 | I recently attended a birthday celebration with over a hundred people and the most notable thing about it was that, though there were way more than could fit in the house and people were spilling out onto the verandah and grounds, there was not a feeling of crowding. Instead, I felt a spaciousness. |
I felt a spaciousness within me and an underlay of stillness around me offering space for everyone to communicate and connect. There was a beautiful flow and a true sense of oneness.
It felt totally different to the normal kind of celebration. There was no ‘rah rah’, hype or excitement, and I knew I was feeling different but everyone else seemed to be also. It was like we were all content being who we were with no egos dominating or trying to prove themselves. Everyone seemed at ease and simply enjoying being.
What I realised also was that there was no particular emphasis on this being a special occasion, a peak in the week, it was just another moment to celebrate. There was therefore no build-up of excitement or tension – it was simply another moment to savour and let go of.
And what were we celebrating? Not the achievement of someone reaching 70, but the grace, beauty and majesty of the being and the magnificence of each and every One.
There was a Persian theme for the evening and everyone had taken care in dressing for the occasion. It was fun to see what everyone had come up with. Even the men had joined in, some with elaborate headdresses or embroidered outfits. There was no comparison or judgment in the air, just an appreciation of the expression of each one in the way they had dressed. Everyone brought a plate of food to share which was delicious and nourishing – not the usual stimulating ‘party’ food (except perhaps for a few chips and dips).
I had allowed plenty of space to get ready and enjoyed the process of preparing myself. Often, I have difficulty choosing clothes for a particular occasion, but this day I opened my wardrobe and it was as if the clothes jumped out at me and there was an absolute knowing what to wear. I laid the clothes out on my bed and then took a shower. I lovingly moisturised my body feeling like a queen about to go to her coronation.
For me the celebration was symbolic of a new beginning, as if I was coming into my own. I saw the regal-ness of the form in the mirror and appreciated the beauty of the reflection. I felt authority and power in the way I walked and in how I interacted with people. I spoke to many different people and felt a sweet connection with each one.
How my life has changed – I realised that my difficulty in choosing what to wear came from a fear of judgment and the burden of thinking that I have to live up to expectations, especially the heavy expectations I had on myself to ‘get it right’.
Now, instead of living in expectation of what might or might not happen, I am more allowing of what is on offer in every moment so I am in quiet celebration of each moment as having its glorious offering. I am no longer looking for the next stimulating experience because there is a quality to every action, and even things I disliked doing have become fun, more interesting, more alive because I am bringing more aliveness to them. Even so-called ‘mundane’ situations now have a divine quality and ‘important’ topics do not stick out as ‘special’.
Nothing is mundane anymore. It reminds me of when I was a child and there was a zing to each moment, it was fresh and new; discovering that the bean seeds I planted had sprouted was an awesome delight, shopping was an adventure, cooking was an alchemical experience.
I’ve got off the roller coaster. I no longer look forward to that special event and then reminisce about it as a past special event.
Every moment can be a quiet celebration.
Sandra N. Australia
If you enjoyed this article for further reading you may also like:
The Meaning of Authority as an Elder
It felt totally different to the normal kind of celebration. There was no ‘rah rah’, hype or excitement, and I knew I was feeling different but everyone else seemed to be also. It was like we were all content being who we were with no egos dominating or trying to prove themselves. Everyone seemed at ease and simply enjoying being.
What I realised also was that there was no particular emphasis on this being a special occasion, a peak in the week, it was just another moment to celebrate. There was therefore no build-up of excitement or tension – it was simply another moment to savour and let go of.
And what were we celebrating? Not the achievement of someone reaching 70, but the grace, beauty and majesty of the being and the magnificence of each and every One.
There was a Persian theme for the evening and everyone had taken care in dressing for the occasion. It was fun to see what everyone had come up with. Even the men had joined in, some with elaborate headdresses or embroidered outfits. There was no comparison or judgment in the air, just an appreciation of the expression of each one in the way they had dressed. Everyone brought a plate of food to share which was delicious and nourishing – not the usual stimulating ‘party’ food (except perhaps for a few chips and dips).
I had allowed plenty of space to get ready and enjoyed the process of preparing myself. Often, I have difficulty choosing clothes for a particular occasion, but this day I opened my wardrobe and it was as if the clothes jumped out at me and there was an absolute knowing what to wear. I laid the clothes out on my bed and then took a shower. I lovingly moisturised my body feeling like a queen about to go to her coronation.
For me the celebration was symbolic of a new beginning, as if I was coming into my own. I saw the regal-ness of the form in the mirror and appreciated the beauty of the reflection. I felt authority and power in the way I walked and in how I interacted with people. I spoke to many different people and felt a sweet connection with each one.
How my life has changed – I realised that my difficulty in choosing what to wear came from a fear of judgment and the burden of thinking that I have to live up to expectations, especially the heavy expectations I had on myself to ‘get it right’.
Now, instead of living in expectation of what might or might not happen, I am more allowing of what is on offer in every moment so I am in quiet celebration of each moment as having its glorious offering. I am no longer looking for the next stimulating experience because there is a quality to every action, and even things I disliked doing have become fun, more interesting, more alive because I am bringing more aliveness to them. Even so-called ‘mundane’ situations now have a divine quality and ‘important’ topics do not stick out as ‘special’.
Nothing is mundane anymore. It reminds me of when I was a child and there was a zing to each moment, it was fresh and new; discovering that the bean seeds I planted had sprouted was an awesome delight, shopping was an adventure, cooking was an alchemical experience.
I’ve got off the roller coaster. I no longer look forward to that special event and then reminisce about it as a past special event.
Every moment can be a quiet celebration.
Sandra N. Australia
If you enjoyed this article for further reading you may also like:
The Meaning of Authority as an Elder