In any deep transformation work, whether it’s life coaching or Splankna, there comes a moment when the subconscious hits the brakes. Hard.
In Splankna, we call this “blowing circuits.” It’s when the emotional content becomes so overwhelming that the person’s internal system essentially shuts down to protect itself. All responses become incongruent, and the subconscious refuses to engage with the material that needs addressing.
I experienced this firsthand recently during my own session work. Despite being a Master level Splankna practitioner who understands the process intimately, my subconscious staged a complete rebellion when we approached certain content. I knew that whatever was on other side of the blockade was something that needed to be addressed. I knew it was keeping me stuck. But knowing and being able to push through are two different things.
This phenomenon isn’t unique to Splankna. In any transformational work, we encounter resistance when we get close to core wounds or limiting beliefs that the psyche has worked hard to protect. The subconscious, while meaning well, often treats emotional pain like physical danger. Its job is to keep us safe, even if that “safety” ultimately keeps us stuck.
Understanding resistance helps both practitioners and clients approach it with compassion rather than frustration. When someone can’t seem to move forward despite wanting change, it’s often not about lack of commitment or willpower. It’s about a protective mechanism that needs to feel safe enough to let go.
In my case, I had someone to hold space with me through the work. Having my friend A. (who is also a Splankna practitioner) sit virtually through my session, praying and listening for guidance, offered the safety my subconscious needed to engage with the difficult content. Could I have done it without her? Mostly likely, yes. But I could have easily decided there was too much resistance and used it as an excuse to not address the underlying issues. I *could* have sealed up the session, but I never had the chance. She pressed me to lean into resistance when I might have otherwise turned away. She stood in the gap, giving me both support and direction when I faltered. Having someone to stand in the gap with us when we start to falter is
Whether in life coaching or Splankna work, recognizing resistance as information rather than opposition changes everything. It tells us we’re getting close to something important. It shows us where the most significant transformation potential lies.
I have a saying for these moments in Splankna- “When you encounter resistance, it is a sign that the work IS working”. It’s your subconscious’ way of telling you that there’s something on the other side of the resistance that needs addressing.
When emotional barriers do you need to attend to?