And think not you can direct the course of love,for love if it finds you worthy directs your course ~ Kahlil Gibran
By now, you've probably been fully immersed in news and images from the British royal wedding. Today, the wedding of Prince William and Catherine "Kate" Middleton was streamed and broadcast around the world. Many people fell under its spell and were glued to their tv or computer to watch the ceremony in the early morning hours.
Have you paused to think about what the wedding might symbolically represent? Looking at it in this way can help you to touch on some of the more personal and deeper meaning that the event can have for us. The Royal Wedding can be viewed as a deeply personal story, fairy tale or myth. Viewing it in this way can allow you to better recognize, and be honest about, the feelings and memories that the event stirred within you. You might also connect to where this event fits in your own life story. Treating the wedding as a myth is not saying that it is about a fantasy, but about connecting with something larger than life, with an important story to tell. The story being told is a powerful one, with the potential to show you a glimpse of yourself that you might not otherwise get.
What parts of this story speak to you? You can work with those parts to learn more about your own inner needs or issues. You might recognize that something was stirred within you as you watched the wedding unfold. Did you recognize it? What was it? You might not notice immediately. Perhaps, the wedding reignited long forgotten dreams about your own expectations of a magical wedding. Perhaps, it allowed you to remember your own commitments in your intimate relationships.
Today, a large part of any story comes through in images. Do any images from the proceedings strike a chord within you? Many people were clamoring for the first kiss. For some, especially young woman, the image of Kate and William kissing may help them to connect with their inner bride to be. The part of themselves that wants to be cared for, respected and honored. Of course, there are other aspects of ourselves that need to be felt, nurtured and supported as well. This image speaks deeply about caring and desire.
Perhaps, although to a lessor degree, the image speaks to men about their dignity, pride and courage. It might speak to a man's desire to be honorable and stand up for what must be defended. Again, not all men will be stirred in the same way. But, in general, they can feel the dynamic that calls them to lead and be courageous.
As a man I can't help but compare myself to William. Of course, this is simple human nature. Yet, some men may not admit to doing it, for fear of how they might be perceived. The wedding does touch some small aspect of envy within me. Viewing the wedding as if it were a myth allows me to see this on a larger scale. Of course, I am not a prince and I don't have millions of admirers. But, what if I was? The potential feels intoxicating to me. I do recognize the part of me that wants to be have control and be in a position of power. However, I'm not fully sure of all of the places. where this feeling might play out in my life, but I'm willing to look. To do that, I can work with the images in a variety of ways. One of the simplest might be to simply hang a picture of the couple for a few days. Then I can record the thoughts, feelings and ideas that come up as I happen to look at it.
Delving deeper into the story may be another way to develop a deeper personal understanding of it. Writing may be of some here. Writing a new or different ending to the wedding, with you as the main character, might help you to tap deeper into the power of the story. Of course, you would want to write in a way that mythologized the story. You might begin by writing "Once upon a time.." or “They lived happily ever after..” and allowing your story to come to life. When you finish, you might find a few willing and compassionate partners to help you act out your story. Be gentle, as this may welcome feelings and emotions to be felt as you feel the impact of the story within your life.
Those familiar with the Tarot might work with the scenes from the wedding as if you were reading a Tarot spread. The kiss on the balcony might represent the Lovers card, or perhaps some of the qualities of it and some of your own feelings about love that have emerged from this story. Instead of choosing words to tell a mythic story, you might choose to work with some of the Tarot cards that speak to you and use them to continue writing the story by creating new cards of your own. Don't be afraid to let your creativity spill out and fill up poster boards with the images that speak about your emotions and have vibrancy for you.
I wish you luck in however you choose to explore the meaning behind this incredible story.
Some questions to ponder:
- What does the royal wedding stir in me?
- What do I feel when I see Kate?
- What do I feel when I see William?
- What memories came to mind as you watched the wedding?
- What feelings arose as you watched the wedding?
