I have always been a curious + inquisitive child. I used to grill my ninth grade Religion teacher until she would have to put her hands up and say “That’s all I can say.”
I then got into reading the Dalai Llama’s, The World of Compassion and Questions to a Zen Master, which I found in one of the greatest old bookstores near South Street in Philadelphia. I cannot remember the name, but I can hear the creak of the well worn steps and feel the cool worn down banister as I climbed to the second floor to find written gems.
I guess that is called a seeker.
Raised Catholic, we were surrounded by choice saints to pray to and a tacit understanding that there was a legion to pray to; you have your own angel; but try not to bother the main guy too, too much —was my interpretation.
Fast forward that my seeking or learning took a deeper and deeper dive (stories for another day) and I kinda came back to the same space that we have legions of support, but I also discovered we are not bothering anyone when we seek help. We are worthy of what we let in and I am not sure how that got lost in human evolution.
I saw this movie, a few years ago and I cried:Coco
I began to think about all the small choices that were made for me to come into existence. My contemplation started with my parents and grandparents, and then I let my gaze soften and wonder how many choices were made to make me being here possible?
This was really potent for me when a few people that were desperately close to me made their transition. People that loved me so much, like my grandfather, who moved mountains for me when he was alive why would that end when he passed on? Or my lomilomi teacher who taught us that love never dies and the frequency that we are perpetuates into the universe—even if I cannot cogitate on that, the invitation of love never ending is something my cells can understand.
In a time of new possibilities and uncertainty, while the wheel of the year speaks to the perpetuity of life and the mysteries of what we don’t know, I invite you to light a candle for your ancestors and thank them.
That can be prayer enough.
Something about the fastness of our world that the slowing down to realize that we live in cycles has been fascinating to my being. It isn’t a straight line. You know this. Life doesn’t actually move in a straight line. It moves in spirals. Some times you wonder why you keep spinning around the same bend, other times when the wheel turns (such as noticed on holidays like Halloween or Thanksgiving) you can marvel at the touchstone of how far you have come. Paying attention to cycles can also help you notice when one can be changing, whether the cycle as a phase of life, or the cycle of a person (i.e. How did you grow up so fast? is annoying as a child but understandable as an adult who feels that life is moving so fast). We are all the ages we have been in this moment. As well, the collection of many moments reside in this one.
Blessed Samhain to you all.
Open your minds and hearts to let the love of ages in. You may be surprised how you are nourished.
Kate
P.S.
I sat down to write this to you and Katie of the November Body Reset has invited me to join so I say: Yes. I am jumping in today if any of you were on the fence about it. I know this may seem like a non-sequitur, but it doesn’t seem like it to me. When you allow and attend to nourishment it comes in the most surprising of ways. For you, too.
Here’s the post that mentions Katie + here’s her website www.therapeuticeating.com