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| Category: Emotional Healing |
Date published: October 10, 2004 |
 All eyes are on Mount St. Helens these days, but have you ever given thought to the volcanoes, fumaroles, that lay dormant or not so dormant within each of us, formed by our `fallen nature' I think, and yet, we know those fumaroles are in there, are in each of us.
In the 90's, I had the chance to see firsthand the devastation that was left behind by the eruption of Mount St. Helens on May 18, 1980. When I visited the site in Washington State, the area was experiencing a revival of its old self, by then, new trees had been planted amongst the many tall timbers that lay on the ground, the result of Mount St. Helen's fury. Mountain goats and other small mammals and birds were seen, showing the area's new birth. The volcano's eruption of the 80's had changed the very face of the land.
The residents of Hawaii's big Island have seen their Kilauea volcano erupt on a regular basis for years. I had the privilege of seeing first hand the ugliness of its cooled black lava, but I also seen the beauty that man created in restoration. The many plants and flowers brought in from Japan and other places that turned the lemon into lemonade.
What can volcanic eruptions teach us about the human potential for such devastating eruptions within our own inner volcanoes? I think there is plenty. As human beings, we stuff our emotions, allowing them to build up. Like the volcano, a cone begins to build within us, plugging the vents within us, vents that God placed for the body to release these inner pressures. Cones build due to lack of coping mechanisms, exercise, learning how to manage our emotions and negative thought patterns, and failure to make certain that our vents remain unplugged by dealing with each pressure as it happens. Taking the time to talk with a friend, school counselor, parent, or professional help, but most importantly, our failure to talk to God.
Non-resolved anger, I've seen it build in people. I've heard its rumbling, like the small quakes before an eruption, and then, rise up and explode. I've seen the plinean and ultra -plinean, see http://www.fiu.edu/~draper/ESnotes/volc.html, very violent eruptions, after long periods of dormancy. I liken these to eruptions seen in the manic stage of BI-polar illness.
Within most of us are found the strombolian, small eruptions. We see them in our small bursts of anger or frustration. These eruptions are often frequent and on regular intervals. We might compare our stuffed emotions with the magna of a volcano that slowly or rapidly makes its movement toward the surface.
Like the volcano, that scientists say can change the earth's surface and even change its climate, our own volcanic eruptions can do the same. Have you ever had a day when you were smiling and singing and then someone close to you had a volcanic eruption? When this happens, the climate is immediately altered. If it's violent enough, as is found in the ultra-plinean, the very landscape of our families can be changed forever. Divorce, broken minds, and hostility build cones within our children, a new generation of active volcanoes.
Can we predict which volcanoes will erupt? Scientists seem to think we can, but like Mount St. Helens, we have seen the imperfections in these predictions. It is said that, like humans, a volcano has a `personality.' As in the article sited above, examination of ash erupted early in an eruption cycle: old (re-worked) or new (juvenile) can give some insight into later eruptions. A youngster may show signs early on of an inability to cope with frustrations, is prone to anger easily and to uncontrolled outbursts of anger. These can give warnings of possible future volcanic activity.
A child takes a gun to school and kills a number of teachers and classmates. Sadly, these headlines are viewed throughout our country. Were their rumblings before the eruption? Were the quakes heard, but ignored? Who could imagine such an outburst, magma and lava spewing havoc and devastation in the school. Climate and landscape forever changed.
I wrote the following poem some time ago. It was after reading of cases of physical and sexual abuse. Children who cut themselves until the blood flows in order to release their inner pain, create a vent where a cone has developed. Obesity, low self-esteem, teasing, not being accepted by peers, lack of parental love and guidance, these are just a few of the things that can build cones, and the list can go on.
TORTURE WITHIN THE MIND
The eyes won't see what the mind can't fathom, Horror beneath the carpet swept, Eyes protected from the truth before them... Stayed blinded as the child wept.
In heaven heard, no silence there, Secrets not kept from heaven's eyes, Beneath the shroud of blackened stain... Lies hidden horror in disguise.
The eyes won't see what the mind can't fathom, Keeps them blinded so they don't see, Eyes protected from the truth before them... Now never more that truth will flee.
We must keep our eyes opened and our ears keened so we see and hear the small quakes when they begin to happen within our children and other loved ones. Unlike the true volcanoes where there is little man can do to prevent the eruptions, I believe there are things we can do to prevent the eruptions in humans. The first step is to be aware the volcanoes exist.
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