01/01/2023
Farewell 2022 - Welcome 2023
We settle into our meditative pose, and imagine our neck as a delicate silk fiber. Our head is a beautifully decorated helium balloon, and on it is written Bon Voyage. That is a delightful message, meaning much more than "have a nice trip". It includes both the trip, what we see, hear, feel and experience, as well as the journey home. However, what is good, and what is bad? Often we don't know what is good for us, and what is bad for us. It may even take years to realize that what seemed to be a bad thing turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to us.
Still, we prepare for a Bon Voyage. We will go through stages of Greeting the New Day with Reverence, Dressing ourselves for safety, courage, love and invincibility, and Feeling our body with life-enhancing, exhilarating foods and beverages.
Greeting the new day with Reverence -
A new day dawns, and you silently slip out of bed, pulling on moccasins and your old favorite flannel jacket. You tiptoe out of the house, and down to the overlook spot. I find Grandmother there, fully engaged in greeting the new dawn. A long time passes before you realize Grandfather has dozed off, leaning against the big tree. You settle down cross legged in your usual spot, relaxing into watching the sun rise. It is accompanied with the song of birds, the sounds of critters creeping and scurrying, greeting one another and finding today's food.
For a long time you sit like that in the overlook. You are surprised but not startled when a small child climbs into your lap. You wrap your flannel jacket around her, and she settles back into sleep. After a while, you realize the old sheepdog has plopped down to watch the day dawn from her usual spot. She situated herself where she could survey and monitor everything. The sky has brightened considerably, and the yellow sun is just about to burst open into daylight. A cat or two wanders through, assorted children join the group, but some are unable to be quiet and just watch the day dawn.
Dress yourself for safety, courage, love, and invincibility -
As you dress for the day ahead of you, you put on your undergarments that will keep you warm. You need warmth and safety, but you want to allow your skin to breathe, and to therefore take in and let go.
As your foundation, you choose a good sturdy pair of shoes. You choose shoes that are serviceable and neat, fashionable and stylish. You can be ready for dancing in a ballroom, or climbing a mountain. There will be no run-down heels for you.
Your travel clothes are made beautifully just like you. They are capable of everything that wants or needs to be done. The clothes are several hidden pockets filled with neat tools and ample resources such that you are fit to meet any challenge. To fill out your wardrobe, you select a favorite top - it may be one that was lovingly handmade for you, one you've had for a long time, or clothing from a loved one no longer with us in the flesh. This garment may bear the history of having been repaired at some point by a loved one with a few stitches in time, which saved nine.
When you put it on, you remember how it was when it was new, and see it with the eyes of love and so therefore it is not faded, it is not stained, it does not have a small rip, as you see it in your mind's eye. You feel so good when you wear this, it makes you feel strong and safe, courageous and handsome, beautiful.
You put on a cap that shields you from too much sun, and protects you from rain, and it looks spectacular! It is beautiful like a crown with jewels. It is lightweight, and fits you perfectly. It is all part of preparing for anything and everything that comes along. Your chapeau is jaunty.
You feed your body with life-enhancing, exhilarating food and beverages -
Now you look at your breakfast - You find yourself at a grand buffet stretching out and it's not a six-foot table, it's not a 12-foot table, it is an 18-foot long table, burdened with food and beverage of every culture, every type of food you can imagine. All of it is fresh and juicy, bursting with life and life-giving energy. You scan the whole spread and you see tropical fresh juices of every imaginable type (fresh squeezed, of course). You see every type of beverage that you might want or need - English Breakfast tea, beautiful strong and hot coffee, cocoa, Bloody Mary, Mimosa, variety of fresh smoothies - whatever your mind will put there, it is there.
You marvel that everything you have ever enjoyed is on this buffet - all the usual things like pastries, eggs, omelets, frittatas, quiche, muffins, crepes, pancakes, breakfast meats, smoked fishes, assortment of cheese, every type of nut, berries, pineapples, mangos, on and on. There is one unique thing here - there is no thought of "is this healthy?", because everything is supremely healthy, designed to give you strength and energy. Everything here is delicious. Everything here is just right for you - it all gives you vitality, strength, courage and the wisdom of the ages. When you are ready, you pick what you will eat, and it leaves you feeling light. You savor each bite, it is so delicious. You keep saying "oh my gosh, this is blowing my mind" and you just keep enjoying it. When you are done, you are filled with energy and feel light, ready to move, and ready for any conquest. There is no challenge that even taps your strength, let alone saps your strength.
You are courageous, strong, loving and well loved by your intimate family members, close family and friends, those you've worked with and those who you see in your daily travels. You are highly regarded by the Greek and Roman Gods who find you to have the Strength of Hercules, the speed of Hermes, and the beauty of Helen of Troy. You have all these capacities so that there is no fear, no doubt, no sadness, you are full of strength and full of courage. Finally, just before you depart, someone who loves you dearly, such as your mother or grandmother, tenderly wraps you with your Cloak of Invincibility. A church bell rings, a Gong sounds, you move towards the door knowing that you can fly and soar through the sky like an eagle, you can dive deep into the ocean and swim like a mighty sea creature. You are ten times stronger than you used to be. Courage is now your middle name now that you are dressed with wisdom, vitality, and compassion.
You are prepared to meet the adventures of the ages, fully prepared, fully armed, and fully delighted. You celebrate that you are condensing all of life into one day, one blessed moment of gratitude for yourself, your life, and the road that spreads out before you. Bon Voyage!
