In my view of the world, your spiritual journey is the central thread of your life.
As you grow into yourself, you become more aware of this thread. If you are fortunate, you learn to surrender to its lessons and wider perspectives. You are a very wise person when you learn that your everyday events are all reflections of your spiritual journey.
Let me introduce you to a remarkable fictional protagonist who shows this maturity and willingness to learn. You won’t find her in the “self-help” or “spirituality” section! Meet Maisie Dobbs, protagonist of acclaimed author Jacqueline Winspeare’s series of historical mystery novels.
As any fine historical novelist, Winspeare brings the era and the places to vivid life, along with a cast of characters you’ll want to revisit often. The first book is set in World War One England, with lots of backstory scenes acquainting the reader with how Maisie Dobbs, daughter of a seamstress and a produce vendor, reached the unlikely position of “Psychologist and Investigator.” Maisie has her own investigative business, consulting often, as the series progresses, for Scotland Yard.
While the Maisie books are renowned for many reasons and are said to be many things, I’ve never seen anyone remark upon what I consider to be a main thread: Maisie Dobbs’ spiritual journey.
Maisie Dobbs seems to have learned this enormous key: Your challenges are your teachers—the most persistent ones mark the route of your soul’s greatest potential unfolding. The things that irritate you most are actually messengers knocking, asking for your inner attention. It’s a different way of recognizing that you are given the opportunity to overcome your Life Lesson on a very regular basis.
Miss Dobbs’ method of solving her cases is unique and wonderful. She’s been trained to imitate the physical posture of people as a way to intuit their emotional state. Instead of stepping in to comfort a crying person (and functionally stemming the tide), she allows space for the full release of the emotion. When there is a murder victim, if at all possible, she meditates in the place where they died, listening for what the soul has to say about its final moments.
Beyond Maisie’s remarkable intuitive and emotional awareness, she’s been taught another key: each of her cases reflects something about her own life. She invites this awareness and uses it to grow.
I’ve just finished reading the 11th and most recent book in the series: A Dangerous Place. I’m not a huge mystery fan, but I love these. Start with book one: Maisie Dobbs.
Coach’s Challenge: What’s been bugging you? Take some time to reflect on how someone else’s irritating behavior is a reflection of your own issues. What do you need to learn, and to do, or not do, as a result? Leave a comment to let me know if you know and love Maisie Dobbs already!
