 Dear Friends
I wonder, if you were asked to name your favourite object or possession, what the answer would be? How did you become the keeper of such meaningful joy? What is the story behind its purchase or gift? Maybe it represents a time in your life that was so great or small that it was life changing. Perhaps its story is remembered daily, supporting or limiting daily life. Does it draw you to live in the past, or remind you to live only in the present? How precious are the gifts we give and receive: rings convey the eternal circle of life; photographs, a lock of hair, letters, heirlooms passed from generation to generation, are visual reminders of captured moments in time.
The world brings us gifts of stunning scenery, the scent of larch sap or sweet peas, birdsong, dusk or dawn, seashells and morning dew, endless beauty not as an object of possession but as a sensory gift for the soul. Some things we keep for their beauty alone, some as a promise to others, and some - just because.
A special treasure of mine was a St. Christopher necklace; it was quite large like the heart and stature of the man it belonged to. Money certainly couldn’t buy it; no price could convey or purchase the memory and love that it held for me. It was so precious that I gave it away. Its message was to be spread wider than it could have done if I had kept it to myself.
Widening the circle of love
Let me briefly tell you its story. Katrina and I met at a workshop in Chalice Well Gardens, Glastonbury. The gathering was entitled ‘Watching with the Dying, Travelling with the Dead’, facilitated by Phyllida Anam-Aire (author of A Celtic Book of Dying). During the weekend, as part of the course content, we were asked individually to place something of personal value in a sacred circle. We had the opportunity to speak of its story and what it meant to us... and then let it go. The bittersweet process of the internal journey and transition within each one of us was a profound experience, witnessing the courage and honesty as each one of us in turn faced the deeply held reasons that lay behind the objects we held so dearly. How could placing an object in a circle bring to the surface so much emotion and attachment, to be released into the blessing of detachment? I placed my St. Christopher in the circle and wept inside as I realised what chords of attachment it held within me... and I let go.
The following day our courage was rewarded and, unbeknown to us, our gifts were to be returned. After the initial joy at receiving them, we were given a choice and encouraged, but not forced, to let go again. This time, and finally, we could choose to pass the object as a gift to someone within the group.
I had not spoken personally with Katrina before that moment when she picked up her gift from the circle and, with selfless purpose, walked towards me; no words were spoken - only a smile as she offered me a small piece of paper on which was a poem written by her mother and passed on mother to daughter as a life passed on.
Taking my necklace I placed it in her hands, two strangers embracing and exchanging gifts of love, passing on healing through understanding that in life no object can hold or deny that which is felt in the heart. In our selfless letting go, we widen and deepen the circle of eternal love, which transcends all our human limitations.
After the workshop Katrina and I met briefly to express our gratitude and anticipation as to where this new and unfolding direction would take us. Letting go and letting in the expansion of an unknown future. When I see a St. Christopher now, I smile, and know that the patron saint of travellers is not only to protect the physical body but to guide the travelling soul out into the universal home, returning in love to the hearts of us all.
Part of human existence is to enjoy and take pleasure in the gifts we give and receive, those we share with friends and loved ones together with beauty of the natural world. Respecting the value in what we `own` is an honouring in itself. It means knowing that the most precious gift is held deep within, behind all the fears and tears, hopes and dreams, mountains and molehills. It is life itself, to be lived fully, allowing love to weave its magic, uniting us all into a blissful bond of peaceful understanding and blessed unity.
Here is the poem I received, as love returned, enriching my life. May it bring you that blessing too.
Footprints by Betty Crook
Christ he left his footprints
Everywhere he trod,
And if we trace those footprints
We see they lead to God.
So let us too make footprints,
Deep and firm and strong,
Even though the path of duty
Be hard to struggle on.
Each day do a kindness,
Try to smile through pain,
Cultivate a nature
That sings through storm and rain.
And as each year passes,
We are sure to find,
Someone seeking footprints
That we have left behind.
With love, the energetic vibration of life, Mary.
© Mary Wainwright, 2007
To make a donation toward Mary's next voluntary healing trip, please make cheques payable to ‘Healing Hands Network' and post to Cygnus Bookshop, 2 Market Place, Lampeter, Ceredigion, SA48 7DS.
Mary Wainwright LCPHom
A Registered Homeopath, Reiki and Seichem Master and Teacher, Mary offers Reiki and Seichem treatments or homeopathy and flower essence treatments at our shop in Lampeter. She also visits the Cygnus offices regularly, sharing her wonderful healing skills for the benefit of all the Cygnus staff. She is dearly loved by us all, and we thank her with all our hearts for everything she does for us, and now for sharing her health and healing tips with you.
Mary has garnered several flower and tree essences: her collection is called Flowers of Freedom.
Text & photographs © Cygnus Books 31-Jul-2007
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