Embracing Wholeness: Confronting Fear, Finding Light
In the realms of literature, spirituality, and pop culture, certain phrases and quotes have transcended generations, leaving an indelible mark on our collective consciousness. The wisdom of these words often carries profound insights into the human condition, encouraging us to confront our deepest fears and find the path to wholeness. In this article, I explore connections between the Yoda quote “Named must your fear be before you can banish it,” the line from the Lord’s Prayer “Hallowed be thy name,” and Lola Lawrence’s empowering statement on embracing our darker aspects to achieve wholeness.
The Yoda Quote: Naming Fear to Conquer It
In the legendary Star Wars saga, Yoda, the wise and revered Jedi Master, imparts valuable life lessons to young Luke Skywalker. One memorable line he utters is, “Named must your fear be before you can banish it.” At its core, this quote speaks to the significance of understanding and acknowledging our fears before we can overcome them.
In our lives, fear often lurks in the shadows, influencing our decisions and actions without our conscious awareness. By giving a name to our fears, we gain clarity and insight into their origins and triggers. This self-awareness empowers us to address and banish these fears, allowing us to grow and move forward on our journey to personal development.
Once I retired I had work to do. Well, I should have started sooner than retirement, but that’s when my “issues’ reared their ugly head enough for me to take heed! I had to name my fears, what was driving my anger? The unworthiness that I held from my childhood, that I am full of sin, and never enough! Believing in a God who hates was a struggle for me, since high school. The ongoing search since high school brought me to several ways of believing-aspects of influence, The Tao, Buddhism, exploring other beliefs such as Hindu or Sufi, psychology such as Jung, and onto Deepak Chopra, Wayne Dyer….I can’t name them all. The spiraling self-help saga! The words, obviously in front of me, face your fear! The subtle and invisible work, yet to be completed.
The Lord’s Prayer: The Power of Reverence and Acknowledgment
The Lord’s Prayer, a Christian prayer taught by Jesus, contains the line “Hallowed be thy name.” This phrase obviously emphasizes the sanctity and reverence we should have towards the divine. Beyond its religious connotations, this line also holds a deeper lesson about the importance of acknowledging and honoring our true selves. In the book Prayers of the Cosmos, written by Neil Douglas-Klotz, he describes the interpretations from Aramaic of this line of the prayer. He shares that there are root meanings in Aramaic, adding to the subtle meaning of the words. He explains that Hallowed be thy Name represents sound/light experiences that return in a separate yet specific form. Sound/light experiences that are separated, yet part of an underlying unity. Our name has connections to the divine. My separation has a holy or divine purpose. This divineness is both within me and without (all around me).
Studying the Aramaic interpretations in Prayers of the Cosmos, refined the subtleties and the invisible meanings not taught in the church or by my family. By hallowing our name, we embrace our individuality, strengths, weaknesses, and imperfections. Just as we show respect to the divine, we must show the same respect and acceptance towards ourselves. Only then can we embark on a growing journey of self-discovery and growth, unearthing the hidden potential that resides within us. This involves letting go and releasing the darkness that comes with experiences, the heaviness never intended to be carried. Shed light by going within, to hear the whispers of Oneness that arise from one’s heart. Love oneself in wholeness, love thy neighbor in wholeness. This invisible force of love embraces the light and the shadows. And additional lines in The Lord’s Prayer have more guidance in accomplishing this growing journey!
Wow. The imaginary and the traditional truly have subtle and invisible connections. The sagas in the movies, the experiences of our life, the interpretations of words, thoughts, beliefs, influence, and impact how we grow, what we grow. The words, name your fear to banish it, feel obviously so simple. Implying.. just do it — fear gone. It wasn’t that simple for me. The subtle and invisible aspects of fear for me had foundations in thoughts and beliefs. When fear is used to banish fear, the cycle seemed endless. When love was the foundation, the cycle feels more “growth” like. My fear releasing path was filled with more ease when I connected to new ways of viewing “faith”, experiencing new definitions of the words I grew up with. Embracing a creator that loves me, just as I am. Embracing a creator who accepts my errors. Embracing a creator who is within all of life, part of the design of my growth! I need to seek within, listen within, see within — that which is without and all around me.
Lola Lawrence: Embracing the Darkness to Find Light
Lola Lawrence, a modern-day philosopher and motivational speaker, brings a fresh perspective to the idea of embracing our shadows. She states, “The ugly dark parts of you have a right to exist, a need to be heard, even they deserve your love, this is how we become whole again. For the end outcome is wholeness.”
In this powerful statement, Lawrence encourages us to confront the aspects of ourselves that we often shy away from — our insecurities, doubts, and vulnerabilities. Instead of suppressing them, she advises us to acknowledge, listen, and love these darker parts of ourselves. Doing so allows us to integrate these aspects into our self-concept, fostering a sense of wholeness and acceptance.
I relate this to two concepts I learned from my Lutheran roots: Love thy neighbor as thyself and seeing the speck in a brothers eye without seeing the log in your own eye We can only love our neighbor as well as we love ourselves. The growing challenge is to realize love more deeply! Love in wholeness. A hidden thread in the Star Wars movies, Darth Vader, the father, had shadows that hid his light.
The intertwining wisdom of Yoda, the Lord’s Prayer, and Lola Lawrence teaches us that the journey to wholeness begins with self-awareness, reverence, and self-acceptance. When we bravely confront and name our fears, we diminish their power over us. By hallowing our name and acknowledging our true selves, we unlock our inner potential and embrace our uniqueness.
Moreover, recognizing and embracing the darker aspects of our being is essential in attaining a sense of wholeness. Rather than rejecting these parts, we must show them love and understanding, for they too play a crucial role in shaping who we are. It is by embracing our shadows that we find the light within ourselves.
The convergence of what is obvious, subtle, and invisible surround us to keep our name holy. The imagination shares words from a wise movie character, Yoda, spiritual insights from the words and interpretations of the Lord’s Prayer beyond traditional, and words of contemporary inspiration from Lola Lawrence. The words, their obvious, subtle, and invisible points guide us towards a path of self-discovery and growth. Embracing our fears, acknowledging our true selves, and loving our darker aspects will lead us to a state of wholeness and fulfillment on our life’s journey. A deeper love of self leads to a deeper love of family, community and all that is.
For support to reframe what keeps your name holy, or defining your fears for release, reach out!
Become free of what weighs on you. Kathy Mortensen: Sound Bowl Practitioner; Minister; Intuitive Guide; Master Reiki Practitioner; Certified Master Practitioner of Mental and Emotional Release®.
Youtube: https://youtube.com/@kathymortensen7377
Email: whenbelongingshines2021@gmail.com. Website: https://whenbelongingshines.godaddysites.com/
