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Time May
Not Be of the Essence!
New Year's is a natural occasion to reflect on the passage of Time. And yet, this past week I've also been very aware of how malleable time can be.
I've been reading Lynne McTaggart's book,
The Intention Experiment (and wow, if you
haven't taken in this mind-blowing book that summarizes
the available science to date about how consciousness
shapes reality, do so now!) In a
truly fascinating chapter on healing the past, McTaggart
talks about the idea that prayers and intentions in the
present can actually make a difference not just now or
in the future, but in the past as well.
McTaggart's findings came as no surprise to
me, because esoteric teachings and quantum physics both
posit that Time is only a construct of the mind. I've
seen this idea work with my clients time and time again
as I've helped them re-write the "scripts" of traumatic
memories to produce real healing in the present, not
only for themselves, but often for their ancestors and
children too.
Right before Christmas I had an
opportunity to play with Lynne McTaggart's idea of healing the
past for myself.
On December 23 I decided to go to the
grocery store to finish my food shopping for Christmas
(along with, apparently, most of the rest of the people
in St. Louis). Inspired by my Mom, who had told me of
her plan to cope with the holiday crowds by
spreading peace and joy along the way, I entered the
scene fortified with a light heart and ample patience.
I had a delightful time, really. I'd
just completed my last work "to do" before a
self-imposed holiday break, so I felt free and easy. I
meandered down the aisles, singing and humming to the
Christmas carols playing over the speakers at
Dierbergs. I had almost completed my shopping when I
encountered a woman who was hurrying along the aisles at
a breakneck speed. I was amazed she could move so
quickly in her high heeled pumps. When I looked at her
face, I saw tension, worry, fatigue. I could have made
up a lot of stories about what was going on in her life
that day to put her at that place, but instead I
silently blessed her and thanked her for bringing to
mind someone else who needed my help.
That someone else was my younger self.
I remember the days of trying to squeeze
one more second out of every hour. I remember flying
down the aisles at the grocery store, no doubt cutting
off other shoppers in my panic to get one more thing
done before I picked up my kids. And I remember the day
that I stopped that mad dash long enough to stand in the
baby aisle for a few seconds, looking for something to
bring home to my infant daughter-- then being surprised
by the tears that leaked out of my eyes as I stood
there. I had stopped running. I had stopped long
enough to face the possibility that because of her
developmental issues, my daughter might never learn to
play with baby toys.
I thought about all of this last week at
the grocery store, and my heart overflowed with love for
that young woman who was me, who was doing her best to
hang on by moving so fast she'd never feel anything. I
sent her the knowledge that it would pass. That things
would change. I whispered to her that yes, there would
be challenges, but there would be lightness and joy
ahead too.
And I wonder now, as I look back, whether
the gift of love I sent myself last week might have been
part of what made the difference for me so many years
ago. And maybe even now my wiser Self is pulling for me
as I stretch myself to the limit to give birth to my
most expansive and exciting projects to date. Yes, I
expect she is encouraging me right now as I send this
article off to you.
So here's my New Year's wish for you: In
the best moments of the coming year, may you always
remember to send some love and joy, not only to anyone
in the planet who could use it, but also to any parts of
your past self that are in need. And in moments of
challenge, may you step into the silence and hear, not
only the Divine support you wish for, but also the
loving whispers of your Wiser future Self. Have a
beautiful year.
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