Ever have that visceral feeling in your gut and bones? A still, quiet voice booming in your heart, telling you that you are meant to do something but you’re not quite sure…no, you are absolutely sure what it IS…you just don’t know how to do it or get there?
Join me as I share my adventure from knowing to becoming and being. Perhaps you’ll be saying, “Yes! That’s exactly how I feel!” or “What the heck does she think she’s doing?” Either way, or somewhere in between, come along for the ride!
Imagine reading a book in high school that was so profound you’ve read it nearly a thousand times already (okay, an exaggeration, to be sure, but you know what I mean…) because the words inspired you at times and pulled you from the depths at others. A book that comforts, confounds, and pisses you off at the same time. A book that becomes, in a manner, your personal bible.
Let me introduce you to Illusions, The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah, by Richard Bach.
Illusions. My friend, my foe, my companion, my critic – each time I read it, it either matches my perspective (friend and companion) or causes me to a take a breath and reconsider what the hell I am thinking (foe and critic).
Chapter One is a parable.
Once there lived a village of creatures along the bottom of a great crystal river…each creature in its own manner clung tightly to the twigs and rocks of the river bottom, for clinging was their way of life, and resisting the current what each had learned from birth.
The parable goes on to say that one creature had the courage to let go and let the current take it. The others thought he was crazy to do such a thing and yes, he was bruised for his courage but soon learned that as he released his resistance, the current supported him, to be buoyant thus avoiding the rocks and sticks.
(Ya just have to read the whole thing on your own. It is so good and so speaks to LIFE!)
Anyway, in translation I’ve always gotten the message, “Just let go! The universe has your back!!!” Oh, how I would like to simply let go…
Yes, of course, the answer is always YES, the universe always has my back…AND…
And. In this moment, I have needs for security and have made agreements, and, I also have choice.
(Oh, crap. Choice is another of the big lessons in the book. Darn it, it is always up to me, isn’t it?)
So, I choose to take time, to mindfully work toward my aspirations and examine challenges that keep me from reaching them, to work on uncovering beliefs, and to decide which serve me and which to release. Perhaps the analogy here is: the beliefs I can and need to release are those of lack and limitation - let them swim off and be gone.
Nonetheless, here is where I begin. You are invited and welcome as a companion traveler. This quote (page 100), believe me, has been with me for oh, so many years and is quite fitting to share here:
“Argue for your limitations, and sure enough, they’re yours.”
What limitations are you examining right now?
What beliefs do you hold that keep you hanging onto the rocks and stones?
Happy Trails, Dear One.
In love, Claudia
Check out how old this copyright is:
Bach, Richard. Illusions, The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah. New York: Dell Publishing Co., Inc. 1977.