We all go through some educational process, walk out into the world ... and then the real learning begins. After 35 years of practice as a psychotherapist I can now look back and know that the greatest mentors I have had have been my clients. Thank all of you that have been patient with my learning curve as you taught me about you, our world and the courage it takes to blossom.
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"My Companion Dressed in Black"
Years ago I sat in a clinical hypnotism workshop, the leader a nationally known author and psychologist. He closed the wonderful seminar by inducing a light trance in the audience. I sat still, with eyes closed and felt a deeply relaxed state. He then invited us "to walk through the world - from this day forward - with death sitting on our shoulder". "What did he just say?" I squinted one eye while opening the other to check my reality. "Did I hear that right? What a morbid thought!" I mused. Fully awake but continuing to take in his words, I inhaled, "Let death be ever present to gently wake you from your daily sleeping conscious state to the richness in your everyday experience", he added.
I have not forgot that invitation. It has never been depressing and my companion dressed in black has tenderly whispered reminders to discover the electrifying poignancy in a bite of an apple, my grandson's baseball game or the light caress on my cheek in the promise of a warm spring breeze.
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As you walk through your busy days in the next month, may we all - accompanied by our friend sitting on our shoulders - be not frightened by the impermanence of all of this, but instead be invited to surrender more deeply into the miracle before us in any given moment. Until next month, Steve
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