There’s a Celtic legend that before we incarnate and drop down to earth, we spend some pre-mortal time is a cosmic waiting room. All fluffy and white and spacious-like. I think they have Guinness on tap.
And while we’re waiting for our next turn on earth, we have to choose the challenges that we want to contend with, in our lifetime to come. Poor eyesight? Weak arches? Chronic depression? An insatiable need for recognition & praise? Acne? Asthma? Anxiety? Egomania? Insomnia? Lactose intolerance? Abandonment? Unspeakable loss? Grief? Paralyzing doubt?
As the story goes :: we choose our challenges with discernment. We choose them with certainty. And we choose them because–evolutionarily speaking–we’re ready to handle them.
But before we take the big leap down to Mama Gaia, an angel presses her finger between the tip of our nose and the top of our lips, creating a little dip (feel it?). And with that dip (plot twist!) our memories are erased. We fall to earth, with our challenges self-assigned–but we have forgotten what we chose. We are living, breathing Tabula Rasas. ‘Cause where’s the fun in omniscience?
I first heard this story from Grace, my favorite Welsh Witch, on a Tuesday morning Skype chat. She compared the process of choosing your challenges to selecting your university courses, before the first day of class.
“I like to say that I chose the accelerated PhD program in challenges,” she giggled. At 23 years old, Grace is living with advanced osteoporosis, among other physical struggles — though she adamantly rebukes the “sick chick” label (way too limiting, and woefully inaccurate), preferring to call herself a wellness “trail blazer” (now that’s more like it!).
Approaching your challenges as if you CHOSE them flips the whole notion of suffering on its ear. And while it’s just one possible lens through which to view our very complicated world, it is — in my opinion — a very empowering stance.
It’s not a disaster–it’s the soul-stretch you selected.
It’s not a set-back–it’s the empathy-accelerator you asked for.
It’s not a consequence–it’s the cloaked reward you custom-ordered.
It’s not your worst-case scenario–it’s the cleansing bonfire you pleaded for. The one that burns the way to greater wisdom, service & serenity. The one you chose with good reason, because, well… maybe you had your reasons.
* * * * * * * * * *
“But then again it feels like some sort of inspiration
To let the next life off the hook
But she’ll say look what I had to overcome from my last life
I think I’ll write a book.”
–Indigo Girls, “Galileo”
* * * * * * * * * *
“Interior Clouds” via lefunk.
I really love this idea – I think I’ve heard it somewhere before, but I can’t remember where, and this was a great reminder how much it resonated with me when I first read it. And it’s such a great pair of glasses to slip on and use to help me look at existing challenges in a totally different light.
Blessings – TANJA
While I love to believe that everything happens for a reason, this brings it to a whole new level. Just the idea that my pre-mortal self chose all of these challenges in life instantly gives me this weird feeling of relief. And purpose. I’m sticking with this legend from now on.
I LOVE this idea…I have always looked at my challenges as something I need to learn from (and the learning continues…) but the idea that on some cosmic level I knew what I was choosing from this Earth experience does kind of knock some stuff on it’s *** and make me look at my challenges from a different perspective.
I will thrive through them…
I love your writing style, I could ONLY wish to write like this one day. I look forward to your newsletter all the time and find it so empowering, fun, and full of choices that we wish to attract! Thanks for the pep in my step. Sending you tons of light from Dubai. XO
ADORE THIS. Liberating. THANK YOU.
I’ve heard this before – and thank you so much for the reminder. I believe we also chose our parents, for the lessons we needed to learn – that too gives me a lot of peace to remind myself of. Thank you for your beautiful writing.
Wow…thanks so much for a new slant on my challenges. This is brilliant. :)
And Guinness on tap to boot!
Totally validates one of my long-held beliefs, sort of. I’ve always thought that we chose what we want to learn, just not necessarily how… Linking to this wonderfully articulate article from my blog – thanks!
I think it’s so important that the power of our perception is within our hands; yet people don’t realise (or remember) it too often. Changing the language – from I must to I choose – it can have such a profound effect on how we experience things. I hope they also have spirits on tap; I’m not a massive Guinness drinker..
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thank you.
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