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Beauty and the Beast: A Soul-full Tale

This year, I had the immense pleasure of being a part of one of the most original and authentic weddings I’ve ever attended (and I’ve been to a LOT of weddings). While it had many of the traditional elements that one comes to expect from weddings (white dress, rings, dinner, dancing etc), it felt in no way contrived by convention. It was, in many ways, the perfect balance of planned hilarity and spontaneous sweetness; each playing out in different ways over the course of the day.

One of the most notable elements of the experience was when the song Beauty and the Beast (sung by Angela Lansbury) came on as the wedding march. The recognition and realization of the song generated a hearty laugh from the crowd of loved ones witnessing. But it struck me how completely dichotomy is ingrained in all of Life. Let me explain: The groom is fiery and gregarious little bear that makes life a little lighter with his incredible sense of dry and cynical humour (which I admire greatly, given that professionally he’s a lawyer). The bride is a warm, willowy and nurturing individual who works in communications, and is passionate about transformation in life. I am sure that the couple intended for the crowd's laughter at the obvious reflection of the characters in the story, but I couldn’t help to feel that there was a much deeper mirror in the message to us as individuals. We all have within us a beauty and a beast — and our lives are our dedication to finding space for each, and the dance of finding peace between them.

The lyrics in the song identify this for us in beautiful simplicity:

Tale as old as time
True as it can be
Barely even friends
Then somebody bends
Unexpectedly

Just a little change
Small to say the least
Both a little scared
Neither one prepared

Beauty and the Beast

Ever just the same
Ever a surprise
Ever as before
Ever just as sure
As the sun will rise

Tale as old as time
Tune as old as song
Bitter sweet and strange
Finding you can change
Learning you were wrong

Certain as the sun
Rising in the East
Tale as old as time
Song as old as rhyme

Beauty and the Beast

The poetry of the song captures our humanity is such an elementary way. Although it could be said that it has juvenile connotations for many (or even that Disney itself is synonymous with childhood magic), the song choice was actually one of the most mature ways to approach a social commitment to another person.

The rest of the wedding was equally fun, funny and heartfelt. And I felt super-honoured to be a part of it. I was even asked to participate by playing some music that I love, and as you can probably tell, music is a medium that resonates at a high level for me.

On a related, but sadder note, some other good friends of mine decided to part ways after many years together. Having been through some bad breakups and a divorce myself, I could relate to many of the feelings on both sides. At one point, one of the individuals in that couple stated plainly to me through a wave of tears “oh, we’re all just such squishy creatures.” Another simple but profound statement of our vulnerability when we break down to the basic elements of our soul.

“Squishy” is defined as being soft, spongy, malleable, or gelatinous - implying that we are adaptable, permeable, mouldable. How do we handle the light-hearted joy, and simultaneous crushing weight of the two sides of Love? I’m in no way an authority on the topic of love, but I'm learning that I see it most clearly when I come back to it over and over again; always seeking new truths, reaching greater emotional depths, gaining insight, and letting go of the things I have no control over.

I don’t know how to close this post, so I’ll just just share with you my personal goal in this life: My life is ideal when I am playfully adventuring.
Sometimes, it's not immediately evident in every circumstance, but it’s a perspective I can always come around to when I need some space between my own Beauty and Beast. Big love to you all on this day of Darkness and Light.

- Solar Eclipse Aug 21, 2017