Dishing Up Something Delicious
Joe and I recently purchased new dinnerware. For several years we used colorful Mexican plates and bowls. I purchased the bowls during a trip to Mexico shortly after my divorce, specifically to bring color and joy into my life. A friend, who lives in Mexico, saw these bowls during a visit to our home and shipped us plates that matched. We enjoyed these plates and bowls greatly, but years of hard use have taken their toll. It is time for something new.
After searching the internet, we were unimpressed with our options. Dinnerware is expensive, and most of the items we saw were boring and utilitarian. What to do? Then Joe had a brainstorm. Years ago, a potter friend made Joe a beautiful serving platter, which doubles as wall-art in our living room. Joe suggested we pay this artisan a visit and see if he could make us something that would complement the platter. So we did, and yesterday we picked up our new plates and bowls. We even splurged and bought two matching serving dishes. Each piece is unique, beautiful, and a sensual experience to use.
After searching the internet, we were unimpressed with our options. Dinnerware is expensive, and most of the items we saw were boring and utilitarian. What to do? Then Joe had a brainstorm. Years ago, a potter friend made Joe a beautiful serving platter, which doubles as wall-art in our living room. Joe suggested we pay this artisan a visit and see if he could make us something that would complement the platter. So we did, and yesterday we picked up our new plates and bowls. We even splurged and bought two matching serving dishes. Each piece is unique, beautiful, and a sensual experience to use.
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The Art of Living
On the surface, this purchase seems rather unremarkable (people buy plates and bowls all the time), but it was actually a rite of passage for me. What made it notable is that we purchased ART for everyday use. I will add that we did not quiver or quibble at the price (which was appropriate for such fine work). We paid it willingly, knowing we were worth the investment, and because we wanted our dining experiences to be delicious in more ways than one.
I’ve come to realize it is not the big events that define my quality of life as much as the small day-to-day decisions. By marrying sensuality with practicality in such an intentional way, we placed a new priority on beauty. We juiced our joy. Joe and I used our new plates for dinner last night, and I confess, I was giddy.
As I look back, I see how I’ve been building this new standard of living for quite a while. For example, I’ve been re-inventing my wardrobe piece by piece in recent months, looking for items that I can use for travel and adventure, and this started long before my upcoming trip to Italy was even on the radar! Like Frances in the movie, Under the Tuscan Sun, I was building the container for a life I did not yet have, essentially creating that new reality through small leaps of faith.
Similarly, our new dishes represent the lifestyle Joe and I want to have: creative, unique, a high-class work of art. With this purchase we took another step towards the grandness we are imagining, and gave ourselves a practical reminder of our intention - one that will be put before us every single day.
I’ve come to realize it is not the big events that define my quality of life as much as the small day-to-day decisions. By marrying sensuality with practicality in such an intentional way, we placed a new priority on beauty. We juiced our joy. Joe and I used our new plates for dinner last night, and I confess, I was giddy.
As I look back, I see how I’ve been building this new standard of living for quite a while. For example, I’ve been re-inventing my wardrobe piece by piece in recent months, looking for items that I can use for travel and adventure, and this started long before my upcoming trip to Italy was even on the radar! Like Frances in the movie, Under the Tuscan Sun, I was building the container for a life I did not yet have, essentially creating that new reality through small leaps of faith.
Similarly, our new dishes represent the lifestyle Joe and I want to have: creative, unique, a high-class work of art. With this purchase we took another step towards the grandness we are imagining, and gave ourselves a practical reminder of our intention - one that will be put before us every single day.
Making Dreams REAL
I dream big. If I spoke about half of what I believe is possible, most people would say I was crazy. I wouldn’t listen, of course, because the unicorn in my garden has promised me that I am right (wink).
But seriously, what is the purpose of living if our creative expression must be confined to the limited patterns defined by mass consciousness? If I have a purpose, beyond simply being here now, I suspect it is to bring my dreams into reality.
