When I really need to let something go in order to clear out *space* for something new to come in, sometimes I'll take a dismemberment journey. Journeywork is a regular part of sitting with a medicine woman and asking her to her teach you all of the unorthodox traditions that lead a generally straight path to the soul. And the soul's [issues]. In a journey, in which a medicine person plays a trance-like drum rhythm to help along, one might travel into different "worlds" to seek messages or answers from soul guides.
In various dismemberment journeys taken, I've been gored by a boar, eaten by a lion, disassembled by ants, swallowed up by the earth, chewed up by a crocodile and a number of other strange-sounding experiences. The way it feels to me is very cleansing. Taking something apart and putting it back together again can result in leaving unnecessary bits behind and maybe picking up something new that is useful-a bit of forgiveness, a moment of peace, permission to be, whatever I need to get out of a stuck place.
Osiris is one such mythological figure, whose mean brother sends him in a box down the river to be rid of him, then later finds him again and rips him into 14 pieces. Poor Isis puts Osiris back together again, good wife that she is. And later, he is exalted to god of the underworld and eternity for many reasons, including his ability to regenerate.
It's this myth I've been thinking of as I've contributed my "page" 21 in the visual narrative for The 48 Hour Project. Without giving too much away, (have to save something to get people to come to the actual show!) I just want to share how meaningful it is to work with some of these themes while squirreling all energy into one piece. What other opportunity would I have to sit and ponder dismemberment, letting go, rebirth and renewal for as long as I have?
Tonite the piece is complete and I'll be happy to get back to my attempts at sleeping, eating and normal life as I know it.
"Therefore, when I saw darkness in myself I cut it from me and wept, for the pain was unbearable. Blind and mourning, I stumbled into the desert, scooping up the blue virtue of sky and setting it in my heart. Then my heart flew out and circled above like a hawk. It joined a thousand birds circling, serpents in their talons. And I wept, for without love or loss or pain I would not have known this happiness." --Normandi Ellis, Awakening Osiris.
