There’s an analogy I quite like, that a bird needs two wings to fly—wisdom and compassion.

And yet, we have such a knee jerk reaction. Someone says or does something disagreeable, and we are instantly poised to defend.

Sometimes, I wonder if it’s our beliefs which keep us here—trapped inside this perpetual ‘dance’ of reaction.

How easily we forget the practicality of the practice, and the utility within the understanding.

“Fixed ideas are like a wisp of cloud or smoke, but nonetheless people find themselves blocked or captured by these. You would laugh if you saw someone tripped by a cloud, or if someone claimed that they were imprisoned by the air. But, in fact, people are endlessly being trapped by things no more substantial than air or clouds. They make a wall with their mind, and then it imprisons them. Inherently, there is no wall or anything to trip over. These things are mirages they’ve created from the thoughts they gave rise to.” – Zen Master Daehaeng

My darlings, just as the bird needs two wings to fly – so, too, must we incorporate the very same in our own practice.

To be mindful, that we may see when we’re getting ‘caught up’; and yet, to have compassion enough, that we may learn to let these painful barriers go.

“Do not insist upon your own fixed ideas. Your persistence is your own narrow mind. If your mind is broad, it can easily embrace the entire world. However, if your mind is narrow, even a needle cannot enter. You have to keep letting go of your stubbornness, and always be deeply respectful of all life and things. This is returning to and relying upon the Buddha-Dharma. This is also how to become a free person. Always be humble. Be humble. The fragrance of your broad and generous mind will warm others’ hearts.” – Zen Master Daehaeng

With mindfulness, we may enter this world not leading with the false front of our spiritual identity or philosophical point of view—but rather with an openness of mind that will allow us to see things as they really are.

And, with loving-kindness we may begin to permeate those many layers of fear—to disentangle from our past neurosis—that have kept us burdened for all of these many years.

The poet Mary Oliver once wrote,“When the thumb of fear lifts, we are so alive.’

To be alive then, I believe, is to break free from this constant editorializing—to let the story unfold, without jumping to the end of our ‘book.’

So then, you might ask—what is the basis of our practice?

As the venerable Ajahn Chah might say, “Do everything with a mind that lets go.”

Only then, may we begin to lift that thumb of fear, and to engage fully in this majesty of life.

Never underestimate your abilities, my darlings. And remember, a free bird must always have these two wings to fly.

[blockquote source=”LeeAnn Taylor”]”We are all butterflies. And, earth is our chrysalis.” [/blockquote]

When I was a little girl, I believed that wishes were carried to heaven on the back of a butterfly’s wings. And, that with each precarious flitter, my words moved closer to the angel’s ears.

I must admit, I was a bit of a free-thinking, wandering-spirit sort of child. And, where explanations were absent, I allowed my heart to fill in the blanks.

Oh, and my little heart was quite the storyteller, too.

Even as an infant, there seemed to be an inexplicable draw – a divine attraction, perhaps – that would invariably carry them closer to me. I still remember the smile in my Mother’s eyes, as she would retell that story – ‘just one more time’ – about the day she found a butterfly tucked away inside of my carriage.

Maybe they were listening, after all?

And, these days, still they find me – whether perched along a country trail, or settling into the garden’s blooms – these motley-colored messengers remind me of all the love which has been shared.

Isn’t it amazing, how in just a few short day’s the butterfly finds it’s purpose?

To carry their blessings of hope and of love, only to flutter off again?”

[blockquote source=”Haruki Murakami”]”They don’t leave any trace behind. It’s like they’ve been absorbed by the air. They’re dainty little creatures that hardly exist at all: they come out of nowhere, search quietly for a few, limited things, and disappear into nothingness again, perhaps to some other world.”[/blockquote]

Or, maybe they’ve gone to carry wishes to heaven – and, on the backs of their butterfly wings?

[blockquote source=”J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan“]“The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease for ever to be able to do it.”[/blockquote]

I’ve Moonflowers planted nearest my house, along the fence line at the farthermost corner of my property.

For many seasons, they’ve mystified the little ones in our neighborhood – these magical flowers that bloom only on the darkest of nights.

I had once offered a story of the Moonflower, to the little girl who lived next door. She had been experiencing troubles with her eldest brother, a horrible tyrant, if I must say.

“He’s always calling me names,” she cried one morning outside my front steps.

Oh. how I could sympathize with this little one’s heart – which had quite nearly broken under the weight of ‘not welcome here.’

It’s hard being so little in a planet that is so very big. Even harder when our older brothers take such merriment in our continued torture.

But, don’t we all feel this way from time to time? Overwhelmed by our smallness against challenges that are so seemingly immense?

And yet, there’s always something which carries us through – pinned neatly to the  wings of our unwavering belief.

Sometimes we need to believe in those little things the eyes fail to see.

“Do you see those flowers over there,” I motioned. “I’ll tell you a secret, but you must promise not to ever tell another living soul.”

Good stories are always best served with a healthy bit of fingers-crossed secrecy at the front end.

“I promise, I’ll never tell,” she said through her now intermittent tears.

“Ah, well,” I offered, “you see, those flowers bloom only at night, and are home to the magical garden fairies.”

At first she didn’t believe me, but thankfully I’ve inherited my Father’s gift for holding a straight face. And, of course I added a few things to bolster my story. Did you know that lightening bugs are actually garden princesses?

Wouldn’t you know, later that evening I saw her waiting patiently at the fence ~ desperate to catch a glimpse of this new wonder that had been revealed.

With just a little ‘faith, and trust, and pixie dust’ – her whole world had been transformed. No longer was her heart consumed by the ill wishes of another.

You see, where we place our beliefs – my dears, anything is possible.

And though, she has long since moved away – I like to think that she’ll always carry the magic of my Moonflowers with her.