Free Spirit
“PERFECTLY ON TIME” REFLECTION
My wisdom emerges as I accept and integrate all that I have been and all that has happened to me.
(Meditations for Women Who Do Too Much -Anne Wilson Schaef, Ph.D. – March 17)
This week it was starting to feel like this Crone (similar to Dorothy in the Wizard) was wearing a pair of red glittering shoes …
clicked her heels…
AND FELL INTO THE RABBIT HOLE!
There were such a multitude of “thought tracks/rabbit holes” being presented! Truly a conglomeration of all the recent fun, full of interest, and piquing of my curiosity, experiences.
Sometimes it seems order and consistency may serve a greater purpose (my world not necessarily yours). NEW IDEA – why not begin the blogs with some kind of “Food for Thought” or “Nugget”?.
What do you think friends and family?
Would you be interested in seeing a “Perfectly on Time” reflection at the beginning as has been included this week?
Another new idea that surfaced was the introduction of a description for what is now considered a “source of inspiration” for this writer. Of course there are probably hundreds of options and as part of a daily journal entry practice – thank-you is often written to “the universe, source, guides and Don” in appreciation for the words that flow through the keyboard to the screen. And then the idea of “My Guide Tribe” arrived.
Mr. Google confirmed that the writer wouldn’t become a “plagiarizer” – the closest find was “Tribe Guide – William & Mary” – a one-stop online source for information before arriving in Williamsburg for first semester. So, My Guide Tribe it will be, at least for now.
Next step was to stop, sit quietly and in silence, and actually listen (somewhat unique for this one) for a sign/inspiration from My Guide Tribe because a Blog heading/title was NOT rolling to top of mind nor being discovered in a rabbit hole. And of course, all it took was a slight change of view and “Free Spirit” appeared front and center.
It hangs on the wall just above where I sit and write and may well be where a component of intuition comes from – serendipity idea! Certainly, felt like one of those “Perfectly on time” moments considering the new adventures unfolding and yet to be explored.
What came next?
The Pale Blue Dot has been on my mind again lately. When looking for the link to include in this post there was a more recent rendition that appeared and contains more imagery to go with the words. I watched both and in truth preferred the original with just the words. Would love to hear your comments.
Thoughts from this Crone after re-watching the clip
How insignificant this one small human-suited earth-school traveller truly is, in comparison to the entire universe. Not even equivalent to a speck of sand in truth, at least if we’re talking size ratios. BUT here’s another thought. Is this soul occupying this human-suit also considered a speck of sand – OR – might it be the equivalent of a cell in the universe and therefore attached to all that is. I’m not a quantum physicist and would never lay claim to having that depth of knowledge or expertise. However, there seems to be more and more scientific evidence arriving to support this idea that we are ALL connected – somewhat like a ginormous web of bright lights.
My mentor Gladys at times used to say, won’t it be delightful when on the day we wake up dead, we discover that we were nothing more than a cell in the knee of a giant. Still makes me laugh but what if there’s an element of truth in there – what if the universe is the giant? If my soul is just one cell (whether in the universe or that giant’s knee) wouldn’t that be a part of a whole?
Take away? Are we overdue, as a species, to stop and consider the impact we may be having on this space we’ve been given to occupy – not just the human-suit but the entire planet?
Moving back to the connection track from last week and the power of written words.
A most delightful exchange of words occurred – all in black and white but also containing a few emoticons for impact and further expression. A subscription was taken to David Michie’s Newsletter & Blog, (author of the Dali Lama’s Cat book series) because I love his books and his Vision. This past week he sent out a most delightful recap of work undertaken through the Twala Trust Animal Sanctuary, one of four charities he supports. As part of that report he included a photo of some small tortoises – cute beyond words. He referred to them as a “bale of tortoises” and at the same time asked if anyone had another way to identify them as a group. One of the comments suggested was a “scramble” and I was inspired to suggest “toddle or totter”.
Seems to me this is where that Free Spirit or My Guide Tribe decided to come out and play. Those tortoises kept popping back to mind and reducing the ability to fall asleep. Finally at about the moment it felt like sleep might occur “it should be a toteful of tortoises” entered that almost asleep state. Of course, now it’s after midnight and the Crone was “driven” to get up and send off another comment/reply within the thread that was unfolding. David is in Australia, so the time difference was probably about perfect… he responded with “As in ‘The toteful of tortoises tiptoed tentatively towards the towering tea trolley?’ I simply broke out laughing at the picture and of course was then able to immediately tuck in and fall asleep.
What a gifted individual he is and what a treasure I seem to have stumbled onto. Actually, Maura Rawn was the one who suggested it would be good to subscribe to his newsletter and I’m so very glad I did! Thank you, Maura! The reason for attempting to capture all of this and write about it at 12:49am on Wednesday, March 15th was to add another very small piece of evidence about the power of words. The power to pass along such genuine care and kindness that it simply fills the heart and soul. Thank you to My Guide Tribe for the inspiration and being willing to engage and put the word(s) out there. Collective and collaborative seem to be resonating.
And… one last track – perhaps more to do with Free Spirit.
Becoming an “observer” of life unfolding – for and around me – is sometimes so delightful it just feels like this bubbling up of deliciousness. This strange newer clarity of view & perception that pops up at times has elements of just wanting to do a full-out belly laugh. Much as it would be lovely to experience that scenario all the time, it’s obviously only one side of the duality we’ve come here to journey through. Perhaps you’ll see the humour in the following.
Enter all of us “dancers” getting ready to perform as part of a St. Patrick’s Day celebration. And as tends to unfold there were some:
- early arrivers;
- late arrivers;
- anxious arrivers;
- MUST perform perfectly arrivers;
- relaxed arrivers (been here, done it before, got the T-shirt); and
- one “Perfectly on Time” arriver (in another era would have been one of the most anxious arrivers).
Couple that with the dance “types” – Tap, Irish, Ballet, Oriental and Scottish and the picture starts to take shape, right? Worth noting – one of the 83-year-old tap dancers arrived in her 4” spike heels. Priceless!
There was a little band facilitating the music to be played for the eight routines plus a small group of ukulele players in the middle of it all so that the dancers had a few minutes to change costumes and get back in line.
And here was the take away for the Crone.
When entering the 4th quarter after Don passed it was with an entire boatload of sadness, self-pity, not wanting to be here mentality AND a very real resistance to this aging process.
Something has shifted more recently and this idea of becoming a Free Spirit seems to be a lovely fit with the changes. That St. Patrick’s Day gathering suddenly showed me, introduced me to and had me see so clearly the absolute magic that can remain no matter what age we might be sitting at.
So, one more blog, one more week, and just for today this heart is full. Change seems to be in the wind and perhaps taking place in spite of this human-suit. Willingness to embrace the changes and exercising gratitude for all that is remain “practices”. Some days they feel easy – other days maybe not quite so much – either way always “Perfectly on time”.
