“There’s a flame of magic inside every stone & every flower, every bird that sings & every frog that croaks. There’s magic in the trees & the hills & the river & the rocks, in the sea & the stars & the wind, a deep, wild magic that’s as old as the world itself. It’s in you too, my darling girl, and in me, and in every living creature, be it ever so small. Even the dirt I’m sweeping up now is stardust. In fact, all of us are made from the stuff of stars.”
~ Kate Forsyth, The Puzzle Ring
One of the things that has gotten me through this hard, hard time in my life has been the love and support of friends. Inevitably, in my darkest hours, I would receive a card or a letter in the post – an encouraging note, a glittery picture, a thoughtful present. My phone would light up with a message. Some kindness would be posted on facebook or here on my blog. When I’ve been unable to see, my husband would read them out to me. Truly, those gifts of kindness have been more powerful than any drug.
Yesterday a dear girlfriend called me. I’ve not spoken to her since the beginning of January when I first began climbing down into this hole. Before I knew how deep and dark and scary and isolating that place would be.
She’s been a cheer squad for me this whole time, sending me photos and messages of support. And when she connected with me yesterday there was so much to talk about.
One of the most important things I needed to convey was how my time in meditation, and this gift of unsufferable pain, has led me to a comforting truth.
She asked me to sum it up in bullet points for her (Did I mention how much I love my friend?!!!), so I did. Here it is:
1) We’re nothing.
2) We’re everything.
3) It’s all okay.
There’s a whole book of observation, understanding and activities in those three points. It’s quite difficult to distill the most powerful breakthrough of your life into a succinct cluster of words when essentially the knowledge I now have is a full-body knowledge, for which words seem entirely inadequate. And of course, while my mind’s been on vacation (and it’s still just unpacking its bags…) I’ve had no words at all anyway.
So I’m sure you’ll understand how much I laughed when I received a text from my friend a few hours after our conversation. I’m sure she won’t mind me sharing it with you…
Funny. So much realisation seems to happen in the dairy aisle of Woolworths.
And Julia’s “wear nothing, wear everything” still kind of works for me too.
Be fully naked in your truth, and live just as you are – vulnerable, open and without barriers OR dress yourself up however you like – as anyone, do anything you want, make choices, be daring, create a crash zone or a magical circle of protection, believe in ghosts or God or nothing or zombies or alien intervention.
This is your life, to do with whatever you want.
Because the fact is it’s all good, and we’re all okay.
We are made of sunlight and stars. That is our true nature. We are magnificent, and so much more powerful, enduring and beautiful than we can possibly know.
It really is all good.
Sending my love to each and every one of you,
(((HUGS))) 🙂 Nicole
PS. I wrote a post a little earlier this year called Who’s Your Support Crew in 2014? If you’re feeling a little isolated, lonely or teary right now it might be worth a read. Hugs and love to you, my dear xx
stars and sunlight ~*~ could that be any more beautiful <3
Friends are so important…I have very few, and sadly in my darkest hours , I push them away . Thank you for making me aware of that.
I love the idea of being stardust …I shall have to shake myself up like a snow dome . Great to have you back …have I said that? well I ‘m saying it again …co I just am .
Cherryx
as always, so grateful for your writings, thank you for being you 🙂 i love the bullet points!! both versions! xx
So amazing. You are reminding me of a time I lay in communion with the stars, on a dark night during a dark time in my life, and seemed to see messages in the sky. I felt they were from ancestors deeper than any I could dream to have known. One of the messages was “We didn’t ‘why’, we just *did*”…. which I understood as living just as we are as you described above, living with great trust. My great-uncle described it as such, though I am paraphrasing, ‘the word free… when there’s an athlete who just seems to know exactly how to move like it’s completely natural to them, so that it seems effortless.’
Blessings, dear Star-being.
~*Mia
Great post we all need someone we can lean on at times
Visions of your nurses taking on the wear nothing wear everything life philosophy. It’s amazing what one can find in the dairy isle. xox
I <3 this Nicole Xx
Yes this illness has transformed you from psychic to stylist through one long fever! Sounds like playtime to me!
Oh NIcole, friendships are so precious… lovely places your thoughts take you, even in the dark of your hole.
Sending prayers, Kat <3
gratitude overflowing…my favourite start to a day…sitting here sipping a vintage darjeeling being nourished by your words, your wisdom and your constant encouragement in the face of your own obstacles…LOVE U so much…and by the way…the cold food aisle will never be the same experience for me ever again! and big hugs to that gorgeous hubbie of yours too…he’s super awesome as well…XOXO