The Second Wound PDF

The Second Wound
Russ Littau
Copyright 2015
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-9918218-2-2
DEDICATION
I often share with my students that I do my best work

when I'm not there. When I clear my mind, listen, and to
the best of my ability share what I'm "hearing" with as
much clarity as possible is when the true value presents
itself. You see, I'm not the source of the nuggets of
wisdom in this book, just the transcriber.
I dedicate this book to every person, place, thing and event

that have played their own unique role as a teacher,
mentor, disciplinarian, and inspirer along my own personal
journey of healing and evolving.
Contents
enter the wound ............................................................. 4
now the vicious cycle starts ............................................ 7
revealing the error of our choice .................................... 9
making matters worse .................................................. 13
so what do we do?........................................................ 16
resist the urge to chase your healing ........................... 19
a marathon not a hundred yard dash........................... 21
discovering the dna of our wound ............................... 23
what does a "me" without the wound look like? ......... 30
everything has a cost .................................................... 32
the best news you'll hear today ................................... 36
enter the wound
We have a map called the Seven Steps of

Healing and Growth that has, strangely
enough, seven steps. :)
One of them is called Healing the Wound. In

this step we have discovered we have a
wound that desires to be healed. One of the
first, and most powerful, steps is identifying
the wound for what it truly is.
4
THE SECOND WOUND - Russ Littau
I think we often look at a wound in our

physical, or emotional, body as something
that is inherently "wrong" or broken. When
we choose that perspective it usually
doesn't take very long before we have
decided that we are wounded or broken. As
we continue to focus on this chosen
perspective we start to interact with our
world as one who is wounded and broken
and guess what, in short order our external
circumstances begin to validate our internal
choice. In a crazy way it's comforting when
this occurs because it confirms our choice.
We silently say to our external
circumstances and the players in it: "See I
told you I was the victim. I told you I was
broken. I told you I'm never enough". I
recently saw a biography of one of my
5
favorite comedic actors that was published

after his death. It was titled "I told you I
was Sick".
6
now the vicious cycle starts
Once we have stepped onto this merry-go-

round of creation we quickly forget what
started the whole thing in the first place. It
was our choice. Notice how in the preceding
paragraph I've use the word "choice" a lot?
That's because, whether we realize it or not,
at some point in this creative cycle we have
chosen who we will be. We have chosen the
perspective we are going to predominantly
take. I'm not saying it wasn't a very easy
choice. We are immersed in a world, and
7
taught incessantly, that we are a victim of

our circumstances, that we are a creation of
our environment. It is a far too easy choice
to conclude that until, or unless, we can
somehow change things in our external
world we are stuck with the wound, which
has now become our very identity.
8
revealing the error of our choice
So, let's choose a different perspective. I

totally agree and acknowledge that the
wound is real, relevant, and does play a
powerful role in our current circumstances.
However, it's only an actor and not the
whole play. While it can often be quite
limiting in many ways, once we understand
what it truly is and frame it within that
light, it transforms from an obstacle to a
gate way.
9
A wound is simply a wound; nothing more,

nothing less. As I write this post I'm on the
train making my way to San Diego from
Anaheim. When I arrive at my destination
I'll be walking along the water front in the
downtown harbor. If I happen to stub my
toe on a rock, or maybe even scrape it, I
now possess a wound. It probably won't be
comfortable and may even hamper me for
awhile, however it is just a wound. It is not
who I am. It has not magically become
omnipotent and omnipresence, telling me in
excruciating detail who I am, how I will feel,
and what I choose to do.
10
I'm not saying I have to like it, or even enjoy

its presence but I understand what it is.
Temporary and transient. Why? Because I
know that my body contains the inherent
wisdom and tools to heal the wound. I don't
have to run herd over the infinite
mechanisms my body employs to return, in
this case my toe, to its originally majesty. :) I
know that I don't have to summon up a
legion of angels to leap to my defense and
forcibly remove the demon of illness that
has invaded my body.
I simply allow my body to do what it knows

to do - heal the wound. I can, however, play
a role in the healing process by protecting
the wound. If it was a contusion I may put a
bandage on it. If it was a slight sprain I may
11
resist putting undue torque on my foot, but

