Parasites and Power

by Vir McCoy, coauthor of Liberating Yourself from Lyme

What is a parasite? If we look at parasites objectively, we see that they suck or feed on others for their nourishment. Lyme itself is like a parasite and is usually accompanied by other parasites or coinfections, for example, nematode worms that can harbor Lyme spirochetes.

This condition complicates the Lyme picture even further. Parasites are bugs that increase their life force by draining energy from their host. Parasites can be the result of a tick bite, mosquito bite, lowered immune system, malnutrition, poverty, exposure to parasite eggs on a surface, interaction with an infected animal or a person, consumption of rancid meat, and more (Stepek et al. 2006).

Some of us who deal with chronic parasites may have experienced energetic parasitism in the past. I believe that to clear parasites on a physical level, one first needs to clean up parasites on an energetic level. How might you be reinforcing parasitic behavior with your thoughts or unconscious actions? Here are a few important questions to consider:

Is there anyone or anything in my life that is taking my energy? If so, why am I allowing it?
Is there anyone that I am draining or “feeding on”?

On an even more subtle level you can inquire: What parasitic thoughts are going through my mind toward other people?

We might then say that through draining another person’s energy or allowing our energy to be drained, we are giving away our power. In a sense we are either parasitizing someone, or being parasitized. We have common sayings that imply these parasitic relations, such as calling someone a leech, an energy vampire, or a hungry ghost.

I want to avoid any self-blame around being sick with Lyme disease or parasites. It would be a fallacy to say that everyone who has parasites has these issues. As a medical intuitive once said to me, “Sometimes people go to Mexico and eat bad food, and it gives them parasites, plain and simple.” That is what happened to me, but because of deeper underlying immune system issues, it has taken me years to clear them. Some people get parasites in their travels and clear them quickly. It could be because they are not dealing with deeper issues that support parasitism and they have strong immune systems. However, if you have chronic parasites, you may need to look at underlying energetic problems contributing to a compromised immune system as well as seeking medical or physical treatment.

Cording and Attachment

As children we naturally suckle on the breast of our mother for nourishment. We depend on love and connection from our parents both to survive and grow. We start with a physical umbilical cord connecting us to our mother in the womb and continue that energetic bonding or cording as a baby to survive (Bowlby 1997). Through the natural growth cycles of infancy to childhood to adulthood, we learn to take care of ourselves more and more. Through self-sufficiency, we become less dependent on our parents; the cords of our earlier years are no longer needed, and those attachments fall away. It is a natural part of our life cycle as humans, which serves us well when it plays out healthily (Fonagy 2001).

However, emotional and physical trauma or wounding can cause these attachments or cords to never form, be prematurely cut, or remain when they need to fall away. It may be fruitful for you to ask yourself the following questions: Is there any way that I am still cording or looking to others (parents, partners, children, the rich) for nourishment, sustenance, and survival? Is there anyone that is cording me or draining my energy? If so, why do I allow it? These are important questions to ask yourself to clear parasites on an energetic level.

When I feel into the underlying source of my tendency to cord or attach to others, it comes from a place of anxiety, fear, guilt, and survival. When we are in survival mode, we may cling to others energetically or financially if we are unable to stand on our own feet. Basic, instinctual feelings and unconscious thoughts may arise, such as someone save me!

The “hungry ghost” is a concept in Chinese Buddhism that describes someone who has intense emotional needs and is desperate to be fed or saved. The potential host of a hungry ghost may experience a tightening or uncomfortable feeling in the solar plexus. I believe this is the body’s way of saying “a hungry ghost wants in” or “beware.”

On the other hand perhaps we are the hungry ghost looking to survive. These thoughts and feelings may be subconscious, but they can be impactful in the ways they are played out. If Mommy or Daddy isn’t or wasn’t available, perhaps we will try to substitute with a lover or friend who can provide a temporary feeling of safety and nourishment. Ultimately though, this replacement will not satisfy the real need.

Ask yourself: How is it that I may be sabotaging my power to get love? Why does it feel easier to give me away than to keep the preciousness of my vital life force inside? The content may vary from person to person, but it is important to be curious and ask yourself these crucial questions. To heal from Lyme disease and parasites, we need all our energy for healing, and our immune systems need to be supported 100 percent.

We have an in-depth opportunity to turn our awareness in, recognize these patterns, and begin to transform. It may take some time, but if you stick with it and continue working on being accountable, you will see yourself changing.

