Seek not that the things which happen should happen as you wish;
But wish the things which happen to be as they are,
And you will have a tranquil flow of life.

Enchiridion, Epictetus

This past week saw the occurrence of some unexpected and unintended events on the farm. Many of you already know that I split my time between the cosmopolitan hustle and bustle of London and the idyllic setting of northern Spain. And after a brief return to London, it was back to Spain to welcome some early lambs into the world.

You might say that as a newcomer to the rural way of life I have thrown myself in at the deep end. Other than sheep, my farm has chickens, an orchard and a fruit and veg patch that could feed several generations of Waltons. But this time it was the sheep who took centre stage.

This past year, I haven’t separated the rams from the ewes, so lambing is going to happen when nature (and the sheep) want it to. And this special and auspicious time had come for one ewe in particular. Now this wasn’t any old ewe – this was Ethel, the matriarch of the flock.

Having sought the advice of knowledgeable shepherds, I was briefed on the sequence of events as well as the risks. But as Ethel was an experienced mother, this was expected to run like clockwork. Alas…

Despite the planning, preparation and concerted intervention when it was clear that things were going wrong, we lost Ethel and her lamb.

The farm went into mourning and it was as if a shadow and a hush had fallen over the hillside. The flock seemed lost without Ethel to guide them. The hens didn’t lay eggs that day. It was as if everything stopped.

And then just like that, the silence was broken by the cockerel. The hens came out of their house. Even the sheep started grazing. It wasn’t like Ethel’s farmyard friends refused to recognise what had happened out of some disrespect. It was rather like they instinctively understood that life goes on.

I began to reflect and recalled the great First Century Roman philosopher Epictetus who reasoned that the pain of what happens in life is worsened when we refuse to acknowledge or even believe that it has happened. While the reason behind the event might be a mystery, the way to get through difficult times, according to Epictetus, is to know that whatever happened had in fact happened for a reason.

As a Stoic, Epictetus believed that to live a full and happy life we must accept the events that occur in life. These events, as he sees them, are neutral. He put this succinctly and eloquently when he said:

Men are disturbed not by the things which happen,
but by the opinion about the things.

To set out his insight into the human condition, Epictetus related the story of Agrippinus. When informed that the Roman Senate was going to condemn him to death or permanent banishment, Agrippinus is said to have replied: “I am not a hindrance to myself.” And then carried on his daily life while waiting to learn his fate.

The philosophy of the Stoics takes the view that there are things in our life over which we have control and others over which we have none. They preach making peace with the latter so that we may make the most of the former. And if we have no control over an event, should we then permit it to steal our peace of mind and happiness?

Ethel will be mourned and missed. But I have now come to terms with her passing and can see that it happened as it was meant to. She had a role to play and she played it outstandingly. And I am happy to have had her in the flock, on the farm and in my life.

To be sure, it can be difficult making sense with what happens in life. For many of my clients I help them do just that during my readings. By only tuning into their energy, I then offer my guidance. A fresh pair of eyes, a keen ear and psychic insights can make all the difference. You can find details of the types of readings I offer here.

Finally, and on a much lighter note, if you are still searching for that perfect gift this Christmas, why not give the gift of insight? It’s eco-friendly, ethical and fun. Most importantly, it could literally change the recipient’s life FOREVER. Find out how easy it is to give a reading here.

As always, feel free to email me with any comments, suggestions or feedback on PsychicBridges.

Thanks again for all your support and until next week,

Kindest regards,

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