Sunday, December 9, 2012

The Bean Pot


One of the really nice things about having a smart friend, is they occasionally share something they read that directly applies to what you are going through in the present. This good friend, who shall remain unnamed, said to me she was reading that Carl Jung once said, “The souls of our ancestors reside in the pots in the kitchen.”

Several weeks later, I was on the phone with a friend in Los Angeles and all of a sudden it hit me to share that with her. So I said to her, “Spirit is telling me to tell you that Carl Jung was quoted as saying, “The souls of our ancestors reside in the pots in our kitchen.” She paused, and said, “ Well I have my Aunt Gerri’s bean pot right behind me.” That was all it took and in popped Aunt Gerri, here in Arnaudville, Louisiana -- in my house. She was standing to my left and somewhat behind me off to my side. I described her stature. She was a little chunky and funny. My friend confirmed this. I loved Gerri instantly. She reminded me of my Aunt Bea. As a matter of fact, I think she was wearing an apron as my Aunt Bea always wore. She gave me the letter “S” and showed me a chalkboard with chalk. I was relaying this to my friend on the other end of the phone who was weeping and laughing through her tears. She said “S” is Gerri’s granddaughter, “Sarah”. The schoolteacher is Aunt Gerri’s daughter, Eileen.

For some odd reason, my husband Charlie, who had the whole house to himself, came at that very moment and stood in front of Aunt Gerri. I mean, it was like a cat or a dog might do while you’re trying to watch television. He was just blocking my view of her. I said “Charlie! You are standing in front of Aunt Gerri!” He stood speechless for a moment, as though he was in a far away place. It took him a moment to react with, “Oh I’m sorry! I didn’t know.” Even at that moment it seemed weird and I was shocked at his behavior. Charlie has learned in our four years of wedded bliss to keep his distance from me at certain times, especially if I am on the phone. I do a lot of phone readings and he is really good about giving me my space and honoring the process.

Our conversation ended and Charlie and I went on with our day. A couple of hours went by, when I received a text from my friend in Los Angeles. She was telling me that after Aunt Gerri came through so strongly, she felt the need to call her cousin Eileen the school teacher, to tell her she had heard from her mother today through a medium. When she called and delivered the message, her cousin Eileen broke down in tears, telling her that Gerri’s son, “Charlie” (Eileen’s brother) had just received a diagnosis today of brain and bone cancer and was going to be in hospice care immediately. She had been grieving terribly. With her mother coming through, Eileen was provided with healing knowing that her deceased mother was saying, “I am here. I know what is going on. I love you all.” 

My friend in Los Angeles thanked me and said it was obvious Aunt Gerri was letting her know she needed to comfort Eileen and Sarah. Sarah is Charlie’s daughter and was also grateful for a call as well describing the events. 

After receiving the text, I went straight to my husband Charlie and said, “I owe you an apology. Remember today when I was on the phone and you came and stood in my space and I scolded you somewhat by telling you that you were standing in front of Aunt Gerri?” He said he remembered. I told him I was wrong and apologized. It was simply spirit’s way of trying to get me to say the name “CHARLIE”, the name of Aunt Gerri’s dying son.

It reminds me that I have to live by faith and trust each moment, that all things are exactly as they should be. Charlie innocently said, “That’s ok, I didn’t see Aunt Gerri.” I replied, “But, she saw you and led you to stand right in front of me, trying to get me to convey the fact she knew about ‘Charlie’.”

So it’s true, “The souls of our ancestors reside in our pots in the kitchen.” You might look around your own kitchen and see who is there. They might have something very interesting to say!

I received the following response from the client:

I was floored when Allyson started describing Aunt Gerri -- she was so spot on. She was always my favorite aunt and not just because we shared the same birthday. Gerri was truly the kindness person I have ever known. As my mother used to say, “There is not a mean bone in your Aunt Gerri’s body.”

Aunt Gerri gave me that bean pot many years ago on my wedding day. She told me it had been my grandmother’s and on down the line for generations. It meant a lot for her to hand it over to me.

After talking with Allyson, I brought the pot down and looked inside. It was filled with champagne corks written with the dates of sentimental milestones on them – most of them happy, some of them sad. As I rolled each cork between my fingers, I remembered each moment so vividly.

So yes, the bean pot I inherited from Aunt Gerri is filled with the souls of my ancestors. In the meantime, my sweet cousin Sarah got it so simply right. She said her grandmother was letting them know she was there to “receive her son”.

Thank you Aunt Gerri and Allyson, for helping us in our grieving for Charlie.