Betrayal Trauma

And as you settle in, allowing your body to find that perfect position of comfort and ease, you can begin to just… notice… the gentle rhythm of your own breathing. And you don’t have to change a thing, simply noticing the air as it enters, and the sense of release as it leaves… in and out… a natural, easy rhythm that has been with you always… a rhythm that knows the way to relaxation all by itself. And with each breath you exhale, you might just allow your shoulders to soften a little more… letting go of the day… letting go of any tension you might have been holding… just letting it drift away… like a cloud passing in a quiet sky. Your eyelids can feel heavy, so very heavy, and it feels good to just let them close… to shut out the world for a little while and to go on a journey inward… to a place of peace and profound understanding.

I wonder if you can imagine… or perhaps just sense… a magnificent and ancient castle standing on a hill. It’s a place you know, deep within you, a place of immense strength and enduring history. This isn’t just any castle… this is your castle. A sanctuary. A fortress of solitude and quiet power. You may see it at dawn, with mist swirling around its base and the first rays of sun catching the tops of the highest towers… or perhaps it’s a warm afternoon, with the old grey stone basking in a golden light. It doesn’t matter… because it is your place… and you can be there now.

Before you are the great oak doors, bound with iron that has seen centuries come and go. And as you approach, you notice they swing open silently, effortlessly, welcoming you inside. And as you step across the threshold, you leave the outside world behind… and a feeling of profound peace envelops you… a quiet stillness that you can feel soaking into your very being. You are safe here. You find yourself in a great hall, and high above, great wooden beams hold the roof, strong and certain. Sunlight streams through tall, arched windows, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air like tiny, golden sprites. And the air itself smells of old stone, of woodsmoke, and of time itself. And as you breathe in this air, you feel yourself relaxing even more deeply… going deeper and deeper into this state of wonderful calm.

And you find your feet carrying you, without any conscious thought at all, down a quiet corridor, the sound of your footsteps a soft echo on the ancient flagstones. You come to a small, circular room in one of the castle's towers. It feels private, secure. A comfortable, high-backed chair is positioned before a hearth where a gentle fire crackles and dances, casting flickering shadows that move like memories on the curved stone walls. And you can sit in that chair, feeling its solid support beneath you, and you can wrap a soft, warm blanket around your shoulders, feeling utterly safe and protected within these thick castle walls. And as you sit here, in the quiet comfort of your own private sanctuary, you can allow yourself to acknowledge, with gentleness and with kindness, the reason you have come on this journey today. There has been a wound… a deep and painful wound caused by a betrayal of trust. And that is a heavy thing to carry. It’s like a stone that was placed in your path, and for a long time, it has been difficult to see around it, to move past it. The trust that was broken was a foundation, and when it shattered, it sent tremors through so many other parts of your life. It is entirely natural, and so very human, to feel the shock, the pain, the confusion that follows. That sense of being unmoored, of questioning what was real and what was not. It’s a profound and disorienting experience, and your subconscious mind, in its wisdom, has been trying to protect you ever since, perhaps by building walls of its own, by being wary, by trying to make sense of something that felt senseless. You can honour that part of you for trying to keep you safe. And it’s okay to have felt that way. It’s okay to acknowledge the anger, the sadness, the deep, aching grief that comes when something precious is lost in such a way. Here, in this safe and quiet room, you don’t have to pretend. You don’t have to be strong for anyone. You can simply be with the truth of that experience, knowing that acknowledging the wound is the first step toward healing it. It’s like a skilled artisan looking at a crack in a beautiful vase… they don’t deny the crack is there. They see it, they understand its nature, and only then can they begin the delicate and beautiful process of repair, often making the vase even stronger and more unique than before. And that pain you have felt is real. The questions that have haunted you are valid. The sense of isolation is understandable. And you have carried that for long enough. Today is about setting that weight down, right here, by this warm and comforting fire, and allowing a new chapter to begin. A chapter where that stone in your path becomes a stepping stone, and where the story of betrayal is no longer the main story, but simply a single chapter in a very long and beautiful book about your resilience, your strength, and your capacity to heal and to trust once more… starting with the most important trust of all… the trust in yourself.

