Recently I expressed to my teacher and mentor, Philip Golabuk, that as a facilitator, I could now declare that I was *that* Alice. I was referring to the movie we have both seen and loved, Alice in Wonderland. Alice isn’t sure she is The Alice, until far into the movie. The Mad Hatter knows but she’s got doubts. There’s a pivotal moment when she no longer doubts, she knows, she is *that* Alice.
And so it goes with being a facilitator, you get certified and then you go on into real life and do the practicum and practice what really is art in motion and its a different work of art every time. Basically I was declaring I was a practiced artist by saying I am now *that* Alice. Once I’d declared that, a piece of me felt like high five-ing myself for the courage to be that and to speak it out loud.
A much smaller part of me said: really, we’ll just have to see about that. Doubt. Here I had picked up the thread of doubt and like a loose thread on the hem of my shirt, I kept on pulling and unraveling until I was in a heap of doubt.
But, wait, there’s good news here! If I can grab the thread of doubt, an unwanted feeling, and run with it, then it’s opposite is true! I can finger the thread and unravel the flip side of doubt. Hell, I don’t have to pick up a thread of it’s opposite, I can put the whole damn coat on!
Enter the Coat of Many Feelings. My friend Ahmee inspired me when she spoke of how she puts on the coat of Freedom. What a concept!
So I took *that* Alice’s coat and I slipped my arms into it one at a time, pulling each end up until it sat upon my shoulders. I looked down, I was wearing a tawny colored coat, medium weight, high collar, button down (many buttons), fitted at the waist and then it flared out from there. Finished off at the hem and sleeve ends was fluffy faux fur. No animals sacrificed here! It appeared to be Edwardian style. It was Alice’s coat! Next I caught the wave of the feelings that went with *that* Alice’s coat. The feelings I’d already known and felt. The courage, the complete confidence, the strength, the knowing. I settled into it until I knew I had caught the feeling again. Then I took it off; it’s work was done. And frankly, a girl’s got to move freely when she’s slaying jabberwockies. :)
Then I thought of all that this could be used for. How about the coat of creativity and inspiration? The coat of – I believe in myself. Or my favorite, the coat of — I am in love with life. Oh when I put that coat on the whole world shimmers like every day is a sunny, spring day, the world is alive and vibrating, I am alive. I know the full out joy and the rapture of being alive!
Anytime, anywhere I can put on any coat I want to, so take that doubt sitting over there fingering the loose threads of a hem, I’ve got the whole damn coat! And more than that I know how to catch the wave of what turns me on, what lights me up, what makes my heart sing, what makes me swoon with delight. I’ve got the power and don’t mess with me, because now I’ve got the coat, too!!
one of my favorite songs of ALL time is by ricki lee jones, called stewarts coat… a woman of many coats myself, once over 52 of them! sent you a link to the song via FB
Thank you honey, I got it and sent you a note on FB. Wow, 52 coats! xxxo
Oh Beth love this …and speaking of coats, this reminded me of my granny’s pink ribbon coat. It was actually part of a pink suit…dress and matching coat and the coat was literally woven of about 1/8 wide pastel pink ribbons that made a kind of swirly pattern. The whole thing was just teensy ribbons and lined in silk. It was a work of art and I only saw her wear it to church a couple of times but it was Divine. I would see it in her closet and touch it because I though it was the most amazing thing. Mmmmmm…Im trying to think of a word for this coat..well….Mmmmm will have to do… :)
Oh, my! This is just an incredibly delicious and delightful post. In fact, it is absolutely scrumptious! I had it for breakfast this morning, along with a cup of tea. (Is that strawberry jam I taste?) Yummm!
Now, I sit here happily floating on a cloud of inspiration. Looking below me, I can clearly see “that” shimmering world, the one that is “alive and vibrating” with infinite possibilities.
So, which coat shall I choose to put on today?
Oooh, let me go make another cup of tea and take a little time to savor the many choices. For the moment, I’m quite content to sit here in the clouds wearing this comfy flight jacket. Hmmm … wonder where “that” came from?
Thank you, Beth!!! :)
Oh, wow, I love that you commented with “that” Colleen, it’s positively genius! I didn’t even know you could do that on wp.
So the flight jacket is the order of the day then, when you are up in the clouds sipping tea, no telling where you might be off to next.
I want a lightweight coat with gossamer wings. I think I shall wear it and soar over the Earth today granting heart’s desires as I go. :)
Thank you so much for playing with me Colleen!
Your grandmother’s suit and coat sounds gorgeous Luana. The vintage lover in me is dying to know what it looked like and who designed it.
Hi Beth,
This post is absolutely inspirational. I’ve always thought about putting on ‘business’ shoes, ‘creative writing’ shoes, and of course the ‘I need to relax slippers’….but I love the idea of a coat. Whenever i am really down, I go into my coat closet and wrap myself up in my Grams coat. It feels like a giant hug and smells just like her :) It makes it feel like she is always with me….this reminded me of that….
Beautiful writing once again,
Maryellen
Oh WOW, Starlight!! Starlight, starbright, the first star I see tonight, I wish I may, I wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight!! Yes, you do get to have the wish you have tonight,
Starlight! I got a peek at what is to come. YAY! Thank you s’much! xxxo