Whispering Wyrd

People use different tools to help them heal, and if something truly helps, then it is good.

As I’ve written before, getting off alcohol was hard, but getting off benzodiazepines was even harder. The withdrawal hurt me badly and left scars I’m still healing from, but I’m doing better each day.

Everyone in my recovery group leans on their spirituality to make it through. I’m no different. Every day I go out into nature to connect with what I view as sacred. In my eyes, everything, every tree, stone, river, and creature has consciousness, has Spirit, and therefore is sacred.

The mountains especially call to me. When I walk through the mountain forests, I find peace there. The ravens are my companions. I hear their calls echo through the canyons, I see them play, and I feel them watching me as I watch them. Their presence reminds me that intelligence, awareness, and connection are everywhere.

Runes are also an important part of my healing. I don’t see them as “Viking symbols.”
Yes, the raiders and pirates of old Scandinavia used them, but so did ordinary people, the Scandinavians, the Anglo-Saxons, the continental Germanic tribes, the Dutch, and even the early Slavs. It makes me sad that today the runes are often reduced to “Viking imagery” or worse, twisted by nationalists and racists.

To me, the runes are alive. You can work with them, but not command them. I approach them with the same respect I offer the mountains, rivers, and forests. When I draw or sing a rune, I ask for its help in healing, and it responds. Each rune carries a current of energy, forces that can guide and sustain us through recovery.

Three runes have become central to my journey:

• Uruz… the raw, untamed, and primal life force that helped me survive acute withdrawal.
• Ansuz… the breath of divine communication, guiding clarity of thought and expression.
• Wunjo… the joy, harmony, and hope that now fills my days. It’s the rune I’ve chosen as my site’s icon.

I work with others as well, but these three have been the most supportive through the hardest parts of my recovery.

Healing is a deeply personal path. What works for one person might not work for another, and that’s fine. For me, blending ancient, holistic practices with modern medical guidance has been essential. I continue to follow my doctor’s advice while also honoring and using spiritual and nature-based healing. Together, they form the bridge that’s carrying me forward.

Getting clean from all substances is the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but the rewards are profound. For the first time in decades, I can think clearly. I’m no longer consumed by anger or emotional pain.

I wake up with gratitude now, and I genuinely enjoy being alive.

If you’ve gone through something similar, I’d love to hear what helped you heal, and what gave you strength when it was hard to go on.