Fate is not the playright

"In the dreams of life, fate is not the playright, but one's own self when he or she choses his or her role." Florita Bradford, author

What is fate?

What is fate?  Well it is a number of things.  From the puppy that comes from another state into your arms just when you need him the most, to making an incredible move out to an entirely different culture and finding yourself.  Fate can be as simple as sitting down on a train across from a complete stranger and finding complete and utter happiness instantly.  Strapping on a snowboard and instantly finding your saving grace, despite how many times you may fall down the hill. Unfortunately fate can also be what causes you to part ways with your best friend just when you feel as though you need him/her the most.  But the beauty of fate, it gives you a connection that allows you to understand this meaning; you can never miss someone who has never left your heart.

Yeah I would have to say I have a pretty good idea of what fate is.  Do I think it's fair?  I'd like to tell myself yes there is always a reason for everything, I have great faith in my heart, and although on certain days it is quite hard to convince myself that sometimes fate works in mysterious ways.

Fate has something to do with the cosmos...

Wikipedia claims it to be a predetermined course of events, attributing the mystery of fate to the cosmos.  Ok I see where some people may doubt this statement because the definition of fate includes the word cosmos, but seriously, how could you not believe in something higher? Think about it.  I know I have had way too many things occur to even ask the question what is fate?  Fate and me, we go back, quite a ways actually and I stand behind it.

Fate is defined by Dictionary.com in both its noun and verb form.

Fate: IPA noun, verb, fated, fating.
noun
1. something that unavoidably befalls a person; fortune; lot: It is always his fate to be left behind.
2. the universal principle or ultimate agency by whick the order of things is presumably prescribed; the decreed cause of events; time: Fate decreed that they would never meet again.
3. that which is inevitably predetermined; destiny: Death is our ineluctable fate.
4. a prophetic declaration of what must be: The oracle pronounced their fate.
5. death, destruction, or ruin.

verb (used with object)
7. to predetermine, as by the decree of fate; destine (used in the passive): a person who was fated to be the savior of the country.
Dictionary.com also says that the word fate is used alongside kismet, karma, chance, luck, destiny and doom.  All of which refer to the idea of fortune, that something is predetermined and inescapable.

Everyone has to understand there is a difference between fate and destiny.  Each one of us I believe is born with a destiny.  Unique talents and innate gifts that allow us to reach the ultimate goal of feeling fulfilled, knowing that we accomplished exactly what we were placed on this earth to accomplish.  What'ss the difference between fate and destiny?  Well fate comes to those who need it but it may not always reveal itself in positive ways.

The three Greek Fates

Of course you must be asking well what is fate in Latin?  "Fatum" or that which has been spoken.  According to Greek mythology there were the Moirai (Moirae) or goddesses of fate who personified the inescapable destiny of man.  Zeus of course was the God of Fate who over saw the three goddesses in their daily dealings.  Each of the goddesses' names described their duty in the grand scheme of each individual's fate.  Klotho (The Spinner) was in charge of spinning the thread of life upon which fate would go, Lakhesis (Apportioner of Lots) measured the amount of the thread, and lastly Atropos (She who could not be turned) would cut the thread of life accordingly.  In Roman mythology the three were known as the Parcae, and were Nona, Decuma and Morta.

I have nothing right now to be miserable about.  Instead I am writing this article because I believe deeply in fate and it is about to get me through another storm.  Personally, fate to me is an umbrella that won't protect you 100%, but it does offer enough shelter to get you through until the sun will shine again.

Everyday I smile, no matter what, at least once.  Sometimes the mere smile on my face brings joy to others.  Whether it was fate that I worked at the office for two years, helping multiple customers by listening to them and offering them advice not only on their property tax grievance woes but also their marriages, finances (even though fate has kinda left me hanging on that one myself) life threatening illnesses or just plain old days that nothing goes right, I believe there was a reason I was there.

Over the years, I have run across fate on multiple occasions, we have danced, flirted and even spent a few short stints together on the road, and in all seriousness there is not one part of me that doubt�s the power behind the mystery of fate.  The BQB, well we are here bringing you articles, blogs and information based on fate.  About a year ago I found myself struggling within a career that was not offering a creative side, I started searching Craigslist and bam, BQB.

What is fate?  Fate is a series of events that we deem as fortunate or unfortunate that I honestly believe lead us to the destiny we are meant to fulfill.  Think I'm nuts?  That's fine.  Remember you chart the course to your ultimate goal (destiny), fate just simply makes sure you don't go off the map completely.

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Holly Robin Clark
News/Media Director
http://www.thebqb.com/
Cell: 631-793-8610
Alt. Email: HollyRobin@TheBQB.com

Brenda and I are very proud of this....

One of the Arizona Press Women judges wrote this about our book: "What a wonderful read! No matter some tears; the smiles and hopes and dreams of those who subvmitted their stories resounded. Fate? Maybe. Coincidence? Again, maybe. Changed lives? Absolutely! Thank you for this wonderful book."

Latest Award

The Mystery of Fate has recently received another award; this one from the very distinguished writers' organization: The National Federation of Press Women, now celebrating its 75th anniversary.

The Mystery of Fate Book Review by Deanna Joseph

Common Coincidence or Divine Intervention (Volume 1)

By Arlene Uslander and Brenda Warneka

When I was 27 years old I hurt my back. That one minor back injury (which healed up nicely, by the way) led to a series of events which steered me off the path of being a data processing assistant and down the path to where I am now: a new thought minister and mom who home birthed two children, then went on to home school them. Yup. All because one morning I strained a muscle.