I remember sorting through my Grandmother’s hope chest after she died where I found many beautiful things that were tucked away, protected, but never enjoyed. Like these precious treasures, it is easy to hold our dreams out there in a safe secret place where they cannot be tarnished by the challenges of life. I don’t want to bring my dreams out on rare occasions so I can glance at them wistfully and then tuck them away again. I want to experience them, and frankly, I can tell my dreams would like to me to experience them too.
I remember sorting through my Grandmother’s hope chest after she died where I found many beautiful things that were tucked away, protected, but never enjoyed. Like these precious treasures, it is easy to hold our dreams out there in a safe secret place where they cannot be tarnished by the challenges of life. I don’t want to bring my dreams out on rare occasions so I can glance at them wistfully and then tuck them away again. I want to experience them, and frankly, I can tell my dreams would like to me to experience them too.
It takes a rare kind of courage to actually make our big dreams tangible. As the Velveteen Rabbit so poetically depicted, becoming “Real” involves a certain amount of dishevelment that is alarming at best. It is not for the faint of heart.
Through trial and error, I’ve discovered birthing my dreams is best done by taking small steps, because small steps don’t send my mind into all-out revolt like big steps do. I balk at big steps, but a series of small steps, taken organically, have carried me effortlessly over the threshold into many new realities. Small steps make the impossible possible.
By taking small steps, I let my dream know that I’m serious, which gets the energies flowing. When opportunities then come to my door, I can choose to invest my curiosity, or perhaps even some money, to see what happens next. This is how I water my passion garden. Sooner or later something I wasn’t expecting will pop up out of the ground and it will amaze me. Then, in hind-sight, I will see how I prepared myself to receive something grand, one small step at a time.
Through trial and error, I’ve discovered birthing my dreams is best done by taking small steps, because small steps don’t send my mind into all-out revolt like big steps do. I balk at big steps, but a series of small steps, taken organically, have carried me effortlessly over the threshold into many new realities. Small steps make the impossible possible.
By taking small steps, I let my dream know that I’m serious, which gets the energies flowing. When opportunities then come to my door, I can choose to invest my curiosity, or perhaps even some money, to see what happens next. This is how I water my passion garden. Sooner or later something I wasn’t expecting will pop up out of the ground and it will amaze me. Then, in hind-sight, I will see how I prepared myself to receive something grand, one small step at a time.
Side-Stepping Sabotage
The small-step dance is an intuitive and agenda-less process. It is purely play. Playfulness is a conscious strategy that keeps my mind from messing things up. My soul (who knows which things serve me best) will often bypass my mind completely and simply lure me playfully into instinctive action.
My first Reiki attunement was like this. Without research of any kind, not knowing at all what I was getting myself into (which was out of character for me), I signed up for the attunement and found myself mid-way through the session before my mind caught on to the significance of my choice…at which point it freaked out, but the deed was already done.
Similarly, several sets of clothing and a new suitcase into my recent buying spree, my mind began to rebel by screaming, “What are you doing? You shouldn’t be buying all this stuff! You don’t even have a trip planned. What a colossal waste of good money!” But my inner wisdom knew better. It wasn’t a month later that the opportunity to travel to Italy arrived on the well-greased path of all those purchases; and now I have everything I need to go, so no excuses. When I’m compelled to act, and my mind is not the catalyst, I’ve learned it is a sign that I’m moving in the right direction.
My first Reiki attunement was like this. Without research of any kind, not knowing at all what I was getting myself into (which was out of character for me), I signed up for the attunement and found myself mid-way through the session before my mind caught on to the significance of my choice…at which point it freaked out, but the deed was already done.
Similarly, several sets of clothing and a new suitcase into my recent buying spree, my mind began to rebel by screaming, “What are you doing? You shouldn’t be buying all this stuff! You don’t even have a trip planned. What a colossal waste of good money!” But my inner wisdom knew better. It wasn’t a month later that the opportunity to travel to Italy arrived on the well-greased path of all those purchases; and now I have everything I need to go, so no excuses. When I’m compelled to act, and my mind is not the catalyst, I’ve learned it is a sign that I’m moving in the right direction.
Dreams Have Their Own Timing
Dreaming requires patience. It is easy to get sucked into worry and distraction, or even worse, pushing, but forcing dreams to sprout never works.
