Bending Spoons, Being ONE

Yep, we can do this.

So I am reading an author that I have loved for a number of years, Martha Beck. I first fell in love with her when I read Expecting Adam, the beautiful book she wrote that launched her career. She was a student at Harvard and she became pregnant. The doctors could tell from tests that her baby would be born with Down Syndrome. Many of her professors told her to abort the child. She could not. Many magical things began to happen to Martha while Adam grew in her womb.

They continued after he was born. Adam brought many gifts. I am so, so glad Martha listened to her heart and not those professors. And I am certain she is also glad. And beautiful Adam too.

Her career blossomed as a result of that first book, and over the years she became one of the most respected "life coaches" of today, though that was not her original "Plan A" for life. Her methods of teaching get us to think, or actually maybe a better way to put it might be not to think, but to feel, to intuit, to connect with the whole, to allow ourselves to be part of the magnificent force of energy we know as the Creator of Life, Love itself; they invite us to partake of gifts that are inherent to our simply being born here in this very special place and time. She introduces us to these gifts that have mostly been hidden from us for many centuries, especially in the Western world.

In her book, Finding Your Way in a Wild New World, she has many off-the-wall exercises we can practice, such as spoon-bending. Yes, just like those strange people we sometimes see on television or YouTube - those who can bend metal with their minds and very little else.

She has studied many things, which include physics and the sciences. She blends her scientific knowledge with spirituality and takes it all many steps further. She encourages us to do the same.

So in the course of reading this book and doing the exercises I came to the one where she teaches that we are all connected and we are all energy. Matter is made of energy, thus also connected and part of us. One of the exercises she invites us to participate in, in order for us to learn what it feels like to connect and feel a part of the whole is spoon bending. Yes. Bending spoons.

So after reading about her experiences with it and learning how it is done, I followed her suggestion and went into my kitchen to pick out a spoon to bend.

I brought it with me into my studio and tried bending it. It is made of stainless steel. It did not bend. I laid it down upon my desk and every so often throughout a succession of days, I would pick it up and "connect," asking it to bend for me, which it did not. I had purchased some very thin stainless steel headpins for my jewelry making which were, by accident, too thick to bend, even with my hand tools, and this spoon is much, much thicker than those.

It should feel like butter in your hands, she said. There will be no resistance, she said. When you are one with all that surrounds you, you can ask, and if there is no harm, your request will be granted. I'm paraphrasing here. The point is that we have to ask. And there must be purpose behind our asking.

My purpose in wanting to bend my spoon was only to learn that it is possible. That is all. I felt that if I were shown that it is possible for me to know that I'm connected to the whole and there is no separation of energies then it would provide me with trust in the whole process and beauty of life. In what is possible. In the basis of love and connection as the whole foundation.

I picked up my spoon many times over a period of days. I tried to bend it. I pushed quite hard with both hands. I asked with my mind. I tried to be pals with the spoon, but nothing happened. It stayed straight as the day it was made. I even pushed both backwards and forwards with no result.

Tonight I went into my bedroom where my puppy was sleeping and this is the puppy of my heart. I fell in love with him the moment I met him and he has made my heart sing ever since. I curled up with him on the bed and pet him for a while and he made my heart all warm and fuzzy.

Came into my studio and picked up my spoon and my heart was still filled with love and warm fuzzies and suddenly my spoon melted into the shape you see in the photograph. Yes, I was holding it in my hands, but I did not use any force at all, was only aware of a yielding. When I became aware of the yielding the spoon was sort of "emanating" to me, I pushed my hands together and woosh, it bent like hot butter.

Holy shit.

It seems that at that moment my heart was filled with love, and I was still radiating love when I picked up my spoon; it could feel that and wanted to be a part of it, so it just melted in my hands.

Wow. I'm still a little perplexed, but my heart is filled with love for the possibilities of what this really means. It means I AM a part of the whole. The whole is both bigger and smaller than I've been taught. I can work within the whole for the benefit of all - as she teaches us with her other exercises and "metaphors," which involve dropping into what she calls Wordlessness, becoming connected in Oneness, using Imagination, and Forming amazing things in the real world based upon these "skills."

