In mid-July, on a day that made the sea sparkle and dance with rippled light, we left our home and headed with much anticipation on our long-planned trip to Namibia. This country is dear to our hearts for it is blessed with vistas of great beauty: open plains, rocky cliffs, red desert sands, a wide variety of wildlife, as well as dry riverbeds, rollicking seascapes and welcoming people…and we were not going to be disappointed.
Before we had even crossed from South Africa into Namibia, our senses were pricked by the magical transformation of the normally brown, sparse and arid land that we transversed. The bountiful winter rains, that seldom bless this part of our country, had metamorphosised the shrubs and land; even the porridge-bubblelike effect of the ‘fairy circles’ on the hills, were bright green. My heart was joyful. Our camping trip to Namibia had begun in a most spectacular manner.
It took us two days and a night, with our off-road caravan in tow, to cover the distance to the Namibian border post and settle into Amanzi Campsite. It is one of the most beautiful places to stay on the Orange River.
Sometime during the night, I had a vivid dream which had a profound impact on me. What I remembered most clearly, was the voice that had spoken to me. It had said, “You have closed the gate to your fire.”
The next morning, I took my camping chair to the bank of the Orange River and thought about the words that were still resounding through me. As I sat and watched the river passing gently by, I became enthralled by the reflections of the cliffs, trees and birds that were mirrored in its water; it was a perfect inverse image of reality. This reminded me of Shakespeare’s words…that we mortals, are actors on the dream-like stage of our own creation. I have been taught that I can awaken from this state, become more conscious and observant and that I may even write my own script.
Without a doubt, I knew that the hiatus that I had lived, since publishing my book was over; it was time to rekindle my fire and live my book. I was being directed to walk my walk, and talk my talk of truth.
My dream had given me direction – a way to rekindle my connection with the wisdom of my source archetype, The High Priestess, or as I have called her in: Remembering the Soul of You, The Intuitive One. I know this archetype well. I know her strengths and her shadow. The Intuitive One has taught me how to trust my inner knowing, to keep my faith in Spirit strong and to face my fears.
As I sat below the beautiful trees on this riverbank, I knew that I had a choice to make. I was being challenged to be the person that I had been born to be and to live my life to the full. Recently, I had been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and on hearing that news, I had made a promise to myself that I would focus on the gifts of this diagnosis and not get hooked into the drama playing out in my body.
This diagnosis was not an either/or choice for me, but rather an opportunity to be mature and accept the changes happening in my body with dignity (the older woman on this Tarot card) and to also be the maiden, who will create something magical out of the experience. As I watched the water flowing by, I realised that I had already, unconsciously, opted to love and respect myself.
Before this moment, I had not realised that I had already begun to work in a practical manner with one of the archetypes, The Go(o)dman or Lover, that I had written about in: Remembering the Soul of You. Each archetype takes one through a three-step process:
- The first card of each of the seven archetypes: The cards on the first row of the spread, examine the innate qualities that characterise each archetype, as well as the skills that he or she may choose to hone.
- The second row of cards: These cards are positioned directly below the first row (please refer to the back cover of my book) and they serve to highlight the themes and the recurring challenges that each archetype encounters. During this step, any unresolved and unconscious patterns surface to assist each one of us to change the way we react to people and situations. Knowing where a pattern of behaviour began, gives one the freedom to make different choices for oneself.
- The third and last card row: Finally, the third row reveals a decision that one made, at a soul level, to clear a belief system that has, for eons, limited one from being authentically oneself. This is the victory and the reward.
The beauty of the setting before me, helped me to focus on what I needed to process. I flitted through the decades of my life and realised how through the business of motherhood and teaching, I had pushed my body to its limits and that I was still doing that…even now…that I am in my mid-seventies.
I realised that, since receiving the RA diagnosis, I had undoubtedly drawn upon an inner depth of grace and compassion for myself that I had not even known that I possessed. I had begun to find a way to say, “I simply won’t manage to do that today, could we do it tomorrow?” I had also begun to accept offers of help…and that was certainly life-changing.
Like the waters of the Orange River that gently moved passed me towards the sea, I felt a calmness coming from my soul (Self), which touched me without judgement – freeing me from regrets and criticism of my ‘self’.