And I can understand, and your own deeper mind can certainly understand, how a shadow can fall upon one's world after such an experience. It’s a journey that can feel incredibly lonely, as if you are speaking a language of pain that no one else can truly comprehend. People may offer words, they may offer advice, but the unique shape of your hurt, the specific way that trust was fractured, is something that you have lived with intimately. It’s like walking through a landscape that was once familiar and vibrant, a place of sun and colour, only to find it has been altered. The paths are uncertain, the landmarks have shifted, and a chill has entered the air. And it is completely understandable to have felt lost in that changed landscape, to have hesitated, to have felt that deep and profound sense of disillusionment. To have made the decision to take this journey, to step into this castle, to sit in this room, is a testament to your courage. It is a brave and powerful act of self-compassion to say, "I deserve to heal from this. I deserve to find my way back to a place of inner peace and strength." Many have walked paths of sorrow, but your path is your own, and the strength you have shown simply by enduring, by continuing to get up each day, by breathing in and out while carrying that weight… that is a strength that is quiet, immense, and deeply worthy of respect. Your desire to move forward, to let go not of the lesson but of the pain, comes from a place of profound self-love, even if you haven't been calling it that. It is a recognition that you deserve to live a life that is not defined by a past injury, but is shaped by your own choices, your own values, and your own incredible spirit. And it's okay to acknowledge that it has been hard. It’s okay to honour the struggle. Because in honouring the struggle, you also honour the incredible strength you have demonstrated just by being here, now, ready to turn the page. You are not alone on this journey. The wisdom of this old castle is with you, the strength of its walls is around you, and the deepest, wisest part of yourself is here, ready to guide you. And that wise part of you knows the way. It has been waiting, patiently, for you to be ready. And now is the time.

Now, as you continue to sit there, feeling the comforting warmth from the fire on your skin, I’d like you to let your gaze drift around this tower room. On the ancient, curved walls, there are magnificent tapestries hanging. They are woven with threads of silver and gold and every colour imaginable, depicting scenes of courage, of creation, of journeys undertaken and completed. They are not your memories, but they are stories of success, of achievement, of moments of great pride and accomplishment. And as your eyes scan across these woven tales, I want you to allow your subconscious mind, that vast and brilliant library of all your experiences, to drift back through time, searching for a memory of your own. A time when you set your mind to something and you succeeded. It does not need to be a grand achievement that the world would celebrate. It could be something quiet, something personal. Perhaps learning a new skill, solving a difficult problem, creating something beautiful with your hands. It could be a time you overcame a fear, or helped someone in need, or reached a goal you had set for yourself, no matter how small it seemed. Your subconscious mind knows exactly the right memory to bring forward for you now… a memory that is perfect for this moment. And as that memory begins to surface, just allow one of the tapestries on the wall to become the screen for it. The image might become clear… you might see the place, the colours, the details of that time. You might hear the sounds associated with it… or perhaps you’ll just have a feeling, a sense, a knowing. Let that memory come to you now. See yourself in that moment of success. Remember the feeling of determination, the focus, the effort you put in. And then… remember the moment of completion. The moment you realised… "I did it." Allow yourself to reconnect with that feeling of satisfaction, that sense of empowerment, that quiet, powerful pride that came with knowing you had accomplished what you set out to do. You have done this before. You have faced challenges and you have triumphed. You have set goals and you have met them. That same person, with that same inner strength and resourcefulness, is the person sitting in this chair right now. That strength hasn't gone anywhere. That capability has not vanished. It is part of you. It is woven into the very fabric of who you are, just as surely as these stories are woven into these ancient tapestries. And you can take a moment now, to really be with that successful version of yourself, to remember and to know that this power to achieve, to overcome, and to succeed is a fundamental part of you.

