Love lessons, spontaneous encounters, and service in the time of solitude
“Oh no! Looks like I forgot my wallet.”
I overheard the woman in front of me apologize and begin to cancel her order at the smoothie bar when I heard myself say, “I’ll pay for it!”
Thankfully, she graciously accepted, and we started chatting while waiting for our orders. I was amazed to learn that we were both scheduled to teach at an upcoming festival and had a few mutual friends in common. We exchanged contact info, and before leaving, she said, “You know – it’s my birthday this weekend, and I’m having a very small potluck gathering with friends. I’d love for you to attend!”
I thanked her and said I’d let her know.
While I tend to be fairly extroverted and love meeting new people, I also tend towards high discernment with where I spend my time. Normally, I would’ve brushed this off as a synchronistic meeting and move on with my life. Yet in this instance, intuitively, a voice within me urged: GO!!!!
So the next thing I knew, I was winding my way up the road from Venice (where I lived at the time) to Topanga (where I live now!).
At first I felt awkward; only a handful of people had arrived, all of whom were very close friends with each other. Yet I breathed, grounded in the Knowing that I was called to attend for a reason. I said an inner prayer:
Show me why I’m here. Lead me to the conversations and connections I’m meant to make.
(Side Note: This is a fantastic prayer any time you’re feeling awkward at a social gathering!)
I started talking with a woman in the kitchen who held the most divine looking dish – it looked like a blue pudding with edible flowers on top. What is this magic?! I asked, and she shared it was a blue lotus chia pudding. At the time, I thought to myself, Omg. Blue lotus. Must learn! We talked for a bit, and she shared that she couldn’t stay long because she was teaching tomorrow.
“What do you teach?”
“Herbalism and Earth Education – it’s called the Gaia School.”
My jaw dropped. I had just looked up the Gaia School online a few days ago! I felt guided to deepen my relationship to the Earth and plants yet saw that there was already a waiting list to join the 9-month apprenticeship. I assumed it wasn’t meant to be...yet here I was talking to the founder because I paid for a stranger’s drink at a smoothie bar.
“I’m about to open up sign ups for next year. There’s already a long waiting list, but if you want to attend, here’s my email. Send me a note, and I’ll send you the registration link.”
This was in the spring of 2016, and I began my herbal apprenticeship in autumn 2016, a life-changing Earth education journey that affects my life to this day. I’ve also stayed in touch and taken a few classes with the woman I met at the smoothie bar!
Although we’re in the midst of a pandemic when it may feel harder for spontaneous meetings, I share this today with encouragement to pay attention to your surroundings.
Is there an opportunity for spontaneous service? Perhaps leaving an encouraging note on a stranger’s car. Sending a letter to a friend. Donating to your favorite charity. Planting a tree. Reaching out to someone who inspires you with a love letter. How can you show up and interact with the world around you, even if that world is limited to your home right now?
In big and small ways, what you generously give – you receive tenfold. And likewise, what you allow yourself to receive, you give to another.
I’m thinking about giving and receiving love right now because Venus went into retrograde this week. Retrogrades get a bad reputation, but this one is a truly delicious opportunity to embrace! Venus rules all things related to relationships, whether lovers, friends, coworkers, or family. So it’s the perfect time to reflect:
How do you relate to the people around you? Are you approaching other people with an open heart? A willingness to connect and serve? When difficult emotions and lessons arise in love, do you breathe and stay connected to them, like I invited myself to do at the party? This retrograde will bring those lessons to the forefront, so paying attention to them with curiosity can transform this time from frustrating to fruitful.
Love,
Madeline
