Today is Twelfth Night. It is officially the last day of Christmas. It is the night we celebrate the journey of the three wisemen (three kings) who follow a star to visit baby Jesus. In our house, this is the highlight (and our favorite day) of the Christmas season. We have a feast, wear crowns, eat special bread that is shaped like a crown, drink special grapejuice--all under candle light. We also have a three kings cake. Inside is a nut and whoever gets the nut is the king/wiseman. At our feast, I put five nuts in strategic places so that we all get a piece of cake with a nut. We are all kings, all wisemen!
In my post yesterday I highlighted why I love this celebration, but I have one more thing to include. It is this idea about following a child.
My journey as a mother has been one of intense spiritual growth. My children have lead me to so many interesting spiritual discoveries, and yet, these discoveries are not new, just hidden. There are many times I have thought of my children as my spiritual midwives. They are the best friends to my soul. They have witnessed my soul being born again and again each time I recover one of those lost childhood treasures they continually point out to me.
Here is why I love the idea of following a child:
1. Children are mystics. Mystics are those who experience the holy. Children know the Divine because they experience it. No one has to tell them how to pray or meditate. They don't need to read books. Their understanding is based on experience, intuition, instinct. Their lives are fully integrated with the holy in such a way that they live life as a prayer. There is no division for them between the physical and spiritual worlds.
2. Children know how to practice mindfulness. They instinctively know how to be totally present in the moment. Watch a child fall to the ground in the snow, make a snow angel, and remain there for a while looking above at cloud formations. They know how to be in the moment.
3. Children have this amazingly strong sense of wonder. They explore, they question, they dream without censoring themselves.
4. They are engaged in life. They show interest and enthusiasm over small things like butterfly wings, campfires, the full moon, and big things like the size of the universe.
5. Children are open. Open to trusting and open to forgiving. And it comes so easily to them. I am always amazed at how easily my children forgive me. And while my children question my decisions (especially as they grow into adolescence), they have always remained open to hearing what is alive in me.
6. They remind me about the importance of staying connected. Whether through play or through talking about things, especially feelings and needs, they want to stay connected.
7. They remind me that laughter is like prayer and meditation--it is good to do it everyday.
8. Children remind me to dream big. Think abundantly. My son recently said to me, "when do you think we will get that land you dream of Mom?" For him, it wasn't a matter of if we get the land but when we get the land.
9. A wise person is a one who points out life's mysteries. Children are clued in to the mysteries in life. They are the wise ones I think worth following.
Do you want to join me?
Peace,
Nicki
Absolutely. I'm only just beginning to realise how much I am learning, albeit the hard way, by raising a child. She is The Beloved, The Great Mystery, The Divine, right there in my arms and then dancing out of reach again, laughing. It's painful and beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI love how you put that: the Beloved, the Great Mystery, the Divine. Absolutely beautiful. It makes me smile.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, it is hard, isn't? So many more things to learn on this parenting journey!
Thanks for stopping and commenting. It is good to know others out there feel children are worth following.
Peace, Nicki
Nicki,
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my home. I enjoy your blog, it nourishes my soul with its spiritual caffeine. Your space here reflects over to mine, with reminders of my spiritual progress.
I love the whole children aspects. I prefer being in their presence over adults any time. I suppose its because of the lack of childhood I experienced. Pressuming a unassuming consiousness, brings me as close as I can get to experiencing that child like innocence.
Blessings,
Carla
I am totally there. This morning, Naya had difficulty with breakfast. I wanted to get to work early to write before seeing patients, but realized that being with sad child meditation was more important that writing meditation. I learned about patience, compassion, and doing the best with what we've got. Thanks for the wonderful post.
ReplyDeletethis has been a wonderful series, i look forward to more of your posts this year...wish i had read this before posting my own update this week or i would have linked to it...blessings...
ReplyDeleteCarla,
ReplyDeleteYes, I too would rather be with children than adults. For me, I think it has something to do with returning to my true self. Here is a great quote I hold onto by Philip Newell (he writes a lot about Celtic spirituality): "God has given us at our birth something that is of the essence of {holiness}. It is at the beginning of who we have been created to be and it is at the end or heart of our journey as something that we are called to rediscover." I remember the first time I read this I thought, "yeah, that makes so much sense--I am returning to my true self." The quote comes from One Foot in Eden: A Celtic view of the Stages of Life.
Mermaid, I appreciate your response. I have just discovered that when I loose the plot, lack patience,dream of doing something else, or hurrying my children along that if I can pause for a moment then perhaps I might learn something (like what it looks like to be patient, to wait, to be in the moment, to breathe). I am still such a toddler when it comes to this, but I am starting to feel compassion, patience, and love more deeply. I must be on the right footing.
Lisa, Thanks for stopping here. I feel encouraged. And, I so love your blog. I find it so informative and inspiring.
Peace, Nicki.
I really enjoyed this post Nicki. The comment about the kid falling in the snow and making a snow angel then just looking up at the clouds - that struck a true place in my heart.
ReplyDelete