Hold On Alice, this is Wonder Land!

[sooZen]

This is from my blog, Zen Upchuck and I thought I would share it with you. I write almost daily, when not depressed and in my winter doldrums. Spring has come and I am blossoming like lilacs in my yard. Stuff flows through me, I am just a conduit. Please know that this comes not from ego, ergo:

Are you afraid? Does fear keep you from facing yourself, seeing yourself as you really are? Are you fearful of consequences of your actions? Do you fear for someone you love? Is fear a part of your everyday existence? Is fear what drives you? Are you living your life in fear of what may or may not happen? Are you afraid of death or dying or of your loved one(s) dying or are you afraid of the truth? Do you know yourself, do you know your children? Do you know why and who you are, do you? Huh? Are you afraid?

Are you living in your shadow? Afraid of the light? Afraid of the revelation of your very soul self? Are you? Good questions to ask oneself nowadays. Because as much as we think we are hiding, we are only fooling ourselves, no one else, especially no one close to us. What we recognize so well in others is what we see in ourselves. If you see it in me, it is you staring back... I am a mirror of you.

For some, this is going to be a very difficult and life changing year because it is the year (according to Eastern astrology) of the Rabbit. The rabbit is basically a meek and mild creature who is extremely resourceful. (A good look at a rabbits existence would be to read the novel, Watership Down by Adams, which I have and did.)

This new Year of the Rabbit will bring about many, many changes for a rabbit is prone to switch sides, decisions, directions in a flash, a blink of an eye. All of these changes may seem, at first, to be devastating, be it global or even personal but they are not. They are, however, necessary. Example, the devastating earthquake and tsunami and nuclear accident in Japan will turn out to be a blessing in disguise. I can predict this with a certainty (time will tell) knowing it is the year of the Rabbit.

If you are a rabbit in the Chinese horoscope, I would strongly suggest you study up what this year will mean for you as it will not be an easy year for you in particular. You will be tested, and your fears will be exposed despite your wanting to hide. There is no hiding anymore. Fear is no way to live! Being afraid is no way to be! Not knowing is NO EXCUSE! We all are exposed, naked beings underneath and even those among us that are armored, walled and thinking we are protected by those walls and armor of fear, we are just fooling ourselves.

And what exactly does one do to NOT be fearful, to NOT live in fear of what others think or do? Well, for one thing, be a being of positivity, of light and let your truth shine through. Face your shadows and let the light shine on them. Don't hide anymore, just don't for it will do you and yours no favors. Help others, be kind, be loving and for your sake, don't lie to yourself or hide from your truths.

I know pain, know it intimately, live it here and now. How does one go on existing when in pain? By facing it, by becoming it, by expressing it and by sharing it. That is how. Our burdens are lessened when we share the load. And always remember something my mother always says, "This too shall pass..." and it will. (Mom is a zen Master)

And how did I get so smart? And what makes me think I am so smart and can tell you this? Because I was raised by clowns, I was never beaten or abused or raped or hurt or dysfunctional. My parents were not alcoholics or drug addicts, they never withheld their love or used it against me so I know what it was/is like to function, to be whole. Those that have suffered terribly in some way as children or even as adults seek me out, it seems because of my functionality and my telling it as I see it, like it or not and this can be trying (and hard on me) but it is what it is for I am connected to every being I know and love.

On the other hand I know what it is to be human, to fail, to fall down, to be depressed, to screw up and make mistakes with my children, to lose my temper, to make stupid decisions, to have a panic attack and why? I am human! All humans are imperfect, all of us are human, hence never to be perfect, never! If you are seeking perfection you need to seek another race of beings for it doesn't exist in your human DNA.

Do you need a pill to make you happy? Hell no, you are not meant to be happy all the time. Do you need a panacea for your broken past? Are you going to spend the rest of your short lives pining for what wasn't and living in remorse of what happened to you? Are you? Did you get the short stick and get stuck? It is a choice and pretty much the only choice we have to decide not to wallow in self pity. Strive to be happy, strive to be all that you can be, forgive yourself, forgive your parents, forgive and move on. It is okay to have an occasional pity party, have at it but then move ON, don't stay stuck!!!

