Prolifically Raw: Lucky Rabbit Day

Saturday, December 15, 2007

Lucky Rabbit Day

The children bound up the steps. They sing happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear mo-ooooom, happy birthday to you.

�We made sure not to come too early,� Spencer says, handing over a long, slim box. Before my hand touches the gift, he snaps it back and opens it for me.

I am in bed, pillows all around, long lush sleep at my back. The skylights show a clear day and the sun rises in the eastern window.

Spencer passes over what lies within the box, an amethyst crystal shaped to be a wand. The amethyst, traditionally, was used to prevent drunkenness and has a sobering effect on overindulgence and physical passions. My son, my teacher.

He wears an Aquaman t-shirt and smells like fish crackers. He is too big to cuddle under the covers now, he gives me a quick hug instead. He is nearly as tall as me.

�Mine now, mine now.� Jo is barely awake. She has been recruited into the birthday greeting by Spencer. Her hair is messed up and her eyes are sleepy. She is not too big for the morning cuddle and I pull her in for a kiss. She presents a purple bundle of tissue, it�s balanced on her palm. Within the tissue is a pink crystal carved to be a rabbit. �Lucky rabbit,� she says.

The chance of being born, in the human form, able to think clearly and even be taught by an enlightened master, is about the same as a turtle rising from the sea, once every 100 years and putting it�s head through a single wooden yoke that floats on the surface. Or so the Buddhists say.

Jo�s gift reminds me how I was born in the year of the rabbit, 1963. She is correct, I am healthy, I here, I am learning�I am, indeed, very lucky.

Steve used to say my name was luck with an a�Lauck. Spencer presents Steve�s gift, a bottle of wine called �Duo.� It�s a cabernet. Duality. We made life from being two. Another teaching.

My man, (yes, last year was very good to me and now I have a man), passes over a large box and says, �oh hey, what�s this?�

And the children rip the paper of one more away. Within the box is a bamboo thingamajig, which will hold shoes in order at the back door. Bamboo represents grace, honor and virtue. It also represents harmony and peace.

He goes off to build this thing into being and the day begins.

I get out of bed, pull on sweatshirt and pants. My people are rushing about, constructing and eating and watching cartoons.

I light my candles and lower myself to my place for sitting. I hold a cup of tea in my hand and say thank you for children who show me who I am, and how to care for myself. Thank you for their father, who created two such remarkable children from our duel connection of man and woman. Thank you for the new man in my life who brings grace, harmony and peace (as well as strength and flexibility, since bamboo is both strong and can bend quite far.)

What more is there? What more could I want?

I close my eyes and another great gift waits. I see my teacher, the enlightened master from Tibet. He is right there, close enough to know for sure it is him. He is not confined by time or space. He is free. He is called Rinpoche, which means Diamond.

He explains the lesson I cannot seem to learn which is: �overcome your doubt� and �practice as much as you can.�

He knows what I want for this day, and all days before and beyond.

The flame of my soul burns bright as I consider this wanting of mine�the ultimate birthday gift.

My soul seems to lift and burn right out of my skin, tossing aside the idiosyncratic patterns of personality, genetic disposition and story lines attached to actions (my own and those of others).

A telephone rings, there is the sound of the Nutcracker playing on the television down stairs, a dog barks and still, my soul lifts to its highest calling.

My precious, lucky, creative human body means nothing without this flame of my ultimate desire to be free. Without it, I waste the only gift I actually have�my life.

Yes, I reaffirm in my heart, as I sit--I wish to be free and I wish for all others to be free with me.