Something my mum used to say to me, when I was upset or feeling like things were taking too long or were impossible, was always,
"...well darling just remember, chop wood, carry water".
She was reminding me to do one thing at a time, not just to look at the future or big picture and be overwhelmed by the mountain I was trying to move.
At Connection Culture we call it, 'eating the elephant one bite at a time'. The elephant being something we would like to heal, something like a niggle, an old living pattern or a trauma, and the therapy process being the bite-sized pieces that we bring our compassionate awareness to, both within and outside of sessions, allowing a healing alchemy to take place.
Mum's phrase reminds me, that there is no rush. We have permission, given by the fact that we are human and living a life, to allow things to take their time. We can even take it so far as to say that nothing actually even needs to be 'fixed', as nothing is 'broken'.
With effort and time, we can heal whatever it is we choose to focus on.
“The only Zen you find on tops of mountains is the Zen you bring there.” Robert M. Pirsig
It was only recently I discovered mum was partially quoting a Zen proverb to me -
'Before enlightenment, chop wood carry water.
After enlightenment, chop wood carry water'.
There is even more meaning we can take from this beautiful and clear wisdom.
Before we are resolved in our purpose in life, or feel we are on our souls right path, doing what it is we are 'meant' to be doing, things can feel repetitive, overwhelming or even meaningless or impossible.
The idea that 'after enlightenment' or after breakthrough moments wherein profound seeds are planted within us, from the outside we may still seem the same. The change is within. It is our awareness that has shifted.
These more enlightened pieces of self-knowledge are the kinds of seeds that are planted in therapy sessions, when we are doing our internal work, or when we sit in nature, go deep-diving into our own soul, or whenever we feel we are in tune with the greater mystery of life, and that it somehow makes sense for us in that moment.
I love the term used in Permaculture 'start where you are, use what you have'. Permaculture being an abbreviation for Permanent Culture. A philosophy and way of life focussed on healing ourselves, our communities and the earth one step at a time. Each step being effective and with potential for permanence due to its accessibility, simplicity and connective nature.
This same philosophy applies to our approach at Connection Culture. Lee Trew says 'it is what is right with us that heals what is wrong with us'. By using the internal resources we have available to us - our unique gifts, talents or life-experience - as well as our external resources - nature, community, relationships - we can address the wounds, triggers and overriding emotions that are no longer serving us as we continue on our life path.
And we start with where we are at right now, in this present moment. The point is, we start.
A Summary of the story of Chop Wood Carry Water
“A young boy became a monk. He dreamed of enlightenment and of learning great things. When he got to the monastery he was told that each morning he had to chop wood for the monks fires and then carry water up to the monastery for ablutions and the kitchen. He attended prayers and meditation, but the teaching he was given was rather sparse.
One day he was told to take some tea to the Abbot in his chambers. He did so and the Abbot saw he looked sad and asked him why.
He replied every day all I do is chop wood and carry water. I want to learn. I want to understand things. I want to be great one day, like you.
The Abbot gestured to the scrolls on shelves lining the walls. He said, ‘When I started I was like you. Every day I would chop wood and carry water. Like you I understood that someone had to do these things, but like you I wanted to move forward. Eventually I did. I read all of the scrolls, I met with Kings and and gave council. I became the Abbot. Now, I understand that the key to everything is that everything is chopping wood and carrying water, and that if one does everything mindfully then it is all the same.'”
If you are keen to allow yourself some loving space to facilitate a greater unfolding within, book in with any one of our open-hearted therapists this month.
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