Walking in Light
Today kicks off the “Festival of Diwali,” celebrated in India for 5-6 days. This means "Festival of Lights” and it celebrates the victory of light over darkness; good over evil; and knowledge over ignorance. Interestingly this day coincided with the arrival of the book “Walking in Light” by Sandra Ingerman to my home. It also falls the day after a spiritually significant personal “Christian event” that occurred yesterday. Candles were a part of the ceremony. Indeed the symbolism of light over darkness is universal and, it would seem, timeless (at least in a world such as ours with the ongoing dance of night and day).
I’ve noted this festival in certain years past when it was brought to my attention. Its timing has been ironic previously, as well. The other time I recall “Diwali” feeling quite synchronistic was during the midst of the 10-day silent Vipassana meditation retreat I participated in back in 2008 in Georgia. (It must have been in October of 2008. I recall experiencing the “B-Symptoms” from the cancer I did not yet know my body was temporarily hosting. I recall rubbing olive oil on my legs- the only thing that would calm the itching. I was diagnosed at the end of January of 2009.) I recall going into the cafeteria one morning after the very early (5am-still dark) meditation and fixing my plate while seeing the art and signs announcing Diwali. With the deeper states being experienced during this retreat, seeing these images of lit candles and the message of “light prevailing over darkness” glowed with an interior meaning.
The light of consciousness. The light of awareness. The light of the Divine. I can feel the light. I can feel when I am walking in the light. I can feel the light when I think of the light. I can feel the light of God’s love shining upon me, illuminating the visions of my eyes. I can feel light shining out from me, embracing other people. It is love and acceptance. It is in seeing others with an open heart. This kind of seeing is illuminating. This is light.
In any case, the reason I ordered a book about Shaminsim is, at least, twofold: (1). I dreamt a woman told me I was to become a healer and directed me to train with someone who had a Shamanic lineage; and (2) I told Sky about this dream and asked whether it made any sense to her and she started telling me some things about Shamans I didn’t know. For example, the lineage thing is real- they really do trace their training back through a lineage. She also said a shaman is like an earth priestess, very connected to the elements and nature. She also recommended a good way to explore how it resonates with me is by looking into the work of Sandra Ingerman.
By the way,
“The word ‘shaman’ means ‘one who sees in the dark.’ Shamans consciously choose to live in two different worlds at the same time. They have one foot here in the everyday world and one foot in the world of the spirits.”
I read the quote above the other night, online, and found it illuminating (pun intended). I did not previously know that “one who sees in the dark” was the meaning of the word “shaman.”
In more practical news, I have had some inspiration in regard to my ongoing music project.
First, a potential name for the album which will compile the songs I’ve been writing (and will write) over the past/next year or so. “Transformations” is the name that has come to me.
Second, after spending hours upon hours trying to play the guitar part by itself to a click track, recording it here at my home, and ending up with a stiff-sounding, not “in time” enough instrumental track, I had a realization.
For now, it is a better use of my time and talents to either:
(A). Get someone else to play it for the recording; or
(B). Simply play and sing live and focus on the energy/vibration/message of the song. I can listen to the click track in headphones, but I will perform the song live. That is the magic. The magic is in the message. And that happens in the moment. Trying to squeeze into the dictates of time has never been my thing, why would it be so with music?
I am an “outside the box” personality, on every level, it seems. I can realize this and embrace it instead of fighting against it. I can create more this way. I can be more true to myself this way. I cannot get so stuck in perfectionism that my creative well grows stagnant. Much better to welcome the inspiration in and allow it to flow. Be a thoughtful conduit, but not a perfectionist.
