Conversations with the Elders
Hard and Heavy Rains are Cleansing Rains
December 19, 2010
It is raining hard, very hard today. I don’t remember any visit to the Elders’ cabin where it rained as hard as it is raining today. This rain is beating me with each drop; a beating that raises the question, “what have I done to deserve this?” The sky responds instantly with larger raindrops that feel more like rain-pellets.
Master Shefu says, “There are no coincidences.” Therefore, I know that the hard rain is significant to this visit. I just wonder, if I guess the significance now, will it stop raining before I reach the Elders cabin. “Ouch, that felt like rain-dodgeballs.”
You cannot rush truth. Truth will reveal itself not when you want it, but when you are ready to receive it. “Oh, now these raindrops feel kinder, and gentler.”
I walk towards the Elders’ cabin. There’s smoke rising from the chimney. “Thank you for the fire to warm and comfort my spirit.” It is raining hard, very hard today.
Finally reaching the Elders’ cabin, I walk up the stairs to the front door. I knock on the door three times, as I wipe my feet, to announce my arrival. As I open the do, I say, “I’m here, having made it through the hard rain.”
The Elder of Water and the Elder of Earth are sitting by the fireplace. The Elder of Water pats the sofa cushion next to her, inviting me to sit. I hang my coat and cap on the rack, and walk to the warmth and comfort of the fire.
“It’s raining hard, very hard today.”
The Elder of Earth gazes into my chest and says, “It’s raining heavy in there, too. Let the fire warm and comfort you.”
I sit on the sofa and turn to the front window. I see that it is still raining hard, and heavy. As I watch, I reflect on what the Elder of Earth said. “It’s raining heavy in there, too.”
It’s raining hard outside; and, it’s raining heavy inside. I have noticed how many thoughts have rained in my mine and in my spirit. Many thoughts flowing; thoughts about life decisions made, the roads I traveled and not traveled, the people that accompanied my travels, and the people chose not to travel with me.
There are times when you take a stroll down memory lane. Often times the stroll is a walk in a light spring rain, nurturing the earth in time for new birth and new growth. The memories and thoughts nourish the spirit. Other times the stroll is more like a run through a summer storm, with thunder and lightening that really gets your attention. These memories and thoughts get your attention, and you want to watch from a safe distance.
Then there are those late autumn rains that blow in to cleanse the trees of dead leaves in preparation for the season of inner transformation, winter. These memories and thoughts are part of the cleansing process; letting go of the old to make room for the new.
On cue the Elder of Earth says, “It is then you are to come inside to the warmth and comfort of the fire. From here you can look outside and see the hard rains, knowing of the cleansing [process]. If you are outside in the rain, you cannot see what is truly happening. If you are inside from the rain, you can watch the many thoughts raining down without getting pelted [and wet] by them. It is all part of the cleansing of dead leaves, in preparation for the season in inner transformation.”
“Let it rain,” says the Elder of Water. “You can choose to be in the middle of the hard and heavy rain. Or you can choose to seek shelter from it and witness it. Either way, life continues.”
The Elder of Earth asks, “You are having regrets?”
I answer, “No, no regrets. Now, from time to time I do wonder what my life would be if I had made different choices along the way. What if I had traveled as extensively throughout the world as I have within my inner world? What if I had become a parent and help raise or rear children? And, what if I chose to study psychology rather than civil engineer? No regrets, just moments of entertainment playing the mental game of ‘What if.’”
“Do you know where this coming from? What is the root of this conversation?” asks the Elder of Air. He walks into the room joining us at the fireplace.
“I believe that when you clean out the basement, you may reminisce on the memory and feelings associated with the thing you are about to release.” I continue, “It is part of the internal cleansing process. And it happens as you cleanse old ways of doing, old ways of seeing, old behaviors of relating, old paradigms to life by, etc. Once you open the door, it rains old thoughts, feelings, memories and associations.”
Sitting in the warmth and comfort of the Elders’ cabin I look out the window again, “Sometimes the rains are heavy, and sometimes they are hard. But with all rains, they soon come to an end. The sun shines through the dissipating clouds. The light brings clarity, signaling time to begin anew.”
Copyright © 2011 Anthony L. Farmer All Rights Reserved
