living can be
a restless affair
bouncing
between pleasure
and pain
weary of the unrest
we may ask:
where is equanimity?
where is lasting peace?
attitude seems
to determine
our perspective
is this
self-evident?
then we may ask:
what decides on the attitude
at play in us?
is it random,
is it choice,
is it fate?
the morning self
waking, after
a good rest
there is a softness
that lingers
if even for
a moment or two
the morning self
connects effortlessly
to the beauty that abounds
before my armaments
to the noise of the day
rush in
before my habits
obscure this tender lens
upon the world
still, just beneath the surface
the morning self
waits
before words
words
only point
in a direction
they are never
truth itself
”girl”, i remind myself:
”you can’t cook your food
on the word “fire”,
you need a real
spark for that
kind of warmth”
yet, when the light
that walks
within every breath
flares
the path
before words
becomes your true home
wobbly and awkward
even if it seems
wobbly and awkward
even if attention
wanders off
a thousand times
don’t mind
reach out
to the supreme
spirit presence
within
it waits
faithfully
to be the ground beneath
your dancing feet
sweetheart
for so long
you have troubled
your gentle heart
carrying endless burdens
believing it would bring
some merit or illusive gain
how freeing the moment
when you drop old
tensions and resentments
question any thought
that tells you
you can’t let go
sweetheart, look,
here before you now
is the open door
beyond good enough
there are good moments,
simple pleasant states
even in the dark hours
they can be found
it may take a slower, softer gaze
to once again recognize
that this … right now
is enough
that being held
in the web of wonder
loved into being
right now
is beyond good enough
still marveling
life lives
rushing through every cell
like a tidal flow
unfolding in its own wisdom
who am i to try to tame it?
life lives
mixing and merging
the elements in endless combinations
interconnecting all beings naturally
so how could i ever be lonely?
life lives through me
witnessing
consciousness
and altered states
of dreaming and sleeping
aware of being
the longest journey
our longest journey
seems to be traveling
the few inches
between head and heart
noticing tensions
and allowing relaxation
taking a step towards
our wise and courageous heart
a shift that is instantly felt
in all directions
in search of surrender
when the river
meets the sea
it loses
its name
yet as water
it remains
pure
in essence
waiting for us
sometimes it happens
walking our familiar grounds
that the overlooked glows
with new a light
as we soften and slow
into the spaces that surround us
as the mind grows quiet
beauty reappears
in our home, in our friendships,
in nature
as we connect tenderly
we see again, as if for the first time
the beauty that is
waiting for us
wishing for one and all
may you be happy
may you be well
in body and mind
may you feel safe
and protected
may you be filled
with loving kindness
may you see beauty
may you accept yourself
as you are
may you trust in the goodness
within you
may you know peace
returning to basics
in a state
of restless bewilderment
it seems wise
to return to basics
pausing with a few mindful breaths
witnessing awareness beginning to shift
noticing the coming and going
of sensations, emotions and thoughts
awake and present
to the flow that is your life
when you try
when you try
to come back home
through prayer, contemplation,
dancing, meditation …
whatever your current path
of alignment
offer no resistance,
don’t mind what you’ll find
make your approach as soft,
as open as the heart allows
try with ease,
evermore ease
what do you see
look at the world
what do you see?
through the lenses
that color all you perceive
clarity
is not found easily
at first all we see
is the world
then we notice
our filters, our conditioning
next the question may arise:
what does the seeing?
yet throughout it all
the dishes still
get cleaned
watching the show
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
joy
there is joy
proceeding patiently
in the direction of the heart
there is joy
in finding small insights
there is joy in being
guided by mindfulness
welcoming space
walking the meadow
no path to follow
an open space
fresh and welcoming
here ease
finds me again
with this breath
one conscious breath
can bring you home
even if there have been
long times of forgetting
you can try again
without shame, or worry
to begin fresh
is possible, right now
with this mindful
breath
waking up
Yay,
you woke up!
how glad life is
for your companionship
it’s been waiting
to get your attention
whispering in your dreams
with all its wonders
calling you
to be together
how wonderful
you woke up!
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
