FEAR

 

FEAR KNOCKS ON THE DOOR OF THE MIND. FAITH OPENS THE DOOR OF THE HEART. WHEN LOVE ANSWERS, FEAR DISCOVERS THERE IS NO ROOM FOR IT.

Today I would like to talk about something we all have in common. It doesn’t matter who we are, how long we have been walking a spiritual path, or how much experience we have in life—we all experience fear.

 

One thought that occurred to me is to initially talk about the distinction between healthy fear and psychological fear.

Healthy fear is given to us for our protection. It stops us from stepping in front of a moving car or touching a hot stove. Healthy fear is also the response we have when we are presented with situation when our eyes might not suspect danger, but our body does. I’m sure you all have had the feeling when entering a room and sense the energy is not right. The feeling might be so strong that your body tenses up, the hair on the back of your neck stands up and you just know you must get out of that place. Healthy fear is a wise response to genuine danger.  I like to think this is our spirit within protecting us.

Now on the other hand Psychological FEAR is created in the mind. It is built from memories of the past, conditioning from our families, friends, schools or worries about the future. It often has no basis in what is happening at the present moment. It is a phenomena we create in our mind. 

Fear is one of the most powerful emotions we encounter. It can stop us from speaking our truth, prevent us from following our dreams, and sometimes even keep us from recognising the presence of Spirit in our lives.

The mind has been designed to protect us. It constantly scans our environment looking for danger. This was essential for our survival. If our ancestors had not recognised genuine threats, humanity would not have survived.

The difficulty is that the mind cannot always distinguish between real danger and imagined danger.

 

It asks endless questions.

What if I fail?

What if people reject me?

What if I make the wrong decision?

What if I lose someone I love?

What if I am not good enough?

These questions are familiar to all of us.

 

Many of us spend precious energy worrying about events that never actually happen.

There is a saying often attributed to Mark Twain:

“I’ve had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened.”

 

Whether or not he said those exact words, the wisdom behind them is certainly true.

Fear lives almost entirely in the future. It imagines possibilities.

 

Spirit, however, lives in the present moment.

When we are fully present, we discover that many of the frightening stories our minds create simply disappear.

One of the greatest lessons on the spiritual path is learning to recognise the difference between the voice of the mind and the voice of the spirit.

The mind is usually noisy.

It analyses.

It judges.

It compares.

It criticises.

It remembers old wounds. 

It predicts disaster.

One of the greatest obstacles FEAR creates is that it separates us.

Fear tells us to protect ourselves.

Fear tells us not to trust.

Fear encourages judgement.

Fear builds walls between people.

The voice of Spirit is very different.  It is quiet.  Gentle.  Patient     Encouraging.

It never condemns us. 

It never tells us we are worthless or beyond redemption.  Instead, it gently reminds us of who we truly are.

Many people describe receiving guidance from Spirit not as hearing loud commands, but as experiencing a quiet inner knowing. A peaceful certainty. An intuition that simply feels right.

Fear shouts.

Spirit whispers. 

Perhaps that is why meditation and sitting in the power are such important parts of our spiritual practice. Whether you are meditating for 10 minutes or an hour having a daily meditation practice is key to quieting the mind and building a closer relationship with the divine spirt in you. Meditation helps us be fully present.

When we quiet the constant chatter of the mind, we create space to hear the wisdom of spirit.  

Sonia Choquette, the American medium and author, offers a technique to help face your fears. She maintains that whatever you are frightened of, acknowledge it and say it out loud. EXAMPLE: ‘I’m not good enough for that job.’ 

 REPEAT IT REPEAT IT.  Keep repeating it. The more you repeat your fear out loud the more you will break its emotional hold you. Then put your hand on your heart and ask your spirit – YOUR inner guidance “What does my intuition, my heart and my spirit sense right now.” Sense NOT feel because feel is equated with emotion. We are looking for the energy we sense right now.  Check your body. If it’s a true intuitive connection with your spirit with what’s going on around you, your body will relax.

Another technique is to go for a walk preferably in nature. As you are walking verbalise your fear. Keep repeating it until you sense you are just repeating words and there is no longer any emotion connected to the fear. Then notice how your body is relaxing. Now turn your attention to what is around you while walking. Verbalise what you notice.  Notice the people on the street, the flowers in the gardens you pass, the birds singing. The sound of a dog barking. You are disconnecting from the emotion attached to your fear and moving your consciousness to the present moment. Then while you are in more relaxed mode, ask your spirit and spirit guides for guidance. 

