Serendipity and Pudding Cups
The other day my co-worker came into my room to tell me about a dream she had the night before. The night before I had just happened to meet a dream interpreter. That’s called serendipity: “the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.” Now, as we will see momentarily, my friend’s dream didn’t require the assistance of a dream interpreter as the subconscious imagery was pretty simple to understand: My friend was at school and the executive director announced for all staff members to board the yellow school bus out front. As we got on the bus and the director started to drive away, he was swerving to the left and to the right and we were hanging on for dear life when my friend reached down into her purse and turned to her seat mate and presented a plastic container with a spoon and asked “do you want a pudding cup?”
When life feels out of control, we can brace ourselves and fear for the worst to come around the next bend, or we can accept that the situation is out of our hands and enjoy the ride as best we can. Gabrielle Bernstein calls this the first step of spiritual surrender: take your hands off the wheel of prayer. She reminds us that when we trust that the Universe (God, Spirit) is FOR us, and follow where it’s leading us, our lives begin to unfold in a most beautifully magical way…and serendipity surrounds us. And besides, when was the last time you had a pudding cup? I had one yesterday, and let me tell you, it’s quite delicious.
Dogma
The pudding cup that I enjoyed the other day was brought by the seat mate from the dream (who had also heard about it) when a few of us teachers gathered together on the first day of our Spring Break to watch Dogma. We laughed at the symbology of the pudding cup and enjoyed the delicious creamy goodness while watching this iconic 90’s film that features Alanis Morissette as God. Yup, if you haven’t seen it, or like me, haven’t seen it in this century, or if you were not allowed to see it as an adolescent, I cannot encourage you strongly enough to carve out two hours to watch this film. Preferably with a pudding cup.
Opening text of Dogma: Disclaimer: 1) a renunciation of any claim to or connection with; 2) disavowal; 3) a statement made to save one’s own ass. Though it’ll go without saying ten minutes or so into these proceedings, View Askew would like to state that this film is – from start to finish – a work of comedic fantasy, not to be taken seriously. To insist that any of what follows is incendiary or inflammatory is to miss our intention and pass undue judgment; and passing judgment is reserved for God and God alone (this goes for you film critics too…just kidding). So please – before you think about hurting someone over this trifle of a film, remember: even God has a sense of humor. Just look at the Platypus. Thank you and enjoy the show.
So you get the idea of the type of film Dogma is. Before you dismiss it for being irreverent or blaspheme, take a look at the cast: Ben Affleck and Matt Damon (already worthy of a watch for this young charismatic duo), Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith (Jay and Silent Bob/ writer, director), the late great Alan Rickman (Professor Snape and Scar from the Lion King), Chris Rock (recently publicly smacked by Will Smith, who I adore and will give all kinds of grace to for being triggered, because, aren’t we all from time to time? Usually we just don’t have a public audience to witness it), Jason Lee (at first I thought he was Ryan Reynolds) , Linda Fiorantino (the protagonist who is on her spiritual quest), George Carlin (the catholic priest who decides it’s time to update Jesus’ image to the “friendly Jesus”), the previously mentioned Alanis Morissette (Kevin Smith got it right when he cast her as the Divine Incarnate God-dess), and one of my favorite characters from the film, Selma Hayak as Serendipity.
This blog post is not a movie review.
It’s about serendipity and pudding cups. It’s about intentionally tapping into the creative energetic flow (serendipity) and accepting the things we cannot change (pudding cups). If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you will know that a year ago (today, in fact), I made the excruciating decision to send my son to a therapeutic boarding school. I remember saying to myself that I was trading a year for a lifetime. I’m happy to report that in three weeks, he will be coming home with his high school diploma and certificate of completion from the school program. The Serenity Prayer has been my prayer for the past year, and is also my New Moon intention for this month as I prepare my heart and mind to bring him back home:
The serenity prayer
“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference”
When I spoke aloud my New Moon intention at the Sisterhood of the Moon circle at the beginning of the month, I said that my small shift for April would be to intentionally seek out support to help me regain confidence as a parent as I prepare to bring my eldest son home. And here’s where serendipity comes in. On the evening of the new moon I went to a dear friend’s birthday celebration and the very first person I met at that soiree was a woman who does coaching and therapeutic counseling for parents. Not only that, but she has visited the school where my son attends, has met his therapist, and has worked with the author of the book that I’m currently reading from recommendation of my son’s school, Not by Chance by Tim R. Thane. Some people will say that it’s coincidence. I, however, don’t believe in coincidence. I believe in serendipity and that the Universe is putting people in my path because I have made it clear that I am asking for help and guidance.
Is there something that you could use some extra help and support with this month?
It’s the first quarter moon today and in a week we’ll be seeing the illumination of the glorious Full Moon. Interestingly enough, did you know that the day we celebrate Easter shifts annually because its date is set based on the first Sunday following the Full Moon after the Vernal Equinox: you see, even the christian forefathers revered the power of astrology and the Full Moon! Stop telling me I’m crazy or a witch because I search for answers in the natural universe. Stop being scared of my power and my direct connection to God. But I digress…
If you could use a little more serendipity in your life and/or have a craving for a pudding cup, I invite you to get clear on one thing that you could do this month in order to put yourself on the path to creating the life you want. I call this a small shift. Perhaps the small shift is just acknowledging that your life is hard right now. That your joy seems to be buried under a pile of heavy rocks. And simply by accepting that, you invite serenity into your life (re-read the Serenity prayer above). Then think of one habit that you can eliminate or embrace. It could be as simple as carving out time each week to watch a favorite movie of yours from childhood; invite the family to watch with you or enjoy it solo (with a pudding cup of course). Or maybe you want to change the way you’ve been working out: instead of hitting the gym and running on the treadmill, maybe you want to try a dance class? Or take your running outdoors? Perhaps you want to be more creative, so think of one small project that you can take on this month.
For me, my creative project this month is in the creation of a beautiful, tranquil outdoor living space (on a zero budget). And wouldn’t you believe it, on Friday as I was driving with my daughter to lacrosse practice, I noticed a beautiful blue butterfly metal art along the side of the road. I smiled and thought of my Angel Named Calvin. Then I looked more closely (my daughter was driving BTW) and noticed a sign that said “Free yard art”. I couldn’t believe it! I had my daughter pull over to the side of the road and asked the gentleman out front if the beautiful butterfly art was really free, and he said yes. He and his wife were simplifying and after a bit of conversation, he introduced himself as Tom. I have many Toms in my life for whom I am forever grateful (my Dad being one of them), and this man makes that list. That’s serendipity my friends.
So as we move along through our journeys of life, we have a choice in how we want to live. God gave us free will (the movie Dogma explains it all!). We may not have control over the life circumstances that we’re in (the school bus), but we have control over how we choose to respond (pudding cups). And when we let go of the wheel of prayer and choose to trust that the Universe is FOR US, we start to align ourselves with energetic flow that connects us all. And serendipity shows up.
Please share any serendipitous encounters that you’ve had in the comments below. And if you’d like to be a part of this week’s Sisterhood of the Full Moon Ceremony (from the comfort of your home!), please send me an email, text or DM and I’ll share the link with you. The virtual event begins this Thursday April 14th at 8pm MST/ 7pm PST. The Sisterhood of the Moon is designed to connect a community of open-minded spiritual seekers who are passionate about tapping into the energetic flow of the Universe in order to create a fearlessly authentic life! Please join us…we’d love to support and encourage you along your journey! Until Thursday, let Carrie Underwood remind you to take your hand off the wheel of prayer.
Namaste
Featured School Bus photo by Denisse Leon on Unsplash
