“I’m scared – afraid – terrified. J’ai peur.” These are words the world is hearing every day – on the news, around the office, on social media, in our own heads.

For centuries throughout the world, there have been hurricanes, landslides, earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, fires, etc. that have struck fear in the hearts of people. Cancer, Covid and other medical diagnoses have shaken and continue to shake people to the core. The January 6th attack on the capitol of the U.S. terrified people who thought that civil unrest would be followed by civil war. The unimaginable earthquakes in Syria and Turkey killing over 25,000 people were soul-wrenching and foreboding for those living on earthquake faults. The Chinese balloon and unknown object that were shot down over the U.S., sparked frightening images of espionage and evoked the fear that nothing is private anymore. Russia’s ongoing assault on the people of Ukraine, (not only fearful for the people of Ukraine, but for the rest of the free world) is a daily reminder that if Ukraine falls, other countries will not be safe and neither will democracy.  And then there’s DJT, JDV, EM and the minions of Project 2025.

Anxiety seems unrelating and fear is rising.
Feelings of helplessness, abandonment, and lack of control overwhelm. 
Breathing becomes shallow.
Hearts race. 
Minds won’t stop thinking. 

Images seem everpresent: images of the children; the elderly; the disabled; the farewells; the frigid weather; the explosions; the baby buggies at the train station; the line-ups for food and water; the babies born in bomb shelters; the demolished hospitals / schools / churches; the bodies; the families running to escape the fires … the images haven’t stopped.  Neither has the fear.

What to do in the midst of experiencing fear that is “a gut-wrenching … can’t explain … keep-me-awake” type of fear that is being felt as the horror of evil surfaces and spreads? Is there anything we can do to allay the fear, or at least not have such fear so present all the time?

Perhaps there is … sometimes.  And sometimes is often the only thing to hang on to.

Sometimes – admitting our fear to ourself, to another … helps.  Admitting our fear can help move the darkness out and bring healing.

Sometimes – naming the evil … helps.  There is power in naming the evil.  The man known as Jesus did that … often.  

Sometimes – something as simple as saying, praying, thinking, whispering the word ‘peace’ as we gently, and slowly, literally inhale a second of peace into our body, mind and spirit – helps.

Sometimes – saying, praying, thinking, whispering the word ‘fear,’ as we literally exhale the consequences of that fear from our body … helps.

Sometimes – creating something in the kitchen, garden, shop, studio, on the computer, in our Journal … helps. 

Sometimes – repeating Dame Julian of Norwich’s words (“All shall be well.  All shall be well.  And all manner of thing shall be well”) can help and using our breath to say them: … as we inhale, say / think / whisper / pray / sing “all shall be well” … as we exhale, say / think / whisper / pray / sing “all shall be well”; inhale “and all manner of thing”; exhale “shall be well” … helps

Sometimes – remembering that somewhere in the world, every minute of every day, someone is – meditating – inviting peace for others – sitting cross-legged and chanting – saying the Rosary – receiving Communion – reciting the Shema – praying the Daily Office – thinking / sending / praying / whispering good thoughts for the world – holding those experiencing fear in their heart, mind and spirit – thinking a comforting thought … helps

All of these contribute to an energy force that is more powerful than negativity and bring healing. 

May we be willing to begin a journey of healing and say “J’ai peur … I’m afraid” when we feel frightened for in not admitting it, healing can’t begin its work within us.

© June Maffin
@soulistryjune.bsky.social
https://soulistry.com/blog
www.facebook.com/groups/soulistry