In one of my most favorite books ever, The Desert Pilgrim, a woman, Mary Swander, who is also the author of the book, has an ongoing conversation with a priest about her need for healing.
A captivating part of the book occurs when Mary goes into the New Mexico desert to talk with the priest. Upon arrival, she hears a pack of chihuahua puppies who are closed up behind the doors of a shed. The puppies are barking and barking.
With the dogs barking in the background, the priest tells Mary to "let her puppies out". He says, "act now before your puppies are howling and crying to break free from the shed."
My interpretation of this part of the book is that part of our healing relates to unleashing our most authentic and expressive selves. We each carry so many soul ideas and longings for expression throughout our lives, however, we often keep our ideas locked up so tightly with the doors shut. This leaves us barking with frustration.
I was a product of my "former sponsors" (hahaha -- a term I love by Wayne Dyer) and for most of my life, I followed the things that I was taught or expected to do. Now, through communing with God and with others who have found their authentic path, I have learned that I can paint, sing, write, speak up, and dance. I've come a long way.
Yet as I write this, I am ever aware of how I often still hold back from my purest expression -- still locking the door on things I really want to say out loud, create in my work, or express in my art. There is that new Guadalupe painting I keep visualizing in my mind and want to manifest, but somehow I find a million other things to do instead.
Sometimes we have to go into the desert of our lives in order to find the well within our souls that says "yes" to all that we are and can be.
Have you let your puppies out? Are they howling to break free? Are you allowing the unleashing of your most authentic selves and truest God-given dreams? Open up the shed doors my friends, and let the puppies out!
Have something you want to say? We would love to hear from yoU in the comments section below!
(written by Jane Hart, copyright 2015)
A captivating part of the book occurs when Mary goes into the New Mexico desert to talk with the priest. Upon arrival, she hears a pack of chihuahua puppies who are closed up behind the doors of a shed. The puppies are barking and barking.
With the dogs barking in the background, the priest tells Mary to "let her puppies out". He says, "act now before your puppies are howling and crying to break free from the shed."
My interpretation of this part of the book is that part of our healing relates to unleashing our most authentic and expressive selves. We each carry so many soul ideas and longings for expression throughout our lives, however, we often keep our ideas locked up so tightly with the doors shut. This leaves us barking with frustration.
I was a product of my "former sponsors" (hahaha -- a term I love by Wayne Dyer) and for most of my life, I followed the things that I was taught or expected to do. Now, through communing with God and with others who have found their authentic path, I have learned that I can paint, sing, write, speak up, and dance. I've come a long way.
Yet as I write this, I am ever aware of how I often still hold back from my purest expression -- still locking the door on things I really want to say out loud, create in my work, or express in my art. There is that new Guadalupe painting I keep visualizing in my mind and want to manifest, but somehow I find a million other things to do instead.
Sometimes we have to go into the desert of our lives in order to find the well within our souls that says "yes" to all that we are and can be.
Have you let your puppies out? Are they howling to break free? Are you allowing the unleashing of your most authentic selves and truest God-given dreams? Open up the shed doors my friends, and let the puppies out!
Have something you want to say? We would love to hear from yoU in the comments section below!
(written by Jane Hart, copyright 2015)