Week 23 – Finding Grace on the Streets of London
My heart goes out to the people of London this morning, a city I love very much and one where I feel a strong kindred connection with so many.
I’d already written a blog for today about being courageous enough to shut the door on a dream, when news arrived of the terrorist attacks. I instantly thought about an experience I had during one of my visits to London and decided to share it again here with you.
It’s about a powerful exercise that will not only make you feel better, but will send much-needed healing love into the world.
In the spring of 2014, Michael and I were in London together for a week-long trip. On the morning of the day we were set to leave for home, I decided to go for a walk throughout some of my favorite places in the city. As I strolled through the rose gardens in Hyde Park and headed toward the shop-lined streets of Mayfair, I plugged in my earphones to listen to music.
There was one song in particular, I knew I wanted to listen to – Steve Winwood’s Higher Love sung by James Vincent McMorrow, so I set up a continuous loop of this song and headed off on my adventure.
As I listened to the words, I remembered a story from James Altucher, a friend and out-of-the-box writer who inspires me to see the world in new ways. James suggested the exercise I want to share with you today.
As the song, Higher Love, began to play, I imagined that I was the mother of everyone I saw as I walked down the street. Each time I looked into the eyes of the men, women, and children who passed by, I did my best to see each one as my son or daughter.
Within a minute or two I felt a deep, abiding love for everyone – young, old, big, small, men and women alike.
A couple walked by laughing and I felt pleased that my children were happy.
A girl, who looked rather sad, stood against the wall of a building and I felt like I wanted to give her a hug. (I sent her loving thoughts instead)
When an old man walked by with a cane, slowly making his way down the street, I felt an overwhelming sense of compassion and respect for the history embedded in the lines of his face.
As I experienced the humanity before me through maternal eyes, there was no judgment, no comparisons or fear, and no sense of separation. Instead, I felt connected and wrapped in a state of Grace.
While this exercise might sound a little strange, I’m telling you it was magic and even writing about it again puts me right back in that state of oneness.
This is the power of the Divine Feminine, the force that hosts Presence for the soul. It’s a Big Love, the kind of energy we need more of on the planet right now.
As I walked the streets of London that morning, my heart opened and it’s a memory that has stayed with me ever since.
But don’t take my word for it. Try it yourself.
Listen to the song in the link below, and whether you’re watching TV, taking a walk, or driving down the street, imagine yourself as a Great Mother and let Grace find you, too .
Video of the Week
You can listen to James Vincent McMorrow’s version of Higher Love here.