Tightness

        "If you pull a string tautly, it can bind and hold. If you hold it loosely, it hangs in no particular form unless it is directed. If it becomes tangled it can become so closely bound that it is sometimes impossible and must be cut. Fear can bind. Worry can bind. Stress can bind. They are like strings that can be pulled so tightly that they cut off any flow of positive energy. The string that is pulled too tightly or wound too tightly can be viewed but the 'strings' that bind inside are not so visible. Often we are surprised when some incident causes a burst of anger or we do not feel so good or have a sense of tiredness. It is not until we feel the increase as the result of the tightness that we become aware that it is even there.

        We surround ourselves with familiar things and scheduled days and sometimes nights. The demands of this age become intense and there are more and more things that have to be done and it seems that the pace of living becomes speeded up as if we are in a race. Even those who set their own pace and try to live a measured rhythm find that they are caught up in the tightness of those who are close to them, either as relatives or colleagues.

        Of course the body and the mind cannot continue to take binding. It cannot be cut off from expression without a reaction of a negative aspect. How one expresses and how one deals with the world is so individual and yet we can see all around us that there is a general way of returned response. You'll hear sometimes the expression "relax" and that in itself is probably annoying, but the tightness a person carries can be spread from one person to another.

        We have spoken before of relaxation techniques. What we need to do is become aware of the need for balance in this new age. There will be many changes and at times the pace will seem to speed up, but if we keep balance, we can maintain a control, for with change comes stress and balance is needed.

        To listen to guidance from beyond takes a quiet space. We're not talking here about instances in emergencies where a guided spoken word can be heard. We're talking about allowing yourself to have space to let go of the tightness that comes with daily cares. It cannot be done all at once, but to listen, really listen, one must have a sense of peace around, an environment that allows guidance to come through. That is the first step, then as that atmosphere helps to influence, the individual can begin to create a looser sense of energy within. When you feel yourelf starting to show signs of stress, think of how you are binding yourself. Allow yourself time and space to unwind."