The Rainmaker Within Us

Once I composed music for a music theater production based on a text about a ‘rainmaker’.
The text was inspired by the theme of the western film The Rainmaker from 1956.
The rainmaker in that film was a man who claimed to be able to bring rain, thus giving people hope during a period of severe drought.

This western tells the story of the arrival of a mysterious stranger in a dry and dusty town somewhere in ‘the West’ of the United States. This charismatic figure claims to be a rainmaker and promises the desperate villagers that he will bring rain to their parched situation. The villagers, skeptical but at the same time hopeful for a miracle, slowly become convinced by his charms and belief in his abilities. As he performs rain rituals and turns the town upside down with his cheerful personality, the people in the town begin to believe that there is hope for a revitalized future.

However, as time passes and the drought continues, tension grows in the town. The villagers begin to doubt the promises of this eccentric individual and wonder if he is truly a rainmaker or just a charlatan exploiting their hope. The pressure on the rainmaker to fulfill his promise increases, and he is pushed to prove himself.
Ultimately, at the end of the film, a storm finally breaks out, with a tremendous amount of rain pouring down on the heads of villagers and their parched land. The villagers are surprised and overjoyed by this unexpected turn of fate, and the rainmaker is praised as a true hero. He then leaves the town, mission accomplished, and leaves behind a new sense of hope and possibilities for the future. The rain has revitalized both the land and the hearts of the people in the town.

Self I have been active as a ‘guide’ in practical spiritual philosophy for many years now. After my music career, this has become my main occupation. So, I often reflect on my ‘task’. Because I have a strong aversion to pretensions, labeling oneself as a guide or coach can be tricky, in my opinion. In spiritually-oriented encounters, I always emphasize that I have no interest in guru stuff. No stage, no paraphernalia, and most importantly: no status or hierarchical differences among us. I have often said that essentially everyone can be each other’s teacher and that you should strive to become your own teacher.

In presentations and when leading discussions on consciousness, a guide imparts knowledge and there is indeed a difference between someone with experience and knowledge and someone with less experience and knowledge. Every learning situation involves this difference, and there is nothing wrong with it because every form of education is passed on by someone with experience to those with less experience. Thus, a mountain guide, due to his knowledge, can always prevent people from taking a wrong (and potentially dangerous) path that deviates from the intended track. When people get tired, the guide will encourage them not to give up, to persevere, and will continue to foster belief in their own abilities.

A consciousness guide can be compared to a ‘rainmaker.’ Metaphorically, a rainmaker with his knowledge and skills finds himself among people who have long been in a great inner drought and who are eager for change. A rainmaker promises them that change. Charismatic as he is, he gives people hope and a prospect of internally refreshing water. Refreshing for their general situation (societal) and for themselves (individually) within that situation. If there is demand, a rainmaker can inspire and stimulate change within the minds of people who are spiritually parched. Thus, a rainmaker provides hope for deliverance from mechanistic thinking and relativizes spiritual impotence.

For a ‘rich’ and conscious life, ‘water’ is needed (which is also metaphorically discussed very clearly in the Bible). ‘Living water,’ or knowledge and wisdom practiced, is the only thing that truly quenches spiritual thirst. ‘Standing water’ (book wisdom) does not do this, ‘Living and flowing water’ is also the only thing that causes self-expression and flourishing, so that it is no longer dammed up by a ‘story’ that the ego clings to: a concrete dam, built and maintained by the ego itself. Unfortunately, ‘living water’ all too often does not seem to want to become a strong current, which can cause people to lose courage. Because it is not easy to apply knowledge and wisdom at every moment of the day, other than capriciously and occasionally.

Self-discipline and the willingness to exert efforts in various areas are necessary to fulfill acquired knowledge and wisdom. Fulfillment means living according to that wisdom. And this entails more than just embarking on a study driven by intellect (which may even lead to new identifications). It means living by principles that initially resonated with us when we encountered them, which excited us, but which we easily forget, leading to a “dry spell” once again. Allowing this in resignation will also dry up hope. Then despondency lurks, and thoughts like “it will never work out” or “it’s just too difficult” arise.

Therefore, it is important for a spiritual guide to give hope when people are dispirited by such thoughts from a sense of inadequacy. Especially when they begin to wonder if what that ‘rainmaker’ is saying is true. ‘Is he really ‘authentic’… or maybe a charlatan? Is it perhaps his fault that things aren’t working out for me?’ Then giving hope, sharing insights, and continuing to inspire is what a guide should do. Because hope is a very good companion on the journey – although it does not bring us closer to our goal on its own – and is an important fuel for perseverance. In that sense, a guide is like a ‘rainmaker’ who gives hope and promises rain, even though he is not able to make rain for others. That character in that western couldn’t either.

As our own life coach (after all, the starting point of Self-Knowledge Today!), we must seek out and allow the rainmaker within our minds.
It concerns a clear positive intention that supports and keeps hopeful. That rainmaker stands for a passionate motivation to persevere when things get difficult. That rainmaker stands for True Belief: that we are convinced of inner possibilities before we have realized them.

That the rain ultimately came in that film was a blessing. It suddenly ‘befell’ the villagers and their land. As a great grace, after a time of hope, expectation, patience, and surrender. It is the same with inner work. If you think it doesn’t yield anything, that little of good spirit and perseverance hardly stick, suddenly the grace of ‘reward for labor’ can occur at some point. At a moment when we least expect it, it happens to us with great abundance.
This is what a guide, as an inspiring rainmaker, can tell people: You’ll see, that rain will come! It cannot be forced, but it will come. Just keep going. Don’t give up. Attention in the Now. maintain inner silence. Surrender in Self-Remembrance and do not forsake the Truth. It will rain buckets someday.

© Michiel Koperdraat