Ritual, August
Where does a week of ruminating with the mystic poem "The Madness of Love" by Hadewijch of Antwerp find you? Where did you discover you needed the "madness of love" to dissolve limitations? So often, limitations on our life are placed by our own 'scarcity mindsets'. A mindset set in limitations, and fear, is one in a default survival mode. Goodness, have I been there a time or two…in a constant state of “what if.”
Here is the thing, scarcity absolutely loves a mind that thinks purely in binaries. Things are “right” or “wrong”, endless lists of “either or”. A mind in the madness of love is purely abundant, it sees all possibilities and potentials and speaks in a language of “and”: “What was lowly it raises on high.” This is where stories are so potent for our healing…we can make meaning out of what was once “lowly” about our life. In a state of abundant meaning making, we give purpose to the past, rather than keeping a single idea of what “was” in a way that continues to limit our present moment.
It is a radical choice to enter into the theories of abundance: “It brings into unity/ what was once divided.” It takes a long time to not only recognize but release scarcity thought. It is part of our evolution to a default in scarcity and binaries, but it doesn’t have to be out fate (I will deep dive in these theories in the October course on the "Beloved Monster Within"). Like last month’s strategy of “a part of me feels…”, there are tools we can use to create more spaciousness and creativity in our lives. Another strategy is called the “beginner's mind.”
As someone who spent a decade in academia, I will admit this is not the easiest practice for me (but where I resist, I tend to push myself to dive in—as it is a sign where I need the most healing). In a beginner’s mind, we approach all moments as brand-new, with pure potential, positioning ourself as open and eager, purely vulnerable. In Zen Buddhism this is called “Shoshin.” The great Zen master Suzuki noted “in the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, in the expert’s mind there are few.” Think about that for a moment, the more open and vulnerable we are, the more potential there is. The more expert and sure we are, the more limited. This is, in many ways, counter to everything we are told.
Isn’t this the heartbeat of Hadewijch of Antwerp’s poem…a stranger could become a neighbor with the beginner’s mind. But an expert would say these binaries are stuck, frozen, listless of potential ("us" vs. "other"). All artists believe in the power of beginner’s mind, deeply knowing it is really the only way to approach any new work, like a curious child. The art reveals itself to us, not us forcing the art to reveal.
Have you ever had a conversation with someone who was, even if just in their own mind, an “expert?” It pretty instantly sets a binary of expert to student, which has a hierarchy (“I know more than you, so you should listen to me”). How did this make you feel? It may have been information shared that you were excited about, even grateful for. However, often, when someone positions themselves as an expert over you, if feels like being shamed or belittled. This is rarely the speaker’s intention, but it is a truth of communication. Think back to when you shared something with someone and they said things like “Oh, I know exactly what you are talking about, because one time I went through…” “I studied that for years and here is what I learned...” If it is not asked for, this can often shut off communication and connection immediately.
Let’s try a week of being conscious enough to cultivate a beginner’s mind in interactions and experiences. If you have a task you are putting off (clearing out the garden, deep cleaning the fridge, paperwork), approach it with a state of potential, like you have never done it before. Be surprised by what you are capable of, surprised by your emotional and mental reactions, be a curious and avid beginner, excited to learn. After, how was that a different experience than previous times of going into an experience with the expertise that it would "suck”?
Next, when engaging with a loved one, listen so actively as a beginner that you are hanging on their every word…working to silence the voice in your mind formulating what you will say next instead of just listening to what they are saying. Ask questions “I heard you say the word ____. I don’t think I really understand it in this context, would you explain that to me” OR “You note that you experienced ____, which I would imagine made you feel incredibly frustrated. Is that a fair assessment?” Now, what happened with that interaction? How did you make your loved one feel? How was that interaction different from previous ones?
When you are so sure you know the outcome, where can a miracle occur? When you are so sure you know how someone will react, where can the blessing take place? If you are so sure life is what you expect of it, abundance is stifled by scarcity. Your ego wants to be an expert (which is a very loud participant in your daily thoughts, but you can teach the ego silence, too), I bet your soul wants to be the beginner—excited in pure potentiality.
Remember, Hadewijch of Antwerp called the divine “Love” claiming in the poem that Love was the singular “truth.” Rumi, another poetic mystic, claimed: “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.” Let beginner’s mind help you remove some of the barriers you may have, knowingly or unknowingly, built against it.
Be good,
Amanda
Heros know all about the start of a journey and being a beginner...registration open for the limited enrollment group course "Once Upon a Time: Awakening Heroic Consciousness”
Vino, Verse, Vinyl:
Vino: Rosé (because at this point of summer, it is chilled drinks only)…there is so much variety here, try some darker hued Rosés if you have only ever had the blush varietal, and vis versa!
Verse: pick a mystic poet and dive in. You can see what poems, through the web or at your local library, you can find of Hadewijch of Antwerp or Rumi. Some other’s to consider: Li Po, Dogen, Dante, Kabir, Basho, William Blake, Emily Dickinson, Mahadeviyakka, Mirabai, Owl Woman, Sor Juana Inés de La Cruz…stay with one writer or read a bit of each (or a few)! Enjoy.
Vinyl: “Music to Elevate my Consciousness”…what music feels sacred or holy to you? It can be obvious or very specific to you, literal or not.
