Photo by Dana Nollsch http://www.photozen.us/

Hiking at Red Rocks this weekend, Dana and I noticed a powerful juxtaposition. We could feel the ancientness of the rocks, vivid and vibrant in red, orange, yellow, and white. We could also see and feel the junipers, pines, sage and scrub in the sandy earth struggle for survival. We felt the fragility of the ecosystem, and also of the energetic ecosystem that seemed to pause, held-breath, awaiting some transformational event, or perhaps, less dramatically, just the return of winter’s blessed moisture.

As George Harrison said, “All things must pass.” Some things transform slowly, like the rocks. Others a little more rapidly but subtly, like a change in seasons. Others change much more radically, like the Eastern Seaboard during the rampage of Hurricane Sandy.

Sandy painfully reminded us of the law of impermanence. Awareness of the impermanence of anything important to us has the potential to trigger fear. This response is wired into our egos and survival software. It serves an important function in our survival, in that it prompts us into action in life-threatening situations. However, in times like these of abundant change, we may feel like fear becomes our constant companion.

We may allow fear to be our teacher. Our fears may illuminate those places within where we lack faith in the Universe or trust in ourselves or others. We may discover old belief systems about the ways of the world, in place from early life, but no longer serving or reflecting our truth. For those who believe in past-lives, there may also be an awareness of traumatic endings in need of clearing. Fear may serve another purpose, in helping us to grow in compassion and empathy, as we acknowledge this too as part of the human condition we all share. Look at the way communities band together in times of strife. Where once neighbors may have barely acknowledged one another, they now come together to ensure the survival of all and to rebuild their way of life.

Non-survival-related fears may be fed by the stories that we tell ourselves. This may be a good time to remind you of a resource that has helped me and my clients to explore the stories deep within that fuel fears, to reframe those stories into amazing insights, and to “embrace what is.” “The Work of Byron Katie is a way of identifying and questioning the thoughts that cause all the anger, fear, depression, addiction, and violence in the world. Experience the happiness of undoing those thoughts through The Work, and allow your mind to return to its true, awakened, peaceful, creative nature.” To learn more, visit: http://www.thework.com/index.php.

Where am I in relation to faith and fear?

What am I learning about my inner-workings from the ways my fears show up?

Which of my stories might I wish to challenge or re-write?

How will my life be different when I am more willing and able to choose faith than fear?