Being back just over a week now, I’m doing my level best to gently grasp the last two months of awes and wows, legacy lessons and treasures from the trip, and fold them into the blessed moments of my ‘real’ life and the day to day. What you do not want to have happen after a life-altering experience is to simply surrender it all and go back to the way it was, no matter how lovely life was before your excursion. We take these paths of growth to do just that, to stretch, to suspend what we think we know to make room for a something else we may not even be able to name, and if we’re smart, surrender to whatever comes.
I think we all long to catch a glimpse of magnificence, within ourselves and in the world. To do this, to be privy to the fairies in the garden, the angels taking our hand in theirs, the wondrous ways in which those in the world beyond the veil attempt to talk to us, we have only one task, one focus to unlock possibility … we must be open. That’s it. Just open. It’s like that movie “Polar Express” when only those who believe can hear the tinkle of the reindeer bell. Young children innately let that jingle fill their spirits with joy, but adults talk of ‘knowing better’, having their ‘eyes opened’. But at the expense of slamming the door on their imagination and welcoming heart?
There have been so many gems along The Way, it is overwhelming at times to write fast enough, record quickly enough, the messages that come. But I’ll take the flurry of whisperings from the other side, from those I’ve loved who’ve passed, from nature, from God, and the childlike delight it has rekindled, the mad-intensity it’s awakened, over the blanket of silence that falls over everything when we cut off communication by believing we have it all figured out, judging our wisdom by years on the planet rather than the timelessness of our souls.
The other day I was having breakfast with a kindred friend, and she expressed just this … that despite (or perhaps because of) the intellectual nature of her mind, the successful career she had in the very logical realm of banking, she devours books and courses and seeks out people and ideas that keep her ‘open’. She’s my kinda people. Throughout my life I’ve had a gypsy spirit. I moved to Grand Cayman at 24, California at 28, Austria at 30 and then back to Canada and across her expanse, only truly settling in place at about 49 in southern British Columbia.
At every stop I inquired of my fellow expatriates, “What bought you to here?” No matter the specifics of their answers, there are threads of commonality in their responses – they are curious and desirous of discovering more about the world they live in, the people who wander it, the depths of wisdom, compassion and love their souls house.
So committed to this Surrender Adventure, they are, perpetually, open.
Open to the people who encourage and support them along the way, open to the miraculous solutions that present themselves in the midst of seemingly insurmountable problems, open to the signs that guide them to those situations and kindred spirits. This was wildly, perhaps not unexpectedly, prevalent all along El Camino de Santiago. I took a 20 year hiatus from solo travel to focus on my incredible family, so when I hit the trail and began asking that poignant question again, I was delighted to realize that the heart of a traveler has barely shifted at all.
As these fellow pilgrims poured out thoughts, asked thoughtful, searching questions, I felt those glorious, undeniable tingles you get from the inside out when you know you’re precisely on track, and realized once again … these are my people, the soul seekers, the wildly desirous, deliriously open people.
I’ve heard divine whisperings for as long as I can remember, although I didn’t call them that at the beginning. Our four horses at our farmhouse of Gable Glen, were my best friends, (my pony Vicky was my favourite, but I would never have let the others know that). The trees were my companions, our 23 barn kittens and cats my playmates, and every blade of grass, wheat, tadpole swimming beneath the dock, bird taking a dip in the pond, were kindreds to my heart. I sat among the lily bells with the fairies I imagined were just beyond sight; a friendship sparked by a favouite book my mother read to me as a little girl. *You can dive in further to the antics & escapades here, in The Great Sesame Escape :)*
Openness to a Friend who guided me in joy, loved me completely and protected me from frights, is what empowered me to survive traumas in my youth and thrive in my healing, truth, service to my family and in the world as I grew.
As a young girl excited to explore the world and find my voice outside of a conforming gaggle of fellow teenagers determined to knock you down a peg if you wandered too far ‘outside the box’, I would pose questions to my soulful, wise father and we would talk of all things, history, politics, travel and particularly spirituality, for hours. As I would share, no matter how ‘out there’ my questions or thoughts may have seemed … discussing past lives, the convergence of science and religion, one’s ability to intuit the present or future … my dad would say,
“Hmmm, maybe. I’m open Jenny. What we don’t know is far more vast than what we do, and so I’m just open. Who knows? And isn’t it better, more thrilling, to believe in the possibilities than not?”
Indeed Daddy, indeed.
I’ve always sought out myriad ways to open the door for those who’ve passed before me, for the Creator, for any angels that may be dancing beyond the veil, to connect and communicate with me. It’s been a joy throughout my life to see the signs, hear that still small voice, and follow, and it has led to more incredible adventures and experiences than I could ever recount.
It even led to the man of my dreams. I’d heard about these fun Fairy cards (you can imagine why they piqued my interest), that had phrases and sayings that would encourage or guide you along your way. I was open and having fun picking a card from time to time, to see if the messages would resonate. I was always amazed when they seemed to address precisely what I was dealing with, or needing, in a moment. As a bit of healthy skeptic, and not to be taken in by a mere generalized horoscope, I’d rummage through the rest of the deck after picking one, to find that, “No, many of the other cards wouldn’t have fit the day”. Hmmm, interesting.
When I met Todd Maki, I thought, “Well, best show my wacky side right up front” and I told him about these cards and asked if he wanted to try. He was right in there. We shuffled, and giggled, and then picked three cards each. Well, if I didn’t see my future husband get a little blown away and choked up, as he read each card and recounted how it related to scenarios of the past and present and hopes for the future.
It’s a story we lovingly remember as one of our favourites and keeps us squarely focused on forever remaining open to the messages that come. In fact, we have the life we have because we’ve honed those skills in listening, watching for the signs and allowing our dear Friend to lead us, through the darkness of difficult times feeling ever protected, and to the highs of our individual and collective dreams realized.
I share all this with you, before diving further into the stories of The Way because this openness is essential for the ride, for you to immerse yourself, as I did, in the mystery and magic of it all. If this doesn’t jive for you, then there will be more squirming as you read to come than a person should endure. It’s okay to get off here. We’re all right where meant to be, to learn what we’re meant to learn, and you have to trust where you’re at with it all.
If you’re a fellow soul seeker,
if you’re my people,
I’m deeply grateful for your ways, and
the wonder and childlike delight you bring to life.
It is the very foundation for hope in the world, and
as for this Surrender Adventure … ohhhhh boy are we gonna have some fun, and
learn a thing or two along The Way. 
Next post … Signs, Nuns and Nudges from the Realm Beyond.
Love these incredible stories and insights along the way. You truly are a mad heroine my friend – sprinkling some fairy 🧚🏽♂️ dust along the way. Thank you for inspiring us
Awe Steffi… I truly and deeply am grateful to have you on the mad adventure called life. Appreciate you taking the time to read and comment and soar with me for a moment on The Way. Much love to you … You my dear are definitely My People. Xoxox