I think that everyone has experienced at least one life threatening moment when time seems to stand still for an endless succession of minutes ticking silently by. I had one of those last night, when I ventured out to my herb garden to snip some parsley for a dish I was making for Karl’s b-day party today. It was very dark, or some would say pitch-effing-black, out on the side of the house. I’d gathered herbs a million times before during the day and the night, so my mind was on things other than my immediate surroundings. Sorry to say, negative thoughts were clouding my head as I tried to process Karl’s sharing his ordeal of having to fend off an assault of aggressive dogs while walking our dogs with one of our B&B guests. He’d had to “train” the guest on how to defend himself if they were attacked by the neighbor’s vicious pack of street dogs when passing their house. Sure enough, out they came. The guest had to take charge of our two leashed dogs while K grabbed the spray bottle to face the attackers head on. Total chaos that disrupted their peace and tranquility, and our presentation of a lovely environment to return to in the future.
Needless to say, our stress levels and simmering anger have been escalating for months now, trying unsuccessfully to convince “neighbors” that their behavior in refusing to control their pets is not “neighborly”. The day before, we’d received a nastygram from the boyfriend of the dog owner telling us that honking our horn at his girlfriend, who was blocking the road with her back to us while her four dogs attacked our car, was UNACCEPTABLE. Really?!? Then he followed that pronouncement with a threat. For honking our horn?! While their dogs have terrorized our neighborhood for months, attacking and even biting people?! My mind was racing, obsessing over events out of my control. I was momentarily sobered by the thought that this is how wars are started, by something as simple as the honking of a horn, or dumping leaves in a neighbor’s yard, or failing to wave when passing by.
Then, as I was stewing about how people could be so inconsiderate, so selfish, so lacking in compassion and consideration, I stepped on a terciopelo, the deadliest snake in Costa Rica. My life changed in a flash of white light, and my body has not stopped vibrating from the experience. I can still feel the rubbery, spongy texture of the snake’s body under the sole of my right foot. I can still feel the spirit of the snake, flowing from his writhing body up to my spirit, as we stared each other down, assessing our next respective moves. Time stood still, as they say, and I can go back to that suspension even now.
I’ve had the ocassion to perform more than one snake ceremony in the past few years to make peace with this particular life form that has presented itself to me many times. Long story for another day. Suffice it to say, I have the molted skins of a rattler and of a terciopelo on my altar as I write this. Did this protect me? Hard to say. It certainly didn’t protect the snake, who ended up on the wrong side of a shovel thanks to the quick action of K. But my hope and belief is that this snake sacrificed itself so that I could regain my center, release my anger, and renew my path to a higher, more enlightened state of being.
So, I have given up crusading to change others’ behavior. It’s an understatement to say that that’s a thankless and unrequited journey that could even lead to injury and death in extreme situations. Like war. Happens every day in the global arena. So, as difficult as it is to actualize, especially when I feel personally attacked, I am focusing all of my attention on radiating compassion and understanding. I have no reference for the pain and suffering of the person with the dogs, but it’s safe to say that she has not had a happy life up til now.
I believe that the deadliest snake in Costa Rica gave up his life so that I could see that even the most venomous adversary has value and deserves respect. So be it. Beloved I am.
Namaste
Feb. 17, 2019
Judy Richter 