I loved going to visit my grandma’s house, a weekly routine for my brother and me when we were growing up. Every Friday after school, my dad packed us up in the car and dropped us off. I delighted in hearing Grandma’s stories about life on the farm and I cherished being surrounded by her garden varieties. Her gardens reminded me of the brilliant colors of a kaleidoscope. I would hunt through the grass in her backyard for hours searching for a four-leaf clover, taking in the lovely scents around me.
One day recently, as I prepared for my meditation, I was drawn to Rosemary. Rosemary loves to bring beautiful memories to the surface. I sat pondering the fond memories of my Grandma’s garden and the joy it brought me. After deeply inhaling Rosemary’s fresh minty scent, I applied a few drops to the top of my head, the Crown Chakra. The message I received was clear:
You are as unique and beautiful as the vibrant patterns in a kaleidoscope. As you breathe in, each of your cells shifts and changes, and as you exhale, they change again. Through the eyes of nature, all of creation is seen in this beautiful way. As with a kaleidoscope, when the light is obstructed or fades, the vibrancy dims. The colors and shapes are still there but are not as prevalent. This is true with humans as well. Sometimes you encounter circumstances that may dim or shadow your vibrancy. It is still there. It just needs a little light to shine through and bring it back to its full glory. Remember this when you encounter people who are struggling. Shine some light on their kaleidoscopes so they can see their vibrancy once again. Using Rosemary helps you remember the Divine, beautiful, colorful kaleidoscope you are! Peace be with you!
Each one of us is unique and beautiful in our own way. I have gone through phases of my life when my vibrancy was dimmed by circumstances either through unhealthy patterns I had latched onto or from circumstances beyond my control. Struggles are part of life. This reminds me of a passage from the New Testament in the Bible: “...suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts.…” Romans 5:3-5 (NRSV)
Now I can see how much I’ve grown through challenges. Through each struggle, my spiritual backbone has become stronger. To live from my authenticity, means I must tune into what is genuine and resonates with what I believe to be true.
It is my hope and prayer that you, too, will find the space to grow from your struggles. Lean on the memories that bring joy and love into your awareness. Lean on the memories that represent the kaleidoscope of your life. And then shine a little light on them to bring you back to your full glory.