I'm not healing it. I'm supporting it in its
naturally path to restoration.
12
making matters worse
Here's what I could do though. If it was a

break in my skin I could choose not to put a
bandage on it. I could choose to put
increased pressure and strain on my sprain.
I could take a cup of unclean water and
bathe my open wound in it. I could choose
to do that, however I'm thinking I probably
wouldn't. I mean that's just crazy! Why
would I continue to introduce trauma to the
wound? That would only hamper the
healing process and quite likely make it
worse. It could even become infected and
13
spread to other areas of my body, maybe

even my blood, which would then circulate
the infection throughout my entire body.
That's crazy.
But, in so many cases, that's exactly what

we do to the wounds in our lives. You see a
wound is simply "something" that is not an
intrinsic part of who you really are. As a
matter of fact, that's the reason you notice
it in the first place. It is not a true
representation of who you are. It's an
anomaly, and as such stands out like a sore
thumb, or toe :). That being the case, if we
would simply leave it be it would naturally
heal itself and the undesired effect it has in
our daily experience would disappear.
14
But we don't. In ways as ridiculous as the

ones I mentioned early, we not only
interfere with the healing process, we
actually re-traumatize the wound. I think
often it's because we don't realize, or trust,
that it will, and can, heal itself. We have
decided, if we don't ruthlessly attack
whatever this wound is it will quickly
become permanent. An undesired
foundation upon which our entire life will be
constructed. Even though our intentions
may be pure, the results are far from it.
15
so what do we do?
Our job in the healing process is to create

and maintain an environment that supports
the healing process. We don't consciously
actually heal the wound, we support the
healing process. How do we do that? Like
most of the profound understandings in life
it is very simple. Rather than launching into
the restless pursuit of exercising the demons
choose to nurture ourselves in any way we
can. Simply do whatever we can that, for us,
16
causes us to feel good - nurture the wound

rather than trying to destroy it.
Make peace with it. It is not the enemy so

we don't have to force it to surrender to us
nor do we surrender to it. We simply make
peace with it. It proverbially "is what it is".
Be with it, don't agree with its truth or
argue against it. Simply be with it.
In the case of my hypothetical sprained toe I

would do my best to not apply too much
external stress. I may adjust my activities for
awhile. Notice I said awhile, not forever.
Here's what many people do. They adjust or
limit their activities not for the temporary
purpose of supporting the healing, but as an
admission of the permanency of the
17
condition. Healing is always transient. It's a

very real and vital process but it's not a
persistent state. It's not a life or sentence, or
maybe more accurately an end of life
sentence. So often the arena of potentials in
our life becomes very small. Much like a
prison cell in a very large and scary
institution which keeps the very things we're
looking for in life at bay. We can gaze out
through the bars of the miniscule window,
all the while knowing we can never venture
out and wander through them. Why?
Because of our wound. The wound that we
have now given the power of life and death
to.
18
resist the urge to chase your healing
Choose to trust in your own inherent ability

to heal. You don't have to go looking for it,
just create a welcoming environment for it
to find you. When I was young I participated
in a boy's club called Scouts. During our
wilderness training one of things we were
taught was if you get lost not to wander
around trying to find your way out.
Especially if you were in unfamiliar territory.
The rule was to create an environment that
was as safe as possible and wait. The rest of
19
the group would be looking for you and

would inevitably find you. So often, we were
told, rescue parties would find evidence of
where the rescues were but they had long
since left. It could quickly turn into a viscous
game of cat and mouse that could easily
conclude with a less than happy ending.
When we are allowing a wound to heal our

focus should be on nurturing and support in
a way that we can maintain for as long as it
takes.
20
a marathon not a hundred yard dash
Another tact that many do is launch into a

