It's Been Awhile - New Me

When my course was over, I wasn't sure if I would write in this blog any more, but I feel inspired to do so again.

In May, I was diagnosed with a reoccurence of breast cancer. The cancer was removed and now I am taking chemotherapy. In the process of losing my hair, I had a dream. Actually two dreams. First I dreamed that I standing in the bathroom holding hands full of my hair; and that dream came true a few days later. In the second dream, I dreamed about my birth name: Fay Octavia Elliott. In the dream, I was told to reclaim my name and myself. So I leagally changed my name back to the name of my birth instead of the name of someone who was once married to someone.

So now I am myself again. I really debated taking a license picture with a bald head, but I was inspired by all the positive feedback I have received from friends and total strangers like the young woman in the ladies room yesterday that said "cool haircut." I figure I now look the way I looked when I was born, and I am 'born again' as me. So why not. Today I got a new driver's license with me as I am, no wig or cover up. It has never bothered me that I lost my hair, but I was reluctant to subject others to it. Ah vanity!

I feel born again in other ways too. I just came home from Vajrayana seminary in July and there took transmission as a vajrayana student. So now, I have entered a new phase of Buddhist practice. I am looking forward to this next year with deep appreciation for my Shambhala Buddhist lineage and the sacredness of all things.