- Inner Child awareness first appeared in the Transactional Analysis work of the the 70’s by Eric Berne. The Inner Child was an element of our make-up that was cared for by the Nurturing Parent and controlled by the Critical Parent. It was useful to break down our inner world into these characters for it allowed attention to be directed where it could be best used.
- The early work of John Bradshaw in the Recovery Movement spotlighted the wounded Inner Child as needing to be cared for to begin to heal addictions. It was a necessary and welcome step towards bringing the Inner Child into the forefront for healing and empowering and establishing deep inner trust.
- Through the monumental work of my landlady, Lucia Capacchione, who pioneered non-dominant handwriting as a doorway to dialogue with the long ignored child self, the child’s place was set for her elevation into these times. The writing practice involves using the dominant hand to ask questions or make statements to the Inner Child. The pen is shifted to the non-dominant hand for the child’s response. Though it starts out slow it is truly powerful when the child feels safe enough to begin revealing the unsaid. It is the place where the child feels hear and can express the woundings and frustrations and abuses. It opens the door to trust and helps the child feel valued and supported. In this fashion, the child can be re-educated about what is his to do. He can be reassured by the Adult Self that he will be cared for, nurtured, and never abandoned. Establishing this relationship is the frontier that leads to being able to extend unconditional love to another human being.
- Building upon the work of Lucia, the time is ripe for fully integrating the precious child into the Whole Being. It is the child self that contains the template of our eternal self. She has the blueprint for the I Am That I Am expressing as Me. Building respect, honor, support, and self-esteem helps to clear the horrible energetic debris of the wounds and abuses perpetrated upon this little one. This Child Self is the soul mate that has been paraded around for decades in the New Thought Movement. Establishing and maintaining a clean relationship with this one opens the door to having meaningful relationships with others. The dysfunction is eradicated when one’s deep inner needs are met by the pairing and reunion of the Adult and Child.
- To this end, start including verbally and actively your little one in your life. Talk to her, include him in your activities, ask for ideas and guidance, have fun together in play and sharing….recreate the happy childhood you never had. This will go mighty far in clearing the energetic debris, for much of that is the abuses, unexpressed feelings and words, and the criticisms of this little one.
- Set up a sacred space, an altar, dedicated to your Inner Child. Populate it with pictures of him, toys or precious objects of hers, memories that are treasures…tend it daily and interact with it. You will be amazed at the shifts it will bring to the external forms of your life…let the healing begin.