 

Personally, I like to call on Archangel Michael with his might sword to cut the cords that bind me to this fear, and I ask for spirit’s love to open my heart,

Perfect love casts out fear.

Love is the natural expression of spirit.

Whenever we act with kindness, compassion, forgiveness or generosity, we are allowing our spirit to lead us instead of our fears.

Even the most spiritually advanced people experience fear.

The difference is that they do not allow fear to make their decisions.

There is an old story that illustrates this beautifully.

A grandson asked his grandfather why he sometimes felt such conflict inside himself. The grandfather replied, “There are two wolves living within each of us. One wolf is fear. It feeds on anger, jealousy, resentment, pride and anxiety.

The other wolf is love. It feeds on peace, compassion, hope, humility and joy.”

The grandson asked, “Which wolf wins?” The grandfather smiled and answered, “The one you feed.” 

This story’s message is timeless. 

Every thought we entertain, every word we speak, every action we choose strengthens either fear or love within us. Never forget that the thoughts connected to fear are energy. That energy can not only affect ourselves but ripples out to those around us negatively affecting our family and friends. 

 

As Spiritualists, we often speak about raising our vibration. Fear lowers our vibration because it narrows our awareness.

Love expands it.

Think about moments when you have felt truly inspired, joyful…happy.

Perhaps while giving healing. 

Perhaps during meditation.

Perhaps while receiving evidence from Spirit.

Perhaps while watching a beautiful sunrise or sunset. 

In those moments, fear disappears.

Not because your circumstances changed, but because your consciousness shifted. You moved from the mind into the spirit.

Fear also appears whenever we try to control life.

We want certainty. We want guarantees.

We want tomorrow to unfold exactly as we planned. But life rarely works that way.

Faith is not knowing exactly what will happen. Faith is trusting that whatever happens, Spirit walks beside us. That trust becomes especially important during difficult times.

So how do we work with fear when it inevitably appears? Well here is another way of looking at it in addition to what Sonia Choquette recommended. 

First, we acknowledge it. There is no need to pretend we are fearless. There is no shame in admitting that we feel anxious or uncertain.

Second, we observe it. Instead of saying, “I am afraid,” we might say, “I notice fear is present.” That small change reminds us that fear is an experience we are having, not who we are.

Third, we become still.  Breathe deeply. We focus on our breath. We calm our body and mind with our breath.

Fourth, we choose love. We choose to express love…to ourselves or focus our love to those around us.

Sometimes that choice is very small. A kind word. A forgiving heart. A helping hand. A willingness to listen instead of judge.

Every loving action weakens fear’s hold over us.

Finally, we remember who we truly are. We are not merely personalities trying to survive.

We are spirits incarnated. We are children of the Divine. We are expressions of Infinite Love.

Our spirit has walked this journey before and will continue long after this earthly life has ended. When we remember that truth, fear begins to lose its power.

I’d like to leave you with one final thought.

Imagine that each morning, as you begin your day, two voices greet you.

The first says, “Be careful. Don’t risk anything. Don’t trust anyone. Stay where it is safe.”

The second says, “Love generously. Forgive freely. Trust deeply. Walk with courage. Spirit is with you.”

Both voices may be present. The question is not whether fear will visit us.

The question is: Which voice will we choose to follow?

My prayer for each of us is not that we never experience fear, because fear is part of being human.

My prayer is that whenever fear comes, we recognise it for what it is—the voice of the anxious mind, not the truth of our eternal spirit.

May we learn to listen more deeply to that gentle inner voice that speaks of peace instead of panic, hope instead of despair, faith instead of doubt, and above all, love instead of fear.

For when we choose love, we are choosing the very nature of Spirit itself.

Now in closing I would like to read you some inspirational writing that came to me a while back about FEAR

Fear will keep you separated from the Source.  

Fear will bind you to a path that is long and difficult.

Fear is in your mind. It is not part of your true Divine self.

When you are connected to the source, you do not experience fear.

When you are connected to the source you have guidance and support.

You have direction.

AS you move through your day do not take on the fears of others.

Do not assist others in the creation of the very thing that is feared.

When fear arises go straight to your heart and ask for help.

Sit in your heart.

Focus on your heart and breathe.

Peace will replace anxiety.

Knowing will replace uncertainty.

*Speaking Address by Maria Russell at COSE Williamstown on July, 19th, 2026