King Midas

There once was a king named Midas. He ruled over the kingdom of Phrygia, and was known to be a man who loved the pleasures of life. But he was also a kind ruler, and one day when the satyr, Silenus, was found in King Midas' rose garden, passed out from too much drink, the king took him in and cared for him.

Now Silenus happened to be like a father to the god Dionysus, who was quite relieved to find Silenus happy and safe under the king's roof. To show his appreciation, Dionysus decided to give the king one wish, anything he wanted. The king, though he was wealthy, thought it couldn't hurt to have a bit more, and wished that everything he touched could be turned to gold.

Dionysus granted him this wish, and the king was delighted. He touched everything he could think of, and gold statues and bobbles appeared all over the kingdom! But then the king got hungry. You can imagine his disappointment when the food he ate turned into a cold hard piece of gold before he could swallow.

His daughter begged him to go to Dionysus, and ask him to take back his gift, which Midas did. Dionysus told him to bath in the Pactolus River, and there the gift of the gold washed away.

The story of Midas is the story of someone who had plenty, yet still wanted more. And in that wanting, he nearly lost everything he held dear to him (in some stories he actually turns his own daughter into a golden statue).

When we believe that who we are is reflected in the things we have and can do, we create a sense of lack within ourselves that cannot be fulfilled. No matter if we have the perfect job, house, and partner, if we are looking outside of ourselves for fulfillment, we will continue to feel empty. Then we will try to fill that void by getting an even better job, bigger house and better partner. We will become like King Midas, who never knew how beautiful his life was until he almost everything!

A peaceful heart starts with the knowledge that "life is but a dream." It's not the job that makes us important, it's how we treat others. It's not the house the makes us special, it's who we welcome into our home in love and friendship. It's not our mate who fulfills our need for love, but rather our connection to our Source.

When asked what he wanted, King Midas could have said he desired health and prosperity for all the people of his kingdom, or wisdom to be an even better ruler, but instead he focused on his own thoughts of personal lack.

When we focus on getting things that will only please us, we are caught in the Midas trap. When we focus on things that help both ourselves, and those around us, we move closer to our soul's desire. And when we are listening to the desires of our soul, our lives and the world around us change, bringing us peace, contentment and true fulfillment that only a truly giving heart can know.