Reflection, August

A month of mystical union with 13th century Flemish Beguine, Hadewijch of Antwerp. Her words a call to find Love as the only capital T truth in this life, which, she claims, changes all the sureness in our life to one of possibility instead of limitations.

The Madness of Love

The madness of love
Is a blessed fate;
And if we understood this
We would seek no other:
It brings into unity
What was divided,
And this is the truth:
Bitterness it makes sweet,
It makes the stranger a neighbor,
And what was lowly it raises on high.

When I was thinking about what we should consider to reflect upon at this close of summer, I kept thinking about the words of another mystic, Van Morrison in his song "Into The Mystic". The singer implores a lover to join them in the mystic: "let your soul and spirit fly into the mystic...together we will float...too late to stop now."

Into the Mystic

We were born before the wind
Also, younger than the sun
'Ere the bonnie boat was won
As we sailed into the mystic
Hark now, hear the sailors cry
Smell the sea and feel the sky
Let your soul and spirit fly
Into the mystic
Yeah, when that fog horn blows
I will be coming home
Yeah, when that fog horn blows
I wanna hear it
I don't have to fear it
And I wanna rock your gypsy soul
Just like way back in the days of old
Then magnificently we will float
Into the mystic
When that fog horn blows
You know I will be coming home
Yeah, when that fog horn whistle blows
I gotta hear it
I don't have to fear it
And I wanna rock your gypsy soul
Just like way back in the days of old
And together we will float
Into the mystic
Come on, girl
Too late to stop now

I had us practice the Zen ritual of Shoshin, beginner's mind. How sure are you of every outcome? How sure are you of every person you interact with? Is exactitude and mastery freedom? This practice would argue otherwise, that it is only in embracing the unknown, detaching from our own ego's sureness, that we can find pure potentiality. Van croon's that we were born into the wisdom of the mystic, older than the wind itself. Yet, there is a forgetting that happens in life, where we must call back to the wise child: "I will be coming home... I don't wanna fear it."

Why are we so afraid of the unknown? There has to be a story in your life where you let a day happen, unfold as it wanted and it was full of vibrant, inspiring surprise. On a hike, the surprise a vibrant pink stalk of foxtail among the rolling green moss. A stranger that somehow became a lover from the spark of a simple yet open conversation. The discovery of a new favorite recipe when you are just trying to clear out the fridge. Life is full of magical mystery, but we so often get in the way of being a recipient of that mystery: “Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.” (Rumi)

Reflection

Narrative therapy can be defined as a type of counseling which helps the client get some distance from their struggles to become more objective. At the end of each month, I guide you through some reflective journaling, grounded in narrative therapeutic strategies. You will reflect to transform. Give yourself at least thirty minutes to work through these prompts.

Today in my morning meditation, the following questions came to me as I sat with the idea that I may not have room for anything new in my life because of things I am holding on to which I should no longer be.

Now we are aware, now we see the mystic potential of the beginner's mind, you can't unsee a Truth, "too late to stop now."

• Where am I in the way of letting the mystic, the mystery of love, the unknown, into my life?

• What people, places, or situations am I so sure I am the expert on that I have cut off the potential for possibility and growth?

• How would I feel if someone felt they were so sure about who I am that they gave me no room for potential to surprise them?

• Where can I continue to include Shoshin in my daily life?

• What will I gain if I allow the mystery in, what could I lose?

Be good,
Amanda

P.S. Registration open for the limited enrollment group course "Once Upon a Time: Awakening Heroic Consciousness” & as always book your free 1:1 Wellness Consult for support for wherever you are on your healing journey.