And as you hold that memory, that image on the tapestry, I want you to step into it. Go right inside that woven picture and be there again, in that moment, as if it were happening right now. Feel the ground beneath your feet. Notice the temperature of the air on your skin. What can you see around you? What can you hear? And most importantly, allow that feeling of success to wash over you, to fill you up completely. Feel it as a physical sensation. Where in your body do you feel it most strongly? Perhaps it’s a warmth that spreads through your chest, a lightness in your heart, a feeling of expansion in your shoulders. Maybe it’s a tingling sensation in your hands, or a sense of solidity and groundedness in your legs. Just notice it. Notice how good it feels. This feeling is real. It is yours. This is the feeling of your own personal power, your own competence, your own inherent worth. Let that feeling grow stronger, more vibrant. Let it expand with every breath you take, filling every cell, every nerve, every fibre of your being. This is the truth of who you are. You are a person who can succeed. You are a person who can achieve. You are a person who can overcome. Let the pride of that accomplishment be present with you now. Let the satisfaction of it soothe you. This feeling is a powerful resource, a wellspring of strength that you can draw upon whenever you need it. It is a reminder of what you are capable of, a reminder of your own resilience. And you can let that feeling become so strong, so powerful, that it becomes the most dominant feeling in your awareness right now, eclipsing everything else. Just for this moment, there is only this wonderful, powerful, undeniable feeling of success. Breathe it in. Let it become a part of you, because it has always been a part of you. You are just remembering it now. And it’s a wonderful thing to remember, isn’t it?

And now, as this powerful feeling of success and accomplishment reaches its absolute peak… as it fills you from the top of your head to the tips of your toes… I want you to reach out, in your mind, to the stone mantelpiece above the crackling fire. Your fingers will find a small, smooth, dark stone resting there. It has been warmed by the fire and it fits perfectly in the palm of your hand. It is ancient, solid, and real. As you hold onto this feeling of success, at its most intense, I want you to close your hand around that stone. Feel its weight, its comforting warmth, its incredible smoothness. And as you do this, I want you to touch the thumb and forefinger of your dominant hand together, gently but firmly, pressing them together and creating a physical link to this very moment. This simple gesture, this touch, is now connected to this profound feeling of success, this memory of your strength, this sensation of pride and competence. They are linked. They are one. (Pause).

Now, you can let the feeling soften, just for a moment, and release your fingers. And you can let the image of the stone fade. Just allow yourself to return to the gentle awareness of the room, the fire, the quiet. (Pause).

And now, let’s do that again. Bring back that memory of success. Let it fill the tapestry once more. Step inside it. Feel that incredible feeling of accomplishment begin to build and grow, stronger and stronger, more and more powerful. And as it reaches its peak, that absolute pinnacle of pride and satisfaction… now… touch your thumb and forefinger together again. And feel how that simple touch instantly amplifies the feeling, making it even more vivid, more present, more real. The warmth of the stone in your hand, the power of the memory in your mind, the feeling of success in your body, all connected, all anchored to this one, simple gesture. This is your anchor. This is your personal touchstone of strength. (Pause).

Let’s try it one more time, just to make it certain, to make it strong. Let the feeling fade. And now, from a place of simple calm, just touch your thumb and forefinger together. And notice… notice how the feeling of success, of competence, of pride, immediately begins to flow back into you. It might be a flood, or it might be a gentle wave, but it is there. Because your wise subconscious mind has learned this connection perfectly. From this moment on, anytime, anywhere, you find yourself needing to remember your own strength, needing to connect with your own power, all you have to do is gently press your thumb and forefinger together. And this powerful feeling of success and capability will return to you, reminding you of the truth of who you are. It is your private signal to your own mind that you are strong, you are capable, and you can handle whatever comes your way. It is a tool, a gift that you have given yourself today, a way to instantly access the very best of yourself whenever you choose.

And now, with that anchor securely in place, you can leave that comfortable chair and the warm fire behind for a little while. You find yourself walking up a winding stone staircase, the air growing cooler and fresher with each step. The stairs spiral upwards, inside one of the castle's mightiest towers, and you climb them with a sense of ease and lightness. You are ascending, moving up to a new perspective. Finally, you emerge out onto the open battlements at the very top of the castle. The sky above is vast and blue, and a gentle breeze greets you. From this high vantage point, you can see for miles in every direction. The world unfolds below you like a map: forests, rivers, fields, and distant hills. You are above it all, the observer, safe and secure in your fortress. And as you stand here, feeling the solid stone beneath your feet and the vast openness around you, I want you to let your mind drift back to a time in your life when you felt completely in control. A time when you made a clear decision that was absolutely right for you, and you acted on it. It might have been a big decision, a life-changing choice. Or it could have been a small, simple moment where you chose to say "no" to something that wasn't right for you, or "yes" to an opportunity that was. A time when you trusted your own judgment, your own intuition, and you followed through, regardless of what others might have thought. Remember that feeling of clarity, of certainty. The feeling of being the one at the helm of your own ship, steering your own course. It could be a memory of setting a boundary, of choosing to take care of your own well-being, of organizing a project, or simply of making a plan and seeing it through. Let your subconscious mind find the perfect memory of you being in control, of being the author of your own experience. Feel the quiet confidence that came with that, the sense of empowerment, the deep, inner knowing that you were doing what was best for you.

