Any suggestions on releasing negative energy from one's self?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 11 Apr 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

amyel	11 Apr 2003
Lately I have really been having trouble focusing on the positive, optimistic side of life. It doesn't help that as an earth sign, I tend to be, um "realistic" - not a pessimist per se, but so grounded in reality and the everyday stuff of life that I find it difficult to be more positive about things. Well, I'm 40 now and I'm tired of being so damn realistic. It seems to be stifling me. I'd like suggestions on ways to bring inner peace & optimism into my life; suggestions on how to stay focused on the positive instead of worrying about *everything*. I want joy to visit me again. I've smudged me & my house several times in the last two years (about once each quarter) and it doesn't seem to stick, if you know what I mean. Truth be told, it has been a very difficult last few years, trouble and tribulations with family, etc, that has sucked me dry, emotionally. So part of me takes this as a good sign that I am now ready to actively do something to bring about changes within me, instead of *wishing* that things would change. And spring is in the air today (+15 c / ~60 Farenheit) - it felt gret to feel the warm sun on my face and see shoots of spring greenery sprouting. Still, I'd like some suggestions.

miranda	11 Apr 2003
have u tried meditation? i find it is wonderful .. when i do i sometimes cry while doing it with feeling full of love.. & it helps with my husbands stressfull job, i try to meditate about 30 min or so before he gets home so when he walks in im all warm & glowy & loving & ready to help him deal with his issues & just give him the love he needs also im not sure what your personal relationship with god is.. but ive found just talking to *him* & realising the bad times in my life are small tests .. helps me

RedWood	11 Apr 2003
hmmm Could you do something that is wacky? Something you would not normally do? Run thru the backyard naked...go to the spa..Go buy some funky new clothes. Get a different hair style..May help mentally then to bring about more changes.

magpie9	12 Apr 2003
What works for me is cranking up the music and dancing barefoot in the kitchen.I Dance as hard and as wild as I can, and see how long I can go at once. It really clears my head, and shakes off the blues, even if I'm dancing to the blues. If i want to turn it into official exercise, I do it on my trampoline, but only if I'm not willing to go a while! :D Another thing I do is read child-like books, like science fantasy and Harry Potter, and very faery tales and mythology written as fiction. I just go to those other worlds. I don't think we have to be grownups all the time. I'm visual enough that movies take me someplace else, if I watch them without other people around to distract me. And never forget---Money Talks; Chocolate Sings. This may all sound like escapism, and it is--but somehow it resets my head. :) I hope some thing here is helpful for you. :)

truthsayer	12 Apr 2003
keeping a journal helps. i kept a journal once where all i recorded/listed were the good things that happened to me starting w/ being born and working up to the present. even mixed blessings b/c there is a good side to be seen. maybe start asking ppl you know what do they do when they feel happy or what makes them happy? i find singing to be a great way to release trapped energy. i don't have a great voice but it makes me feel better. my cat the music critic gives me kitty kisses when she likes a song and runs when i do one she doesn't like. LOL true story! drawing and painting has helped me release negative energy for the past 15 years. i started being awful but now i'm a studying art. i started doing collages about things that made me unhappy or a collage to define myself. i just cut and paste from magazines to poster board. no talent involved. taking a walk on a pretty day and exercising away that inner tension. just don't let yourself know you are doing something healthy. kind of spoils it for me! LOL totally engrossing myself in some kind of activity whether it be reading, watching a movie, playing with my kitties or doing housework. at-one-ment is a healing experience. a good bitch and gripe session with a friend is great for the soul sometimes. go to a museum, a play, a concert, hold a baby, hug a friend--just something somewhere where you can experience true beauty and wonder of life.

cricket	12 Apr 2003
I'm there right along with you. Being -the- earth sign of the family has it's drawbacks, since it seems all the responsible stuff seems to fall on your shoulders. It always helps me to arrange for a "me-day" on one of the days the other half is off of work. The night before, he makes sure my car has a full tank of gas, borrows a cell phone, makes a small withdrawal for spending money, and makes arrangements to take the kids somewhere else in case I want to stay home. From there on out it's all about me. No set time to get up, nothing that absolutely HAS to be done, nowhere to get to, nothing. It usually takes about half the day for the fact to sink it, but once it does, it's really relaxing. If that's not possible, there's always the things that can be done just a few minutes at a time that can make a big difference. Things like: stop watching where you're walking. Look up instead. You might run into the occasional tree or two, but the change of view is enough to change a person's midset. Go somewhere you can enjoy some pretty flowers and take the time to do it. Even the local Wal-Mart has pansies right now. It doesn't take more than a couple of minutes to pass through and find one that's especially nice. Remind yourself that it's not your child throwing a tantrum in the middle of the grocery store. Get something to celebrate the fact. (Chocolate's always good. ;) ) Learn something new. Laugh at the mistakes made in the process. Laugh at the end result. I'm learning how to knit socks now. Bright purple ones. Every time I look at them I get the giggles. Volunteer a couple of hours with toddlers or preschoolers. Remind yourself that you don't have to clean up the mess. Introduce said preschoolers to something new and cool. Foot-painting comes to mind. It helps to cover the whole floor in old newspaper if that happens to be on the agenda. Take the time to make a daisy chain. Wear it all day. Write a letter to somebody you haven't talked to in a long time. Let them know how well life is going.

