The Lighthouse
Dark storm clouds had formed in the distance, and the ship was scheduled to depart on a fishing expedition that day. The villagers were running low on food and resources. However, the crew argued with the captain that it might not be the best day to go out on the water. The captain observed the black, swollen clouds off to the west.
He had a gut feeling that if he continued to direct his vessel to the east, he would be able to avoid the inclement weather. He allowed his intuition to guide him as he launched from the harbor, heading in the opposite direction of the storm.
A rainbow appeared overhead, and the waters were glimmering in the sunlight. There was not a cloud for miles, only clear skies. Within a couple of hours, hundreds of fresh fish flooded the deck.
Still, skepticism and fear crept in. The crew knew that if they went back home, they would surely be caught in the storm.
The storm was traveling quickly to their exact location. The captain weighed his options. He knew that if he faced the storm head-on, he would be risking their safety, their haul, and his ship. He could wait out the storm, which may result in it catching up to them in the middle of the ocean, or he could make his way north, to the lighthouse. He knew it was a gamble and that he might collide with the storm.
He decided to set off to the lighthouse.
The ship had been weighed down by all the fish on board, so they left without delay. Within a couple of hours, the storm approached. The boat teetered to its side and back to the center. Massive swells collided with the ship, causing it to nearly capsize.
The captain held true to his intention and steered the ship through the heavy rains. Bright light caught the attention of the captain and indicated he was on the right path.
They made it to port just in time, with plenty of fish to feed their village for weeks to come.
...
This story is about our internal conflicts. The West holds the energy of the Mental Body. It contains all thoughts and beliefs within it. The East holds the energy of the Emotion Body. The Emotion Body encompasses all feelings within us, ranging from love to fear. The North holds the energy of Wisdom.
Seeking wisdom and truth through adversity, conditioning, past mistakes, and trauma can be like navigating the sea through a storm. Part of us may experience the storm and the wide range of emotional currents, while another side of us may experience negative thought patterns and beliefs, telling us that we will never succeed or not to dare dream of the impossible because it will only bring pain or misery. Are you sitting on a glimmering sea with a rainbow and clear skies overhead, only thinking about what turmoil is to come? Or are you basking in the sunlight and unaware of the danger just beyond the horizon? This perfect storm is a balance of taking into consideration what could go wrong but also what could go right. Being prepared to navigate and trusting ourselves through the process.
The captain in the story holds the authority to make decisions, while the crew represents our wounding rising to the surface. Is your inner captain giving your crew an opportunity to speak? Parts of us hold on to these wounds, and making choices can feel like an internal tug-of-war. It takes all facets of us to come together to create compromise.
Is taking the risk on yourself or doing that thing you have always wanted to do worth it? It’s something only you can answer. Are you worth going into the storm for?
When cloudy thoughts arise, we can take a step back and realize that no storm lasts forever. Being willing to sit in those waves of emotions reminds us that the current does ebb, as well as flow. We hold the truth within each of us. We are our own lighthouse.
Allow your inner lighthouse to guide you and trust that you can make it through any storm. By allowing your emotions and thoughts to exist while seeking authentic truth and wisdom, you will find your safe passage home.