observing the endless
parade of thoughts
how preoccupied they are
with past and future
with worries
and desires
how fragmented, yet urgent
and demanding of attention
witness this show
in stillness, unmoved
slowly the fog
of entanglement lifts
no longer buying
all that thought has to sell
gift wrapping
we come wrapped
in amazing cloaks
made from the same elements
“stardust!” - we tell our children
mixed and put together
quite perfectly
for the breath of life
to enter in
yet, dazzled by the parade of forms
the mind can easily get lost
may the quiet heart
perceive its unity
the essence of life
moving through all
a soothing ponder
patience heals what haste could never cure
i have felt the healing balm
of patience, the ease it brings
a boon, both in the giving
and receiving
what then is so seductive
that i will grasp for impatience?
this inquiry
surely brings insight
and takes me back
to welcome patience
trusting in the flow
and flowering of life
our anonymous teachers
cheers
to the teachers
that come to us
when we least expect them
that meet us when
we need them most
cloaked in the guise
of a world event,
or the irksome habit of another
even in our own indomitable quirks
anything that has the power
to unsaddle us from our seat
of peace and goodwill
that points out the burdens
we still carry
may we embrace
these anonymous teachers
that intend to gentle our heart
a curious gift
jump right in
into this wonder
of existence
ponder this curious gift
we have been given:
we can experience
changes in attitude
our heart-mind
can step into new alignment
and perceive the whole world afresh
what a gift!
it sounds so simple
yet reaches far
to be able to feel light
where none could be found before
brilliant mistakes
our mistakes arrive
like unexpected guests
be they little or large, public, private,
mundane or monumentally messy
they are visiting
divine messengers
teaching us about our lingering shadows
of criticism and shame
and about the light that enters us
when we forgive and let go
these brilliant mistakes
that humble us
that bring self-knowledge
and compassion
once upon a time…
once upon a time…
a question arrived
on the spring wind
blowing open
unnoticed doors
by simply asking:
are your memories
using you?
or are you using
your memories?
now, watching the mind
launch itself into reliving
its favorite stories and tales of woe
what great productions it makes
endlessly intoxicating itself
what unfamiliar freedom
to observe,
rather than be snared
by memories.
enough to share
“winter light”
balancing
this
spark
of a life
that unfolds
between
the wonder of existence
and the marketplace
from breakfast to starlight
with muddy boots,
soft eyes
and a quiet mind
catching
enough
fish and grace
to share
that’s
a swell of
joy
a horse called "mindfulness"
“Yippee!”
each day
getting bucked off
each day
getting back on
the horse called
“mindfulness"
staying in the saddle
for as long as possible
with infinite tenderness
and curiosity
just paying attention
to where the mind wanders
to the heart’s delights and woes
to the changing sensations in the body
what an illuminating,
dusty journey
yippee!
keen senses
awake to bursts
of sunbeams on a blustery day
to wind made visible
in whirling leaves
to the flight of birds
that swoop to meet my feeding hands
keen senses pull me
into the present
to the music of the moment
and the far-off fragrance of a fart
to the never-ending play
of sudden and subtle changes
receptive to
the Mystery that abounds
playing
in movies i meet grand heroes,
kings and queens, villains and victims
an endless cast of characters
in myth and fairytales
again i see the plots performed
by actors playing archetypal roles
there are lovers and fools
mentors and tormentors
hermits and drunks…
around town, meeting neighbors,
friends and strangers alike
once more i see actors playing
roles as old as time
then a look in the mirror
oh, it tells the same tale!
this life - a parade of archetypes
yet is there choice?
awareness of the act?
or do the roles consume this life?
love lessons
“softer”
quite suddenly dark clouds form
and a harsh wind rushes in
what, an instant ago,
was a sweet disposition
is now sour and sullen
through the lens of this darkness
i find faults,
now even my loved ones seem blameworthy
i have entered the state of
the Great Separation
where i stand, alone
defensive, self-righteous, filled with self-pity
if i give theater
to this temporary state
we all suffer
it is my journey
to find the way back home
from exclusion
to inclusion
remaining open,
yielding to the gift of life
takes practice and skill
with mindfulness
patience, tenderness
and humor
as companions on the playground of life
love is rediscovered
desires
“lucky dog?”
we all
want
to get
high
what causes these
high states
varies
as do the routes
taken to get there
a little study of resistance
“a little study of resistance”
this morning i find myself pondering
the bars of my cage
approaching them curiously
witnessing what happens when i ask myself:
could you give away one of your most prized possessions to a stranger today?
would you wear a bright pink wig going out shopping this afternoon?
could you have all your interactions wordlessly,
only communicating with your eyes and gestures?
for today, could you entertain the notion that everyone that didn’t share your views
was equally as right as you?
oh, and I watch my mind squirm
looking for loopholes
declaring that: “this is stupid!”
that i couldn’t possibly do this
what would others think and say of me
rationalizing myself right back into avoidance
into my safe, comfortable cage
isn't this fascinating?
the mind’s protective cage
this then, just for today
is a little study of resistance
a playful experiment
best done with a wink and a smile to self
seeing the world
“unwinding”
you, dear one,
meet yourself in these words
always, you see a mirror
as you look into the world
reflecting back to you
your current state
of judgement
or lack thereof
every book you ever read
every music you ever danced to
every lover you held in your arms
you saw yourself
in the constantly changing balance
of resisting and opening to life’s tides
how i wish, for you and me
patience and gentleness on our journey
morning air
“spring stirs”
morning air brings
in the spring
the land stirs and dances
to the music of change
a meeting
of old and new
in fullness the land receives
and in fullness the land releases
following suit
i rejoice
boisterous visitors
“voices in the forest”
your true needs
do you know them?
do you follow their songs
into the tangled woods
until they perch in your cupped hands
raw and shining
these boisterous visitors,
coming from the shores of the body,
heart, mind and spirit
do you know them well enough
to live in harmony?
thank you
“in gratitude . . .”
you,
reading this
right now
thank you,
for your presence
your kind attention
thank you,
for your encouragement
words written, spoken and unspoken
all your support over the years
may these musings
bring us closer
to ourselves, to what we hold dear
through a pause,
a spark, the gate
of a smile
there already is kinship
sensed and nurtured
as we each walk our path
in gratitude i
thank you!
plop
“echoes of well-wishes”
imagine
a quiet and calm pond
then
plop
a stone falling
through its glassy surface
cast with good intentions,
well-wishes spreading with its ripples:
may you be happy
again
plop
may you be healthy
plop
may you be safe
plop, plop, plop, plop …
now adding your own
to the circling patterns
well-wishes rippling
out and inward, permeating all
may we be happy
may we be healthy
may we be safe
…
what does it take?
"bearing witness”
one of the challenging human experiences
is bearing witness
to the pains of humanity
to the waves of ignorance and obsession
in all their varied expressions
that agitate individual and collective alike
we all play our part
answering for ourselves,
for the duration of our human incarnation
what does it take to stay subtle in heart and mind?
to still care when old
holding the course, living by example,
giving grace a chance
