisms and the human body.
For myself, prior to having Lyme- I was fit, healthy and active. While I did not have the perfect life.. my life… worked. I worked 40-60 hrs week, doing restaurant work, I came home and rode one or both of my horses, and then biked 30 miles ( about 4-5x/week).
I did not suddenly get OLD (at 30), or have stress, or emotional problems… and, as many years later ( I had some kind of nasty cold, which was probably a Lyme episode), a psychologist friend “confirmed” in passing… if you are sick, there is something real-medical going on. That wouldn’t be your MO, not “you.”
Anyway- that said.. Lyme and chronic conditions are game changers. I can’t say that all of the changes were bad, or that I have regrets. However, I could have moved through those same aspects of my life with less turmoil and more grace had I not had the Lyme to contend with. Could and would I have gotten into healing work, herbalism and other aspects of my path via some other route? Absolutely. For some reason, this is how things aligned. I am mostly okay with that.
And there have been a lot of positive aspects, that maybe I wouldn’t have gotten, had my path taken a different course.. there is no way to know. I do believe that some things in the universe “want” to happen, and like gravity, will draw events, bend events to certain outcomes. Other events, “need” to happen, and as such, all roads lead to Rome.
I can say, that conditions like Lyme, do a warrior make. It reminds me of a few books I had to read, years ago for a lit. class. One was Seize the Day, and the other was The Immoralist. The Immoralist in particular, by Andre Gide. The story is about a man who is diagnosed with tuberculosis, and his transformation from passive patient, to informed, educated and empowered individual who takes responsibility for his healing and recovery.
I think that many people struggle with the daily and long term reality of chronic conditions in ways that many people can’t truly understand. If a person has cancer ( and I am not dissing on anyone here)… there is support, and mostly, there are 2 outcomes… they will recover ( remission), or it progresses and they die. Their life does not linger on the brink of a black hole, indefinitely.. with little to no answers on how to make it better, and more of the same, or slow decline of vitality… I wonder if this might be how early-stage Alzheimers might feel? Knowing what they are going to be facing, and the loss of everything they are at the most precious and fundamental level…?
Anyway- in a lot of ways, a condition like Lyme is a gift. Whether it is burning off Karma, spiritual awakening or what.. many people with chronic conditions for which medicine has little information or even “sympathy,” are waking up, much like the Immoralist. Diet, nutrition, holistic approaches to wellness and alternative medical models…They are becoming informed, educated and knowledgeable. They are driven by the desire to reclaim the peace in their heart, and the Life they might have had.
So next time you meet someone struggling with a chronic condition, even if they are trying things that seem utterly whacked out… express your gratitude that someone is forging into new territory. The pioneers that will find out what works, and what doesn’t.. covering territory and forging a path, so that others do not have to stumble through the next millennium without a path to follow or informed guides to lead them.
How has Lyme or a chronic condition changed you or your life? In what way have you stepped into growth or Power that you might not have, otherwise?
I am an Education Specialist, Health Coach and Author. I work with aspects of the teachings I have learned from Andean shamanic and cosmology, to health, nutrition and education. Everything is energy. Energy must flow. Like water, when it does not flow, it stagnates and is not healthy. These techniques help your life to flow. I have been initiated into many of the ancient lineages and learned ceremonies, rites of passage and healing techniques. I have worked as a healer and done workshops and taught some of these aspects – passing the teachings on.
Author of:
Dancing in Your Bubble : ancient teaching, modern healing
Natural Support for Alzheimer’s
Getting a Handle on Happy : find and fix causes of stress and depression
The Naturally Smarter Kid : a parent’s guide to helping kids succeed in school and life
Cafe of the Hungry Ghosts : behind the veil of ordinary – a paranormal-ish fiction book
http://BeingHerd.com
http://repairalz.com
