The Magpie's Call To The State Of Grace

The magpie called to me just now You can't imagine the amount of time I spend in the past before I realise, and present myself, once again to the present. It doesn't matter how many years of practice one spends in meditation, it still happens, you just make your way back quicker as time goes by. I think I have turned it into an art form :)

The truth with loss is, you are so connected at the time to giving comfort, to tending to their needs that you are totally unaware of yourself as witness to the suffering.

The witness speaks her words to me today and I am rendered speechless, for in that moment I realise his quiet suffering... Oh My Lord it's so hard to remember that.

The past takes me back because I miss him, even the suffering was something we shared.

I close my eyes and become aware of my inner world as I listen to the outer, to the birds, to the cars and I feel overwhelmed by sadness still, until the magpie calls me.

Above my seat the magpie sits high on a branch and sings so gently, so quietly and quite unlike the usual.

I have travelled to many countries that have these birds, but none sing like the Australian magpie. And I have never heard a magpie sing as gently as this one just now.

It is a call to Grace, a call of remembrance. Not of the suffering I witnessed but of who I Am and where I Am.

The family of magpies and I didn't get along a couple of years back, they used to swoop my head whenever I went out, and one day while I was on the back porch it knocked my sun hat right off my head, they are fearsome birds. It bewildered me because I was one that felt birds talked to me; if a bird swoops near my car as I drive, I take notice of the road ahead and this once saved my life when I saw just in time, a ladder on the road.

We are all friends now because of a magic moment. The female magpie kept flying at me one afternoon until I realised she wasn't swooping, she was alerting me to something. I took a look around and her baby was caught up in fencing cloth, a little like shadecloth and it's leg was injured.

I was really scared but knew I had to help so I covered it's head and cut the cloth - off it flew. Even though the birds weren't happy sharing this property, they knew I would help them in their hour of need. I always felt the sacredness of that moment.

Today, I know the family are returning the favour; they are helping me with their song - A Call To Grace.

It is 11am on the 20th July 2014, the sun is shining, I sit on my rocker facing north east, I see red geraniums, I hear the roar of the motor bikes on their Sunday ride and I smile.

Today I Am with you magpies, out into the garden I go and thank you for your gentle reminder of the moment - It is so not 4 years ago, it is NOW!

I hope you find today is a beautiful Sunday wherever you are.

Much love

xxx WendyJoy xxx

Verse 43 The Value Of Minimums

I was reading the Tao Te Ching, 81 Verses By Lao Tzu, Sacred Texts Translation and Commentary by Ralph Alan Dale 2002 and came across Verse 43 and felt inspired to share it with you. It has such relevance for today and yet it is believed to have been written around the 6th BCE, most likely by those devoted to his teachings (as he was known for the simplicity of being rather than instructing in words, or deeds I would suppose).

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THE VALUE OF MINIMUMS

That which is most tender

can overcome that which is most rigid.

That which has least substance

can penetrate that which has least space

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Acting without deliberate action

and teaching without uttering a word

are rarely practiced.

So few find their way

to the Great Integrity, (Tao)

Never are words such as these so true, as when you have children in your life. They hear every word, but is that what they follow? No, they are taught without words, and generally speaking their tantrums (rigid) are controlled by the gentlest of actions (tenderness).

Have you found people fear telling the truth for fear of hurting another? Misguided love I suppose. Many others fear telling the truth for fear of repercussions. Politicians around the globe seem to have made it into an art form, weird isn't it, as it's almost expected of them?

Well I am often inspired by the opposites in life and Verse 43 today has had me thinking, even the name of Verse 43 is interesting, as we don't always consider minimums to be of any value in these days of up-size.

Also I was aware of my actions and non verbal communication. I had the music on, then I realised the beautiful silence that had filled my room. I sat and listened to some friends who dropped by, and although I hardly spoke a word my body spoke for me. My day was filled with such moments of awareness; very entertaining.

Well that was my day! A mystical, ancient reflection on my thoroughly modern Friday. Now, what can I get up to tomorrow? And you?

Hope your weekend is a treat, lots of love

xxx WendyJoy xxx