The deer in our yard have taught me this. When I urge them to come close, they run away. If I celebrate them and radiate total acceptance, they often come right up to me. I once had a big buck nuzzle my hand. (It was truly a Snow White moment.)
The deer in our yard have taught me this. When I urge them to come close, they run away. If I celebrate them and radiate total acceptance, they often come right up to me. I once had a big buck nuzzle my hand. (It was truly a Snow White moment.)
I had a similar experience with a run-away dog who came into the back yard while I was writing. He was very anxious and skittish. I just witnessed him, gave him permission to do what he needed to do, and eventually he came up next to me and snuggled in. (Side note - Dreams smell fear, just like animals do. To minimize chaos it is best to stand calmly in your own loving center.)
I’ve learned to allow dreams to approach me in their own timing. It took 40 years before Colorado became my home, and it was a place I longed to live since I was 10 years old; yet I can tell you with certainty that I am here now at exactly the right time. If I had come here any earlier, I would not have been ready for what happened next. My biggest dreams ask me to believe in them without question and trust they will arrive on schedule. While I wait, I know I am building my capacity to actually receive what comes.
I’ve learned to allow dreams to approach me in their own timing. It took 40 years before Colorado became my home, and it was a place I longed to live since I was 10 years old; yet I can tell you with certainty that I am here now at exactly the right time. If I had come here any earlier, I would not have been ready for what happened next. My biggest dreams ask me to believe in them without question and trust they will arrive on schedule. While I wait, I know I am building my capacity to actually receive what comes.
Protecting the Seedlings
Since making dreams Real is a mysterious and sometimes scary business, we often want to share our ideas and fledgling progress with other people in hopes that they will validate how brave and brilliant we are, and like my unicorn buddy, assure us that we are not totally insane. This usually does not go well. The result is frequently equivalent to letting a herd of elephants stomp on a freshly planted garden.
Now, granted, most of this stomping is very well-intentioned: “I’m only trying to save you from disappointment. You need to be realistic. Blah, blah blah.” Surely, those who say such things only want the best for us; but since big dreams are often brand new, never-before-accomplished miracles, they tend to be outside of other people’s belief zone and do not generate public support.
Just like a brand new baby, dreams require our protection. It takes time for a dream to find its balance in this topsy-turvy world before it can run with the big dogs. Our dreams need a safe space to grow into themselves without being exposed to harsh criticism or doubt. I’ve learned to keep my dream seeds close to the chest in the early stages of manifestation. I do not speak of them until the time is right. While things are sprouting, I weed my garden of thoughts, words, and deeds that are not in harmony with my dream, and I fertilize liberally with resonant vibrations.
It is time to dream big dreams now…unicorn-worthy dreams. I want my new dinnerware to set the table for a much grander sensual experience, so I’m allowing my knowingness to guide me into a place I’ve never been before. I’m letting my dreams show me my next steps. I don't know what will happen next, but I fully intend to be amazed.
Now, granted, most of this stomping is very well-intentioned: “I’m only trying to save you from disappointment. You need to be realistic. Blah, blah blah.” Surely, those who say such things only want the best for us; but since big dreams are often brand new, never-before-accomplished miracles, they tend to be outside of other people’s belief zone and do not generate public support.
Just like a brand new baby, dreams require our protection. It takes time for a dream to find its balance in this topsy-turvy world before it can run with the big dogs. Our dreams need a safe space to grow into themselves without being exposed to harsh criticism or doubt. I’ve learned to keep my dream seeds close to the chest in the early stages of manifestation. I do not speak of them until the time is right. While things are sprouting, I weed my garden of thoughts, words, and deeds that are not in harmony with my dream, and I fertilize liberally with resonant vibrations.
It is time to dream big dreams now…unicorn-worthy dreams. I want my new dinnerware to set the table for a much grander sensual experience, so I’m allowing my knowingness to guide me into a place I’ve never been before. I’m letting my dreams show me my next steps. I don't know what will happen next, but I fully intend to be amazed.
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