What a view here from this spot I’m visiting in northern Idaho, approximately 50 miles south of Canada. There are majestic mountains from most directions, a lovely valley below, the Pack River just down the hill. One could describe it as expansive, but quite a contrast when you compare it to Southern Utah. The red cliffs, desert in bloom, lava rocks, canyons and breathtaking vistas. Definitely expansive and one of the most beautiful places on earth! I love living in Southern Utah, and I love visiting Northern Idaho. One does not diminish the other but they are definitely very different.
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| Ann Goddard |
I’ve visited this place in Idaho a number of times over the last five years, experiencing contrast and expansiveness – not just on the outer landscape but going within to attend to my inner landscape and experience a much greater sense of peace and wholeness.
As human beings we tend to identify with how we look, what we wear, what kind of vehicles we drive, where we live, how we act and behave. We have these perceptions of ourselves and others – often based solely on outward appearance. It’s a limited view, small and often very misleading and, at times, dishonoring.
One evening this week I was with my group of Expanding Consciousness peeps at our final retreat here in northern Idaho, and we had a fun and interesting experience that had to do with this very thing.
We had access to hats, scarves, wigs, makeup, and other costume items. It was dress-ups for grownups! But the catch was this: We took turns dressing others up and the ones being dressed up were not allowed to see themselves in the mirror. The idea was to be made to look very different than your normal self and only others could see your outward appearance in detail.
Although I couldn’t see my face, I was pretty sure I was being dressed like a male with shaggy eyebrows, makeup on my nose (mostly likely red), some sort of yarn scarf wrapped like hair around my head topped with some sort of masculine-feeling hat. And the real kicker: They blacked one of my front teeth. When they named me “Mel” there was no doubt I was a man, and the overall feel was most certainly not about good looks. I’m a bit of an actor and had fun being “Mel.”
They dressed the man in our group as a woman. He was quite the vision of loveliness wearing a long, curly blonde wig, Russian-looking black hat, funky black glasses, pink lipstick, a big beauty mark by his mouth, and all complemented by his whiskers growing unchecked for the last three days. They named him “Camille” and I laughed until my face hurt.
We dressed one woman up like “Father Guido Sarducci” from old SNL days. She looked dashing in a black, pencil-thin mustache and the perfect black hat, with a white scarf wrapped around her neck like a preacher’s collar. No need to go into each costume; you get the picture. We were individually aware we looked very different, but it did not change the knowing of who we were. Not seeing the unattractive or attractive costume helped us stay out of self-judgment.
We interacted for a while after the artwork was finished. We laughed about how different we looked and then shared our usual end-of-the-day gratitude. It was not only about being lighthearted, it was about contrast, different views, expansiveness, letting go of the ego place that makes you feel small and unloved. Our feelings for one another remained the same; we know each other fairly well and share a strong unconditional acceptance that is sustaining, safe and actually quite amazing. We come from very different backgrounds and places; our experiences and occupations are varied, and yet we share a common view of love and peace. The outside package didn’t influence the feelings already in place. The different landscape could not shift or diminish the love.
Take the higher road and look at the world through the eyes of love and acceptance. Focus more on the beauty and expansiveness in this world. Be more loving to yourself and others; feel more peaceful, be more honoring and let go of judgment. Bring on the peace that comes from greater awareness by embracing our differences. Share the love, and expand your view!
The World Peace Gardens Foundation holds nonsectarian gatherings every Sunday to promote world peace and sustainable living. Gatherings are at 11:30 a.m. at Green Valley Spa, 1871 W. Canyon View Drive in St. George. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.WorldPeaceGardens.org or call (435) 703-0077.
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