Reading the signs
is something I do all the time. Actually even as a wee poppet when I would
sing; "Red sky in the morning shepherds warning, red sky at night
shepherds delight,” watching the sky for signs within the sunrise or set, of
what was to occur. Or as in recently when I saw written on a padlock in large
letters the word LOVE and felt I was being reminded that one thing and one
thing alone can break your chains and set you free. Often these small
"messages" come just at the right moment for me then to take a
positive new turn on my pathway of life. They help me unlock perhaps an unknown
truth that has been buried deep down within my soul, lost to me yet also a part
of who I am. Small impulses that help me be aware, of how I am living now.
Right now I can
hear you thinking silly nonsense this “hocus-pocus” she’s going on about;
reading signs. Signs from some fairy godmother I suppose. Bet she is going to
start to tell me if I do this or that, a magic wand will appear and whippy
soupy I will be able to give up smoking just like that and suddenly also be ten
years will drop off my face. Actual no that is not my intention but if by the
way I took a photo of you now and could also produce one of the non-smoking
person you would have looked look like today, if you drank three litres of
water a day instead of three packets of cigarettes; believe me, you would want
to give up. The signs on your face would be enough to tell you why and that is
what I actually want to talk about. Signs.
What are these
sometimes mystical, sometimes religious, sometimes superstitious symbols,
words, happenings or just plain split second moments that seem to make no sense
until they suddenly go through the quantum physics spectrum and become clear to
you.
I see signs around
me in my daily life without even having to search. Signs are within words, in
music, amongst the nature, in people’s reactions to me, or deep within my gut I
feel as an intuitive tingle by an event. I actually live at times even
unconsciously by them, such as in saying, “bless you” which is literally a part
of my nature because I am unaware that I have been practicing them for so long.
I remember being told the tale of
the Black Plague in history class and that the dreaded first “sign” of coming
down with the deadly illness, was a sneeze. It scared the willies out of me with my imaginative nine years
of age. I was more than once told my imagination needed to be “caged in” (Hansel
and Gretel in full force here) as my fantasizing was apparently always running
rapid. So naturally when someone sneezed near me, I saw in my minds eye something
unknown and deadly lurking near by. Could the pest from the black ages still be
creeping around here now, in our times? Hence I would say “bless you” and with wide
eyed amazement, watch to see when the person concerned would break out in
boils, telling me their days where numbered. They had the “sign” so now I only
had to wait for the worst. Honestly at times a heavy load indeed, for a young
soul to wrestle with.
So then coupled
upon my schooling years came my strict religious upbringing; my Maori roots (a
dangerous side stepping act indeed here) that held fables abounding and not to
be forgotten my Australian heritage (mothers side) flowing in my ears during
the summer holiday breaks. How is one to grow up with large feet and not step
on the cracks of the pavement? Especially when you know something terrible might
happen to you as a result of your misplacing your oversized clobbers not
exactly between the lines? Then having to wonder when that terrible thing is
about to pounce! Or being told your finger will fall off if you pick your nose
one more time? Then watching fascinated as your cousin picked his nose knowing
it was a “sign” he would soon being loosing a digit. Or seeing a black cat cut
across you from the left side of the street as you are riding your bike home
and trying to remember if that means you will have a safe journey or get a flat
tire instead and almost run over the cat!
Now here I am in
Germany and am dosed with their fables and myths on top of my own. Traditions
abound here and signs are known as part of their culture. If a certain plant
shots up before Easter in the forest floor then it will be a good crop this
year. Or if an engaged couple
sweep together away thousands of broken splinters from smashed plates, even
toilet bowls from the front of their house, which were willing thrown there
during their engagement party; they have then the foundation to withstand together
all turbulence that could come their way in the future. Signs placed into
action in various ways but all holding a meaning of their own.
Each and every
nation has its traditions, myths and fables and these are all woven together
with various “signs”. How much
attention should I be paying them anyway? There are just as many answers out
there in the universe to this “simple” question as there are further queries
that come up from the answers. Naturally in this brief intro to signs within
our daily lives, it is not possible to give an all encompassing conclusion to
reading them right but I want to give you is some food for thought. On one particular
sign that in this moment of time; I am being confronted with continuously.
Whether you turn on
the radio, television or open your printed matter today to read, we are being
over dosed with one particular saying in all the forms of advertising; “If you
do not know of the right gift to give this Christmas, then let us be of help,
give us your trust and we will choose for you the perfect item.” What has this
to do with reading the signs you ask? Oh sadly a whole lot!
It is a very
strong statement showing us the sign of the times we are in. We have been so
conditioned to giving up our responsibility for ourselves, to others, to take
care of, be it in the form of political, economical, educational, religious or
environmental areas that already we do not bulk at the thought of having
individual choice, for giving gifts, being also taken care of by another party.
It shows for me the sign that we as humans are crying out for a nourishing,
individual attention that is missing in our daily interrelations with our
family and friends. We are being made to believe through the media that the
connection between “feeling and or knowing” what can be given is not possible,
without a commercial guiding hand. That one hand gives while the other takes your money,
is loving packaged for you, that
it is not so obvious what is actually happening here. We have lost our natural
alibility to read for ourselves the signs!
The sign unconsciously
stated here is also that we actually are lead to believe we have lost or are unconnected
to understanding what a gift is. It reveals our having stepped away from
walking with our inner instinct and its embracing, nourishing presence to
needing to be feed what we should feel. It takes the self-practice of
reflecting upon what we are able to provide, away from us. As if we are not
capable any more, of this action.
This statement that
is being widely used this Christmas season makes me ache. It shows clearly we
have stepped away from the essence of the Advent season. For many people it is a very special
Christian religious celebration time when a gift was given that meant they
would never be without. For others it holds a reminder of times passing and re-enforces
the strong need to draw family and friends together, if only once a year, to
share in the gift of love. While
for some it is a time to ponder upon what we have accomplished this year past,
as it draws to an end and plan how we can give of ourselves in the New Year within
our jobs, neighbourhood or friend and family circles.
Within each of us
is a small voice that whispers to you when choosing a present. It is your
personal “sign” when you have chosen the right gift to give. Let me give you an
example. It is when you hear while driving home from work, on a radio talk show
that the homeless shelter needs helpers over Christmas in the soup kitchen then
later as you sit down to eat supper that evening one of your teenage children
says; “I would really like to give my time as a gift this Christmas. Do you
have any ideas?” and you know exactly why you heard that particular radio
segment before – it was a “sign” and you are able to help. These small signals are
all around us, all the time. We just need to become aware of them. Open our
hearts, our ears and our eyes to what is being given to us as “signs” so as to
give, to love and be more present within the moment in which we stand.
Oh and please
remember there is only one person and one person alone whom knows what they are
able to give. Let no one ever take that away from you. It is your own personal “sign”
for others to see how you shine! Be it a physical item or your time each gift
holds a sign from the giver to the receiver what they really where thinking
when choosing the gift – do not lose the chance to show how you really feel.
That is the most important sign of all.
Koruswhispers