The Worry Witch Speaks

I do a lot of 'Ising'. I learned to ‘Is’ a long time ago while meditating. ‘Ising’ is a form of meditation, as I see it. It just isn’t as formal. No mantras, no rituals, no structure. I just sit (and it can be anywhere at anytime) and ‘be’. Thoughts come and go, experiences are reminded and let go, it is a state of ‘evenness’ with myself and others. Often I have thoughts and ideas that I grab onto and run with - letting them unfold in my mind and emotions. Sometimes I learn wondrous things about myself and the world around me. That is how I met the Worry Witch.

Somewhere between the mental and emotional universities of my being came a sadness and I pursued the experience. There, in a crystalline universe, was a little chubby witch like character who began to tell me her story. Here it is:

I’m so fat and it is all your fault. You need to understand a few things about us and if you have time, stamina and an openness of heart, you can help both of us have a more joyful existence.
I was birthed a very long time ago in the human life line. I was birthed with purpose and intent and I did my job very well until recently when I have become too fat to really serve my purpose - to really help the human species. I was birthed to protect you. To help you out in times of danger. I click into gear during times of what you call the ‘fight or flight’ experiences. I enable you to run faster, pick up heavy items, think clearly, and, in general, enable you to suss out a situation and react in a way that will help you keep yourself and your species safe from physical harm. I am the one that tells your brain to release adrenaline.

Adrenaline is a powerful harmone, a powerful tool that you have at your disposal. It is not supposed to be released every day. Like every other powerful tool, too much of it can become dangerous and harmful to your being. But used when you are in true physical danger, it can and does save your life and many others.

I am not responsible nor should I be forced to deal with the mud on the carpet that the neighborhood children tracked in. That has nothing to do with your physical well-being. I am not responsible nor should I be forced to deal with the phone call that hasn’t come. But make no mistake, when a tiger fancies you for his lunch - I will be there. I will allow your legs to run faster, I will allow you to maneuver in order to get out of danger. When a car in the opposite lane careens into your lane, I will help you react in the best interest of all concerned. Then we can work together and truly produce miracles. I have grown fat with all the non- dangers that you force upon me and should a time come when you truly need me to help you, I will be too fat to ride my broom and help you out. I will be sluggish and stumbling - and I won’t feel very good about the job I am trying to do.

Often, you create a Warlock with your worry - that is a more powerful creation than I. Warlock is a worry witch that has gone wild and it is very powerful within your being. It is often very angry and nasty - teasing and pushing you to respond in ways you otherwise would not, ways that are not very helpful to you or to others.

The most worrisome thing to you is the unknown, the unknowable is the worry. Once you start to imagine on this trek - you don’t seem to know when to stop. You make up all sorts of stuff in your mind and you get yourself all tied up in knots and balls and then you are in physical pain because of it. You cannot change the unchangeable. You cannot use your worry to change something that you don’t know to begin with. You also cannot change the way others are or how they react and think. You cannot take on other peoples problems, they are not yours to own. If others reacted to situations the way you think they should, or the way you would, this would be a world of cloned individuals that aren’t very individual at all. Your beauty is in your uniqueness - not in your sameness.

Please realize that I am not supposed to react to small things that have nothing to do with your physical danger. The next time you start to pull me up and start worrying about something that you cannot change, something you have no control over, something that is not harmful to your physical being - you will hear a little voice which will be mine. And it will say, ‘Are you in physical danger?' and if you have to say no, in order to be honest with yourself and me, then I will do everything in my power not to react with adrenaline, but I’ll need your help, for we are in this together.’

Adrenaline, when used daily, will make you old, it will wear down your bones, wrinkle your skin, cause you to be preoccupied with things that aren’t yours to worry about, get you in trouble as far as your relationships are concerned and, in general, shorten your physical life and play havoc with your joy.

Pull a little discernment into your life and figure out the differences. You will be happier and I will be skinnier and able to help you better. We both will live long and prosper. Stop trying to turn house cats into mountain lions. You would have an easier time in doing this if you only allowed others to be, to do their thing, and not judge the journey they are taking. Discern when to face situations head on and when to hang back and allow.

I travel on a crystalline shaft (broom) which is called hope, don’t feed me so much otherwise I will break my broom - and hope will disappear. And in the years to come - hope is going to be a vital part of your well being. Together, let us protect and care for it properly.

Prissy Hamilton - all rights reserved

My Yellow Bucket - a finding of self

It was midmorning. A fire was softly crackling in the wood stove and the room was bright and calm. I sat in front of the Story Teller once again.

“Have you seen your yellow bucket?” he asked of me in a soft voice.

“No”, I replied slowly, as my mind raced to find a memory of a yellow bucket.

“Well, you will see it,” he said in a confident sort of way.

“What is it?” I ventured verbally.

“All of your life,” he began, “you have carried your Yellow Bucket with you wherever you have gone. Over the years, you have put in it all those many many things that you chose to keep. Your bucket, now, has become very heavy and filled with so many things that it will not hold any more. Not long ago, you found an emerald and because there was no room left in your yellow bucket, you have been carrying it around in your other hand. Now, you see a beautiful diamond and you desire to have that, too, but no longer do you have any way of carrying it.”