Entering a new phase

My husband is really into TED talks.  He watched them fervently, sharing all he's gleaned, dripping tidbits onto me - knowledge he thinks I must have.  And I can't disagree.

A few weeks ago, it's hard to remember exactly when, he asked me if I had read Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, because she had given a TED talk about creative genius, and he thought I might get something out of it.  The book had been in my "must read someday" list, so I gave her talk a listen.  I was really moved.

I decided to partake of her journey, and I was transformed.  I gobbled it up in record time.  That is, my head became so filled with thoughts that I had to decompress before moving on.  I went to meditate, because I needed to think in the quiet and let everything wash over me.  This resulted, more times than not, in my falling into a very deep sleep.

We're currently living with my parents, and so they are quite concerned with the amount of "sleep" I've been having lately.  I have tried to explain that I'm only sleeping the normal amount (or even less) but that the rest of the time has been in deep contemplative meditation.  They remain guarded.

I finished the book last night and of course needed time to fully grok what was going on inside me.  It was bedtime at least.  I got comfortable and sleep would not come, but this was okay with me.  I concentrated on my breathing letting my mind concentrate on nothing and everything.  Soon, I was fast asleep, dreaming a most amazing dream.

In this dream, I met my new teacher.  My previous spirit teacher had been a mixture of Ringo Starr and George Carlin's Rufus character from the Bill & Ted movie, wearing a long black robe and sunglasses.  This new teacher is quite different.  First of all, my teacher is a woman.  She is Indian, and looks to be in her 40s.  A mixture of traditional and modern, she is my kind of woman.  Sitting in the lotus position, she invited me to sit down and share tea with her.  We talk, and I feel free to be myself, questioning, listening, absorbing.  I ask, "Are you my new teacher?" She nods, and asks in return, "Is this ok with you?"  I smile and nod back at her.  "Oh yes." 

I don't remember much else, but I woke up feeling centered and focused. 

I randomly picked a tarot card today, something I do now and again, but not on a daily basis.  The card was The Hierophant.  I'm told that this card represents perhaps finding a Master, so I'm not at all surprised.  In fact, when I pay attention, these coincidences feel less like random moments, but planned signs that were always there, if I was only paying attention.

I'm paying attention now.