A Story About Patience

I have infinite patience for some things and some people and absolutely no patience for other things and other people.  It is something that I work on constantly.  I was telling a friend about my lack of patience that kicks in from time to time.  She shared this story with me.  In turn, I share it with you.

The Power of Patience

A Long time ago, there was a son who was extraordinarily respectful to his father. On his deathbed the father said: “My son, you honored me in my life time and now you must honor me after my death. I command you, if you should ever be overcome by anger you should hold back your angry until the next morning. 

After his father’s death, the son was forced to embark on a prolonged journey, which took him to distant lands for tens of years. Unbeknownst to him, the wife he left behind was expecting his child. 

After his years of absence, the husband returned home unannounced, hoping to joyously surprise his wife. But as he approached his bedchamber he saw his wife embracing a handsome young man, a stranger. The husband became fiercely jealous and reached for his dagger - when he suddenly remembered the pledge he made to his father: He must hold back his rage overnight. 

The next day he was shocked to discover that the young man in his wife’s embrace was none other than his own son, the child that his wife had borne during his long absence. The man was thus saved from tragically slaughtering his own family. 

Source: “A Letter for the Ages” Mesorah Publications 1989 

The greatest remedy for anger is delay. –Seneca

Many Blessings,

Judy

Spirit Animal - Rooster

                       

                                Picture from www.nashvillescene.com

I often dream about animals and many times, the animals talk to me in the dreams.  The Shaman believes that all animals speak and that animals bring us messages.  These spirit animals may also act as guides or as guardians for us both in the dream world and in this world.  As a side note, one of the meanings of the word - Shaman - is to identify the person as one who walks between worlds or walks between the daylight world and the night time world.

My dream the other night was about several things although the prominent figure in the dream was a Rooster.  Rooster had a lot to say.

A rooster is a symbol of male domination, not only of the chickens, but of the farmyard.  Several sports teams have Rooster as an emblem or totem, on their team sweaters.  Roosters have been used in betting circles to stage “cock fights” and to proclaim mastery at fighting.

Rooster, however, is not happy with Man, and Man’s attempt to subvert Rooster’s natural protective  tendencies to become a fighter without any other job and therefore be a source of entertainment and profit.  Rooster has this to say about life.

• I like to work with farmers and keep the barnyard safe by alerting the farmer to potential threats from predators.  I do not like that Man has made me a predator in the ring.  I tell everyone that being made to do something against your will is a form of slavery. Fight against it.
• I crow as a warning to other roosters, and to foxes and wolves, and other eaters of chickens, that I am on the job.  I tell them to beware.  I see people move through life without doing any crowing.  You need to have the confidence to say, “I am great at what I do.”  Moving through life with your head up and in an alert state will protect you.
• Roosters scratch in the dirt for food.  In this way, we stay grounded, and stay in touch with Mother Earth.  More people should ground themselves in the here and now instead of allowing their lives to drift away by fantasizing about what will not be because they have not taken action.

Many blessings,

Judy

The Challenge Of The Anonymous Troll

 

How do you find it in your heart to have compassion for someone who has just spouted vile words at you, for no apparent reason?  How do you find compassion for the person who sits behind Anonymous and writes bullying words and makes threats?  Do we need to find compassion for them?

This was my question for my meditation.  I was finding it hard to understand why someone would want to yell at someone else for no reason.  Or, if you want to be really mean to someone, why not use your name?

I sat and waited for the knowing.  Nothing happened.  I waited some more.  Nothing happened. I waited and sank into a deeper state.  And I had the knowing that frustration and anger at life is a driving emotion that causes Anonymous to post the blogs or for someone you might not even know to shout out at you. 

The interesting part of the meditation was that when this situation happens to you or touches you, the Universe (Spirit) is holding up a mirror that shows an aspect of you.  

I looked inside for peace.  I looked inside for healing.  I offered gratitude that I was not writing anonymous angry words or going around shouting at people. The Shaman in the legends talk about the angry, crazy person having some hidden wisdom in the meaningless rambling.  

I could not find any words of wisdom.  I did find compassion.  How horrible it must be to feel that much pain and to take it out on random people.  I offer blessings to them.

Many blessings to you,

Judy