Breaking Boundaries

Imagine being born on a beautiful island surrounded by stunning oceans of tranquility. It goes without saying that anyone who has been blessed with constant and free access to one of natures wonders, would have the innate ability and desire to swim like a fish. So why is this not a reality throughout afro caribbean nations worldwide?

As we currently reside within black history month here in the UK, I ponder how many people may or may not reflect on this seldom spoken truth. The lack of desire within the black community to engage naturally in the inherent physical activity of swimming, is a question which requires urgent attention. This is not simply an unwillingness or disinterest in the participation of any activities connected to water or swimming. There seems to be a much deeper psychological reasoning behind the lack of - what should be - a natural and authentic ability to do so.

There is a strong presence of a subconscious block, which can prevent an entire nation from taking a soothing dip in nature’s oceans. Even the thought of venturing frequently into a swimming pool, is consistently amiss. This is an activity which many generations of the afro caribbean demographic have chosen to intentionally ignore. But why? Why are generations of individuals choosing not to engage in such a physically, mentally, and spiritually invigorating and healing bond, between nature and humanity?

There are indeed many reasons why anyone will make either a conscious or unconscious decision, to either do or not do anything. However, for the majority of people native to the caribbean islands to willfully refrain from the activity of swimming - which should be second nature to their heritage - there is a strong connection which can be attributed to the presence of a generational boundary. This is an invisible boundary which can unfortunately be linked to the generational boundary of fear.

Any knowledge and understanding of the injustice imposed upon millions of human beings through the abhorrence of slavery, is more than enough to blight a connection with any body of water. This was a historical event which created a deeply woven trauma into the very fabric of cultural inheritance. The mass loss of life suffered by many nations and generations who perished beneath the waves of the sea, became - and evidently continue to remain - a generational curse today. This is a generational boundary which needs to be addressed and finally broken.

Trauma experienced by any bloodline will undoubtedly have a far reaching effect for generations and lifetimes to follow. Whether or not this is realised by an individual of a lineage who both endured and also managed to overcome such inhumane treatment, there is innately a psychological boundary which is born out of this.

‘The body keeps score’ is a phrase which describes the underlying and residual effect of the depth of the stronghold any trauma experienced - either by ourselves or through any human dna connectivity - can evidently continue to have on our physical body. This is an effect which can resurface as either a physical ailment or wound. While our physical brain carries out its role to block and bury any past trauma experienced by way of offering protection, our emotional and spiritual body connected to our heart can allow the unhealed emotions related to these traumas to resurface time and again.

Any trauma induced boundary is a very unhealthy boundary. This is a boundary which when left unchecked and unchallenged, can escalate into an actual barrier to our innate alignment with nature and all of her other elements on the whole. By refusing to take the necessary steps to heal our heart, our mind, and our soul from our disconnect with the life giving force of water, we are unintentionally choosing to remain misaligned from the wishes of both the universe, and our ancestors also.

Making a conscious decision to take the first steps towards breaking this generational curse, can thankfully begin with very small - yet highly significant steps. There are many ways in which the innate connection between the souls who will forever remain amongst the depths of natures seas, and the resilient and forthright soul’s who serve as the fruit born out of these generational roots, can be restored. But the most effective and highly respectful manner in which a relationship can be re-established, while continuing to heal from past inherent traumas, is to simply stay in the flow.

To stay in the flow does not mean forcing ourselves to learn to swim. Although this is a wise safeguard and physically beneficial activity to uptake, there are less extreme methods which can assist in the healing from such a profound generational boundary. A boundary allows for a protective ring to remain around our heart and mind, while leaving space to both give and receive. This is akin to a fence which incorporates gaps, through which we are able to both see and reach outwards, while allowing others to both see and reach in towards us also.

To stay in the flow is to make conscious efforts to establish regular rituals with not only the healing element of water, but with all four elements of nature. Through intentional endeavours to show respect to the purifying effects of water, alongside the restorative heat of the sun, the nurturing soil of the earth, and the life giving breath of the wind, healing is bestowed through honouring the past lives of our ancestors and our lineage. The breaking of generational boundaries ruled by centuries of fear and trauma can only begin, when we immerse ourselves with the energy of the exact element which we fear. Only through daily acts of cleansing with only the purest of intentions and actions towards the preservation and respect for this life force, can all spirits past and present eventually resume a bond of peaceful kinship with the waves.

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