Julia Cameron - Safe journey: prayers and comfort for frightened flyers and other anxious souls

ALSO BY JULIA CAMERON

Books in The Artists Way Series

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Walking in This World

Finding Water

The Complete Artists Way

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The Sound of Paper

The Vein of Gold

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How to Avoid Making Art (or Anything Else You Enjoy) (illustrated by Elizabeth Cameron)

Supplies: A Troubleshooting Guide for Creative Difficulties

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Money Drunk, Money Sober
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God Is Dog Spelled Backwards (illustrated by Elizabeth Cameron)

Faith and Will

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JEREMY P. TARCHER/PENGUIN

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Copyright 2013 by Julia Cameron

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Cameron, Julia.

Safe journey : prayers and comfort for frightened fliers and other anxious souls / Julia Cameron.

p. cm.

ISBN 978-1-101-60835-7

1. TravelersPrayers and devotions. 2. Air travelPrayers and devotions. 3. Fear of flying. I. Title.

BV283.T7C36 2013 2013001137

204.33dc23

While the author has made every effort to provide accurate telephone numbers, Internet addresses, and other contact information at the time of publication, neither the publisher nor the author assumes any responsibility for errors, or for changes that occur after publication. Further, the publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

To my daughter Domenica,

a fearless flyer

Contents

Reservations

I ts Sunday night. I am due to fly on Wednesday, but already I am anxious. I put my head to the pillow, but theres no sleeping. Instead, I rotisserie with fear. I tell myself to calm down, but it doesnt do any good. In my overactive imagination I am boarding a dangerous flight. I seem to have an endless number of scary scenarios. The pilot cant be trusted. There is too much weight to get safely aloft. The landing gear doesnt work. My mind ticks from one to another. Its midnight, one oclock, two oclock. At three a.m., I am still not sleeping. I tell myself, Julia, you have days before you have to fly. Calm down and sleep. Finally, I drop off, exhausted.

I have told my friends that I am going to be flying and that I am scared. Please, pray for me, I have asked them. Im flying for business, not pleasureduty, not beauty. My friends try to reassure me. Youre in my prayers, they say. And, Flying is really quite safe. They put on their most soothing voices. They talk to me as if I am a small child. Still, I am afraid.

Be rational, I tell myself, but the fear of flying is not rational. I have read the statistics, and I know that the odds of crashing are very slim. This fact does nothing to soothe me. I have chosen a carrier that advertises the fact that they have the newest fleet. Is new good? I catch myself doubting my selection.

ITS MONDAY, and I am supposed to put in a full days work. Instead, I put in a day of worry. Every time I look up from my work, I find myself staring into the face of doom. I play and replay the crash that is soon to come. I try to sound normal when I talk with my daughter, Domenica, but she is not fooled. Youre worried about flying, arent you? she asks me. Reluctantly, I confess. Oh, Mommy, Im sorry youre so scared, my daughter reverses our roles. She is now the older and wiser one.

We make a plan. I will use my cell phone to check in with her right before the flight and right after. I know that her voice will calm me down. Make believe youre brave and the trick will take you far, I hum Rodgers and Hammersteins classic song from The King and I. Talking to my daughter, I will feign bravery. Enough bravery to get me onto the plane and into my seat. I will talk with her until they tell us to turn off our cell phones. Then I will make a hasty good-bye.

Plan in place with my daughter, I feel calmerbut only a little. I wrap up my days work and find myself staring at another miserable evening.

Dear God,

Please guide me to

a productive use of my time.

Please give me a hunch

as to what you would have me do.

Amen.

Despite my anxiety, I do not feel I am praying into a void. Instead, I have a sense of communication. I hear a response:

Little One,

There is nothing to fear,

you do not need to worry.

I am with you always.

Your worry does not serve you.

Try, instead, to put your fate in my hands.