“good medicine”
i choose to
believe
that joy is good medicine
for us all
tending the garden
of the heart
deep into my soft soil
joy burrows its roots
prevailing
even in times of sorrow
this i choose
to believe
i ask myself...
“ … for the love and beauty of the game”
on this brand new day
i ask myself to remember
to go slow
oh, even slower
to pause
often
and listen to life
with my whole body
to respond from
my true values
and observe the birth and death
of my thoughts - closely
i ask myself to remember
to know the internal landscape
as well as i know my own home
and care for them both
with tenderness
to laugh and play
with self-abandonment
for the love and beauty
of the Game
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
we have so much in common
“a brief appearance”
how do we connect
life to life?
we have so much
in common
experiencing
an earthly existence
of body and spirit
braided together
may our meetings
be fresh and fizzy
witnessing in each other
life in its countless forms
briefly making an appearance
in the Great Theater
playing to get muddy
playing
it’s all about joy
full throttle
getting muddy
just to keep joy
bouncing between us
glad to be losing
seriousness
even old legs still move
at the speed of laughter
while we play
the game of life
mud-spattered, contented
until bedtime
in fairytales
in fairytales
breadcrumbs were left
to find the way home
yet soon they were eaten
by the creatures of the woods
i’ve been
spending the years
looking for crumbs
then, sitting still,
giving up,
when all seeking had ended
home
was there
all along
living lightly
“living lightly”
when the mind is crowded
living in stories of memories,
of fantasies and fears
the marvel of this moment
is hard to see
the fresh, unsullied breath
that’s never been before
living lightly
in this moment
we come home
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!
they are already on their way
they are already on their way
the joys that arrive
out of the blue
the next wave of laughter
that’s not too far off
the insights that rush
towards you, that bring new clarity
then around the corner comes
compassion to dwell with you
and wonder waits
to be let in with ample gifts
visitors all, drawing near
seeking your good company
where will you be today,
when they knock upon your door?
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
greetings
“greetings!”
to the rocks in the garden
and the colorful carpet of maple leaves
“how are you?”
to the dove breakfasting on millet seed
“hello!” blue dragonfly,
morning light and green tomatoes
what a circle of friends
as i walk upon the earth
welcoming what comes
upon the banquet table of the senses
expressing greetings
with joyous freedom
to the stillness in the woods
and “Friday” the neighbor’s cat
and to you dear one,
reading these lines
of connection between us
”salutations!”
may your day be filled with wonder and wellness
just as i am
there is a timeless meditation that asks:
can i accept myself just as i am?
i watch as this question enters my mind,
instantly the negotiations begin:
do you mean accept right now?
even my imperfections?
do you know the mess it is in here?
can i just tidy up a bit, refine myself…
to be more palatable for gods and neighbors alike?
for i have always seen myself as an improvement project,
never quite good enough - just as i am
Oh, what a curious state of affairs!
how did it get that way?
from the first heartbeat to the last
my life has been accepted to the Great Dance of Life
welcomed without hesitation
so i ask again… can i accept myself just as i am?
accept my body?
the capricious thoughts that come to visit me?
the gentle breezes and storms in the emotions?
and the endless monotony of my habits …
can i welcome it all?
only simple questions remain
“welcoming all of life equally”
there are moments
that have power
loosing a loved one
perspectives change
standing at the threshold
drawing nearer
to the Mysteries
it seems that only simple
questions remain
how well have i loved?
have i allowed life to love me?
pausing with a leaf
you were born
in spring
graced summer
nights and days
and now journey back
into the soil
to continue
the cycle
thank you
for shade and freshness
for the music you make
with wind and rain
for all the seen
and unseen beauty
you add to our world
my life would not be
without you
where do we begin
there is life
everywhere
in aching beauty
and constant change
all born of
spinning energy
of vitality condensed
into temporary form
different in function
yet all from the same source
every arising useful
equally belonging to this continuum
ours is a story of constant flow and process
of infinite merging and fresh combinations
and the curious may ask:
where do we begin and end?
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?
we hold each other
as we move
through our days
each on our unique paths
we meander
up and down and sideways
as we live and learn
yet throughout it all
we hold each other
we hold the goodness
of each other in safekeeping
i hold your “loving self”
and you hold mine
for a time when it may be needed
that we need reminding
to find our way again
we carry each others light
to be friends
spending time
at the hearth
of friendship
sharing in joy,
sorrow
and play
speaking
of matters
that warm
the heart
and insights
gleaned
along the way
feeling
the pulse
of life
while
we grow
older together
how good it is
to be
friends
you don’t have to go far
you don’t have to go far
in fact it’s happening now
right where you are
held, not too tight, not too loose
by gravity’s embrace
to the sacred ground beneath you
your life
on Mother Earth is supported
by wondrously interconnected forces
we are along for the ride
as our Blue Planet
orbits the Sun
and together we whirl
planets, stars, galaxies
in cosmic choreography
right where you are
you have a front row seat
to the marvels of the universe
while doing the dishes
from the hammock
“hello” i say, “how are you?”
greeting myself like a good friend
i listen
quietly
the body tells its tale
heart and mind chime in
i listen and listen
to the ever-changing flow
in the hammock of listening
we relax
find ease with each other
what was hard becomes soft again
