The
Meaning of it All
By: Elena BAgwell
"Unicorn & Foal" by Tinkler
Image Link
I decided that my trip to Belgium would
be my last. I had been traveling for two months and felt I was
ready to return home to my life, no matter how different it was going
to be. I said goodbye to my friend, to Europe, and to all the
interesting people I had met that changed my life, and I hopped on a
plane out of Brussels that was heading to New York. Little did I
know how much my life had changed. On the plane ride home I felt
bitter-sweet feelings. It was hard leaving Europe behind and all
the exciting things I got to do and see, but it was a relief to return
to reality and peace. One moment I felt like crying and the next
moment I was smiling. Once I returned to my apartment, I felt I
was in the right place again. Although, it was void of people and
an eerie silence filled the rooms, I knew I had made the right
decision. It was time to stop running and time to face
reality. I was going to be alone, but it was a time for me to fix
my relationship with myself, my family, and my friends. I ordered
in some Chinese food and read over the stack of mail that my neighbor
had collected for me. I ended my evening by taking a luxuriously
hot bath and crawled into bed. I hadn't slept a full night since
I found out my ex-husband was cheating on me, so I knew this night was
much awaited. I closed my eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
My dreams took me everywhere that night. I experienced again all
the wild adventures I had gone through in the past two months. I
went from the museum in New York, to China, to the Ukraine, to Germany,
to India, and to Belgium. But that wasn't the last stop that
night. The journey ended somewhere I had never been, somewhere I
still don't know exists outside of my dream. It was that
somewhere, where I discovered the meaning of it all. The
significance that place had, made it the most important stopping place
on my journey to find myself.
I found myself in a secluded opening in a forest. I did not know if I was in the past, present, or future, but the forest had a heaven-like feel to it. The grass I was laying in was as soft and cool as silk. The breeze that blew by was as faint as a whisper. I lay next to a bubbling stream whose water was the clearest I had ever seen. The surrounding trees had an almost friendly presence to them and the birds that chirped sounded like angels singing. The sun sliced its beams through the trees so that little patches of sunlight streaked down and created splashes of light on the ground. The sunlight was of the most beautiful colors I could have imagined. The crisp pinks, blues, yellows, and whites mixed together made me think it was either early in the morning or late in the afternoon. I got to my feet and began walking. I followed the stream, thinking it would take me somewhere. It did. The next clearing I came upon I discovered the most magnificent Unicorn I had ever laid eyes upon. She took note of me, but did not flee in fright because she was expecting me. She explained to me that she was there to help me understand all that had been going on in my life the past few months. For the next few hours we talked and she told me the significance of all the things I had seen, and she allowed me to ask any questions I needed answering. The one I was most desperate to understand was why I had seen so many images of Unicorns, and why I was now staring at and talking to a live Unicorn. At that moment she began what became the most important lesson of my life.
The Unicorn explained to me that all I had seen served as a representation of myself and was placed before my eyes to help me remember the person within me that I had lost. The images of the Unicorn weren't meant to be debated over if they were real or not, but to show me that I am as special and unique as they are. She taught me the millions of things that the Unicorn had stood for throughout time and culture. How they are an embodiment of what everyone wishes to strive for. Goodness, Forgiveness, Beauty, Freedom, Innocence, Purity, Power, Patience, Kindness, Bravery, Intelligence, and Wisdom, and how every single person has within them each of these characteristics. The only problem is they lie hidden within all of us, and are often overlooked by the lesser qualities like Anger, Jealousy, Arrogance, Pity, Criticism, and others. The Unicorn went through each of my visions I had and explained to me their hidden meanings.
That day the Unicorn exposed me to all the positive aspects I had forgotten about myself. She taught me that such virtues lie in everyone, but must be searched for and put into action in order to be truly recognized. She explained to me that each of us will experience our trials and that we will suffer, but that we must go with our lives and continue to do good so that we are not overcome by our pains. That what we overcome helps to shape our character, give us strength, humble us, and reminds us how precious and short life is.
