Finding Steadiness in Unsettled Times

It’s not your imagination. The collective energy is very unsettled right now, and it can be a challenge. 

Each Tuesday night, I lead a Second Nature Reiki group meditation called a Germination. We call it that because it’s designed to wake up or activate a positive aspect of your body-mind-spirit in addition to being a relaxing meditative experience. 

When I asked if there was something anyone wanted to work with in our gathering this week, one woman said, “I’m having trouble feeling steady. Everything feels so… un-normal lately.”  

We all reacted with a nervous chuckle. Inside, we felt, Yikes, me, too. It’s not normal, but not exactly abnormal. It’s un-normal. 

It’s true. Things don’t feel normal right now. You may find yourself extra tired, spacey, or on edge for no clear reason. 

Even if your own life seems okay, you’re still living inside the same energy field as everyone else, and that field is stirred up. 

The good news: there’s nothing wrong with you. You’re picking up on the waves moving through the collective. Just like the wind moving through trees, those waves can toss your branches around a bit. And, awareness is part of your gift, lucky you!

When the world feels shaky, it helps to remember what Nature does. Nature doesn’t panic when the wind blows. She bends. She roots deeper. She lets movement do its work.

You can do that too. You don’t need to find “normal.” You only need to find you - that steady current beneath the surface that’s always there, no matter what’s going on in the world.

It’s that deep, unshakeable, uniquely yours, presence within. Your steadiness is always there, waiting for your awareness to shine its light on it. 

And, when you reconnect, you naturally bring balance not only to you, but to the world around you. You naturally share the gift of your presence, and it helps calm the storm outside. 

Here’s a 3-minute, tiny but mighty practice to connect with the unshakable you: 

• Step outdoors. Take a slow breath and sense the ground. Imagine your energy dropping down, anchoring into the Earth, like the roots of a tree. 

• Open to the heavens. Sense the sun, sky, trees, and life all around you, touching your skin. Let Earth and Sky gently feed you. 

• Drop your awareness inside. Place your hands over your heart. Connect with your inner sense of presence. It may feel warm, soft, diffuse, but notice what the sensation is for you. Breathe there for a moment.

• Affirm to yourself, “I am steady in the flow of change.”

Carry it with you. You can do this anytime you start to feel overwhelmed. In strange times, you can be the calm patch of ground that helps steady the world.

If you’d love a steady place to land, in a community of women who get you, come sit in the virtual circle with us at Second Nature Reiki. It’s amazing what happens when our hearts align with Nature together.

Understanding Collective Energy

Collective energy refers to the shared emotional and spiritual atmosphere that surrounds us. It's the cumulative effect of individual energies, thoughts, and emotions that interact and influence one another. This collective energy can be felt in various settings, from crowded cities to social media platforms.

When you understand and accept the collective energy, you realize that you are not alone. We are all connected. You are not isolated. This can be a great way to feel less lonely in a chaotic and divided world.

How Collective Energy Affects Individuals

When we're immersed in a collective energy, we can pick up on the emotions and vibes of those around us. This can impact our mood, behavior, and overall well-being. And this isn’t just about being an empath. This is simply tapping into and acknowledging the energy of the people around you.

For example:

• Emotional contagion: We may feel anxious or stressed when surrounded by anxious or stressed individuals. Think about a time when you’ve hung out with a friend who is feeling stressed. Oftentimes, even when they’re trying to hide their stress and anxiety, their overall demeanor and energy seeps into your collective space. You may find that when you leave that you suddenly feel a little bit more stress and anxiety.

• Social influence: We may adopt certain behaviors or attitudes based on those around us. They always say that you are like those with whom you surround yourself. Think about protests and riots. We often wonder how those can get so out of control, and somehow it seems like the longer they’re occurring, the more dramatic things become. That’s because the collective energy becomes more and more chaotic until those people are completely overwhelmed by the anger and aggression in the air.

• Empathetic resonance: We may feel a deep sense of connection and understanding with others who share similar emotions or experiences. Have you ever met someone and felt like you immediately got along and you connected right away? There are some people who share the same frequency as you do. Oftentimes, people who have had similar experiences bond more easily and feel completely aligned. They make an instant connection.
  

Collective energy is powerful. In both positive and negative ways. Collective energy can increase a large group of people’s anger and aggression, making that group of people quite dangerous. But it can also be a powerful tool in connecting people and supporting others. 

Calming the Storm: A Ritual Practice

Try this ritual practice to help calm your inner storm and contribute to a more peaceful collective energy.

Steps:

1. Find a quiet, comfortable space where you can sit or stand with your feet grounded.

2. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths, inhaling calmness and exhaling tension.

3. Visualize a bright, soothing light at the center of your heart. As you inhale, imagine this light expanding and filling your entire body.

4. As you exhale, imagine any tension, stress, or anxiety leaving your body and dissipating into the air.

5. Now, visualize this calming light radiating outward from your heart, filling the space around you, and touching those in your immediate environment.

6. As you continue to breathe deeply, imagine this light expanding further, reaching out to loved ones, your community, and the world at large.

7. Repeat a gentle mantra to yourself, such as "I am calm, I am peaceful, I am connected."

8. Take a few moments to notice how you feel, then slowly open your eyes.

   
   

Reflection Questions

1. How do you typically respond to chaotic or unsettling energy around you? Are there any strategies that help you stay grounded and centered?

2. In what ways can you cultivate a greater sense of inner steadiness and calm, even in the midst of turmoil or uncertainty?

3. How might your thoughts, emotions, and actions contribute to the collective energy around you, and what positive changes can you make to promote a more peaceful and harmonious environment?