THe courage to hold the edges

October 7th brought us together with emotional intensity we had never experienced before. Shock, rage, anger and pain accompanied by fear, anxiety and uncertainty. We had never been in such a state of war, of chaos. What did we hold on to in a moment we had never experienced? What do we hold on to when the ground is falling away from under our feet?

In difficult times, we often operate from a survival system of "fight or flight." We believe in thoughts, fears, and horror scripts and without noticing, "fuel" emotions that increase war within us. The test is to grasp the vulnerable moment without clinging to the familiar pattern. To allow ourselves to be - with the pain, with the uncertainty and sadness, without repressing, ignoring, running away, or defending. It is a challenge to remain in the in-between state where we do not know what is happening, do not hope to know, and do not pretend to know.

To choose to turn light inward, to identify what begs for attention and change, is the courage to hold the edges. The courage to meet ourselves exactly as we are, with the shadow areas. A broken heart gives rise to fear, sometimes also anger and guilt. Beneath them lies the softness of deep sadness. Sadness teaches us compassion, choosing the path of the heart and connecting to humanity. We have no control over the war outside, but we have the ability to stop the war within and between us. A crack and another crack of light will eliminate great darkness. A time to increase the light, the connection and peace between the inner and outer parts. From within and without.

From the exhibition “A Year of Heroes” Curator: Naomi Gordon Chen Photography: Naama Ben Shmashon