herculean effort of meditation,
visualization, yoga, affirmations, fasting,
etc. because we think if a little is good more
must be better. While fundamentally this is
true the problem comes in maintaining it for
extended periods of time. I don't know
exactly how long it will take for my
hypothetical foot to heal so I'm going to
continue to focus on protecting and
nurturing it until I notice that the pain,
21
stiffness, and limited movement has

disappeared. If I try and return it to full duty
too soon, I quite likely will hinder, or even
stop the healing process and may even re-
injure it. When creating your healing
environment it's important to choose a pace
that you can maintain for as long as it
takes. Testing but not taxing the wound as
we go. I find often the best tactic is to do
our best to "forget about it" and focus on
our part, which is the favorable
environment.
22
discovering the dna of our wound
Where, invariably, does the wound live in

our own personal experience cycle? It's in
our thoughts. The themes of our thoughts
invariably create the structure upon which
our external "reality" is built. The physical
limitations that we notice are a direct result
or reflection of our internal thoughts. Not
just one thought but the sum total of the
theme of our thoughts.
23
It has been said that each day we have

upwards of 60,000 thoughts. However,
tomorrow we'll have the same 60,000
thoughts we had today. If we stopped and
simply observed our thoughts we would
soon start to see themes or patterns in
them.
As an example, if you sorted out all the

thoughts related to finances you would
probably see a common theme among
them. Maybe the theme is "money is hard
to accumulate and impossible to maintain"
or it could be the reverse "money comes
easily to me and I always seem to have
more than enough". We're not delineating
good or bad themes, just themes. When
you're paying a bill or looking at your bank
24
account what is the flavoring of your

internal dialog? I believe as you practice this
observation you will quickly start to identify
your own.
Why is this important? These themes create

the rules or truths that dictate your external
world. Again, they are not good or bad just
powerful. A wound is simply a truth that
doesn't serve you anymore, or you've
outgrown it. Now, in the case of my
sprained toe it never did serve me but
regardless of how, when, or why I received
the wound, I have it now and the important
thing is what am I going to do with it?
As I mentioned earlier, often people choose

to limit their lifestyle in reverence to their
25
wound. They don't like it but they know that

it is a truth for them. Unchanging and
unwanted, but regardless a companion that
will walk with them for the remainder of
their life.
If we would only understand the role these

thought themes have in creating our world I
think we would first be shocked at how
many of the people, places, and events that
we were so sure caused all the troubles in
our lives were nothing more than a
convenient focus of our wrath and
condemnation. In so many ways, the
reasons they are there in the first place is
we have called them. Not through our
words or actions, not through our victories
26
or our defeats, but through the persistency

of our thoughts.
The landscape of our thoughts truly is the

birthplace of your world. Notice I didn't say
the world, I didn't say even my world, but
your world. I think that's an importance
distinction to make. The inner landscape of
my thoughts create my world and nobody
else's. For the purposes of this conversation
I'm not saying an errant thought wandering
through the recesses of your mind causes a
natural disaster on the other side of the
world, or some poor soul to be mugged in
the back streets of a major city. However, a
persistent focusing on a particular theme of
thoughts has profound creative effects in
your world.
27
When we are supporting the healing of our

wound we see the effects of that reflected
back in our world, which is really all that
matters anyway. I honestly believe, if "all"
we do is focus on changing our world and
whoever/whatever may appear in it the rest
will tend to take care of itself.
I often watch movies and a line from one of

my favorite sci-fi flicks comes to mind. In it
this small team of people were travelling to
the centre of the earth to restore the core
which had stopped spinning. Pandemonium
reigned supreme on the surface with all
sorts of horrific natural disasters. They
discovered the cause of this was that the
core of the earth had stopped spinning.
28
The earth had a wound.
As there were tunneling their way

