August 20, 2010 OF TIME, TWEETS AND SOULS FLYING FREE
With all the Facebook, Tweets and Twits stuff going on, I sometimes feel like it's all too much. Just give me a real live human being with whom to converse while sitting in the shade of the redwood tree in my own front yard. No computers, no cell phones, nothing that needs rebooting or recharging! (Except me!)
Especially this week, I feel deep appreciation for the simple things in life....and for life itself.
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Earlier this week, I spent nearly 72 hours with a dear woman named Jean, a former client. I had the honor of playing the role of "spiritual midwife" as she transitioned from her body. She'd been valiantly dealing with cancer for several years, and at age 74, it was now time to let go, and move on.
After many long hours, during which her body and soul prepared themselves for this transition, I was gifted to be at her side at the moment of release. I was able to witness the look of indescribable joy and awe that shone through her barely opened eyelids in the instant before she left her body.
She'd been unconscious for the better part of three days, so for her to return to awareness just enough to reveal that beauty to me - and to her daughter, Sherrie, who was on her other side - was an unspeakably precious gift.
I don't know precisely what Jean experienced in that moment, but I do know she wanted us to know it was beautiful beyond imagining. A single tear rolled down her parched cheek, and then she was gone.
Sherrie and I sat wide-eyed, feeling an indescribable awe and Lightness of Being, as we both cried and laughed and hugged across her mom's now-uninhabited body. Then, I turned and softly played "Amazing Grace" on my crystal singing bowls, as Jean's soul flew free.
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So, although time marches on at an ever-increasing rate here on this earthly plane, I've been freshly reminded that what truly matters knows not the bounds of time, nor the confines of the body. Who we truly are could never be expressed in a tweet, a twit, a blog, or a book of any kind - Face or otherwise!
As the birds flutter amongst the branches above me, singing their songs with joyful abandon, I find myself joyfully reflecting that each of us has a unique song to sing... and wings with which to fly.
I am blessed with that knowing. I wish for you the same blessing.
Namaste.
Relax Into Healing...
February 29, 2008 THE POWER OF PARADOX
In one of my favorite musicals, “Fiddler on the Roof”, Tevye, a poor Russian milkman, is listening to an argument between his old villager friend and Perchik, a young revolutionary student. They’re discussing the merits of keeping abreast of political and social changes happening in the world outside their little village. The villager presents his reasoning, and Tevye comments, “You’re right!” Then Perchik presents his case, and Tevye again concludes, “You’re right!” Another friend who’s been listening replies, “He's right and he's right? They can't both be right.” At this point Tevye scratches his head, and in his best Yiddish accent says, “You know, you are also right.”
Therein lies the nature of paradox. This little scene is a beautiful example of how sometimes we must adopt a higher perspective in order to see the big picture, to allow seeming opposites to be true at the same time.
Tevye is being asked, throughout the course of this well-known story, to embrace a whole series of changes…….to give up many of his long-held beliefs, his “Tradition!”, in the face of the rapidly changing times. Out of deep love for his children, Tevye ultimately chooses to surrender many of his entrenched ideas and dogmas. He learns to open to new ways of looking at things. As Hodel, his middle daughter says, “The world is changing, Papa!” and we watch with great compassion as Tevye learns to change with it.
The world is always changing, and it is always our choice to view those changes as threats, or as opportunities. The former creates fear, pain and suffering; the latter brings joy, growth and fulfillment.
It is always our choice. By being open to change in our inner and outer worlds, being willing to look at ourselves and our situation from a Higher Perspective, we make room for paradox. Rather than being limited by our own programmed belief systems, we become large enough to contain it all. We can be in pain AND know it’s all okay. We can be afraid AND have absolute trust. We can disagree with AND totally accept another’s point of view.
It is said, “In God, all things are possible”.
Einstein reminds us, “A problem cannot be solved from the same consciousness level in which it was created.”
A simple, but profound Truth, applicable to personal and global issues. We must raise our level of awareness, attune ourselves to a Higher Perspective, where indeed all things are possible. Including paradox.
So, whatever your personal situation, may you embrace with Grace the change that confronts you. May you find peace in the power of paradox. And may the winds of change be always at your back.
