The gray lines above Gidget’s eyelids I’ve noticed lately have become so much more distinct. While she has always had the coloring of gray and black with a bit of red, making her a dappled doxie, I always wondered as she aged if she’d show more gray.
As far as I know, she turned twelve in April. Since I adopted her, and often in those cases, you can’t always know for sure an age, but in the big picture it really does not matter.
The thing is with Gidg, like young people I’ve met over the years who I’ve felt were wise beyond their years, such is the case with Gidget. Early on, almost five years ago, when I brought her home, I began to sense this very wise part of her, calling her my Buddah dog.
Little did I know the deep and true teaching she would bring with her, which I continue to work on expressing through the memoir I’m working on.
What I can say for now is I “see” more and more the truly enlightened being she is – which is really more about a felt sense for me that continues to increase daily, resulting in an expanding and enriching relationship we now share.
This little dog, with a big spirit, I feel has walked this earth before. Perhaps in human form as a Buddah or a Great Master. And what an honor it is that she found her way here to spend this leg of her journey with me.
You must have a room, or a certain hour or so a day, where you don’t know what was in the newspapers that morning, you don’t know who your friends are, you don’t know what you owe anybody, you don’t know what anybody owes you. This is the place where you can simply experience and bring forth what you are and what you might be. This is the place of creative incubation. At first you may find that nothing happens there. But if you have a sacred place and use it, something eventually will happen. ~Joseph Campbell
So many distractions this morning that could have easily derailed me from my commitment to working on my new book. Waking up late because I didn’t feel well overnight, to John being crabby, of which he eventually shared with me it was regarding a work challenge, to the insurance company calling to help me file my claim for the damage to my car from a hit and run.
When I first became a writer, I admit I was entranced by the fantasy of solitude and spilling out the contents of my heart effortlessly on a daily basis. I’ve learned a lot in eleven years and the reality that is. While there are many days it is divine and flows with ease, most days just don’t shake out this way. Writing is work. But it’s work I don’t intend on giving up anytime too soon.
Though I almost threw in the towel today and said the heck with it. I’m tired after a restless night, the energy was heavy in the house with John’s concerns over work, and then dealing with three different people regarding the claim on my car….well, a nap sure seemed like the better thing to do. 🙂
But I thought about the manifesto I’d written for my book yesterday and my About Page I recently updated on my website. While this book is another memoir, it’s more than that. It’s about helping empower women to open to their inner voice, express their fears and desires, expand their perspective, emerge into new possibilities, and continue to evolve as their True Self.
Sitting down to do my daily oracle card reading for myself and then journal as my daily ritual, it was confirmed what I needed to tap into to get my butt in my writing chair despite all the distractions from the morning.
As I shuffled, I heard to count down to the fourth card from the top.
From the Wisdom of the Oracle: Higher Power #4
I then pulled a card from an inspirational deck I recently provided feedback for (of which I can’t share yet as it is still in the works, but will share when I can!).
The card was SHARE.
Okay, universe. I hear you. A reminder that I’m not writing this book alone. To get out of my small self that was feeling tired and irritated by how the morning had played out so far. I’m not creating this book alone and it’s my connection to something bigger than me that I felt re-energized and ready to get to the task at hand. Pulling the Share card a reminder that in sharing my story, I will make a difference in the lives of women my book is meant to touch.
And it triggered remembering a quote I recently read by Joseph Campbell which I shared above. It’s true the importance of taking time each day to “simply experience and bring forth what you are and what you might be. This is the place of creative incubation. At first you may find that nothing happens there. But if you have a sacred place and use it, something eventually will happen.”
This place, of which I have as a physical space in my writing cottage, I also feel it’s important to say that it’s also that inner space that we must take time to be with each day. Though, of course, this is what Joseph Campbell speaks to also. While the physical place is often more easily achieved, it’s the inner space we don’t always value enough in a fast-driven society. But it’s the space in which the answers lie.
From sitting with what felt like an empty well after the interruptions of the morning, to finding my center once again, moving to my writing desk became a choice that truly matters to me and the impact I want to leave on the world. And while my writing session wasn’t without effort today, I’m in a place of contentment for having stayed committed to what is important to me.
Just as I finished writing this post, I remembered the photo I captured of a swallowtail butterfly outside my kitchen window early last evening. Looking up it’s meaning made me smile as another beautiful reminder of how the universe is always supporting us with signs to guide us along our path:
Inspiration, intuition, higher consciousness, transformation, resurrection, flashes of insight, power of beauty, strength in vulnerability.
XO,
Barbara
P.S. My reward for doing what matters today besides feeling good I did the work? This afternoon I’m going with my dear friend to see the movie, Christopher Robin with Winnie-the-Pooh and the Gang! I’m sure glad author A.A. Milne did what mattered to him.
I just put out a new cob of corn today for the little red squirrel and the chipmunks that visit often. By morning that cob will be wiped clean.
I head Mr. Chipmunk chittering away and needed to get out to my writing cottage, but didn’t want to disturb his dinner. But they are quite brazen it seems this time of year, so I nonchalantly walked out to my cottage as if I didn’t see him. He froze in place and didn’t move.
I wondered then if he’d pose for a photo so I grabbed my camera, focused, and zoomed as best I could, as I slowly opened the screen door, as I pretended again that I didn’t see him.
Again, he stayed frozen in place. I said to him, “Don’t blink.” But then realizing it was me who best not blink or I’d miss the shot because soon enough he skittered away! But obviously I got the shot!
I love this time of year when all the critters are active and abound in our yard. Hummingbirds, rabbits, chipmunks, butterflies and birds. Even when alone in my writing cottage during the day, I really never feel alone, but instead surrounded by some very special friends.
Sitting down to do my daily oracle card reading for myself and then journal as my daily ritual, it was confirmed what I needed to tap into to get my butt in my writing chair despite all the distractions from the morning.