“the path is there”
we all suffer from ignorance
we all are in need of more skillful ways
in the meantime what is the antidote
for all our countless follies?
make a home in the heart of forgiveness
and learn to love - more
open, spacious, all enveloping
the path is there, faithfully
and the more it is walked
the easier it becomes
for all
“spacious”
“pearl in the making”
Sister Irritation
She has a way of coming unannounced
Leaving me her generous gifts
How i used to dread these visits for the long
Hours of discontent, hurt and confusion that followed
Now, her visits still cause wobble
Yet also the appreciation that her gifts
Are pearls in the making
So i ready myself to receive
these seeds of irritation
Welcoming them with openness
Embracing them with not minding
Surrounding them with forgiveness and love
And layer upon layer
Together we grow
A luminous pearl
“pearl mandala - her generous gifts”
“return of the light”
return of the light
returning to stillness
to gentleness
to peace within
to the freshness of this moment
to the bounty of life
to the wonder
returning home
to be companion to
the Mystery
“returning home”
“walk the tightrope”
sweet . . . unending . . . seeking
for new tastes, new sights, new touch
sweet . . . unending . . . seeking
for the comforts of the known, familiar, old slippers of heart and mind
bouncing between these two gravitational pulls,
chasing new and old makes up much of our story life
happy fools walk the tightrope between these two
and don’t get claimed by either too easily.
“new and old stories”
we, who are spirit tethered to body,
and are daily confronted with the inescapable joys
and pains of human existence,
can choose to be peace-makers.
we can choose to make peace with our bodies,
and the limitations that arise from sickness and aging
we can choose to make peace with the waves of emotions,
that at times can thrash us like wild storms
we can choose to make peace with the constant flow of thoughts,
that can persuade us into contradictory aims
we can choose to make peace with history,
from our own unique story, to the story of our global sister and brotherhood
we can choose to make peace with our teachers,
including our family, our friends and loved ones and our so called enemies
it sounds so simple and impossible at the same time, doesn’t it?
yet,
peace has a chance
when we begin to see our tantrums, our internal and external wars,
as luxuries we can no longer afford
when we stop pointing our finger, at the problems “out there”
and begin, with tenderness and grit, to express peace more than our self-righteousness.
. . . and if we choose to be a companion to peace, maybe add a splash of play to the mix
peace plays itself out
on the canvas of my life
requiring restraint
and infinite tenderness
- peace ends and begins within
“softening”
good medicine for
the past, present and future
is smooth forgiveness
soft and fair - it melts our pain
to be able to go on
“forgiveness”
“the giving and receiving of forgiveness”
YES and NO
are two mighty powers
we wield
and yield to
life without likes
and dislikes
seems unimaginable
while we bounce between
for and against
love and hate
grab and toss
in an ever-present restlessness
yet throughout time some have found
and lived alongside these two mighty pulls
stepping through a third gate
its password is:
thank you
traveling with in
i watch mind clouds
drift by swift and fabulous
a revolving cast of characters
on the horizon
we keep company
and the rascals tell me of
greener pastures in far away lands
"the thaw"
in a world that easily can make us into enemies
learn to love
love
well
boundless and deep
gentle and enduring
even when it is difficult - love
actively
even the times of folly and fall
love them all
selflessly
love the whole sweet catastrophe
"the ways of water"
walking the woods
i pause
and the moment becomes vibrant
in its stillness
i see, i am surrounded by beauty
and beauty becomes the gate for peace to enter me
moving slower
with a softer gaze
i witness worlds within worlds
an interlaced, woven unity
and awe becomes the gate for peace to enter me
on spiraling paths through the woods
as the rains begin to fall
a gentle quiet fills me
and stillness becomes the gate for peace to enter me
This year the Musings will explore twelve essential essence qualities that seem to make life more wonderful.
In January the focus is on Peace.
"it begins"
the path of peace
begins with me
"blue surge"
it ripples outward
in a thousand moments
of calm, open hearted listening
"floods"
learning and practicing the language of peace,
peace becomes a gift
i can give to myself and the world
there is a great freedom
in giving up the fight with self
in lessening the grip of likes and dislikes
and looking with good humor at my
long intended self improvement projects
there is a healing ease in not minding
do i trust myself?
do i trust the goodness within?
i do
i see it in me and i see it in you
"giving up the fight"
stay tuned
with weekly free musings
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