My yoga instructor Sandy recently hurt her foot and went to see a reflexologist named Lynn. I have become a big fan and believer in acupuncture and reflexology is in the same vein of alternative medicine. Sandy’s positive experience encouraged me to book an appointment with Lynn for myself. And I am so glad I did. The treatments are relaxing and it’s surprising what Lynn can intuit about what’s happening in my body from working on my feet.
While on the table at my second appointment, in a very calm state, a house fly gently landed on the ridge of my left ear. It did not startle me but it was definitely unexpected and that caught my attention. It made me curious about the possible oracle: what is the spiritual meaning of a common house fly, and why did it land on my ear?
As I evolve and grow, I have become more aware that I have a tendency to over focus on “getting things done” at the expense of just being and relating. This lack of balance affects me in negative ways. I end up neglecting essential things like my writing or just relaxing. It also diminishes the quality of my ability to connect (to myself and with others.) I’ve affectionately named this young part of me Dodo.
The most recent example of Dodo taking over happened while I was in Mexico City for the wedding of my friends Soni and Aaron. I reminded myself before I left that unlike my trip to vacation with her the previous year, my focus was to attend their ceremony and to be available to help out as needed. I was clear that there would be little, if any, time for shopping or sight-seeing.
I was able to stay on point with this intention…until the two days after the wedding.
I arrived on Friday, and that evening at the reception hosted by the wedding party, I was delighted by the simple but charming black candle holder at the dinner table. Soni told me that it was called barro negro (“black clay”) and explained that it is a type of pottery from San Bartolo Coyotepec. The clay in that region of Mexico is black and local artisans mold and fire it into distinctive ceramic pieces.
The desire was planted in my mind’s eye on that magical evening. I fantasized about a piece of barro negro glowing with a candle at the center of my table in Charlotte while having an imagined group of loved ones gathered for a meal, complete with one of them throwing his or her head back in laughter and merriment, much like the experience I was having at the reception that night. I also got a bee in my bonnet to buy some coffee from Café de Altura, a tiny shop and roaster that Soni had turned me on to.
Without realizing it, I became pushy about making these two purchases happen on Sunday and Monday. In hindsight, I saw that even though the wedding was over, Soni was exhausted. All of her family and a good number of us out of town guests were still visiting, so she and Aaron continued being attentive hosts. When I made amends to her a week later with a phone call, she acknowledged that what I had perceived was correct. She also graciously minimized my actions and quickly forgave me.
Because I am a nice person and I think of myself as such, it’s hard from me to own that it is mean and self-centered not to be able to consider another’s experience. How often do I hurt those closest to me without even realizing it?
My call to Soni was the night before my session with Lynn and the fly’s landing on my ear. When I did a quick internet search after my appointment, I typed “What is the spiritual meaning of a fly?” and the first entry I happened to click on was http://trustedpsychicmediums.com. It read:
A negative fly symbolism has something to do with the fact that flies carry and spread diseases. This carries the energies of abrupt and rapid changes when it comes to your thoughts, emotions, and endeavors. It’s being overly persistent, to the point of being selfish and annoying just to get what you want. Nov 17, 2016 (emphasis mine)
I had to laugh out loud at the accuracy of this message. Busted! Like a spiritual nun grabbing the ear of my inner child to get my attention, the fly solidified the correction. It gently punctuated the importance of finding the balance between relating and doing.
While it will be a challenge to catch myself in the habits of doing too much and not being attuned, I am encouraged that I have the ability to shift and practice otherwise.
NN
P.S. I am up in Blowing Rock for the weekend and sitting outside while I edit this post. As I glanced up for a second because a hummingbird was buzzing close by and chirping at me, look at what caught my eye (see picture below.) That’s the biggest and boldest kiss from the sky to me yet…
