Conversations with the Elders: Word of Wisdom

 

The place all around the cabin had a bluish energy around it; not so visible yet present. Inside the Elders were sitting around, having small talk conversation. Jazz music was playing on the radio, a saxophonist on tenor sax perhaps. I tried to identify the artist. I decided to just enjoy the music.

 

I sat at the table, near the radio. The Elder of Fire and the Elder of Earth looked at me, with an “are you comfortable” look. I replied, “Yes, this is fine.” They sat down at the table with me. The Elder of Water and the Elder of Air were on the couch. “What is on your mind, young-old man?”

 

“Several of my friends, a couple of clients and many students are going through changes in their lives. These changes are more than the normal day-to-day stuff. These are those deep, profound, life altering, scaring me to death, what is this all about, I have no words to explain this, HELP, changes.”

 

“So what do you want? What does this mean for you?” asked the Elder of Fire.

 

“I, the nurturer, teacher, healer and guide in me wants those words of wisdom to share with them, to make it better for them, whatever it is. I don’t want to take their choice away from them; however, I would love for them to not have such a hard and troubled time with whatever they are experiencing. I do know everyone has to live their life the best way they know how. And yet, I would love for them to have an easier time of it.”

 

The Elder of Fire said, “Is that your teacher and guide self speaking or is that the you that needs to be needed speaking? There is an aspect of you that wants people to like and love you for the wisdoms that you share. It is your need to be needed.” They have this way of cutting to the chase, getting right down to the real issue. I appreciate it…after the fact.

 

The Elder of Water spoke, “Didn’t you just go through, as you call it, changes beyond changes? Didn’t you and are you experiencing life altering changes right now? How are you getting through them? How are you making lemonade from lemons? How are you continuing to move forward in spite of it ALL? How did you make it through the past two years? How did you get through this past Friday night?”

 

The Elder of Earth said as if I wasn’t there, “He keeps forgetting that the most inspiring story or the most profound words of wisdom he could share comes from his own experiences, and not from us. He knows we have seen much, experienced much and lived through much. What he forgets is, so has he.”  The Elder of Earth turned to look at me, “Young-old man, what one word describes how you moved through and handled those changes in your life the past two years, what one word?”

 

The first word that came to mind, “perseverance…the will to live, stubbornly obedient, the fight, the fire, answering the call, inexhaustible, cosmic fire, it is about the journey…perseverance.”

 

The Elder of Earth, laughing said, “That was more than one word.”

 

The Elder of Water said, “If you want to inspire someone or impart words of wisdom or help them…share your story. However, share your story from that inner place of love and life, and knowing. Don’t share it to inspire or impress others, or to teach or to guide them…share your story because it is your truth and it is you. Share your story and your word of wisdom.”

 

I took all of that in as I looked outside the window. A blue jay landed on the railing out on the deck.   I looked outside the other window and noticed a fluorescent blue bug on the windowsill. Blue. I knew it was significant. I chose to acknowledge seeing the blue, again.