As I stood there before this creature everything began to make sense. I understood that the important thing wasn't to discover whether the Unicorn was a real animal or man-made, but that whatever it is it was created in order to inspire man and push us be better. The Unicorn had appeared in my life because I had lost the best part of me and it reminded me what I was here for, to do good.
I knew that my time was ending with the Unicorn, but just as I was preparing to leave that place I saw something moving behind the Unicorn. Much to my surprise, a tiny baby Unicorn appeared in front of me. I knew instantly the purpose in that baby's life, to inspire someone that needed inspiring just like me.
I woke up late that next morning, and felt more refreshed than I had ever felt before. It was a new beginning and I sensed it. A few days later I went to the doctor because I hadn't been feeling well since before the trip. I found out I was pregnant. At that moment I knew my purpose in life, and I knew that I would never feel alone again.
I found myself in a secluded opening in a forest. I did not know if I was in the past, present, or future, but the forest had a heaven-like feel to it. The grass I was laying in was as soft and cool as silk. The breeze that blew by was as faint as a whisper. I lay next to a bubbling stream whose water was the clearest I had ever seen. The surrounding trees had an almost friendly presence to them and the birds that chirped sounded like angels singing. The sun sliced its beams through the trees so that little patches of sunlight streaked down and created splashes of light on the ground. The sunlight was of the most beautiful colors I could have imagined. The crisp pinks, blues, yellows, and whites mixed together made me think it was either early in the morning or late in the afternoon. I got to my feet and began walking. I followed the stream, thinking it would take me somewhere. It did. The next clearing I came upon I discovered the most magnificent Unicorn I had ever laid eyes upon. She took note of me, but did not flee in fright because she was expecting me. She explained to me that she was there to help me understand all that had been going on in my life the past few months. For the next few hours we talked and she told me the significance of all the things I had seen, and she allowed me to ask any questions I needed answering. The one I was most desperate to understand was why I had seen so many images of Unicorns, and why I was now staring at and talking to a live Unicorn. At that moment she began what became the most important lesson of my life.
The Unicorn explained to me that all I had seen served as a representation of myself and was placed before my eyes to help me remember the person within me that I had lost. The images of the Unicorn weren't meant to be debated over if they were real or not, but to show me that I am as special and unique as they are. She taught me the millions of things that the Unicorn had stood for throughout time and culture. How they are an embodiment of what everyone wishes to strive for. Goodness, Forgiveness, Beauty, Freedom, Innocence, Purity, Power, Patience, Kindness, Bravery, Intelligence, and Wisdom, and how every single person has within them each of these characteristics. The only problem is they lie hidden within all of us, and are often overlooked by the lesser qualities like Anger, Jealousy, Arrogance, Pity, Criticism, and others. The Unicorn went through each of my visions I had and explained to me their hidden meanings.
That day the Unicorn exposed me to all the positive aspects I had forgotten about myself. She taught me that such virtues lie in everyone, but must be searched for and put into action in order to be truly recognized. She explained to me that each of us will experience our trials and that we will suffer, but that we must go with our lives and continue to do good so that we are not overcome by our pains. That what we overcome helps to shape our character, give us strength, humble us, and reminds us how precious and short life is.
As I stood there before this creature everything began to make sense. I understood that the important thing wasn't to discover whether the Unicorn was a real animal or man-made, but that whatever it is it was created in order to inspire man and push us be better. The Unicorn had appeared in my life because I had lost the best part of me and it reminded me what I was here for, to do good.
I knew that my time was ending with the Unicorn, but just as I was preparing to leave that place I saw something moving behind the Unicorn. Much to my surprise, a tiny baby Unicorn appeared in front of me. I knew instantly the purpose in that baby's life, to inspire someone that needed inspiring just like me.
I woke up late that next morning, and felt more refreshed than I had ever felt before. It was a new beginning and I sensed it. A few days later I went to the doctor because I hadn't been feeling well since before the trip. I found out I was pregnant. At that moment I knew my purpose in life, and I knew that I would never feel alone again.