Week 8 - WooHoo for the blessing of an open mind.......

A Parable of Immortality - By Henry Van Dyke

I am standing upon the seashore. 

A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze

and starts for the blue ocean.

She is an object of beauty and strength,

and I stand and watch until at least she hangs

like a speck of a white cloud

just where the sea and sky come down to mingle with each other.

Then someone at my side says, 

“There she goes!”

Gone where?

Gone from my sight.... that’s all.

She is just as large in mast and hull and spar 

as she was when she left my side

and just as able to bear her load of living freight

to the place of destination.

Her diminished size is in ME, not in her.

And, just at that moment

when someone at my side says, 

“There she goes!”

there are other eyes watching her coming.....

and other voices ready to take up the glad shout....

“Here she comes!”

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A week ago today, I attended a psychic fair with my good friend.  It isn’t your typical run of the mill palm reader type event with the gold-toothed gypsies and crystal balls.  It’s actually held in a spiritualist church with pews, and an alter and pictures of Jesus on the walls.  They believe in Christian values, the Golden Rule, and they also believe the existence, and personal identity of the individual continues after death. They claim the precept of Prophecy, contained in the Bible, is a divine attribute proven through mediumship.  Although at times I am skeptical about the quality of the mediumship and readings, I still don’t discount that something exists there, and no matter what, it can be helpful.  It’s just another tool to connect with my Higher Power, grow my spiritual self, and  surprisingly I recently discovered, reconnect with loved ones who have passed.  The latter was completely unexpected.  

I haven’t always felt that way.  I think my old “religious” upbringing and some of it’s rigid doctrine led me to  believe those thoughts about messages from “the other side”, and spirits were heretical.   I’ve always considered myself predominately a Christian, with this belief:  there are so many interpretations of the Bible even within the Christian faith,  I  feel comfortable with the Holy Book’s teachings, AS I HAVE COME TO UNDERSTAND THEM.  I hardly think it’s up to me to read God’s mind and determine my interpretation alone is the only one, and treat other’s beliefs dishonorably.   These days, though,  I lean more towards being a Spiritual Being recognizing God, Creator of heaven and Earth can’t be labeled and presents in so many forms in order for his Creation to come to know Him in their own personal way.   I have Jesus Christ in the form of a crucifix,  in my entrance way,  and Buddha rests on a table there.  I welcome all the wise and Holy energy I can into my home!  There are some though, that would burn me at the stake of their own fear and ignorance I'm sure.  

I wasn't always truly convinced in the existence of angels or our loved ones touching in after they're gone.  I wanted to believe, but it seemed the harder I tried to evoke them into my life, the more elusive a connection became. My mind would take over and justify that dream I had, or a sign of some sort of lost loved ones touching in, as simply imagination.  I had to rethink all of that a few years ago, when  I got a very special blessing.  I attended my first psychic service at this church. They are also called healing services, aptly named because it healed any skepticism I had about the power of love being eternal and tangible, even beyond death.   I went into it with the attitude, “I am telling these people nothing.  Let 'em guess.  Keep your face and body language impassive, and let them tell you what they see.”  I had a reading that was beyond anything that could have been contrived.  Names, professions, traits, endearments, and personal information revealed itself in my reading as one loved one after another touched in to say hello, reminding me they are still present in my life and chastised me for some of my thinking!  I left there speechless... an almost impossible state of being for me. I  also departed feeling rejuvenated by love at a time when I needed to feel it the most.  The message was profound and altered everything I had come to believe about death and the life beyond.  It led me to the path of meditation and connection and a knowing that even though we can’t see something, doesn’t diminish the fact it exists.  That one powerful instance, has changed so much in my life.  

When I went Sunday with my friend, I was excited.  I tried to let go of any anticipation.   It was a good thing I did too!  My readings, I initially thought were lame, predictable and humorous to say the least.  My first one, appeared to be a case of match.com of the clairvoyant variety.  He started asking me if I was married.  I wanted to respond, “You’re the psychic, you tell me,” but I thought I might come off flippant and unkind.  He then proceeded to tell me of all the social gatherings of likeminded men that took place in the state, and how he saw my future soulmate if I but pursued this path.  He added, perhaps it would serve me better to focus my attention on a specific one, rather than many.  I think he may have been trying to fix me up with his single friend!  

My second reading was with a lady with kind eyes.  She saw a brilliant blue aura around me; an indicator of love, honesty, kindness, truth, inner peace, emotional depth and devotion.  I'm not sure, but I think it may have had something to do with the deep, royal blue shirt I was wearing that day.  She also saw me as a very old tree, (hey.... be nice) deeply grounded and strong, with many branches and many people pulling off my leaves to gain inspiration and strength, (ouch).  

My final session was with the man who had initially given me the life-changing reading a few years ago.  As he babbled on about so many unknown (to me) spirits that were gathering around to touch in and say hello, my mind searched desperately to find some connection with those who had passed.  Nothing.   He told me I would be traveling south soon....  South?  As in South America, Florida, or Columbus, Ohio?  It seemed pretty vague.  In the last moments of my reading with him, as I was getting up to leave,  he blurted out, “All of your hard work is going to pay off here very soon.  Not in the next month or so, but by summer.  That job that has been your heart’s desire?  You are going to get it.”  

Riding home my friend and I compared notes on our generic readings and when we stopped for dinner, had a few chuckles as we "intrepreted” them for each other.  We both decided nonetheless, we get what we need when we need it and not every experience,  will we come upon the burning bush, nor will the heavens part.   In retrospect, I think my loved ones did touch in and gave me another great gift.  It was one of hope, purpose, validation and encouragement. 

My group waiting on the other side... the ones that I diminished in power by thinking they were gone rather than just out of sight... they  got together and pooled their resources.  They wanted to tell me, don’t let your heart be scared by feelings of connection with like-minded others.  Listen to your intuition this time.   Keep walking that path of sharing your experience, strength, and hope.  You are strong now and have a wealth of knowledge and empathy to share.  And, best of all, you will be rewarded for following your heart with hard work, taking risks, and investing in your passion.  

That’s what I choose to see in my Sunday afternoon walk to the other side.  WooHoo to the open mind that allows me to invite in the possibility that my loved ones and others from beyond are here to help me to grow into the being I am meant to be.  They are just a thought and heartbeat away, powerful, still strong, and very much a part of my life even now, if I choose. 

But, the best part of the day, was the camaraderie of sharing laughter, insights, fears, delights and dreams  with my friend!  WOOHOO! 

P.S.  Val, Your spirit drawing of the serious looking Indian dude... He was putting on his best sexy (mean) eyes just for you!  He just isn't very good at it.  He was probably assigned to YOU so you could lighten him up a bit.  He looks like he could USE a good massage!