As you reconnect with that memory of being in control, I want you to notice how it feels in your body, right now, as you stand on this high tower. Perhaps you feel your spine straighten, your shoulders relax, your breathing become deeper and more steady. It might be a feeling of calm clarity in your mind, a sense of being centred and grounded, even in this high place. Allow that feeling of control to grow stronger, to expand and fill your entire being. This feeling is not about controlling others or controlling the world outside. It is about the profound and unshakable sense of inner control. The control over your own choices, your own reactions, your own inner world. You have always had this ability. You are simply remembering it now, connecting with it on a deeper level. From this vantage point, you can see any storms on the horizon long before they arrive. You are not down in the valley, surprised by the weather. You are here, in your tower, able to see, to choose, to prepare. You have the power to make decisions that serve you, that protect your peace, that lead you toward the life you truly want to live. Let this feeling of empowered, calm control settle within you. It is your birthright. It is who you are. You are in control of your choices, and therefore, you are in control of your destiny.

Now, I want you to really focus on this feeling of personal control. Let it become the central reality of this moment. Feel it in your mind, your heart, your gut. This is the feeling of sovereignty. You are the sovereign of this castle, the ruler of your own inner kingdom. You are the one who decides who and what enters your gates. You are the one who raises and lowers the drawbridge. You are the one who decides what to cultivate in your gardens and what to store in your storehouses. You have the ultimate authority over your own life. That power of choice was never taken from you, even when it felt like it was. The actions of others are theirs alone. Your power, your control, lies in how you choose to respond, how you choose to heal, and how you choose to move forward. And with that sense of control comes an immense freedom. The freedom to choose health. The freedom to choose peace. The freedom to choose to trust your own perceptions again. You have the power to build new foundations within yourself, foundations of self-respect, self-trust, and self-love. This castle, this great fortress of strength, is a metaphor for your own inner world, and you are its master. You are in control. And as you stand here, breathing in the clean, clear air, you can feel that truth resonating in every part of you. This is your life, your mind, your heart. And you are the one who determines how you live within it. Let that feeling of absolute personal control become your new foundation, a bedrock of certainty upon which you can build a future of your own design.

As you stand on the battlements, you can place your hand on the stone wall. Feel its texture under your fingertips. It is rough, weathered, and incredibly strong. This castle has stood for ages. It has endured raging storms, the harshest of winters, the heat of countless summers, and even the sieges of armies. It has been battered, but it has never fallen. Its foundations are driven deep into the bedrock of the hill, anchoring it with an unshakable stability. The walls are thick, built of massive stones, each one carefully chosen and placed by master craftsmen long ago. This castle is the epitome of strength, resilience, and enduring power. And just like this castle, you are built of incredible strength. Your roots, your essence, go deep into the earth, grounding you in your own being. A betrayal can feel like a siege, a battering ram against your walls. It may have left cracks and chipped the stone. It may have shaken the gates. But it did not, and could not, destroy the foundation. It did not, and could not, topple the towers. The core structure of who you are remains intact, strong, and sound. You have the strength to weather any storm, because you have already weathered this one. You bend, but you do not break. And now, you can become the master craftsman of your own being. You can learn to repair the walls, to mend the cracks, not with the same old mortar of fear and mistrust, but with a new, golden mortar of wisdom, self-compassion, and renewed strength. Each time you choose a healthy thought, each time you use your anchor, each time you remember your own power, you are adding another stone to the wall, making it stronger than before. Your own resilience is a powerful force, a quiet and immense power that has brought you this far and will carry you forward into a future of peace and security. You are as strong as this castle, and its enduring power is a reflection of your own.

