"Are You My Mother?"

I've started reading a new book called Outrageous Openness: Letting the Divine Take the Lead by Tosha Silver that my husband gave me for Christmas. He didn't know anything about the book but thought it looked like something I would be interested in. Once I read the introduction and first chapter on the plane to Cancun, I knew the Universe had guided him towards this book.  The book is an easy read , the chapters being only a few pages each.  I will be referring to various chapters and stories in my yoga classes for the next few weeks (they are that good) so either be prepared to get your yoga on or follow my website for theme updates.

The first chapter refers to a book called Are You My Mother that I am certain most of us remember. It's about a baby bird that cannot find its mother and wanders near and far asking everyone it meets if they are his mother.

Tosha writes, " I thought how most of us run from spot to spot perhaps unconsciously seeking Her everywhere. We restlessly scan the world saying, "Is this my destination? Can I lay my burden down now? Am I safe? Can I finally let go?"

I thought a lot about this I lay on the beach watching all the different people that had chosen this beach to vacation on.  I heard English and Spanish and French and some languages I did not recognize.  It's pretty easy to spot different cultures through bathing suit choice and what their kids are wearing (or not wearing) at the beach.

The first few days I lay in the sun literally soaking in everything I love about the beach: the seagulls, the waves, the shells, the warmth.  But, I began to notice, especially the last couple of days  how ready I was to go home. We can keep asking, as Tosha wrote, is this my destination but the answer nothing compares to home when it comes to living out of a suitcase in a marginal hotel room.

There was one girl I noticed in particular from day one. She was young and pretty with dyed red hair down to low back. There was something kind of intriguing about her but I can't say exactly what. A few days later, she was on the beach with a large group of people. Now in a bikini (I am being generous by calling it that), she and her friends all looked like they had walked out of a tattoo magazine.  The guys were wearing what looked to be tight boxers rather than suits and they were all, well, posing.  The message they put out with their body language was look at me, I am worthy of being seen. But, I kept hearing how they would start fights with people who seemed to be staring at them.  Was I confused or were they? The red haired girl had a beautiful piece of artwork starting at mid-rib and stretching all the way down her side to above her knee.  Art is meant to be looked at; why else would you cover yourself with it?  They were saying simultaneously look at me and don't you dare look at me. 

" We restlessly scan the world saying, "Is this my destination? Can I lay my burden down now? Am I safe? Can I finally let go?"'  I don't think this girl felt safe to let go; she certainly was not at her final destination.  They seemed as confused as the tattoos they wore as both art and shield. 

So, the question, I suppose is, without changing anything in your appearance, which is temporary and body-attached versus spirit, are you ready to stop where you are and lay your burden down? Can you allow yourself to feel safe and let all else go?  Stop searching all over for your "mother"; that caretaker of your spirit is you. And, guess what? She is with you no matter where you travel to.

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