Parachuting Transformation
Transformation is a scary idea and a scary process. It is easy to look at ourselves and see things we wish to improve. It's much harder to actually approach that cliff of transformation and ponder throwing ourselves over it. This essay is not about the act of transforming, but instead how to do so.
The problem, of course, is that transformation is like jumping over a cliff. To actually do it requires resolve and a refusal to ever look back, much less go back. And it requires resolve to see that there's a chance we may end up hurt. Like any cliff, flinging ourselves over it carelessly is more likely to involve pain than growth, both for ourselves and for those around us. Unlike an actual cliff, when we throw ourselves over transformation, we drag bits and pieces of other people with us and risk hurting far more than just ourselves.
When we're looking at transforming, we tend to pace back and forth across that cliff edge, looking for an easy way down. We want to find the shortcut, the way to go forward without risk, without fear. There is never a real shortcut, however. We sometimes think we've found an easy way, but it tends to be either ineffectual or worse than just jumping.
What we need to do is find a way to create our own parachute for the leap. We can't rely on other people to give us a push, because no one else can make us transform. We need to find a way to spin a parachute out of our own Flame and put our faith in ourselves and the Divine and jump intelligently.
What is an intelligent jump? There are things we can do to minimize impact. First of all, when we realize we're coming up on a major life-changing event, it helps to do our best to remove all other obstacles. When facing the cliff, it's the wrong time to look at new relationships, getting a pet, changing jobs, or anything not directly related to the cliff in question. (Sometimes it is the job or the relationship - but then don't do the other big things!) Smooth out all the things that can be smoothed ahead of time. Be gentle with ourselves when we approach the cliff.
And, of course, most importantly: when we realize we're prepared enough, to boot ourselves over instead of waiting and circling and looking for a better way. Sometimes, all there is left to do is leap.
Questions:
What transformation fears you? What are your cliffs?
What would you use as a parachute? Where will you get it?
What do these cliffs and transformations mean to you? What do you expect to find on the other side?
The problem, of course, is that transformation is like jumping over a cliff. To actually do it requires resolve and a refusal to ever look back, much less go back. And it requires resolve to see that there's a chance we may end up hurt. Like any cliff, flinging ourselves over it carelessly is more likely to involve pain than growth, both for ourselves and for those around us. Unlike an actual cliff, when we throw ourselves over transformation, we drag bits and pieces of other people with us and risk hurting far more than just ourselves.
When we're looking at transforming, we tend to pace back and forth across that cliff edge, looking for an easy way down. We want to find the shortcut, the way to go forward without risk, without fear. There is never a real shortcut, however. We sometimes think we've found an easy way, but it tends to be either ineffectual or worse than just jumping.
What we need to do is find a way to create our own parachute for the leap. We can't rely on other people to give us a push, because no one else can make us transform. We need to find a way to spin a parachute out of our own Flame and put our faith in ourselves and the Divine and jump intelligently.
What is an intelligent jump? There are things we can do to minimize impact. First of all, when we realize we're coming up on a major life-changing event, it helps to do our best to remove all other obstacles. When facing the cliff, it's the wrong time to look at new relationships, getting a pet, changing jobs, or anything not directly related to the cliff in question. (Sometimes it is the job or the relationship - but then don't do the other big things!) Smooth out all the things that can be smoothed ahead of time. Be gentle with ourselves when we approach the cliff.
And, of course, most importantly: when we realize we're prepared enough, to boot ourselves over instead of waiting and circling and looking for a better way. Sometimes, all there is left to do is leap.
Questions:
What transformation fears you? What are your cliffs?
What would you use as a parachute? Where will you get it?
What do these cliffs and transformations mean to you? What do you expect to find on the other side?
posted by Vieva @ 6:29 AM
2 Comments:
At 9:13 PM,
Vieva said…
unfortunately, that's something you have to figure out for yourself, when time is too long. But when you're not doing anything new, and you're just crossing the same ground again, it's time to move forwards.
As far as creating your own parachute .. that comes from the heart and the soul. You build on what you know, what you are, who you are, and you put together your own parachute based on your own self-knowledge and self-worth.
The problem with transformation is that you don't know what you're risking until it's risked. Sometimes what seems like a huge cliff when you're looking at it is nothing more than a small step once you've done it .. and sometimes a step is a cliff. You can't know until you do it. And yet, if you don't, you rob yourself of truly living your life.
At 1:52 PM,
Anonymous said…
I have, in this period of comparitive isolation in my life, been thinking a lot on this subject. I know that when I suddenly seek loneliness out for myself and being over-sensitive and irritable in crowd-like situations that something is coming. I went back to a daily tarot reading to get a personal 'barometer reading' and began attempting in earnest to do sitting still type meditation. All my tarot readings the last while have said change is coming in my life and that I am ready, less afraid (for once) of the change than the staying where I am. The cards hint at male entities (whether Gods or human I don't know) are taking an interest in my doings again....after a year or two of a certain feminine domination in my spiritual life. I don't know, however, if this particular change involves a parachute or a hang glider. When I sit before the candle in the morning until I feel a sense of rare relaxation, and I close my eyes to see the hot red afterimage of the flame, I get a sense not of parachute like catch and float, but of flying. I have to keep in mind that it takes heat to make the thermals I hope to glide upon!!
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