A New Beginning

I have always had what I call a very "plastic" brain; by that I mean a mind that slips easily between paradigms of thinking. I begin to see through the filter of those other ways very quickly without losing my ability to relate to my prior position. I think this natural flexibility of belief this is the true definition of what Shamans call "walking in different worlds" and is what caused me to gravitate towards the study of shamanism in the first place.
I still call myself a Shaman, because I see the term as the closest definition to what I have become, but recently, a series of personal changes (and choices) has left me at a bit of a loss in terms of a defining paradigm. Contrary to what you might think, and indeed contrary to how I would have thought about it before, I'm finding that it's just fine with me! I do not mourn the end of an "identity", I celebrate the integration of my many facets into a more complete and effective Human Being.
I'm still writing stories, with plans to publish them in E-book form in the near future, but you will find other information here too. I believe that those who need to find this information will find it. I hope that something about my own personal journey speaks to you, and helps you to unravel some of the mystery of your own Life.
Thank you for reading!
-Grace

(just a reminder, all material and stories are copyrighted)

Tuesday, August 04, 2015

Tea and Empathy

The other day, I decided to treat myself to a Turkish tea and as I sat enjoying it, a white-bearded, very elderly gentleman wearing a polo shirt and jeans shuffled into the restaurant. Immediately, all the employees came running out of the kitchen and lined up in front of him. One by one, tears in their eyes, they sank to their knees, clasped his hands, and kissed him before seating him at a table The waitress explained that he was their "Imam", a Spiritual Leader, and she described him as "person of great respect and love". I thought that her phrasing was a little odd. Wouldn't we, here in the Western World say "A person WORTHY of great respect and Love?" She spoke with a pretty thick accent, so I put it down to the fact that English was not her native language. She was going to ask if I wanted to be introduced when he got up and walked over to me. He flashed me a brilliant, smile that made him look 15 years younger and asked my name. Then he took MY hands and inclined *his* head to ME. I did manage to catch my name in whatever it was he said next but I had no idea what the rest of it was because it was spoken in Turkish. Whatever he said, he said it with great enthusiasm and his hand over his heart. I have to admit that I felt humbled by the respect that this man showed to me; a complete stranger of a different faith, drinking tea at the table next to him. And I felt blessed and peaceful without understanding a word. But then as I went back to my tea, it became clear to me. See, when I was told that he was a man of "great respect and love", I assumed that she meant that such things were to be given *to* him. We here in the west tend to describe our leaders in terms of what *we* give to *them*, and our perceived value of our Leaders and the people around us is determined by what we judge to be "Worthy". In other words, if you don't deserve it, you're not gonna get it. But I realized that the waitress knew *exactly* what she had said to me before. She meant that that man had such great Love and Respect in his heart that it just overflowed onto all things. Respect and Love were what *he* gave to people. All people, whether they were his followers or not. That's just what he was made of. He was not concerned about my deeming him "worthy" of respect because *he* thought *I* was. I will remember this. #FaithYouredoingitright.

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