Facing the devils
Our experiences of moving through a complicated world, witnessing suffering and uncertain of how things are going to turn out, is not new.
The medieval period in Europe was also a time of turmoil, danger, uncertainty and suffering.
And the solution for staying sane is a familiar one.
Mechthild of Magdeburg was a Christian mystic who lived from about 1207 to nearly the end of that century. She was the first woman to have her words printed in Low German - just as Dame Julian of Norwich was the first woman to have her words printed in English.
She said "Compassion means that if I see my friend and my enemy in equal need, I shall help them both equally. Justice demands that we seek and find the stranger, the broken, the prisoner and comfort them and offer them our help. Here lies the holy compassion of God that causes the devils much distress." (my emphasis)
We have a lot of 'devils' to contend with. Some of them are the external 'devils'.
Right now, I'm thinking about the internal devils - the brain weasels that speak with the voices of those who have criticised us, punished us, judged us, condemned us and shamed us; the voices which were installed in our brains and begin to sound like our own voices.
I call them the brain weasels, because they're sneaky, bitey little creatures with sharp claws.
"You're not strong enough / smart enough / wise enough"
"You don't deserve this much kindness / praise / money"
"You forgot to do that thing / you haven't done enough, you loser!"
However sharp their teeth might be, they're not actually life-threatening.
And when I remember how small they are compared to me, it's absurd how easily I’m tricked into taking them so seriously.
Those are the devils which seek to hold me back and keep me restrained. Once upon a time that was to 'keep me safe', but not any more.
They don’t answer to reason or logic.
But they will flee in the face of my fierce devotion to self-compassion.
How is your self-compassion plan coming along?
If you're already really expert at self-compassion, where have you found places to get EVEN BETTER?
If you're struggling to get started, reach out and let me know - we'll get things rolling for you.
Meanwhile, give an occasional thought to our medieval sisters, Mechthild and Dame Julian, and just how much we actually have in common.