"We come spinning out of nothingness, scattering stars like dust."

--- Rumi. Persia, 12th century

Rumi avoided the past, whole swaths of it. Too painful to recall.

So often he'd been callous in his youth. Thoughtless. Flailing about, so self-obsessed. Devoid of care, when love had her arms out wide to him.

He'd not intended anyone's distress, simply been unconscious of his words' and actions' weight.

Now he'd finally found his heart, what might-have-been was agony. The past had little to commend itself. Here and now was the safe time and place to be!

Thoughts had their own rudder though. Off into some un-bid region of the mind they'd plow, oblivious to Rumi's barricades.

"Ouch!" Rumi winced as some long-past misfortuned scene played out.

"Why must you avoid all that?" came the Friend's quiet voice.

"Gnarly stuff," Rumi groaned. "Love was not yet a joy that I possessed, nor gratitude in my employ. I was obsessed with self."

"You're meant to come and go into the past at will, as the inner guidance leads."

"So much pain."

"Though it need not be. With the right tools you can go in and clean it up. Claim the lessons and reclaim the energy that's trapped."

"What tools do you mean?"

"Gratitude and forgiveness for a start. Gladness too. I'll show you how. When thoughts arrive to lure you to the past just flow with it. What's hurt can mend."

"Well . . ."

"Give it a try. I'm here with you!"

So Rumi let his attention stray to what had been. A scene appeared of a man penning Rumi's poems into beautiful calligraphy. Rumi had felt grateful to him, truly so, though not expressed it as he ought. How he wished now that he had!

“Now’s your chance,” said the Friend, “Tell him all your heart."

So Rumi did. Let the abundance of gratitude pour out.

"Good. Apply forgiveness now, for it to heal."

"To him?"

"Ha, no. To the Rumi that is young! To heal that judgement you've been holding all these years. Forgive yourself so you can set it down."

As Rumi did he felt a sweet relief. He let the gladness spread.

"It works, yes? You've accepted righteous judgement in the courtroom of the heart; provided balm; and applied forgiveness, that sure art."

"That's the end of it?"

"As it's been said, 'Judge yourself that you be not judged.'"

"How fine!"

"If there's anyone else you encounter needing your forgiveness-touch, apply it to them as well. Their freedom is your own."

Rumi felt resistance drop away, and fear.

“It’s a part of you no longer shut to view. Come and go there as you wish, with your heart grown so much wider and so bright, unfolding your broad spirit wings to all you meet. Bring all of Rumi into Now.”

Love has opened your heart.

Start walking towards Love.

Your legs will get heavy and tired.

Then comes a moment of feeling:

The wings you've grown, lifting . . .

--- Rumi

..............

Story by James Saint Cloud in the style of Rumi
Part of the book: The Alchemy of Feelings: Reclaiming the Inner Life From Mental Cruelty.

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