How a Buddhist parable about tigers and the strawberries offers clues to living a magical life. You have a Choice of which world you live in... and one of them is epically beautiful.
I love this, Allysha! I have heard this parable before, many times, it is one of my favorites. There are always two sides. They are the polarities, the opposites, and they are constantly tugging and pushing at each other. But there is this middle ground called the liminal, the vesica piscis, the sweet spot. In this case the strawberry!
I appreciate your words, “your footprints show the way for those who wish to follow.” I am at a point where I MUST go my own way. Painful at times, but that is where the fullness of life is for me. And there are times I pretend there are no tigers, I fall into the story of lack, compliance, etc. Yet the strawberry is there always waiting for my return.
Beautiful, Julie. I love this story too—it arose organically as I was writing this piece, and I was tickled to be able to include it.
Your footprints definitely are showing the way for others! When we move into that far green country beyond the ordinary, everyday world, we open a door for others to follow. As writers, we even leave a delicious trail of cake crumbs leading through the door.
Of course, we all have cycles of being fully connected in one world and then moving into connection with the other, but I think the paradox of holding both is my favorite place to live.
Thanks for the work you do every day, living in that liminal space that lights the way!
Beautifully written and so very true. While our world burns down, and 2025 is a Tower year in my opinion, we can still savor the wonderful things in life. And we really should. After all, that is why we are here!
This is a great way of explaining where we’re at Allysha, mmm I notice that you have a gift for describing things, which make them come to life, that feels significant. I have found that whatever is happening in the world I am able to observe it at a distance and have a deep inner knowing that it’s going to be ok. Such is the connection to spirit, which is something that has taken a few years to get to, in case anyone is wondering. What is more difficult for me to digest is what happens to me and around me, that is still very much a work in progress!
Thanks, Louise. This one really came through in a fit of inspiration. I feel like those are the pieces that have the most power in them.
I can definitely relate to not being tossed by the larger things happening further away but still searching for equanimity around the things close in. It’s definitely practice that requires a lot of attention! Wishing you blessings for the process.
I am so nourished to read this. I have always had the view of looking on the bright side of things and finding beauty in the mess. It’s just my natural inclination. I see all the tough stuff that is happening in the world, but choose not to focus on it. It is so hard sometimes to be this way when so many people judge it and call me naive or tell me I’m just “sticking my head in the sand”. I just choose to live in the beauty of the world and let that be my focus, my driving force. Thank you so much for these words!
I think it's so important to hear that we really aren't sticking our head in the sand when we choose to see the Beauty all around us. The world has always been full of horrors, but the sun rises every morning in a wild passion of color. The horrors will pass and the sun will continue to rise.
No one can say which worldview is better or more important, but I know how I feel... what I'm capable of... and how I create when I focus on that sunrise. So glad to hear that you're naturally inclined to this worldview, Laura. You're not alone!
As I read this, I began to wonder if we keep perpetuating separation by seeing opposing forces as separate worlds. What if we started being the strawberry that sits in between - coexisting without judgement. How the world might change!
Absolutely, Heidi. I don’t see the separation as opposition, just a reality that it’s difficult to be present to Beauty when our conversations are filled with vibrations of anger… and it’s difficult to be angry when present to the immense Beauty all around us.
For me, it’s more like one world that occurs as vastly different depending on what we bring our attention to. Yet I’ve noticed that there are many who simply can’t see the other side of the coin, so two worlds is a helpful image.
Ah yes so true. It’s like if we’re in one pole we can’t be in the other. Maybe the polarisation eventually helps us come to a place of the middle path, of balance.
That's a great inquiry, Heidi. In my experience, deeply experiencing the magical side of life actually makes us more able to present with the grief-filled aspects. Instead of avoiding them by giving ourselves over to anger, we have a greater capacity to feel deeply and still stay centered.
Just what I needed to read right now, a timely reminder and one that hit me in the right place at the right time in the right way. Thank you. I’m going to find a way to be a bright delicious looking Strawberry now 😁
ANd I did not know that about the word ‘heretic’! Oh yeeeees to CHOOSING to eat the strawberries and consume aaaall the goodly, magickal things the world has to offer. 🪄💫✨
I love this, Allysha! I have heard this parable before, many times, it is one of my favorites. There are always two sides. They are the polarities, the opposites, and they are constantly tugging and pushing at each other. But there is this middle ground called the liminal, the vesica piscis, the sweet spot. In this case the strawberry!