Alex	26 Apr 2003
The way you SEE life, or the way you ACT in life? If your concerns are preventing you from LIVING life, or from ENJOYING the life you live? Or both? Alex. Quote: Originally posted by amyel Lately I have really been having trouble focusing on the positive, optimistic side of life. ... Well, I'm 40 now and I'm tired of being so damn realistic. It seems to be stifling me. I'd like suggestions on ways to bring inner peace & optimism into my life; suggestions on how to stay focused on the positive instead of worrying about *everything*. I want joy to visit me again.

skytwig	27 Apr 2003
Great suggestions! How would you solve it as a child? Get in touch with your Inner child. Maybe try the Inner Child cards. Play and laughter is so cleansing! Get a big box of crayons and some coloring books. Color and color some more. Buy some toys and play with them. Play with children and dogs. Find the silly self inside, the one with all the jokes and giggles. and remember: It's never too late to have a happy childhood! :)

Str4Berryan9eL	27 Apr 2003
I know how you're feeling. Lately I've been worrying about everything and just not being myself I don't know what it is. But I agree with Miranda, try meditating or do something crazy. Has anything changed lately in your life? Maybe that's what is bothering you and you don't know it. Hope this helps!

amyel	28 Apr 2003
Thanks for your suggestions, folks. I plan to try each & every one of them! Really! I mean, I've tried journaling & meditation in the past - a looooong time ago - but sometimes things you try in your younger years isn' t the time to try them. YOu sometimes need to be in a different place to get any effect fromthem. And sometimes, well, it just ain't "you" - but I won't know if I don't try.

Violet Gargoyle	29 Apr 2003
I alway make a point of getting out into the first really warm rainstorm to wash away some of the stuff clinging to you. You know the right kind. Squish your bare feet in the mud and get rained on.

zorya	29 Apr 2003
for a quick fix, i put on some music (peter gabriel's 'in your eyes', never fails for me, lol) crank it up, and sing as loudly as i can. :D for the long term, every morning i try to get up before anyone else, and go outside while it is still quiet. then i touch the ground and thank the earth for my life (whether i feel that way or not). if i'm lucky, i can even get a quiet cup of tea in before my day has to start. at least this way i start my day on a positive note, lol. i think the key must be 'one day at a time' (but what do i know, i don't have it down myself ;) ) it sounds like this is a transition time for you amyel. how very exciting!

RAVENAL	30 Apr 2003
Nature...always does this best for me...true healing...we often are so removed from the REAL WORLD of Nature we feel/get lost...lessened...this happens sometimes to me...and the greatest re-connection...lasting serenity and peace...I find here...one with the natural world... ...laying sprawled on the ground staring into the night sky...merging with the stars and communing with the moon...springs peeping frogsongs...summers insect buzz...falls whispering leaves...winters...silence...when listening in the dark of night this natural melody of life...shared/reconnection with my fellow beings is exquisite...bringing joy... ...barefoot stepping back into the earth...gardening...exploring woods...tickled by the grass and weeds...water...feet submerged in lakes and streams...slippery slidey...crossing wet cool rocks...OCEAN...swimming even...so much like flying...buoyed up...washed clean...feeling a small but vital part of the ever present...larger whole...serene... ...sky watching...birds soaring always starts me soaring too...fluffy...stormy...wispy...whiteness...drifting and floating within the clouds...merging with the bright blueness of the heavens...peaceful...deep-breathing the gift of air... being expanded to more of who I really am...this I can do anywhere...even in my mind if the day is dark or I am far from here in my present/focus...local/timespace...always finding peace again... remembering...allowing...becomming one with nature...keys for me...when I am present here...there is no room for negativity

C.N.	06 May 2003
Throw/give away some old junk that you don't use anymore. Unnecessary items in your home binds energy and drags you down. I allways feel better when I have cleared up a bit home. The same is also true for mental "junk", try to let go of the past. Pondering over old hurts are neither healthy nor productive, instead release them in a way that suits you.

jakyle	06 May 2003
Turn off the ringer on the phone,and put some music(the kind that gets you dancing or banging your head to the beat)and paint something....... My front door is a lighthouse/oceanscape,and it changes with my moods.....Some days the water is dark and choppy,others it's light blue and calm. The beauty of painting is that if you messup,you just paint over it...........If you don't know how to paint,don't worry.....Modern Art isn't around because of it's.....um how do I say,"Artistic detail and talent."Ok,ok.......But just look at some of this stuff,and you will release some negative energy..........Paint left handed if you're right handed......(my personal favorite!)

The Any suggestions on releasing negative energy from one's self? thread was originally posted on 11 Apr 2003 in the Spirituality board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Spirituality, or read more archived threads.