downward one of the actors said "So it's our
job to save the whole world? How do you
wrap your mind around that!". One of the
other team members, who had a wife and
two children, responded "Oh no, I can't save
the world that's way too big. I could never
do that. I'm only trying to save three of
them." In many ways that's exactly what
we're doing with our wound. Only trying to
save our piece of humanity. That's all we've
ever been asked to do.
29
what does a "me" without the wound

look like?
What would your world look like if you don't

have the wounds in your mind? If you had
the opportunity to create Utopia what
would it look like? At first that may seem
like all too easy a question but it's been my
experience it's far from it. So often, we
spend so much time focusing on the wound
and lamenting to all who will listen how
hard done by we are. we've never really
spent quality time deciding what we would
like to see replace it.
30
Again we come back to a choice. If you're

waiting for everything to be hunky dory on
the outside and inside before you start
thinking of these fanciful things it's my
suggestion that you'll be waiting a long
time. For so long you've relinquished your
option of choosing to your wound that
you've forgotten what you've even
forgotten. The initial steps of starting to
choose, and choose again, what you would
like your world to look like, is often a
transient and tricky balance. Like trying to
unlearn a bad habit that's ingrained in your
very DNA.
31
everything has a cost
As soon as you start to choose and create a

new future guess what your wound is going
to do? Yup, hurt like a son of gun. I don't
know how many of you have taken physical
therapy to rehab an injury you sustained in
your body, but it can darn well hurt. The
muscles tissues, tendons, and ligaments
have become frozen into the grotesque
shapes of your wound and now consider
that to be home. It's the only way to live as
far as they're concerned. Anything different
32
is frankly absurd to them, unnatural in some

many ways, and they will let you know.
How does this manifest when you're

supporting the healing process of a outlived
truth? In your mind, of course. That's
where the root of the wound resides. As you
start to think differently, dream differently,
choose differently and then, heaven forbid,
start to act out in accordance with your new
choices and desires, count on them showing
up hard and fast.
Here's where you can often provide the

most assistance in the healing process. First
comes understanding. The ranting of your
mind are all part of the healing process.
Even though some teachings tell us we must
33
swiftly annihilate these demons upon sight

they are actually a very valuable and
welcome indicator that things are in the
process of changing. Our best course of
action is just to let them be. Don't engage
them, don't argue with them, don't agree
with them. Just let them be.
You do your part. Choosing the new

direction and implementing it in whatever
ways you can. Stressing but not straining.
Encouraging but not driving. Acknowledging
the aches and pains of the healing process
and allowing them to do what they know
how to do.... leave. When we fight with
them, or agree with them, we are very
effectively holding on to their shirtsleeves
begging them to stay. Again, this makes no
34
sense but so often that's exactly what we

do.
As we persist and maintain an environment

that doesn't hinder our natural healing
process and maybe even support it, these
wounds will, with mathematical certainty,
heal and restores themselves, and us, to our
original glory.
As a matter of fact, one of the most and
maybe the only way to evolve grow and
expand is through the healing of our
wounds. Notice I didn't say skirting around
them. I didn't say stamping them into
oblivion. I didn't say run away from them
like they're the plague. I didn't say agree
with their way of thinking and campaign for
them.
35
the best news you'll hear today
I said, grow through them, for our wounds

are the transformational doorway into a
bigger, better, and profoundly expanded
view of your world. That place we have so
desperately searched for, yearned for,
fought for, and in many cases giving up ever
finding, is just on the other side of a wound.
As a matter of fact, in true discloser, the

wound is the raw materials upon which the
new version of you is constructed. The same
36
root materials that created the wound

actually transform and re-arrange
themselves into your dreams, hopes, and
desires.
We often view them as something that

leaves, and I've initially spoke of them in
that context earlier in this article. However,
from a larger, and frankly more accurate
perspective, they truly are a gateway. One
that is not always pleasant, and often has
some degree of discomfort and even pain,
but nevertheless a doorway. For those who
choose to run towards instead of away from
them, it is the best pain they will ever
experience. They understand that the pain
and discomfort of supporting the healing of
a wound is actually the birthing pains of a
37
brand new tomorrow. One that, while often

fantasized about, was always just slightly
out of our grasp or maybe light worlds
away, such that we quit thinking about
thinking about them.
However they're not. As a matter of fact,

they are trying to embrace you as much as
you are chasing them.
All you need to know
For myself the path to power and peace is a

three step process.
First: understanding the landscape of the

experience we're trying to figure out. In this
case how we allow, or even choose our
38
wounds to be created and the role they play

in our lives.
The second step is birthed from the first.

