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Acceptance [Surrender] - is the "bottom line" in Strategic Stress/Distress Management...
It requires a degree of skill, faith and hope - NOT passivity or resignation, See: "Let Go to Move Forward!"
 A Powerful Support Message for Personal Suffering Experiences
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One of the key skills in letting go is to breathe consciously - deeply and slowly, in a way that stills the distressed mind and interrupts the vicious cycles of analysing and worrying that generate more and more distressed emotion and risk precipitate or unwise actions or hasty words that we may later regret.
Conscious breathwork or meditating on the breath can also refresh, clarify and restore our spirits, bringing peace and renewing hope...
Ancient connections between Breath and Spirit In the book of Genesis, God was said to have breathed life into Adam
Throughout the Old Testament, the Hebrew word "ruach" was used for the "Holy Spirit" or "Holy Ghost" aspect of the Trinity. Ruach could mean "wind", "breath", "spirit" or "mind". All 4 of these are aspects of "ENERGY" [chi, ki, prana, vitality] i.e. the moving dynamic forces of earthly life.
In the New Testament, The Greek word "pneuma" was used. "Pneuma" refers to "wind", "breath" or "spirit". This Greek root gives rise to modern usage of terms like "pneumatic" (air-powered), "pneumonia" (lung disease), and "pneumatology" (study of spiritual or paranormal beings or activities).
In early Latin translations of the books of the Old and New Testaments, we find the equivalant word "spiritus" (breath) from "spirare" (blow or breathe). This gives rise to modern usage of terms ike "Spirited", "Despirited", "Respiration" and "Inspiration".
"Expire" literally means "breathe out" but is also used to mean "die". Most modern ranslations of Matthew 27:50 and John 19:30 say Jesus gave or yielded up "his spirit" while the Authorized (or "King James") Version of these Gospels used the term "the ghost." Either means that He breathed His last and that His life's essence departed from Him.
"Ghost" comes from the Old English word "gast" and the German "geist". "Gast" appears still in modern English words such as "aghast" (be shocked, terrified, rendered breathless) and "flabbergasted". Again the link between spirit and breath seems to be present. The German word "Zeitgeist" meaning "spirit of the times" is also becoming popular in English.
In Sanskrit the word "Prana" means life force, spirit, vital energy or breath and "Pranayama" (one of the 8 branches of Yoga) is the art of breath/spirit/life-force cultivation.
[for more discussion of these ancient linguistic connections see www.adishakti.org/_/holy_spirit_or_holy_ghost.htm]
Practical Exercises to Access & Experience this Ancient Truth: 4-Phase Breath Mindfulness
"A star rises out of the darkness - The song of the star enchants my heart! - Ah! I desire..."
Hear all songs from the album: USA Canada UK (Europe)
Coping with Grief or Despair - Advice & Support Resources (books/CDs/MP3s): UK Canada USA
(constantly-updated lists)
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