Today’s Theme: All Shall be Well
Eden’s acorn found floating in Lake Washington.
The mystic in me and the artist in me are good withmates. Neither one of them requires a reasonable explanation for what they want to do. Both of them are willing to follow intuition over traditional logic. I’m pretty sure both of them would have posters of the Muse up in their dorm rooms.
Since I left the traditional church, my mystic tendencies have been on hiatus. I haven’t had any mysterious flashes of insight, and my dreams are of the most mundane variety. But the other night I had a comforting and lovely dream.
I dreamt that I was lying alone in a spring field, just looking up at the sky. Then my real life worries started slipping into the dream. Would the kids be lonely at Danish school? How could we get everything packed up in time? What will happen if I can’t find a neurologist who’s willing to continue my stateside treatments?
As these worries and more threatened to overwhelm me, I became aware of the gentle presence of Jesus at my side. He too was lying in the field, enjoying the sky. I felt a warmth in my hand and realized that Jesus had wordlessly taken a hold of it. When he removed his hand a few moments later, a tree nut rested in my palm.
This image – of a small nut in an open palm – has long been one of comfort for me. Julian of Norwich, anchoress and mystic, once had a vision of a tiny nut in the center of an expansive palm. From this image came her most recognized saying:
“All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.”
This phrase has often been a comfort to me, and I have often extended it as a comfort to others. Yet somehow I had forgotten it in the midst of this big life change, in the left-brained nature of to do lists and moving plans. (This is spite of the fact that Rebecca gave me a silver acorn to carry about in my pocket!)
How grateful I am, that this message came to me again, in the passing of a small nut, from one dreamer to another.
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November 4th, 2007 at 3:48 pm
Do you know the song, Julian of Norwich (aka All Will Be Well Again)? Gorgeous melody and words that bring me to tears almost every time… but I don’t have a recording of it, because I’m not sure which one I’d like best. (Albion’s seems a little slow… any recommendations, anyone?)
November 4th, 2007 at 9:26 pm
Beautiful – I love your combination of artist and mystic. I hope to see you before you go…I will come to you if you have any time to say goodbye. Let me know.
November 5th, 2007 at 4:53 pm
All will be well! That’s a beautiful post Rachelle. I love the title too…reading “Eden’s acorn” from two perspectives. Lots of love to you during this busy time.
November 5th, 2007 at 8:00 pm
I have joined the revolution! Thank you for recognizing our labors of love!!
Piper of Love :)
November 6th, 2007 at 12:11 am
I’ve been listening to this song by the Gabe Dixon Band a lot lately, myself. I hear you, sister!
xoxo
Shari
November 7th, 2007 at 3:15 am
I’ve long felt “the mystic” within encouraging and supporting my fearful self (to share my truth more courageously) but am only now becoming acquainted with my inner “artist” … for I believed my 4th grade teacher when she told me I was hopeless at “all things artistic” (though she did validate some other parts of me at the same time). The idea that my mystic and artist selves might be soul mates like yours “resonates” … and I shall be mindful of such connections as I move through my days.
For years now I’ve noticed the phrase “all’s well” in my journal entries, conversations with others, emails, etc. Perhaps it’s become a reminder to myself (and others) of personal experiences like the one you described here. If what we focus on expands in our lives (as I believe is the case), allowing such “blessed assurances” to remain in our consciousness (and be expressed freely) could heal us all.
I’m glad to have joined the revolution recently myself (after entering this Virtual World for the first time just 3 weeks ago today) and am eager to engage more fully in the weeks and months ahead. I’ve encountered some of you “Passionate Bloggers” already, and look forward with anticipation to meeting more of you soon.
Thanks to Rachael for the warm welcome, the encouragement, support and inspiration for so many … who, like myself, have ventured into this unknown territory. It’s good to know we’re not alone. Blessings to you and your family as you make this move to Denmark.
Hugs,
November 7th, 2007 at 8:45 am
Welcome Storyteller! I’m glad you’re here!
November 7th, 2007 at 10:10 am
it has been a while since i emmersed myself in the words of julian of norwich…
thank you for this reminder…
and, i always find it so interesting when pieces of nature begin to cross my path frequently. recently, it has been acorns. as it is fall, i guess that makes sense, but reading your post today, i wonder if there is a deeper meaning to sit with.
November 7th, 2007 at 1:54 pm
liz,
one of my IRL girlfriends was writing about acorns recently here:
http://j3npayn3.wordpress.com/
(hmm…couldn’t figure out how to get to her permalinks. it’s the oct. 20th post.)
Rachelle
November 9th, 2007 at 10:33 am
Rachelle, whether you are more an artistic-mystic than a mystical artist, or the other way around, the combination and balance within in you is perfect.