A Sense of Wonder

Just because science can explain how the wind blowing through the trees makes the leaves dance, doesn’t make the dance any less magical.

I wrote this as something to say in my internet profiles 20-something years ago and although I had all but forgotten the words, they still align with my personal philosophy. The trees outside my study windows are now in full leaf and I never tire of watching the boughs as they dip and sway in the wind. It’s a beautiful and simple wonder that I’ve once again made time to appreciate.

We have five tangible senses, and a sixth intangible one. I believe a sense of wonder is the seventh sense. Wonder is everywhere, from the most monumental to the smallest of details. I’m concentrating on the small, right now anyway. A busy squirrel. A crack in the sidewalk. The shimmer of sunlight in a puddle. The smell and feel of freshly washed towels as I fold them. The sound of Marlowe’s purr and the weight of his warm, soft body as he settles in beside me. The sound of Tillie’s happy feet tapping across the floor as she plays with her stuffed toy while waiting for breakfast every morning.

We need a sense of wonder. We need the unexplained to fuel our curiosity and our creativity. There are an infinite number of wonders happening all around us, all the time. That in itself, is wonderous.

I’m finding my way, yet again, through the writings of Brian Greene (The Elegant Universe). This time with a dose of Christian Mysticism podcasts recommended by a tarot friend, and another by a Catholic priest who explained how his journey through Daoism led him back to Christianity. The reverse is becoming true for me as the Dao is leading me through these explorations to a better understanding of the Dao. The path is winding, and multi-directional through the beauty and wonder of the universe, through science and religion and often, where the two meet.

I believe that’s why I’m reluctant to pin down any one way. To become ‘something’ means you cannot be something else and why would I want to do that in this world of limitless opportunities?

Arthur C. Clark said that magic is a science that we don’t yet understand. For years I’ve resisted the alternative spellings of magic (with a k and other variations) because magic is magic. Stage magic isn’t any less magical than more serious practices. A mesmerized audience is proof of this. Sense of wonder is a common denominator.

Last week I said I might write about death, reincarnation, the afterlife, ancestors (I don’t need much prompting there). I’m closer to the end than the start at this point (hopefully, not too close) and I’ve been thinking about it more often. It’s easier for someone to say that they don’t fear death when they’re young.  I’m a little less flippant about it now, although my gallows humor is still intact (thanks, mom). I may be a little more apprehensive, but I don’t fear it. I’m developing a stronger sense of wonder about it now. What happens when we die?

I suspect it’s a lot more anticlimactic than anything else. We move on, to wherever it is we go. Or maybe we don’t, at least for a while. Or even, and this seems more likely to me, we move on, and then we come back (as an ancestor). This would explain why I’ve never felt my father’s presence, I’ve only rarely sensed my mother’s, and now my brother just feels gone. Maybe they reincarnated. Maybe they’re taking a break before reincarnation, but we all need a different number of cycles before taking our place in the ancestral chain and fulfilling that role.

Until it’s my time to join them I’m going to concentrate on the wonder of living and the simple things that make me happy. Another list, not inclusive:

·         Rainy days

·         Sunny days

·         The scent of lemons

·         The sounds of birds singing (or squawking, or cawing)

·         Warm showers

·         Cool drinks

·         Sitting at my keyboard, with no schedule or designated itinerary

·         Time alone with my thoughts

·         Tarot for and with friends

·         The ability to expand my creative skills in my volunteer role

·         The anticipation and hope of new things to come

It’s not my intention to turn this into a spiritual column and I’ll shift my focus in the coming weeks (to what is anyone’s guess), but I’ll leave you with this quote:

“The spiritual journey is not a career or a success story. It is a series of small humiliations of the false self that become more and more profound.” ~Thomas Keating The Human Condition, Contemplation, and Transformation

If you would like to know more about my ancestral connection work, my Daoist path, or my other offerings such as tarot readings, spiritual guidance and mindset coaching, you can find more detailed information by using the drop-down menu on my website: The Mystic’s Parlour (the-mystics-parlour.ghost.io)

You can also contact me via email at themysticsparlour@gmail.com or on any of my social media channels. And follow along with TABI Tarot on their social media channels as well. https://tabi.org.uk

I appreciate your continued support and encouragement. Thank you, all.