I woke up this morning and discovered my refrigerator is possessed.
No, I’m not talking about those hairy, green things that grow out of the unknown soup lurking in the back of the vegetable drawer. I’m talking about something much more intense.
What to do??? Call in an exorcist?! !
Oh. Wait. I am the exorcist – also known as the cleaning lady.
So, just what does a possessed refrigerator look like? And, how does it behave?
My refrigerator, a Whirlpool, has become a gigantic magnet – attracting all the flotsam and jetsam representing our life’s journey. Pictures, quotes, magnets, reminders, coupons, reminder of reminders, exercise routines, phone numbers, bills, birth announcements, business cards, quotes, cartoons and post cards, (did I mention reminders?).
Into the vortex of refrigerator magnetism, (It is a Whirlpool…), all this stuff has stuck itself to the front and sides of the fridge, creating layers of creative clutter. Some of it has been there for years. Yes, I said years. I wonder why?
By the way, my dear friend LeAnne’s refrigerator is not possessed. Its’ surface is clean, clear and smooth, a testament to her cleaning and clearing abilities.
For me it represents the energetic possibilities in an empty canvas. When I visit her, I get a bad case of refrigerator envy!
…so, back to the Whirlpool. First off I notice that our refrigerator is communication central. It’s our go-to place for creating shopping lists, reminders of car maintenance, doctor’s appointments and our collection of coupons. It holds love notes, cards and messages my husband and I leave for each other.
Second, it’s a playground. Plastered on one side is an old magazine advertisement from Juan Valdez coffee. It features a photograph of mousetrap outside a mouse hole. Rather than cheese, the trap is baited with a cup of coffee and since I love my coffee, I find this amusing and like to add other images and magnets in order to create a different visual reality. That five seconds of creative play opens my heart and soothes my mind.
The Whirlpool has become my memory when my computer, phone, and calendar don’t seem to be “enough,” I can always count on the Whirlpool to hold those pesky, yet important reminders right in front of my face – such as a bill that is due or an upcoming colonoscopy. Ugh.
Our fridge also serves as a monument to life’s successes and celebrations. Friends and family often play starring roles on the Whirlpool Wall of Fame, as well as our pets, certificates and other fun follies.
Also, according to what’s in the center of the fridge, I have a heart condition. Somehow, all that I hold sacred has made its’ way into a symbolic collage of words, heart doodles and photos. It’s a metaphysical alter for what I hold sacred in my life, and a real reminder of what I value.
So perhaps a little possession is good for the soul. What I’m noticing is that our life's lessons are always in plain sight. Sometimes they’re even posted on our refrigerator - if we just open ourselves to see what is right before our eyes.
What I’ve learned from my fridge is that every day is a sacred celebration involving love, communication, connection, health, wealth and creative play.
Thanks, Whirlpool, for the reminder.
Oh, and by the way, if you need an exorcist – call LeAnne. I’m too busy playing with my refrigerator magnets…