Life Lessons from Sourdough Pond: Universal Wisdom Encourages Confident Action

With today's political and financial uncertainty, people are concerned about their dough. This shift invites the all-too-familiar beast - low self-confidence (Will I be enough?). The doubts whisper, the progress feels slow, and sometimes, the urge to just... throw it all away... is incredibly strong.

Recently, I decided to go back to making fresh bread. Cooking or any art-based skill thrives on confidence. I find bread to be intrinsically sensitive to this energetic connection. 

The truth is in the dough.

Rise and Grind: You Can't Fake The Yeast

Acting as an emotional barometer, your dough has a way of communicating where you need work. My recent sourdough is no exception. The flavor was GREAT, but it didn't rise properly, so the loaf felt heavy. 

The Weight of Expectation. 

Don't Waste Your Dough; Diversify Your Investments.

Incredibly lucky, I have a cherished friend I call my soul cousin who just happens to be a master sourdough baker. She reminded me of the importance of diversifying my starter. I had forgotten. Previously, when I was baking regularly, my success came when I started using more than 1 type of flour.

If you rely on 1 skill, 1 client, 1 career you may not rise to your full potential. The right combination results in growth. Using 2 ingredients is great, but for real results try 3. Adding a few caraway seeds can make all the difference. 

We enjoyed the first loaf despite the density. With one loaf left, I started to toss it, but then I thought about who it might be able to feed. I could throw it in the dumpster knowing scavengers would probably find it in the bag, or I could feed a multitude with ease.

Fish or little souls?

Make a Splash: Take a Leap of Faith. 

On a whim, I decided to feed the fish. (Note: please notice the word whim. One should not feed wildlife, even fish. This was, in fact, my first thought immediately upon tossing the bread in the water. Sometimes the nostalgic kid activities we grew up with were well-intentioned, but not the best ideas.)

I planned to cast it far, but the throw was far from the majestic Frisbee toss I imagined and more like a lopsided flail. Instead of sailing, it hugged the bank, before floating unceremoniously into a drainpipe, disappearing completely.

Standing on the shore, I shook my head. It was the perfect illustration of my current feelings. A week and a half of effort, plus the cost of goods, didn't make the splash I had intended, and now it seemed to have completely disappeared. 

As I started to walk dejectedly up the hill, my thought pattern shifted with my first step. 

Growing up, the schools I attended included theology as a core subject. Suddenly, it felt profound. Wasn't there a ceremony or a story about throwing bread on water as an offering or a prayer? Trying to remember the details, my mind began circulating the prospective belief systems that might hold the clue as I walked back to the house to grab my phone.

Even the sky over the pond tells a whale of a tale.

Ancient Wisdom from Google: the Modern Library of Alexandra

Into the search bar of the current Library of Alexandria, ie. Google, I typed bread water offering. My instinct was confirmed. The Jewish Tashlich ceremony involves throwing bread into a flowing body of water to symbolize letting the past year's mistakes go and embracing a positive new beginning. This tradition is based on the Biblical verse Ecclesiastes 11:1 “Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.” 

Kneading Meaning: When the Dough Speaks Listen.

I was struck by awe. Let me explain, the symbolism goes beyond the verse. 

The word Ecclesiastes roughly translates to Kohelet, or teacher of an assembly.
In numerology, 111 is the number of manifestation or prayer. 

Ecclesiastes chapter 11 can be best described by the Turtle’s 1965 hit song “Turn, Turn, Turn”.  Everything has a cycle, there is a season or a timing to all things. Life is uncertain. Be generous. Invest wisely in multiple ways. Be consistent. Enjoy life, but don't be greedy.

Verse 1 of chapter 11 advises taking calculated risks by encouraging wise investment through diverse means. Don't expect immediate results, instead rely on consistent effort. Trust the process. Eventually you will yield results. 

Encouraged, I shared my story with my husband. As artists, these types of philosophical conversations are commonplace. Together we marveled at the magic of life's latest little lesson on the way to the barber. 

A Cut Above the Rest: Barbershop Prophets

We love our barber. As another husband and wife artistic duo, our chats are often electric and inspiring. It had been a few weeks since our last visit, but we quickly saw similarities in our lives and business updates. Our engaging conversations have never included religion.  I think even he was surprised when he shared that he's been meditating on a Bible verse about how consistent efforts deliver long-term results. 

My husband and I exchanged a nonverbal conversation in an instant. Our friend had no idea that earlier I had started my morning meditation, asking for a sign, and he most certainly didn't know the story about the bread. 

I am much more philosophical than religious. Quoting a Bible verse is not my typical M.O., and yet I had done so on the way to the salon. Not only that, but the message behind both verses matched. 

Little fish; Big Faith.

Little Fish, Big Faith: Trust the Process.

Walking the dog upon our return home, I was surprised to learn our bread wasn't loafing around; it had more to share. Broken into 2 small chunks on 2 separate areas of the bank were 2 schools of little fish feasting on the dough we provided.  

“Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days”. 

As an extra fun sprinkle of magical parable energy, 222 in numerology is a reminder to have faith. 

The Universe Talks; Are you Listening?

The message here goes beyond  “consistent effort pays off; trust the process”. The overall story arc is this: The Universe listens. The secret is knowing she also answers. You just have to listen and watch for her reply. Are you holding up your end of the conversation? Or are you doing all the talking?