We all have stories of coincidental encounters that changed our lives. Sometimes they are positive in nature, putting us on the right track to receive love, abundance or healing. Sometimes they are painful, calling us to heal loss and move through challenges. But they all have one thing in common – they are reminders that we are part of something bigger than just our own little world.

The Mystery of Fate is a series of true-life short stories of people who have had remarkable events (that may have seemed unremarkable at the time) that lead them somewhere unexpected.

One of the stories that sticks with me the most is by Andrea Eberly, and is called “Journey to Healing.” It’s Andrea’s story of her journey to find the career that would bring her the most fulfillment. Through a series of what seem to be normal events and even a couple of synchronicities, she finally arrives a decision that changes her life for the better. This story was a wonderful reminder of how important it is to put our questions out to the Universe!

Several stories have stuck with me, and some of them are bittersweet reminders that though we may suffer loss and grief, the Universe will still work to guide us in the direction of healing.

What is interesting about these stories is that any one of them could belong to any one of us! We all have stories where it seemed fate stepped in to get us to where we were meant to be. What I liked so much about this book is that it is such a great reminder that this happens to us too. Somewhere in our past, we too had a mysterious coincidence that may have changed our life, but we may have refused to acknowledge it.

“Fate is the sum total of all of the trivial events that you never thought would amount to anything and that will affect everything forever.” ~ From the book.

The definition of “Pronoia” is that the Universe is conspiring for your greater good. The Mystery of Fate is a wonderful reminder that we do have a Universe that wants us to succeed, find love and healing, and overcome our challenges.

Someday you may find that your life has taken an unexpected turn, and when you do, may the mystery of fate be clear and loving, guiding you toward happiness.

Wonderful Tales of Inspiration and Fate

Patricia Fry, author of 34 books, has this to say about "The Mystery of Fate":  "What a delighful, moving collection of happy ending stories. I smiled and I cried while reading them. But most of all, I simply enjoyed these wonderfully told tales of inspiration and fate."  

DO YOU HAVE A FATE STORY??????

Do you have a "fate" story you would like us to post on our blog? If so, please email one of us. uslander.arlene@gmail.com or brendawarneka@yahoo.com

A VERY IMPORTANT AWARD

The Mystery of Fate has won another award; this one from the prestigious writers' organization, now celebrating its 75th year, The National Federation of Press Women. We thought the awards would not be announced until the September conference, so we were surprised and excited to learn in June that we had won an award! 

Awards

On May 15, 2011, The Mystery of Fate won First Place in the Arizona Press Women Communications Contest for the BEST EDITED BOOK. It will be entered in the National Federation of Press Women Communications Conteest in September 2011.

The book also won 2nd Place In Recognition of Excellence of Literature in the category of Religion/Spirituality/Philosophy from the Royal Dragofly Book Awards in March 2011.

The Mystery of Fate was published by R.J. Buckley Publishing. February 2010

  

Fascination: A Message from Beyond?

Fascination: A Message from Beyond?

It would have been my mother’s 90^th birthday. She had died two years before. My mother was born and raised in the Bronx, New York. Her name was Lillian, and she often referred to herself as “Lily from the Bronx.”

            One of her favorite songs was “Fascination.” The reason is because she and my father were invited to a very elegant party at the Pump Room, which was Chicago’s classiest restaurant in the ‘50s, and the most memorable part of the evening for her was the fact that there was a violinist stationed at the bottom of a long, winding staircase that led up to the ladies’ room, and he was playing “Fascination” when she came down. Whenever my mother heard that song after that evening, especially in her later years after my father had died, it reminded her of being with him at that lovely party at the Pump Room during a wonderful time of her life.
               I left for work in my car the morning of what would have been my mother’s 90^th  birthday, thinking of her a lot, as I always do, but especially because it was her birthday. My car radio had not worked for many months; any time I turned it on, there was nothing but static. I had thought about having it fixed, but the car was old, and it would have cost a lot to fix or replace the radio, so I figured that I could do without it until I got a new car. I often took my battery-operated cassette player with me and listened to tapes in the car. But, not on this particular morning.

Just out of force of habit that morning, I turned on the radio. As usual, there was nothing but static, so I turned it off. But, about ten minutes later, I decided to give it another try, though I really don’t know why.

Lo and behold—it worked!  A song was playing. There was no static. It was clear as a bell.  And what was the song? “Fascination.” Well, that sort of gave me chills. (Forget the “sort of.”  It did give me chills). Even more eerie was the fact that soon after the song ended, so did the radio. It stopped working again! (This time for good!)

            As soon as I arrived at my office, I told my co-workers about “Fascination,” and they agreed that it was pretty strange. Very strange. Then I sat down at my desk and took a look at my day-to-day desk calendar, which advertises a different web-site each day, and the first word that caught my eye was “BRONX.” The whole thing said, “The Bronx is up and the Battery is down” (or maybe it was vice versa), advertising a restaurant guide for New York City. The fact that this particular advertisement appeared on my desk calendar the day of my mother’s birthday sort of blew my mind. It was almost like I was getting some kind of message, and I don’t (didn’t!)  usually believe in that sort of thing.

That was last year. This year, on my mother’s birthday, the day was almost over, and there had been no sign. Then, just before I went to bed, I sat down at my computer to check my e-mail.  I am a free lance editor, and there was a letter from a man telling me that he needed someone to help him get two manuscripts ready for publication.  The first one was called “Granpa and Lily”; the second, “Lily’s Walk to the moon.”

            I try especially hard to be on my best behavior all day, the day of my mother’s birthday — just in case “someone” is watching me … .

By Arlene Uslander

What do YOU think? Was all this just a common coincidence, or was my mother trying to send me messages on her birthday?   This story is in the book THE MYSTERY OF FATE: Common Coincidence or Divine Intervention?