BLACK OR WHITE?

“Choices are the hinges of destiny.”

- Pythagoras

I had the most interesting encounter a few weeks back with a lady from Australia. A strong woman, a fearless woman – I would imagine. At 47 years of age, she has been travelling solo for the last 12 months after quitting her job and leaving her comfortable Melbourne lifestyle behind. And somewhat of a spiritual journey she has had too; the last 6 months practicing meditation and becoming acquainted with her being – mentally, emotionally, spiritually – under the guidance of Mayan gurus in the Lake Atitlan area, Guatemala.

I particularly enjoy talking to these fascinating people I encounter in my travels. I am intrigued by their outlook on life and also wish to uncover the gems of counsel they possess.

Well, we had a lot of time to talk. We met one Sunday morning early, with the hope of catching numerous modes of transport from Belize to Mexico, then spent a further 3 days in the same hostel. During one of these trips we got into a rather philosophical conversation around decision-making and consequences. We all have decisions to make, but it is the handling of these decisions and the choices we make that determine the path before us – our destiny.

“So, who are you going to feed Mateo? The white wolf, or the black?”

This took me by surprise. I have never had it put to me so plainly. The white wolf, or the black wolf; it is about how you handle any situation put in front of you. You have a decision to make – the choices lay distinctly different paths. Do you feed the black wolf, or the white?

Oftentimes, feeding the white wolf means the illogical choice, the choice with the most risk, the choice that puts you out of your comfort zone, the choice that renders you vulnerable to lose the great things you already have. And it is not to say that feeding the black wolf won’t allow you to feel content. But don’t you want more than that?

The reward for feeding the white wolf is greater than anything you have ever had. Life – it is the constant struggle of the head and the heart, but throw the white wolf a bone now and again, and something truly magical awaits you – your destiny.

Sidenote: It seems this is an important theme in my thoughts at the moment. Uncovering this wealth of wise counsel has allowed me to better understand how to more regularly achieve THOSE MOMENTS I wrote about at the start of this year (refer: EVERYONE LIVES, NOT EVERYONE IS TRULY ALIVE – Meditaciones del Momento, Jan. 2012). Always reaching, always seeking, always looking and always dreaming, but now a little more aware of how to go about it.