Over the days that I picked up my spoon and put it back down after it would not bend, I did not believe it ever would. I thought well, this exercise is for others. I kept the door slightly open because my heart wants to believe, but I wanted the proof of the spoon.

Now I know that it did bend. The spoon is my signpost that says keep going, this is fun! It says there are no barriers, we all belong (because I am very ordinary and if I can do it so can many others). It says Martha's a helluva coach. It says there's hope! It says there's a whole different way of interacting and working in and with this reality we find ourselves in! Try it. Don't just listen to me. Read the book and play with it. You just might be amazed. And don't give up if you try to bend your spoon and it doesn't work the first time. That is what really makes you go wow when it does bend like hot butter.

I have to add that I was so thrilled with my bent spoon that I did my happy dance over to my husband and stood in front of him holding it in my hands to show him. He got a funny look on his face, eyes twinkling, mouth smiling, he looked at the spoon and then looked at me and he said, "You ruined our spoon!" This cracks me up. He wasn't angry in any way. He's a scientist. He looks at the world in a very creative but practical way. And I thought it was hilarious that I was practically flying with the possibilities and meaning behind this little exercise and his first reaction was about the condition of the spoon and its apparently jeopardized usefulness. I explained the exercise to him and declared he'd enjoy reading the book, but he leans towards action thrillers if he does find the time to read.... I love him dearly because he encourages me to be myself, never correcting or discouraging me, and he's quite comfortable being himself. All good. I promised him I wouldn't bend our other spoons. That's what Martha did when she discovered she could do this. She bent every spoon in her kitchen! I'm sure they'll also bend back into shape, but I'm keeping mine as is.

Martha Beck. Highly recommended reading, and practice - she's written many books and has lots of videos available on YouTube. She's a very special woman - big spirit in action right here with us now, aren't we lucky?! She's also very funny. I laugh a lot reading her material, and sometimes I cry too.

Well spoon bending is awfully fun - give it a try after reading her material. Thank you, so much, Martha Beck, for the work that you do. We are growing.

Namaste,
Jen

The In-Between Time

Sweet Doves, the birds of Love

So I've been sitting vigil for some of my Lovies who have transitioned to our Celestial home over the past few weeks and days. Rob's Dad is in our Celestial home now. My sweet friend and colleague Amy is in our Celestial home now. My sister's son's wife's mother is in our Celestial home now. My husband's father's sister's son is in our Celestial home now. Ah, so many exits. We celebrate their beautiful lives with love.

Sweet Incense

I light incense on the porch outside and a candle or two in my studio for them. My candles are like winks or nods that I know they can see and feel. I fill up the birdfeeders outside and somehow feel a connection and communication through the sky-fliers. They come in flocks, or couples - the cardinals and blue jays who've been procreating in our backyard for some 12 years now. The hawk who sits in the tree across the street that I can see outside the windows of my studio. The crows who caw in the evenings and the doves who coo in the mornings.

Lovely Cardinals, Spirit's Herald

I feel my daughter close, who has been living in our Celestial home for going on four years now. She strokes my hair and makes my head tingle sometimes in the quiet of the night when I'm doing artwork or beadwork or writing. When she was here in life and she was little, she would stand at my elbow while I was working, and I would explain to her what I was creating. It is like that when she strokes my hair.

She also played again with the TV tonight to let me know she was here, or maybe it was sweet Amy checking in. I had had the TV on for the evening, and was at my desk winding up a few details on the editing project I'm working on. When I finished, I turned to go over and sit on the little leather couch in my studio, and I realized the TV had half turned itself off. "Hello," I said. I wasn't sure if it was Jess or Amy visiting but I knew it was Spirit cause one of the first things they learn to do because they are full-on vibration is to play with other full-on vibration here, and electricity is that.