When we have understanding we now have
the power to choose something different.
Before understanding, in many ways, we
were randomly taking shots in the dark
hoping something, anything, may work.
Usually with varying degrees of success.
Now that we have an understanding we

can make different choices which will, with
mathematically certainty, create very
different outcomes.
The third step ..... well you actually have

very little to do with that one. You see, the
39
third step is completely out of your control.

This step resides comfortably with your own
psyche. I can offer the understandings. I can
suggest new choices.
But I can't make them for you.
That's your opportunity and reasonability.

Only you can change your world in profound
long lasting ways. Only you. If you created
your world with all its blemishes and
wounds, it also means you can re-create it.
And that changes everything.
And that's the best news you'll hear today.
40
It is your inalienable right and responsibility

to choose.
I think sometimes we forget that
"Russ Littau"
41
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
www.russlittau.com
Russ Littau is the founder of The Healing Center located

in Alberta Canada. He is the lead instructor and
coordinator for teaching *Reiki Certification classes
through in house sessions at their home offices as well as
powerful spiritual weekend retreats in energetically charged
locations throughout the world. Over the span of ten
years Russ has established himself as an expert in all areas
of Spirituality, Reiki, energy medicine, and Meditation.
He is also the creator of Geometryxs, a wide series of

maps and charts that take often difficult to conceptualize
and apply principles of life and condense them into
powerful tools we can use in our daily lives
42

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The Second Wound

I often share with my students that I do my best work

I dedicate this book to every person, place, thing and event

We have a map called the Seven Steps of

One of them is called Healing the Wound. In

I think we often look at a wound in our

favorite comedic actors that was published

now the vicious cycle starts

Once we have stepped onto this merry-go-

taught incessantly, that we are a victim of

revealing the error of our choice

So, let's choose a different perspective. I

A wound is simply a wound; nothing more,

I'm not saying I have to like it, or even enjoy

I simply allow my body to do what it knows

resist putting undue torque on my foot, but

making matters worse

Here's what I could do though. If it was a

spread to other areas of my body, maybe

But, in so many cases, that's exactly what

But we don't. In ways as ridiculous as the

Our job in the healing process is to create

causes us to feel good - nurture the wound

Make peace with it. It is not the enemy so

In the case of my hypothetical sprained toe I

condition. Healing is always transient. It's a

resist the urge to chase your healing

Choose to trust in your own inherent ability

the group would be looking for you and

When we are allowing a wound to heal our

a marathon not a hundred yard dash

Another tact that many do is launch into a

stiffness, and limited movement has

discovering the dna of our wound

Where, invariably, does the wound live in

It has been said that each day we have

As an example, if you sorted out all the

account what is the flavoring of your

Why is this important? These themes create

As I mentioned earlier, often people choose

wound. They don't like it but they know that

If we would only understand the role these

or our defeats, but through the persistency

The landscape of our thoughts truly is the

When we are supporting the healing of our

I often watch movies and a line from one of

The earth had a wound.

As there were tunneling their way

what does a "me" without the wound

What would your world look like if you don't

Again we come back to a choice. If you're

everything has a cost

As soon as you start to choose and create a

is frankly absurd to them, unnatural in some

How does this manifest when you're

Here's where you can often provide the

swiftly annihilate these demons upon sight

You do your part. Choosing the new

sense but so often that's exactly what we

As we persist and maintain an environment

the best news you'll hear today

I said, grow through them, for our wounds

As a matter of fact, in true discloser, the