Some day, you will just be a memory, if that is so what is your point, your reason for being? There is certainly a reason...

Your journey is personal, your reasons for being are personal, you are here for a reason, everything happens for a reason, everything so don't blame anyone for where you are at, you are HERE for a reason. You may not know or understand the reason, you may distrust the reason, you may still seek the reason but there is a reason all the same. We are all connected, everything is connected and you and I are meant to be. Don't flake out, put on your big girl panties or your big boy shorts and get on with whatever needs your attention. Lick your wounds and move on...

There are those in this UNIverse that are a whole lot worse off, remember that and count your blessings. And most of all, DON'T LIVE IN FEAR, it will do you no good. Life is and can be very hard, very difficult, very sad but it can also be just the opposite, and that my dears is up to us as to what we make of it.



"I have learned that with creatures one loves, suffering is not the only thing for which one may pity them. A rabbit who does not know when a gift has made him safe is poorer than a slug, even though he may think otherwise himself."
- Richard Adams, Watership Down

[Steve Plonk]

SooZen, an interesting piece of esoterica and encouraging words...
Inner peace is an important goal of all our psyches.
We get there by "simply being", it seems me... Thanks for this.

[sooZen]

Thanks Steve for the comment and thoughts. I agree wholeheartedly, simply being is me as well! Sometimes I wake up and write having no idea what is going to appear before me on the page. This just came forth...

[Arcadia]

Hola SooZen, wonderful to read you again..!! I´m a monkey in the rabbit´s year, so I´ll have a lot to do with mirrors, I guess...!
In my own experience not to be fearful is a daily process and yeah, some days I´m more fearful than others but I don´t need pills.
Gracias for sharing your blog & your smartness with us!!

[sooZen]

hola mi amiga!!! Wonderful to write again! Hey, hey she's a MonKEY! You should have a very good year, a learning year.

See if this interests you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOoPv2fI6sg

I very much appreciate your comments and thoughts!!!

[mnaz]

this is on-target with me, personally, this year. it really is the start of a transition.

much wisdom, as usual. good one, soozen.

[sooZen]

this is on-target with me, personally, this year. it really is the start of a transition.

much wisdom, as usual. good one, soozen.

I really think it is Marc, it sure seems that way to me! Thanks for the reply!

[judih]

A wonderful write, sooZen - finally i've been gifted with the time to enjoy your words.
Fearlessly - big girl panties - yeah, sister!

[sooZen]

A wonderful write, sooZen - finally i've been gifted with the time to enjoy your words.
Fearlessly - big girl panties - yeah, sister!

Oh my dearest friend, if anyone has a reason to fear, by gum, it is you and yet, you have your big girl panties on and do get on with it! I so admire you and surround you with light with all my might!

Story: My Dad was in the hospital extremely ill (he managed to survive but at that time my family and I believed his end was near.) I had a pity party, I was away from Cec, away from Nate who were back home in EP, and my beloved Daddy was dying. My SIL Shar was oh so sympathetic but my Mom, who was in her late 70's was anything but. She was fighting daily for his life, for his best interests with the doctors and bolstering him and when I had a mini breakdown one morning, she looked at me and said, "Get your big girl panties on and lets get to the hospital! You can grieve when the time comes, but NOT NOW!!!" At the time, I was shocked and feeling oh so sorry for SooZ but she was right, get back on that pony that threw you and ride...!

[judih]

When it comes to reacting 'clean' and 'right' during emergencies, Moms can show us the way. My mother? A nervous wreck before and after but during, she's the Countess of Together.

[Arcadia]

hola again SooZen!! gracias for the link!, I could listen to the video only once because after that I couldn´t listen to youtube sounds for some time until yesterday, when a friend did some fix/clean in the computer (really odd!... "esta cinta se autodestruirá en cinco segundos" ). It sounded interesting!, I´ll re-listen to it today (you know, I have to listen more than one time in english in order to more or less understand!), I´ll also google it and then let you know!