And as you continue to feel that sense of strength and control, your subconscious mind can begin to accept and integrate new possibilities, new ways of being. You are discovering now what it means to be emotionally steady. You can find yourself responding to situations with a newfound calm, rather than reacting from a place of past pain. You can observe before you decide. Your mind is becoming a sanctuary of balance, a place of peaceful focus. And it is becoming easier and easier to stay composed, even in situations that once might have felt overwhelming. You are learning, at a very deep level, to trust your own perceptions again. You can trust your ability to discern, to see situations and people with clarity. That ability was never lost, it was only clouded by pain. And now the clouds are parting. And with each passing day, you will find that the old, painful memories of betrayal have less and less emotional charge. You can look at them as if you are looking at an old tapestry on the wall, a story from the past that you have learned from, but one that no longer has the power to cause you pain. The memory is there, but the sting is gone. And in its place is a quiet wisdom and a deep sense of your own strength.

Remember this castle. Remember the feeling of its solid walls, its deep foundations. Remember this is a reflection of the strength that lies within you. You have faced an immense challenge, and you have not only survived, you are now choosing to heal and to thrive. That is the definition of strength. It isn't the absence of wounds; it is the courage to heal them. This strength is always within you, a deep reservoir of power you can draw upon at any time. You are capable. You are powerful. You are resilient. And you are deeply committed to living a life that reflects your true values of peace, happiness, and self-respect. Never forget the strength it took to get you here today. It is more than enough to carry you into the wonderful future that awaits you.

And because you have this strength, this resilience, this deep inner wisdom, it is simply inevitable that you will succeed in this journey of healing. You possess all the capability, all the resources, all the determination you need to move beyond the pain of the past. It is not a question of if, but simply of when. And the "when" is now. The process has already begun. Each day, it will become easier and more natural for you to choose thoughts that empower you, to make choices that honour you, and to feel a sense of peace and control. This healing is not just a possibility; it is your new reality unfolding. You are on a path to wholeness, and nothing and no one can stand in your way, because you are the master of your path, the ruler of your castle. Every conscious choice you make, every breath you take with the intention to heal, brings you closer to that state of complete and lasting peace. It is inevitable.

And now, you can descend from the tower, feeling grounded and strong, and find your way to a part of the castle you have not yet seen. You open a small, unassuming door in a long wall, and step through into a secret garden. It is a beautiful, tranquil courtyard, hidden from the rest of the world, filled with sunlight and the scent of flowers. This is your private garden, a place no one else can enter without your express permission. The ground here may have been neglected for a time, but now you can see the potential. And you find yourself enjoying the simple, pleasurable task of tending to this garden. You can pull out the weeds of old resentments and bitterness, and it feels good to clear the soil. You can feel a quiet pride as you prepare the earth for new seeds. And you can plant whatever you choose here. Perhaps you plant seeds of self-love, which will grow into beautiful, fragrant roses. Maybe you plant seeds of joy, which will sprout as cheerful, sun-facing flowers. You can plant seeds of peace, of laughter, of creativity, of trust in yourself. And as you water these seeds with self-compassion, you can feel a deep sense of pleasure and satisfaction in this creative act. You take pride in the choices you are making, knowing that each one is a step toward creating a beautiful and vibrant inner life. And you can imagine yourself, in the near future, sitting in this beautiful, flourishing garden, surrounded by the beauty you have cultivated, feeling peaceful, happy, and immensely proud of the wonderful life you are creating for yourself.

And in a moment, as you begin the gentle journey back to full waking awareness, you will bring all of these wonderful resources with you. These feelings of strength, of control, and of pride will stay with you, integrated deep within your being. From this moment forward, whenever you gently touch your thumb and forefinger together, you will feel that immediate surge of quiet confidence and strength, a reminder that you are in control of your choices. Each time you see a beautiful, strong old building or a majestic tree, you may find yourself unconsciously reminded of your own deep resilience and strength. You will find that your sleep is deeper and more restorative, as your mind is calmer and your body more relaxed. You will awaken each morning feeling more refreshed, more optimistic, and more grounded in your own power. The old pain will continue to fade, becoming more and more distant, more and more irrelevant, while your sense of self-worth, peace, and excitement for your own future will grow stronger and brighter with each passing day.

And now… beginning the journey back… feeling more alert, aware of the room around you… bringing with you this incredible sense of calm, confidence, and control… feeling refreshed and energized, as if you’ve had the most perfect, restorative rest… your eyes are ready to open, your mind is clear and focused… and when you are ready… eyes open, wide awake, feeling strong, confident, and completely in control. Welcome back.