Transmutation

Transmutation. Guess what? I’m doing it right now!

transmutation

/trɑːnzmjuːˈteɪʃən,tranzmjuːˈteɪʃən/

noun

• the action of changing or the state of being changed into another form.
  "the transmutation of the political economy of the post-war years was complete"

• PHYSICS
  the changing of one element into another by radioactive decay, nuclear bombardment, or similar processes.

• HISTORICAL•BIOLOGY
  the conversion or transformation of one species into another.

Something just made me very angry.

So, most spiritual teachers would say the thing to do is to transmute that energy from anger (or fear) to love.  But how do I do that? I’m fucking angry! 

Yeah. Not easy. Or is it? As Johnny Rotten so aptly stated, “Anger is an energy!” Yeah, right on! I can use the energy of anger to fuel all kinds of angry actions–I can break things, I can insult people, I can even belittle and disrespect myself. However–the late, great Tibetan Monk Thich Nhat Hanh (who also wrote a book called Anger) cautioned against doing anything like yelling into a pillow, or some physical exertion while angry. He likened these anger-driven activities to rehearsing anger and its effects on your nervous system, instead of providing any kind of real relief from anger. So how do you transmute this energy of anger into something useful–something loving? How can I (as in the definition above) change one thing into another? 

Well, the first step is the hardest. I have to acknowledge my feelings and really feel them.  Yuck! Thich Nhat Hanh provided the imagery of holding your anger like a little baby. But I have been programmed by social media and the evil masterminds of capitalism to avoid negative feelings at all costs! I hold a black belt in distraction and meme-humor therapy! Do you expect me to give all that up? No–those are great tools to have in your human being survival tool kit–but perhaps there are a few more to add.  

So what does feeling feelings even look like? What would taking care of your anger like a little baby look like? Well, take me for instance. I’m angry. Ok–I can say it out loud. “I’m angry.” I can feel it in my body.  I feel heat through my chest, up my neck, and in my face. I feel my adrenaline. I am feeling strong and–(one of my favorite phrases) “like I could hit a mutherfucker with another mutherfucker.” But is something underneath that? Ugh. Yeah. Fear. A situation has brought up my fear of financial insecurity–my fear of not being able to take care of my family.  Basic primal caveman stuff. I am all grunts and clubs and “Fire good!” Underneath that, I’m sad.  I’m sad my kids don’t have everything they want (although that would probably turn them into jerks). (Maybe they have everything they need?) 

I am now going to take a break from writing this, go outside in my bare feet, put my hands on a tree, and take 10 deep nasal inhales, followed by explosive mouth exhales–envisioning blowing my anger through my body, down through my feet and into the Earth.  Then, I will continue standing barefoot at the base of this tree, with my hands on its trunk, and I will just feel what I will feel. See you in a bit…

Hi, I’m back. And I am now already a different person. I have connected to my Higher Self. The Earth and the tree was my antenna to connect.  I have transmuted the energy of anger to one of love. As I stood there holding the tree, I was inspired to say “I forgive myself, and I love myself unconditionally.” If you think I’ve finally lost what few marbles I may have left–give this a try next time you’re angry. Investigate!

"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments, and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance—that principle is contempt prior to investigation." -Attributed to Herbert Spencer (but most likely a derivative quote from William Paley).

These simple actions work. Why? Who cares! I personally feel like we may be headed away from the billions-of-dollars-per-year pharmacologically-assisted living approach the world seems to want us to commit to–to a more natural approach to life that includes breathing, connecting with nature, and moving our bodies. 

Transmuting anger through nature and/or creativity is an exploration that always reveals a myriad of benefits that continue to resonate over time. The more I practice it, the better I get at it. 

<<Family and world-at-large breathes sigh of relief>>

Until next time

Scott and Lennart