In workshops, I’ve often challenged people to find a blue feather. It’s a way to convince ourselves that we do create what we want. There are two stories I tell when assigning the blue feather task.
The first story is how I found a blue feather. The second is Cindy’s story. Hope both stories give you a smile…and maybe a little self-recognition. Both stories took place some time ago, but they are as valid today as they were then.
I had just read Richard Bach’s Illusions, a great book I highly recommend. I was reading the book because I was at a time in my life when I was caught in the illusion of non-creation and needed to be reminded of how to create.
In the book, Donald, the teacher, talks to Richard about creating, specifically how to create. Donald suggests that Richard start with something easy to find to prove to himself that he can create. Richard starts with a blue feather.
Of course, Richard found his blue feather. It was right in front of him on a jar on the table at which he and the teacher sat. I too found my blue feather, but not as easily as Richard found his.
It was a Friday evening when I decided I needed to find a blue feather. I gave myself until Sunday night to do so. All weekend, I looked for that blue feather. When we try too hard, we actually pushed away that which we want to create, but at the time, I forgot the importance of surrendering, the fourth step in creation.
Here are the first three steps:
First, to create, we need a clear motivation. My motivation for creating the blue feather was clear. I wanted to remind myself that I knew how to create and manifest.
Next, visualize what you want to create. Several times during the weekend, I visualized that blue feather in my hand. I used my senses. I could see it and feel it in my hand. It was real.
Be aware of your thoughts and be grateful for the manifestation. I lived in the city, so I went out to the woods to walk. Surely blue feathers were more plentiful in the country. I lived in the energy of the blue feather and stayed in gratitude for it appearing in my life.
But still no blue feather.
Sunday evening came. I was ready to give up. I was so frustrated and down. I felt like such a failure. It was then I gave it over to Spirit. “Okay, I said. “If that blue feather is going to show up it’s going to be on your timetable, not mine. It would be nice if it showed up, but Your timetable, not mine, Your Will, not mine. I had decided what I wanted, did all the work, but until that moment, hadn’t given it over to the Divine Self to do the work.
Within a few moments, I was tired, really tired. Thought I’d fall asleep right there on the den sofa, if only for a few minutes, but felt compelled to go all the way upstairs to the bedroom. We can be so lazy when Spirit speaks to us. It’s so easy to not listen or expel the energy to do what is asked of us. When I finally convinced myself to get up, I heard my inner voice tell me to turn around. Of course, I had to be told more than once, but I did turn around.
There, inside my home, in the city, right next to the box of cat toys was Sesame, one of my cats. She was pulling out a cat toy. You guessed it. The toy was a ball with a blue feather attached. Caught on her claw, Sesame looked up at me as if to say, “Meow, Mom, Here’s your blue feather.”
Cindy’s story begins in one of my year-long workshops. Participants were tasked with finding a blue feather before our next gathering the following month.
As we began to gather, everyone was filled with excitement at finding their blue feathers. All except Cindy. She came through the door last, with a handful of white feathers. “I tried and tried to find a blue feather,” she said. “It wasn’t happening. On the drive up here, I got behind a truck full of chickens and white feathers kept flying at me.”
Cincy looked a bit sheepish as she continued her story. “I gave up. At least I have a bunch of white feathers. Then she broke into a smile. “When I got out of my car here, I looked down at the ground and guess what. There was a blue feather. Right there. At my feet. A blue feather.” With those words, Cincy lifted up her other hand that was holding her blue feather.
Here’s your homework. Find your blue feather and know you are the creator of your life.