Monday, September 07, 2009

how things unfold

On my trip to Brattleboro a few weeks ago I picked up a copy of Tricycle, which is a Buddhist magazine.

While waiting for my car to have it's oil changed, I thumbed through the magazine and found mention of this book by Noelle Oxenhandler.

At home, I looked the book up on Amazon and read a few pages, which I only found of mediocre interest. I wanted to check out the book in a bookstore before I ordered it, plus I had just placed an Amazon order and didn't want to place another.



On Sunday I attended an Art fair in Keene. Great fun and my friend Frankie had a booth there so I got to chat with her. Across the street was a bookstore. At first, I couldnt remember either the book title or the author's name. Then I remembered the words Wishing Year and the bookstore clerk looked it up for me.

They had the book and I bought it. Well, it is so perfect for me. One of her wishes is to buy a house and even though in about the middle of the book it turns out she can buy the house she is renting (no real estate people to deal with, no endless internet searches), still the agonies she goes through around spending the money and materialism etc etc are so similar to mine that I connected right away. I like her skepticism too about this wishing thing being a magnet to manifest your desires. She says even though she lives in California, the wooo wooo state, she begins her wishing year from a point of skepticism.

I too have a bit of this. Doubt and fear hold me back. I am such a meld of the bohemian go for it all and the schoolmarmish conservative lets be sensible. (No offense to school teachers meant, it's just a cliche image). I am half way through the book which I started yesterday. When you wish upon a star........

20 comments:

Annie said...

Oh I am the same way :-). I think it is a good balance! I will check this book out. xoxo

sukipoet said...

it's a great book. hey, maybe she doesnt buy the rental she's been living in. I'm only 1/2 way through the book.

Lynn Cohen said...

Suki,

When we bought our house I and then we'd been renting for ever...I never ever in my wildest dreams thought I could afford a house...we'd paid from $150-$350 a month for one rental over 15 years; and then moved into another for $750 a month. Then someone told me I could buy a house and pay that on a mortgage. (20 years ago) They were right! Yes, prices went up but my mortgage never went over $850 a month (I paid more to pay it off faster, which I did!) and that dream that materialized which I thought utterly impossible still amazes me.
And now I own my own home outright.

So I urge you, encourage you, hopefully inspire you to spread your wings, trust the universe, be brave, it really does provide.

Love the song above too.

Mim said...

I don't think it is the money that is scaring you is it?

studio lolo said...

Serendipity.

Listen to what the book has to say.

There will probably be many things that speak to your heart, your sensibility (teacher) and your wild (Bohemian) cravings.

I really think things fall at our feet as we need them.

;)

Roxanne said...

dear suki - it's been months since i've had time to blog ... and lucky me, I happen to click on your blog with THIS posting. I am exactly like you. A mix of hopes and dreams - and practical schoolmarm sense. I'd love to hear more about this book's impact on you ... shall I get it? I hated The Secret - but if this has a buddhist leaning, it might be what I'm looking for.

Cathie said...

Suki - let your dreams speak to you. Sometimes you have to just "jump in" and in this instance - the benefits surely outweigh the risk. And there is no one more interesting than a Bohemian Schoolmarm!

Mary Richmond said...

synchronicity...it's a wonderful thing and often helps clear our minds....;-)

Andrea and Kim said...

Oh Suki, this does sound so perfect for you! I am glad you found it, as it seems as though you were supposed to do so. The Universe unfolds in beautiful ways. I love picking up the current issue of "Tricycle" from time to time!

patti said...

The book sounds really perfect for you right now. I will check it out in my library/bookstores.

I hope it gives you the inpiration to jump into your dreams.

Katiejane said...

I am a realist to the bone. I don't believe in wishing, praying, hoping or any of that other stuff, for the things you want. Only perserverence and determination (and hard work) get you what you want in life. It does sound like a good book to read, however, and I hope (hope?) you find it useful.
I do love to prowl around good bookstores, too.

Looks like a lovely day for an art fair.

~Babs said...

Interesting sounding book.
I hope too much (more) information doesn't add to the confusion you're already feeling.

Even Jesus couldn't walk on water until He got out of the boat.

kj said...

suki, my prayers include clarity for you, and i know your wish will be manifested.

xo

ps i love what babs said. just love it.

sukipoet said...

Lynn, thanks for sharing your story. It is wonderful. I'm so glad you have your sweet home where you make all your wonderful art. And thanks for you good wishes sent to me on a star!

Mim, spending money does scare me. I do think the money, the psychology of it etc, is part of what is holding me back. I am somewhat of a tight wad, although I can be generous too. It is the way I was brought up. So I am in a sense overcoming that family history thing, that tidewadness that is ingrained. I have done a lot of work on myself through the years on letting go of historically set boundaries, family fears and do's and don'ts , but this money thing seems to be a big one for me.

lolo, the book had many good parts that did speak to me. as i read along, i came to understand that the author was more of a Type A personality than I am. She was not just wishing, but going out and taking workshops, hanging out w/her friend Carole who is a big time go getter and wisher combined, etc. I have been doing a lot of work around finding a house though. Out there work. But at the books end she says have three wishes so you are not putting all yr eggs in one basket. I maybe have been TOO focused on my one egg.

sukipoet said...

Roxanne, Noelle Oxenhandler also disliked "The Secret." I thought the book good but also felt she could have done a little more at the end re: relinquishing her scepticism, which she indicates she has done. also, although she found the man and house, not sure where the spiritual soul search is or where she thinks it is more importantly. ie: a little more reflection on that aspect. But I would recommend the book. I enjoyed it muchly.

sukipoet said...

Cleveland Girlie, thanks. jump in yes, and as Babs says a bit further down, get out of the boat.

Mary, yes, it feels like a buoy on my somewhat directionless journey.

Kim, this was a great book for me to read at this juncture.

sukipoet said...

patti, I hope so too.

katie Jane, I think the idea in the book is both need to be done: the hard work and the wishing which is sort of like focusing. I dont think wishing for something means then sitting back and waiting for someone else to manifest the wish. on the other hand i do tend to go about manifesting in a way that appears to others that I am sitting back on my duff.

sukipoet said...

babs, thanks. the book did not further confuse me. i felt sort of "supported" in my hesitancy, at least in part. Thanks for the get out of the boat image. okay, will do.

kj thank you for the clarity wishes

San said...

If I were to judge that book by it's cover, I would love it!

I'm torn a bit too--between my urge to be sensible and my urge to JUST DO IT. Seems like my few good moves in life have involved acting on a pre-meditated plan. But ACTING did take precedence.

Anonymous said...

Glad the book made you feel supported a bit in your hesitancy. I don't think there is anything wrong with being careful nor anything wrong with looking at houses but not buying until it really feels right.