An over emphasis on self-reliance is a defense mechanism that many of us normalize. Ignoring this pattern's shadow nature born from a desire to protect ourselves out of fear. And rooted in our unhealed heartbreak and yearning for meaningful connection.
Today I’m exploring the shadow of self-reliance and how plant spirits can bring us back into balance.
When I look up the word self-reliance I find the following definition in the Oxford dictionary: “reliance on one's own powers and resources rather than those of others.” And when I keep digging I find a lot of references to an 1841 essay by American transcendentalist philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson titled “Self-reliance.” Where he argues for the need for each individual to avoid conformity and false consistency, and follow his own instincts and ideas.