The Destroyer Deep Dive with Donna Kunde & Londina Cruz

S10 E34 The Destroyer Deep Dive |IBGR | Donna Kunde & Londina Cruz “We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us.” ― Joseph Campbell

At some point in our lives, the Destroyer within or without strikes and hollows us out and humbles us. It “wounds” us, and through that opening we are able to experience new realities. People deal with their sense of powerlessness in such situations differently. Some people simply miss the rebirth that comes after the death because they get stuck in their bitterness. It is important to feel our grief and anger about our suffering and then let go at least long enough to see the new reality on the other side. Beliefs that reassure us that everything is in control are helpful.

The Destroyer becomes our ally when we recognize the need to change or give something up without denying the pain or grief involved.

There are five levels of the Destroyer:

Shadow - Self-destructiveness (including drug and alcohol abuse, suicide) and/or destruction of others (including murder, rape, defamation of character)

Call - Experience of pain, suffering, tragedy, loss

Spiral One - Confusion, grappling with meaning of death, loss, pain

Spiral Two - Acceptance of mortality, loss and relative powerlessness

Spiral Three - Ability to choose to let go of anything that no longer supports your values, life and growth, or that of others

Begin by getting centered and quiet, then breathe deeply. Allow yourself to move through the events of your life as if you were watching the main scenes of a movie sped up for easy viewing. Let yourself feel, see, or hear the major events of your childhood, adulthood, mid-life, old age, and finally your death. In this daydream, allow yourself to “remember” events that have not yet happened. When you reach your death, spend time saying good-bye to everything that brings you pleasure – from the people and places and activities you love to ordinary things like the warmth of the sun on your skin, the feel of a brisk morning shower, the smell of a rose. Then allow yourself to watch your body being buried or cremated. Then, after some interval, allow yourself to experience whatever form of rebirth is consistent with your philosophy or theology.