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| Kapaa Rooster, oil on linen, 24 x 20 inches |
“I know that thoughts are not always
100 percent good, but I sure do hate it when they are negative.” My
daughter Naomi wrote these words in her journal as she struggled to
survive the cancer that eventually killed her while still a teenager. During my recent
difficulties—finding myself single and bereft, I have often taken
inspiration from Naomi's example of making effort to replace bad
circumstances with something good instead. Her task was monumental
and she achieved remarkable victory over negativity. She shaped her
mind to be her ally. She also wrote, “Hardships can make us
stronger . . . every situation has some good in it.”
My circumstances and efforts to shape my
mind have brought me to remember a notable dream I had many years
ago. Dreams are mostly fluff and reworking of days events, but
sometimes a dream will act as a sign to higher levels of
consciousness. This was such a dream: I was buried in the earth,
upright with arms and legs spread, but only my head above ground. I
felt fine, even happy and content. At the same time, I could also see
myself from outside, as if witnessing. I was in a clearing in some
woods, the sun was shining, air balmy. Two people arrived to stand in
front of me. They were spiritual beings and stood in front of my head
as if the situation were completely normal. They even chatted
together. Just then, from behind a nearby bush, a chicken came
running to peck at my face. He would peck, run back behind the bush,
and come running to peck at my head again. I was completely
defenseless except to wiggle my face side to side and try and close
my eyes tight to protect them against the bird's beak. The two
onlookers watched calmly as if nothing were out of the ordinary. I
awoke.
Now upon reflection, I see that I am at one
with the earth, and all is well.
But thoughts coming from the ego or false imaginations can be like
the pesky chicken upsetting the peace. My spirit guides are with me, bearing witness, but also informing me that in reality, I am in
a safe embrace of essential elements and in oneness that is expansive.
Not to worry about the pecking, which will pass.