Turning Bitterness Into Honey

The Work of the Bees

By Pam Robinson

TURNING BITTERNESS INTO HONEY

Bees have 2 stomachs. Bees store nectar they have collected in their first stomach. This stomach is used to hold what has been gathered. Using enzymes, the stomach breaks down the nectar and pollen and moves this mixture to the second stomach where it can be transformed into honey. 

Like the bees, we go from “flower to flower” gathering experiences in life that are both bitter and sweet. We store memories and feelings about these experiences in our mind and our stomach until they can be digested at a later time. Some impurities and hurt that have been collected can be processed naturally and digested in the first stomach.

Because of life’s experiences, there can be trauma that needs more processing, and in order to digest painful experiences, we need to breakdown what happened by utilizing a second processing system or a second stomach. In order to access that second processing system, we need to talk about the painful experiences, release the feelings of hurt, betrayal, and abandonment in healthy and safe ways. 

We can use enzymes like art, journaling, exercising or meditation practices and especially other therapies that can help us break down the pain and let it go. Using a variety of support, the pain is broken down into smaller pieces and it can be assimilated and digested a little bit at a time. By mixing enzymes that come with therapy and emotional release we CAN start to feel better. 

If we ignore painful experiences and refuse to work through the trauma in healthy ways, it turns into bitterness and self-destructive patterns. 

BEE HELPFUL AND HEALTHY

Just like us the busy bee gets tired and often needs a little help to get back to its buzzing best. If you come across an exhausted bee, give it a helping hand. Look after your own needs on a daily basis. Regularly, check in with how you feel and if you are not buzzing like you normally do, take a break and do something to lift your spirits. Learn to listen to your body. 

BEE FUNNY

Laughter can help us see the lighter side of life. Giggling and having a sense of humor is like being filled with nectar from flowers and plants. You let the fun stuff rub off on you, and then pass on the laughter so that others can share in the sweetness and joy. It can be hard to see the funny side of things, but these buzzing tips will get you in a better mood.

• What does a bee call her sweetheart?   (Honey)

• How do bees style their hair? (with a honeycomb)

• What did the angry bee say to her neighbor? (buzz off)

• What did the bee say to her boyfriend? (We BEE-long together)

• What is the bee’s favorite game to play? (Hive and Seek)

YOU SHOULD BEE DANCING

The busy bumble bee is our friend in so may ways. When the bee finds “fields of flowers” with oodles of pollen-the bee flies back to the hive and tells the other bees the location of where to find the sweetest nectar. They share this information through dancing. It’s called the “dance of the bees.”

As we transition into spring, BEE sure to lighten up, don’t take things too seriously and don’t BEE too quick to use your stinger. Remember to laugh, and if you feel like dancing, BEE sure to share information with friends and family about Institute of Healing Arts and the good work we are doing here. Let them know where they can find sweetness in life by using IPT and where they can “process” life’s experiences and turn bitterness into honey. 

Remember to BEE HEALTHY, BEE HAPPY, and SHARE THE JOY!

Loves always,

Pam