Sonja: Take a deep breath Prunie. It helps.
Prunella: Frikkie does that all the time. It’s either that or blow the lid off something. It’s his survival strategy for loving and living with me. Deep Breaths.
S: I wouldn’t have guessed.
P: That’s because you’re imagining it in a yoga-meditation-mindfulness way. Which is not Frikkie’s style. Soulfulness comes in many forms Sonja.
S: So what’s he doing when he takes a deep breath?
P: He’s digesting a moment of choice. He’s looking change in the eye. He’s recognising how everything in life is about relationship, relating, being agile, breathing change in and out. Magic is simple Sonja. Soulfulness the pivot.
S: And now it’s back to your turn to take a deep breath
P: Yes it is. Yes I am (takes a deep breath)
S: How does that feel?
P: A bit sore – like some of those passageways which hold the air in me, are a tad out of practice. Too much good stuff too quickly can also hurt Sonja. I also feel a bit self-conscious, doing it by instruction and with you sitting beside me.
S: Even though you’ve known me for so long?
P: Well now that I’ve said that, my breathing is a bit easier. Its just if I am honest, I find it more potent to breathe deeply when I’m on my own. It’s quieter, deeper, slower. It feels like I’m choosing it. Saying yes to life. Yes to change as part of life. Do you remember that saying: ‘Remember you are always alone. Remember you are never alone?’
S: Yip. Who said that again? (Sigh!)…this menopausal brain of mine.
P: There’s a line missing Sonja. The space between those two rememberings. The in-between. I reckon it’s deep acceptance, but not being a woesie.
S: I feel as if I regularly long for change and dread it at the same time.
P: That’s honest Sonja. It probably means you’re more likely to take action, real action, wise action. I used to think intelligent action was what was important. But that gives too much place at the table to intellect. Digesting change, discerning next steps well needs deep listening below and above the ground.
S: Ah, there’s the between again, below and above
P: The within
S: So what are you going to do?
P: Ah… the bottom line.
S: You know what I mean.
P: I’m going to do as little as possible. I’m busy with balancing being and doing. That’s enough to keep me out of mischief for a long time.
S: I’ve never known anything to keep you out of mischief. It could be your second name.
P: (wistful smile) You’re trying to perk me up. I can see through your ruse Sonja.
S: Well you’ve relegated deep breathing to alone time. Mischief is for sharing
P: (bursts with laughter)
S: What now?
P: I’m remembering that time when I moved from that bloody awful place in Hope Street and you arrived to help me pack and we leopard crawled up the stairs
S: What were we thinking…? (laughing)
P: I think that was the point and the gift of it. No thinking.
S: We laughed till we cried
P: Sounds like healthy balance
S: We’ve come a long way over the years
P: Not so far that I won’t be calling on you to leopard crawl with me sometime in the future
S: Next time, let’s wear feather boas and diamante stiletto’s
P: It sounds like you need an excuse for dressing up
S: I never need an excuse
P: Yes, just look at you now. Adorned to the hilt. Just to have tea with me.
S: I thought a bit of colour and flash would be helpful
P: What would I do without you Sonja?
S: What would I do without you Prunie?

Long beautiful silence

S: On another note, what did you mean by ‘soulfulness the pivot?’
P: Did I say that?
S: Yes. And I don’t agree. Magic has many sources and uses. And it’s not always light. It can be dark too
P: Ah, dark and light, that’s a whole nuther story. I don’t think ‘soulfulness’ is light or dark Sonja. It’s the part of us that when we’re awake enough, brings our being and doing together and doesn’t need a rational explanation, that’s all. How I be IN my doing and do WITH my being. (takes a deep breath and exhales). It’s something that came to me, a while ago. I was needing to remember who I am.
S: There’s that deep breath I’ve been listening for. Even with me right here.
P: Thanks old friend. Because you’re here. Because you’re here…
S: Old friend my arse! Sies Prunie.