Today was a day spent
mostly preparing for the beginning of my pending pilgrimage. There are many projects around the house that
need to be done and I would like to prioritize.
I was also contemplating my reason for this event and my intent. I’m getting excited!
The other thing I did,
while in Spain; I completed the 28 Days to Discover Your Authentic Self; which
is part of the Soul Coaching® work I do. So, I’ve decided I’m going to add this
re-discovery process to my journey. As
well, I’m also going to make a real effort to add into my daily practice, things
I enjoy doing, but have let them fall out of my ‘normal’ activities.
I have several beautiful
singing bowls, bells and drums....I love not only how they sound but how their
songs make me feel. I’ve several other ‘toys’
I enjoy working with such as my many Oracle Cards, Runes, Scarabs Stones and my
scent items such as oils and incense.
And then....there are my beautiful crystals. Often I use these, either alone or in a
variety of combinations, to quiet my thoughts in order to hear my heart and
soul during meditation.
~ Side bar:
Years ago, I met this amazing man named Jim; who owned and operated the Enchanted
Peddler in Wortly Village; which I visited regularly. While he carried many items, it was his
crystals I loved most. After a few
visits, I was blessed to call him my friend.
I would go into his store and say, “Jim, I have $50.00 to spend, please
pick me a crystal.” Most days I had less than $50 and some days, I was excited
to have more but every time....Jim would pick me the most amazing pieces
and...I know he always gave me wonderful deals.
When the time came that he decided to close his store....we spent even
more hours talking.
Jim had finally posted
his “Store Closing” sign; and with it, he was offering some wonderful savings
30-50% off. I had some money from
Christmas and birthday presents I’d been saving for some special purchases. The Enchanted Peddler had beautiful gems,
jewellery that would qualify as a “special purchase” but, what I was really
interested in was a crystal ball. He had perfect flawless spheres in many sizes
and colours such as blues, greens, reds, yellows and of course clear.
My eye was set on the
mid-size clear crystal ball that sat beautifully on an ornate metal stand; but
it was $700.00. Often I said to Jim, “When
I make my first $1000.00 I am buying that piece.” The other crystal ball I was very attracted to
was, the smaller indigo blue ball; a little bigger than a golf ball – but flawless
and it captured the light beautifully.
It was priced at $150.00.
I took $250.00 of my
gift money and decided to spoil myself.
I was hoping to get the blue crystal ball, one of ‘my’ crystals and perhaps
a piece of jewellery.
When I entered the store
that morning, Jim was sitting quietly in his chair, reading one of his
books. I hugged him and said, “Jim, I’ve
come with $250.00. I’m hoping to get the
blue ball today. And, would you mind
picking me some other pieces from your crystals, gems and jewellery?” I was there for the better part of two
hours. We laughed and cried as he told
me about his adventures picking out each piece and what The Enchanted Peddler
meant to him; and to me. My phone
started to vibrate and I was needed elsewhere. Our visit was coming to an end.
Jim put all the pieces
he had picked for me together and asked if these would be ok. In the basket he prepared for me was two one
of a kind crystals he had specially made for himself, a crystal butterfly (for
my business It’s the Butterfly Effect Inc), a heart shaped crystal citron ring,
a rose quartz tear drop pendant and....the mid-sized crystal ball I was hoping
to purchase when I made my first $1000.00.
I reminded him I only brought $250.00 and that I didn’t have any more
money to offer.
“I’ve put this together
for you Carleana. For all of it, taxes
included, it comes to $175.00. I didn’t
forget your $250.00. Please accept this
gift.” OMG!!!! He added, “I hope you don’t mind, but I
switched the base from the metal one to the glass one. I think that crystal ball looks much better
on the glass base than a metal one; don’t you?”
He was right, of course. I smiled. With tears in my eyes, I accepted his gift.
Literally, the value of
the items Jim gave me that day easily exceeded $1000.00. I offered to give him the full $250.00
but...all he’d accept was the $175.00.
To this day, I wonder, why $175.00; but....I was extremely thankful for
his gift.
In the remaining days,
while the store inventory dwindled, I would pop in to see how he was doing and
pick up another trinket or two. He had
these three beautiful glass display units too; historical pieces in fact from a
dairy farm in the Tilsonburg area. I
wanted one so badly but, even though he offered them to me at a great
price....I just couldn’t see how I would get them in my house, let alone where
in my house I’d put them. My philosophy
in life is....if you put it out there and if it is meant to be....be ready; it
will be!”
I told many people of
the Enchanted Peddler over the years and how amazing I think Jim is. Some people went to him and others.... didn't. One
such person who went to Jim’s store was my friend, Kat. After one of her visits she came over to
share the items she purchased. A few
days letter, she came over with two men and a truck....Kat and Jim worked out a
deal and....Kat had purchased all three of the units and....she gave me one. I was so surprised and excited. It is so beautiful. When I look at it the
unit from Kat and all the treasures I received from Jim....I am reminded how
blessed I am.
These will be some of
the many treasures I have in my life, which I will remember and focus on during
this pilgrimage.
For now...I will end
this entry. And as I bring my day to an
end...I will appease my grumbly belly.
~Bon Camino
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