I like metaphors…
Perhaps, because I tend to think in pictures.
I was thinking about my current intimate relationship
(amazing and fantastic)…
And comparing to past relationships…
Wondering what makes a great relationship…
The picture in my mind was of 2 strongly built, solid rafts,
coming together…
Perhaps, in the beginning, the 2 rafts take time to examine
their interactions, their shapes and compatibilities.
And contemplate their differences…
If things seem compatible, they may try to weave their rafts
together.
To see what that looks like…
What that feels like…
How smooth does this new combined raft sail…
What happens when the financial, or other relationship,
waters get rough?
Over time, the 2 rafts may want to change the way they are
bound together.
Things change after 5, 10, 20 years…
Finances change, jobs may change, children grow up, move
out…
Change is the only thing you can count on, along with death
and taxes…
I’ve written before about Conscious Relationship (and see
parts 2-5!):
In this current metaphor, the strength of the initial
individual rafts…
Rises up in importance…
What are the practices that you
have done to become a strong independent raft?
I’ve also written about methods
of self-growth can be like a boat to get you to the next level, and than leaving
that boat behind, to take the next path to another higher level:
Is it important to use practices
that deconstruct the individual raft of personality?
Perhaps as said in the words of
Adyashanti:
"This teaching is not so
much a raft to carry you to enlightenment as it is a fire to ignite the raft
you are now holding on to."
Perhaps we need to burn up our
rafts on a regular basis, so that when our rafts spontaneously reassemble
themselves…
They may leave out parts that no
longer serve us…
Perhaps these practices may allow
our rafts of relationship to come together in new and stronger ways…
Of course, there is always some
risk that your new stronger raft no longer fits into that previous raft relationship…
I am lucky, my wife and I are on
the same page about looking deeply inside…
Traveling in a variety of boats,
often together, sometimes separately…
Yes, this carries risks…
We spend time building stronger individual
rafts…
And a continuously stronger raft
of relationship…
Again, our boats may not be your
boats, our rafts may not be your rafts…
Each of you are a beautiful
incarnation of Source…
If you choose to raft-up with
another, you have to find your own ways of weaving your rafts together…
May it be beautiful…
Namaste