I appreciate your words, “your footprints show the way for those who wish to follow.” I am at a point where I MUST go my own way. Painful at times, but that is where the fullness of life is for me. And there are times I pretend there are no tigers, I fall into the story of lack, compliance, etc. Yet the strawberry is there always waiting for my return.
Beautiful, Julie. I love this story too—it arose organically as I was writing this piece, and I was tickled to be able to include it.
Your footprints definitely are showing the way for others! When we move into that far green country beyond the ordinary, everyday world, we open a door for others to follow. As writers, we even leave a delicious trail of cake crumbs leading through the door.
Of course, we all have cycles of being fully connected in one world and then moving into connection with the other, but I think the paradox of holding both is my favorite place to live.
Thanks for the work you do every day, living in that liminal space that lights the way!
Beautifully written and so very true. While our world burns down, and 2025 is a Tower year in my opinion, we can still savor the wonderful things in life. And we really should. After all, that is why we are here!
The spaces in between are where the magic lives.
Absolutely. There so much magic once we allow ourselves to see it. 💖
Yes, Linnea! There is magic in Everything if we have eyes to See. 💜 ✨
This is a great way of explaining where we’re at Allysha, mmm I notice that you have a gift for describing things, which make them come to life, that feels significant. I have found that whatever is happening in the world I am able to observe it at a distance and have a deep inner knowing that it’s going to be ok. Such is the connection to spirit, which is something that has taken a few years to get to, in case anyone is wondering. What is more difficult for me to digest is what happens to me and around me, that is still very much a work in progress!
Thanks, Louise. This one really came through in a fit of inspiration. I feel like those are the pieces that have the most power in them.
I can definitely relate to not being tossed by the larger things happening further away but still searching for equanimity around the things close in. It’s definitely practice that requires a lot of attention! Wishing you blessings for the process.
I am so nourished to read this. I have always had the view of looking on the bright side of things and finding beauty in the mess. It’s just my natural inclination. I see all the tough stuff that is happening in the world, but choose not to focus on it. It is so hard sometimes to be this way when so many people judge it and call me naive or tell me I’m just “sticking my head in the sand”. I just choose to live in the beauty of the world and let that be my focus, my driving force. Thank you so much for these words!
I think it's so important to hear that we really aren't sticking our head in the sand when we choose to see the Beauty all around us. The world has always been full of horrors, but the sun rises every morning in a wild passion of color. The horrors will pass and the sun will continue to rise.
No one can say which worldview is better or more important, but I know how I feel... what I'm capable of... and how I create when I focus on that sunrise. So glad to hear that you're naturally inclined to this worldview, Laura. You're not alone!
As I read this, I began to wonder if we keep perpetuating separation by seeing opposing forces as separate worlds. What if we started being the strawberry that sits in between - coexisting without judgement. How the world might change!
I LoVE the idea of being the strawberry. I’m going to have to sit with that! 🍓
Absolutely, Heidi. I don’t see the separation as opposition, just a reality that it’s difficult to be present to Beauty when our conversations are filled with vibrations of anger… and it’s difficult to be angry when present to the immense Beauty all around us.
For me, it’s more like one world that occurs as vastly different depending on what we bring our attention to. Yet I’ve noticed that there are many who simply can’t see the other side of the coin, so two worlds is a helpful image.
Ah yes so true. It’s like if we’re in one pole we can’t be in the other. Maybe the polarisation eventually helps us come to a place of the middle path, of balance.
That's a great inquiry, Heidi. In my experience, deeply experiencing the magical side of life actually makes us more able to present with the grief-filled aspects. Instead of avoiding them by giving ourselves over to anger, we have a greater capacity to feel deeply and still stay centered.
Totally and vice versa, the pain makes the magic stronger 😉
It definitely makes us stronger!
Just what I needed to read right now, a timely reminder and one that hit me in the right place at the right time in the right way. Thank you. I’m going to find a way to be a bright delicious looking Strawberry now 😁
So glad to hear it! 💜✨
Oh how I love this!
So much magic in this message. 🍓
ANd I did not know that about the word ‘heretic’! Oh yeeeees to CHOOSING to eat the strawberries and consume aaaall the goodly, magickal things the world has to offer. 🪄💫✨
Yes, Suzy! Just yes! So glad to have you with us at these feast of strawberries! 🍓✨
🍓🥹✨🪄💫