The first step is recognizing that we may be looking for a man, woman, or thing to save us. Or perhaps it’s a pill, a belief system, or something else. If we can take responsibility, it becomes an opportunity for healing, and not blame. Ask yourself, Is it possible to survive without these attachments? What if, instead, we corded Earth, corded our wiser selves, or corded our relationship with the Divine and our own heart? Consider that a healthy relationship may not need parasitic cords. The way to heal these deep childhood wounds is to show up for ourselves in the present time and use the resources that we have as adults to begin to recognize and change unhealthy patterns. If this resonates with you, it may be fruitful to find a specialist or therapist or healer who can help you move through this. Perhaps none of this applies to you, and we can move on, but it’s important to check this box as we go through our healing checklist.

Of course, when we are ill from Lyme disease and parasites, we absolutely may need the help of others. But there is an important difference between receiving support and plugging into or draining others. As we begin to heal we begin to find the leaks within our bodies and take back our power.

Uncording

Here’s something that might not be easy to hear: I believe we can also form cords with people we dislike or judge by unconsciously focusing our energy on them in a negative way. As far as we know, when we judge someone, it is often the very thing we need to work on in ourselves.

The Bible says, “And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?” (Matthew 7: 3–5, KJV). When you catch yourself thinking about another person in an inharmonious way, ground those thoughts into the earth and call your energy back from the connection. Out of love or fear, intense thoughts and feelings can connect us to others in a way that doesn’t always serve us. In moments when you feel triggered by another person, control your breath and tighten and center in your solar plexus, the part of your belly between the belly button and rib cage. Notice how centering in your solar plexus can control the feelings. Then you can take responsibility for what may be coming up to examine.

Uncording Exercise

Find a quiet space and do some deep breathing. Center the breath in your solar plexus. Consciously soften the eyes and follow the nerves, which travel behind the eyes back into the brain, and soften them as well. Soften the jaw, and soften the nape of the neck, where the spine links into the brain. You can use the visual of melting butter or cotton candy, or picture the head melting into the heart. Keep your focus on your breath, then send a grounding cord from your sacrum down to the center of Earth. It may have a particular color, tone, or texture to it, or it may just be a cord of light. When you have relaxed and are grounded, ask yourself, “Who is it that I need to get clear in my energy with?” Or “Who am I linked into in an unhealthy way?” Let whoever pops into your mind be the first one you work with. Do some more deep breathing. Imagine yourself bowing to them and giving thanks for what you learned from the connection. Send them as much unconditional love as you can muster. See them happy and whole. Hold them like a baby. Bless them.

With an imaginary golden sword, gently cut or release any “cords” or energy from your heart or solar plexus, you have been holding that is not yours. Imagine the edges of the sword are molten, and quickly burn through anything. Allow any old energy to begin to flow down your grounding cord from your tailbone, toward Earth. Feel what energy resides in your body that is associated with that person and allow it to pulsate from the sacrum down to Earth, releasing the person’s energy, which no longer serves you or belongs in your system. Feel the energy pulsing and spiraling down as it releases, knowing that the energy is being returned to that person purified by that molten lava core of Earth. Let gravity take it down to be melted, and trust that core fire can purify it. When the pulsation begins to lessen, and it feels like you have released the old energy, begin to call your energy back from that person consciously. Feel your energy coming in through your whole being—your arms, back, head, and legs. You will feel a pulsation of your energy returning to your body. Breathe into that.

When you feel complete, bow again to that person, and thank them for the learning. As best as you can, forgive them, and forgive yourself. Allow any tears that come to flow. Take some deep breaths and return to adoring your own heart. Remember, your love is the best. Then complete the exercise by visualizing a protective bubble of the violet flame around your body. Pray that the connection will come to a higher and more harmonious way, and the energy comes back into a proper balance. Remember that you are entirely capable of “survival” without that person. “I am powerful and capable.” Take a deep breath.

It doesn’t mean we have to end the relationship with the person, but that we should begin to let go of the old conditional or “parasitic energy” and allow a new frequency to form.

Repeat this exercise as many times as necessary. I have a teacher who suggests grounding the energy of your spouse or partner daily, to keep unhealthy cords from forming. This exercise is safe to do as often as you need it. It is essentially a way of clearing out any energy that is not you, to return to your own essence. “Forgiveness is at the heart of self-love.” If you still feel anger or grief, that is normal.

Forgiveness is like a path through the forest. Keep walking that path. I believe there is a magnificent light that dwells inside your being, and that is you. That is who you truly are, so begin by turning your love toward that by being affectionate to your heart and your divinity. You are going to be with you forever. By genuinely loving ourselves we can begin to unconditionally forgive the past and start healthily loving others in the present. In my experience we can’t force forgiveness, but if we keep working with forgiveness as a practice, the fruit may ripen quicker, and fall off when ready. Letting go takes time.