The problem of healing the inner child is considered one of the central not only by psychologists, but also specialists in various spiritual practices. Solving problems associated with this element of the structure of the human psyche contributes not only to personal growth, but also to improving the quality of life in general. Meditation to meet the inner child is an effective way to solve this problem.
Who is called the inner child
The inner child is a concept used in popular psychology and spiritual healing to refer to the childish aspect of the human psyche. He is often regarded as an independent entity, so that it can be viewed subjectively.
Studying the concept of the inner child may be useful for resolving the remaining effects of childhood experience in adulthood. Traumatic events, habits and wrong ideas from childhood often remain with the person. The causes of current behavior are extracted from emotional memory and even from experience gained at the level of the unconscious.
Work with the inner child
Meditation, education and healing of any problems can have global consequences for life. This work is considered one of the main stages in 12-step programs aimed at recovering from addiction, abuse, trauma or post-traumatic stress disorder. For contact with the inner child, meditation can have a variety of variations.
The inner child is also called the Divine Child, the Miracle Child, and some psychotherapists call him the True Self.
Guided meditation
Meditation to meet the inner child is based on visualization. You must imagine yourself going to a magical rainforest. First approach the old cottage. You go to the veranda and first meet with the higher self. Your higher self provides confidence, guidance, support and wisdom. Knowing that you are safe and secure gives you the confidence to pass on these feelings to others.
Then you will meet your inner child. Try to be as close to him as possible. When you give love to a child, you give love to yourself. Raising it, you educate your true self.
In a meditative state, you spend a few minutes, just sit with your inner child. Some children may cry and just want to be hugged. Others may ask for clarification of events that once frightened them or were incomprehensible. Others just need to play. This part of meditation is unique to each person and will be exactly what you need.
This guided meditation allows you to create a special connection between your higher self, your self and your inner child. This is very important for internal balance, natural joy in daily activities, relationships and spiritual growth.
First steps based on visualization
Before starting this meditation for the inner child, you need to make sure that the most suitable conditions have been created to provide him with a feeling of security and comfort. A secluded place in which you yourself feel comfortable is well suited for this. You may want to take a blanket, a toy, or something else, so your child will feel happy to see him. For the session, you can use any suitable place outdoors or indoors.
For the first time in this meditation of the inner child, some important aspects must be kept in mind. In some cases, despite the fact that for most people their inner child is completely unfamiliar and they have never encountered him, the first attempt at meditation will be very simple. The child is waiting and wants to communicate with you. But, as a rule, in such a situation it is difficult for a child to trust an adult, so patience is necessary. A child can behave with restraint until he understands that you really need contact with him and that you are able to show responsibility.
When doing this meditation, trust what happens. If the child is a little restrained or indecisive, just give him time. Meditation should be regular. This will make the contact between you more lasting and joyful.
During the whole time that you will do this meditation, a wide variety of sides of the child may be revealed. It is important to trust what you see and feel.
- Sit down or lie down. When performing sitting meditation, it is necessary to take such a position that the back has constant support, allowing you to confidently maintain a straight position of the body. You can lie on your back in a comfortable position. Eyes must be closed. It is necessary to alternate deep breaths and exhalations. At each exhalation, the body should relax more and more. After several such cycles, you need to inhale again, at the time of exhalation, imagine that the body is completely relaxed.
- During the next cycle of deep breaths and exhalations, imagine how the mind relaxes. Take a last deep breath, and when you exhale, relax your mind. At the same time, all thoughts must be dispelled and the mind immersed in silence. On the last cycle during exhalation, you need to move your consciousness to a secret, quiet place inside you.
- Then you need to imagine the path to your inner sanctuary and walk along it, focusing on the sensations of relaxation, peace, comfort. Having reached this place, feel its beauty and coziness.
- Spend a few minutes recalling any details about this place. Enjoy what is located there. Mentally walk around this place, paying attention to plants and animals, feel how the sun warms or the wind blows. You will feel that a small child is at some distance from you. Start walking in his direction, look or feel whether this child is a boy or a girl, how old he is and what he is doing.
- Go to the child slowly. When you get closer, look at his appearance. Try to feel what emotions the child feels. Approach him and try to establish contact with him. For this, any method suitable for this point, in your opinion, is suitable.
- Try to find out from him if he wants to tell you something. This can be done with words or in some other way.
- You can then ask him what you most need. As at the present moment, so in life in general.
- Stay awhile with him. Let him do what he wants: play or just sit next to him.
- The child will give you a special gift that is designed specifically for you. Feel free to accept it. Keep being with him. Try to convey to him that you want to contact him as often as possible.
- Finish your meditation at this point, even if both of you were very well together. You both have the right to choose. The child may want to stay there, in this safe place for him, and you can continue to meet with him. He may also leave with you. He himself must choose the method most suitable for him at this moment. And he can always subsequently choose a new one.
Stages of healing
There is a simple and powerful meditation that will help to heal your inner child, since the general well-being, confidence and self-esteem of a person depend on his condition.
The healing process of the inner child includes six steps:
- The trust. In order for the inner child to leave the shelter, he must trust you. He needs an ally who will support him.
- Verification It is necessary to recognize the fact that cases when you were disgraced, ignored or used by your parents really hurt your soul. Parents were not bad, they were just unhappy children.
- Shock and anger. If all of this is shocking you, that’s good. Getting angry is normal, even if what was done to you was unintentional. You must be angry if you want to heal your early inner child.
- Sadness. After anger comes pain and sadness. If you were a victim, you must mourn the betrayal. It may upset the absence of that unfulfilled that could have been - dreams and aspirations, as well as unfulfilled development needs.
- Repentance. When people mourn for something, they may feel remorse. For example, due to the fact that it was not possible to spend more time with the deceased. But, grieving for childhood, you must help your inner child see - nothing could happen otherwise.
- Loneliness. Feeling lonely or shameful causes sadness. When parents shame their children, they feel that they are bad, and this shame leads to loneliness. Since the inner child feels defective, he must hide his true self with his adapted, false self. Then he begins to identify himself with his false self. His true self remains lonely and isolated.
It is difficult to stay at this level of shame and loneliness; but when people are aware of these feelings, they find a way out of this situation, starting to perceive their true "I".
Louise Hay Method
Thanks to visualization methods, a safe atmosphere is created so that you can forgive others and love the child within yourself. The basis of Louise Hay's meditation on healing the inner child is forgiveness. It is sincere forgiveness that allows you to find love. It means inner freedom. Louise Hay's meditation on healing the inner child helps to understand not only the child within you, but also your parents. The inner child depends on your love and approval, which you yourself might not have received when you were a child.
Useful affirmations for meditation for an inner child by Louise Hay:
I recognize my inner child.
I give my inner child hope, love and care.
I heal and joyfully bless my inner child.
I let my inner child play, be myself, be carefree and happy.
My inner child helps me appreciate the beauty of life. And indeed it is.
The method of Angelina Mogilevskaya
The author of this meditation is a student of Louise Hay. With it, you can establish contact with your inner child.
Mogilevskaya inner child healing meditation video:
Another method
Sinelnikov’s meditation “Inner Child” allows you to establish contact with him, to achieve inner unity and integrity.
To become a full-fledged person, you need to merge with your inner child and give him freedom of expression
Ph.D. Lucia Capachione.