I am reminded of another medicine ceremony, in the deep forest of the Amazon jungle, when my strength was removed from me, so much so that I had to ask for help in the night just to get to the toilet. Why this?, I asked myself. And then this clear voice: "You always wanted to know what it would be like to live life without having to be the brave soldier. Okay. We have taken all of your strength from you. Now, you must retrain your muscles and learn to walk with the muscular strength of love." And, to be literal, I could not even stand up. I tried and fell over. I said into the maloka, to anyone who would hear: I need help. I"m a toddler, and I can't stand up, and I have to go to the bathroom. And then, a young man rose off his mat, came over and supported me to get to and back from the toilet. And for two months after I returned home from the jungle, walking was a daily meditation on "walking with the strength of love." Now and then, when my shields of bravery go up, the weakness returns, and I hear again, "Walk with the strength of love." Among the other big lessons I brought back from la selva is this: Love has teeth.
I am reminded of another medicine ceremony, in the deep forest of the Amazon jungle, when my strength was removed from me, so much so that I had to ask for help in the night just to get to the toilet. Why this?, I asked myself. And then this clear voice: "You always wanted to know what it would be like to live life without having to be the brave soldier. Okay. We have taken all of your strength from you. Now, you must retrain your muscles and learn to walk with the muscular strength of love." And, to be literal, I could not even stand up. I tried and fell over. I said into the maloka, to anyone who would hear: I need help. I"m a toddler, and I can't stand up, and I have to go to the bathroom. And then, a young man rose off his mat, came over and supported me to get to and back from the toilet. And for two months after I returned home from the jungle, walking was a daily meditation on "walking with the strength of love." Now and then, when my shields of bravery go up, the weakness returns, and I hear again, "Walk with the strength of love." Among the other big lessons I brought back from la selva is this: Love has teeth.
What an amazing experience James. I love "Love has teeth!"