Turning traumas into strength

Last week, my step-father Gisle died.

I first met him when I was eight. A powerful man, tall, with gnarled, huge hands, raven-black hair and the fire of righteous convictions. Not religious, but lots of religious zeal.

Outwards, he was a fighter for multiple causes. The environment. Communism. Causes galore, and his devotion made him quite famous in the left wing milieu - and the target of surveillance by Norway's secret police.

In the family he was a tyrant. The comments he made about me... once, he entered the bathroom when I was there. I was 12. Later that night, he shouted at me "Hey, you with the tiny ....".

I hadn't entered puberty.

For a year, he didn't speak with me, except for "Go clean your room!" and "Do the dishes!".

I am not fond of diagnoses, but I agree with the dark triad. The personality disorders. Machiavellianism, narcissism and psychopathy. He fit the last category.

Living in a small rural community, I got bullied at school. For four years, I didn't have a friend. Anybody who spoke with me was themselves ostracised.

I want to thank Gisle. And all my bullies.

Thank you for burning the fear out of me. Thank you for making me unafraid to be alone. Thank you for making me trust myself.

And thank you for giving me a sister.

May you find the peace this life did not give you, on the other side. Have a pleasant stay in the Bardo, and reach out to me if you need my help.

A celibate monk, priest and shaman, I have one wish. To heal the world. As a healer, I feel our collective pain, and having spent 22 years working with the "rubble of the world", I know that everything can be fixed. No matter your situation, there is a good way out.

Charles E. Weller said Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country. The world is turning global. Let all good wo/men come to the aid of Mother Gaia.

Namaste.