I blew a kiss and air-talked with whatever Spirit was visiting, asking for my TV operations to be restored since it is my comfort. I worked with the remote control pushing various buttons - the "all power" button vs. the "on/off" button. It took its time responding, but respond it did after about five minutes. "Thank you," I said.

"I bet you're loving it," I said in case it was Amy. "You're still you, but bigger, and you have no pain!" I said. "And you can slip in and beam your love to your family!" I said. "I know, I know," I said. From the bottom of my heart, I know.

We all have our angels xo

They have zero judgment and they beam love and encouragement to us all the time. They feel so very relieved of the weight and machinations of the Earthly world. It's meant to be a good, sweet world, but at the moment it's in the control of some really unawakened, dare I call them, people. I want to call them barbaric animals, but no, I will not say it out loud.

I thought of what my friends who had lost children to death said to me, "It's a long road, but you'll make it," as I remembered the beautiful, heartfelt post Amy's daughter posted - my Mom was a strong woman and she raised me to be that way too. I will carry on and live my life to the fullest, because that's what she taught me, gave me. I'm paraphrasing here.

Tree of Life 

And I thought, I said the same things when Jess made her transition - I felt strong in those first days. But it is a long road with lots of ups and downs. And I wanted to tell Amy's family - cry when you need to right out loud. Those tears are healing for your body and mind and soul. And laugh. Laugh whenever you have the opportunity and it sneaks up on you, most likely brought on first by a loving, sweet animal, or perhaps another family member or friend. See the beauty in the passing of each moment and grab what sunshine there is. Your heart may feel heavy sometimes. Put on two pairs of fluffy socks and wrap up in a soft bathrobe and curl up under a blanket when you need to, with that sweet animal or a fresh-from-heaven baby human. Hug a lot. Sleep with a soft, fluffy teddy bear to shield your wounded chest from the pain. Pull out hankies when you need them and walk tall in the world in-between these times, doing what it is you care most about.

The sun will come out. It will come out now, but not in the brilliance that it will come out later. Ride the waves of emotion and know that they will pass. Be ever so grateful that you had someone to love so much - some people do not have that in their lives. Know that your mother, daughter, wife, sister, aunt, is not missing, like some others who never find closure to a life so well-lived. Know that she did not pass through violence, but surrounded by the tender, loving care of her family. Blessings. So many blessings. Hold them dear. I think her beautiful spirit orchestrated this. It was her journey and what a beautiful journey it has been.

The sun will come out....

Know that you will be reunited. Yes, go on and live your life to the fullest, not out of fear, but out of love. Love for the life she gave you, love for the love she poured into everyone and everything she touched. She was an inspirational spirit. So very special.

This is the in-between time. For her in her Celestial world, she is now like the facets of a diamond - all of her lives, all of her whole Self, even bigger than she was when she was here with us. She will come to you when invited with a peaceful heart. She is living, more vibrant than we can even imagine. Loving, with a love so deep and profound that we can only imagine it. Feel her all around you, by invitation. And live. Love. No reservations.

Welcome her in dreams, she will come to you. She knew the mysteries of Spirit - we had conversations about it. She is clean and good and whole and happy and beaming her love to you all the time. Yes she is.

The gifts of Spirit are not so mysterious or intangible as we have been taught. Trust the love. Trust the process. Honor her full journey which is now complete, as we must with all those who pass before us. One day it will be our turn and how do we want to orchestrate that? How do we want our beloveds to feel after we're finished here on the beautiful Earth plane?

I want my Lovies to feel happy to have known me. Happy to have benefitted in some way from what I had to offer. Appreciative. But definitely not sad upon my passing. I would want them to celebrate that with all of themselves because that's what I will be doing. A job well-done. A journey completed. A well-earned rest and more adventures to look forward to and plan. Love connected always. I think it is good to treat the deaths of our Lovies as we would want our Lovies to feel when we pass. Because we will, we will. Thank goodness.

Namaste,
Jen