When we meet those places within that we deem unacceptable with love and wisdom, we embrace our fresh eyes. The beloved Zen Master Suzuki Roshi said, “In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s there are few”. I often encourage others to view their journey as an apprenticeship. When we stand in love for ourself, we honor the rainbow of every color. Be very mindful of any voice that suggests that you not stand in truth for it is that betrayal that leaves you undermining yourself. While we need not open ourselves with such drama, we may need to "rattle" the parts of ourselves which have constrained us through fear. When a peacock unfurls its' feathers to woo a peahen, they may furiously vibrate them in what is called "train rattling". When we allow ourselves the full display of who we are, we diminish the myth that we must be perfect. In each moment we share our truth, we strengthen an alignment with authenticity. While we do need to exercise our wise discernment about harbors of safety, we must stop shaming ourselves for that which makes us human. Recently, a woman told me that she couldn't come out to someone she knew would shame her. No doubt there are parts of ourselves that will be unacceptable to some. When we look more deeply at what we choose to share, we discover that it is our rejection of this or that which gets projected onto others. Our vulnerability is confirmation of our humanity. The very endearment of our soul is reflected in the recognition that every "feather" matters.
When we selectively choose the "feathers" that we believe will be acceptable, we deprive ourselves and others of the gift of our authenticity. We conceal the beautiful true colors of our heart for fear of losing those that matter. He's got a secret, and Violet's got a dreadful feeling it might be the worst kind of secret of all.A peacock reveals its' magnificent colors when it seeks to attract a mate or ward off a predator. He's weird, and she feels sure he's hiding something. Violet can't believe its coincidence that Joseph turns up just as girls start getting murdered. Suddenly life is horrifyingly much more interesting. And then Violet's best friend disappears too. Then young girls start going missing, and turning up murdered. Joseph, her long-lost brother, comes home. He blows up Violet's grey little life, and she can't believe her luck. Beau's a Rocker-a motorcycle boy who arrives in an explosion of passion and rebellion. And it doesn't look like fame and fortune are going to come calling anytime soon. She was born at the exact moment Winston Churchill announced Victory in Europe-an auspicious start, but now she's just stuck in her family's fish and chip shop dreaming of greatness.
The world is changing-but not for 16-year-old Violet.
Battersea, 1961: London is just beginning to enter the swinging sixties.
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