There’s two things you need to know about Nora.
- First, her details.She’s tiny, and when you pick her up, she’ll pull her head towards your shoulder then snuggle it underneath your chin. Next, she will straddle all four of her tiny legs around you as if hugging you back. Oh, and she’s soft. Incredibly soft. Lastly, she’s sweet. She wouldn’t harm a fly and her innocence is infectious. You’ll never meet a friendlier, more affectionate, entity.
- Second, she doesn’t exist.That’s right, Nora doesn’t exist. At least not in this physical plane.Let me explain.
Two nights ago I fell into a lucid (not fully conscious) dream. I was walking back from a northern part of my childhood town along a dirt road when out of the blue I was confronted by two bullies. One of them was medium height and a stocky build. The other boy was tall and thin. The stocky boy was trying to enforce physical threats upon me while the taller boy just stood there trying to look intimidating.But. there’s the problem with this story. Yes, I was bullied as a child, (We all are at some point in life.) and yes, this was a similar experience. But I’m no longer a child. And, as much as this apparent memory was trying to get the better of me, it wasn’t. In fact, I’m no longer weak in any of the ways I was back then. In this 44-year-old body, I am much stronger physically, as well as emotionally and mentally. Life has already tried to crush me in more ways than one. And each time, I have endured, learned from the experience, and became stronger because of it.
In short, the bullies didn’t have a chance against this version of me.
This led me to the realization of what was truly happening and what needed to be done because of it. So, I looked at the taller of the two boys and told him, “This isn’t who you are, and it’s this asshole (Now pointing towards the stocky boy.) whose forcing you to become something you’re not.”
I then set my backpack down and proceeded to “educate” the real bully in the fine art of cause and effect.
As his beaten body tumbled down the ravine adjacent to the dirt road, I picked up my backpack and told the taller boy to follow me. As we walked down the dirt road towards his home, I told him that I understood his need for validation and that I forgave him. I also shared in great detail, how badly things could have ended for him, as he had no idea what weapons (if any) I had in my backpack. Feeling all but embarrassed, he thanked me for my forgiveness and empathy, then apologized.
In that moment, we arrived to find his mother sitting on the front porch of their small, run-down, home. She was wearing a weathered white lace, short-sleeved dress, and had a glass pitcher of homemade tea brisking in the hot summer sun. Snuggled in her lap, was a baby black and white pig.
As we approached the porch, she greeted me with a warm smile as if she had already known what had taken place. She then put her hands underneath the piglet’s front legs, lifted her from her lap, then handed her over to me. As I held this beautiful little creature, a feeling of true warmth embraced me. In every detail, I could feel this little thing hugging me back. I could feel her warm skin, her soft hair, and her precious little nose, as it snuggled itself underneath my chin.
I then looked back towards the mother as she answered me before I could even ask the question.
“Nora,” she said. “Her name is Nora.”
I responded with a smile, as I felt Nora’s little belly raise and lower with every breath.
It was in that moment that I became aware of the true purpose of this dream.
Still holding Nora tight to my chest, I gently moved my hands under the pits of her front legs, and held her out towards the boy. As he took her and embraced her in his arms, I said;
“Now you see how delicate our choices are. Nora is not only a peace offering from me to you, but she is also the contrast of what could have been if I didn’t have the wisdom to see the truth behind your actions.”
The boy gave me a grateful smile as he held precious little Nora within his arms. And it was then that a tear began to form in the corner of his eye, as Nora nestled her delicate nose, just beneath his chin.
REFLECTION
Yes, this was a real experience. Nora is a symbol of not only peace, but one of contrast. The contrast of a profound lesson within the awareness of simplest of things. This experience was, and is, the result of the practice of the Tessera Method. To live in this world with a single experience is a path that we are all gifted. But to know another life exists, then to embrace its lessons by becoming attuned to that parallel life, doubles our experiences.
I only hope that someday everyone will realize how powerful parallel awareness can be. And when they do, I hope they have the wisdom to know the difference, embrace it, and grow from it.
Until then, I will continue to share all I have with all I’ve got. Hopefully, at the very least, I will be able to look back at these chronicles and remember how important these lessons truly were.
Grace
Thank you…..
There are a number of levels in this story which intrigue me…. not the least of which is the choices made… in so many ‘similar’ stories, you would not have engaged in the fight with either boy, and yet sometimes that is not the best solution to the immediate situation…. the bully paid the price of his aggression and you showed compassion to the ‘witness’ who clearly needed some loving guidance to claim his truth….. and of course Nora is a delightful reward for claiming one’s true self…..
Adam King
Thank you Grace and yes, I’m glad you brought up the elephant in the room.
If you look at the dream there’s two things (in my mind) that stand out immediately.
1. It’s riddled with ego. It’s about “how strong Adam is” and, “how wise he is”. This brings me to the awareness that in waking life, (quite possibly because of the reflection of the dream) I would NOT have fought anyone. In fact, this is very likely the way things would have turned out, especially if I were confronted by minors. One of the greatest “wisdoms” I’ve ever learned was when, and how, to walk away. Being passive comes with maturity and reflection in the moment. This is a great benefit of Parallel Awareness. To see something in an instant and act accordingly without the hindrance of regret.
This brings me to the second thing I noticed.
2. The dream is based on my own psychogenic (psychological) experience. In short, all characters above are in one way or another, a reflection of myself. Yes, the bully took on the form of someone who actually use to pick on me. And yes, I eventually had enough and “taught him a lesson” in order to protect myself, but the dream, these are all reflections of my inner world. Each character, even Nora, is somehow connected to me. It could even be argued that all of it stems from my inner psyche. And yes, I’d be a fool to disagree with that. But there’s much more to our dreams, And for that, I cannot discount the truth that “other energies” are also playing a role. This is the beauty of the lesson. To witness the duality within a singular event.
On a lighter note, just imagine seeing me beat myself up, give myself advice while walking down a dirt road, then witness me hugging myself while pretending I’m a little black and white piglet….hm…
See how fun this can be? 😉
Terri
I woke up thinking about nora this AM.
To me, Nora, is pure love.
U were gifted with love by the mother and your own love expanded which encouraged u to gift another with love.
For me, the lesson included allowing the Past to be felt and changed by the changes we have embraced in Present Time.
Parallel realities allow us to see more choices and more actions—a different point(S) of view.
For me, they also allow me to know LOVE in a more expanded way—i don’t put up walls and block LOVE but, i take walls down and receive LOVE and give LOVE more easily and more comfortably.—this shows up in my Present time as well.
I will always remember NORA and feel that LOVE she represents in my heart and life.
Thanks, Adam—u are a natural storyteller which brings change in all who hear or read your stories…
Adam King
Beautifully said Terri. I’m honored to be a part of the inspiration behind your words.