Sometimes the mountain
is hidden from me in veils
of cloud, sometimes
I am hidden from the mountain
in veils of inattention, apathy, fatigue,
when I forget or refuse to go
down to the shore or a few yards
up the road, on a clear day,
to reconfirm
that witnessing presence.
~ Denise Levertov ~
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Kindness
Before you know what kindness really is
you must lose things,
feel the future dissolve in a moment
like salt in a weakened broth.
What you held in your hand,
what you counted and carefully saved,
all this must go so you know
how desolate the landscape can be
between the regions of kindness.
How you ride and ride
thinking the bus will never stop,
the passengers eating maize and chicken
will stare out the window forever.
Before you learn the tender gravity of kindness,
you must travel where the Indian in a white poncho
lies dead by the side of the road.
You must see how this could be you,
how he too was someone
who journeyed through the night with plans
and the simple breath that kept him alive.
Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside,
you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing.
You must wake up with sorrow.
You must speak to it till your voice
catches the thread of all sorrows
and you see the size of the cloth.
Then it is only kindness that makes sense anymore,
only kindness that ties your shoes
and sends you out into the day to mail letters and purchase bread,
only kindness that raises its head
from the crowd of the world to say
It is I you have been looking for,
and then goes with you everywhere
like a shadow or a friend.
—Naomi Shihab Nye
you must lose things,
feel the future dissolve in a moment
like salt in a weakened broth.
What you held in your hand,
what you counted and carefully saved,
all this must go so you know
how desolate the landscape can be
between the regions of kindness.
How you ride and ride
thinking the bus will never stop,
the passengers eating maize and chicken
will stare out the window forever.
Before you learn the tender gravity of kindness,
you must travel where the Indian in a white poncho
lies dead by the side of the road.
You must see how this could be you,
how he too was someone
who journeyed through the night with plans
and the simple breath that kept him alive.
Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside,
you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing.
You must wake up with sorrow.
You must speak to it till your voice
catches the thread of all sorrows
and you see the size of the cloth.
Then it is only kindness that makes sense anymore,
only kindness that ties your shoes
and sends you out into the day to mail letters and purchase bread,
only kindness that raises its head
from the crowd of the world to say
It is I you have been looking for,
and then goes with you everywhere
like a shadow or a friend.
—Naomi Shihab Nye
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
For Lost Friends
As twilight makes a rainbow robe
From the concealed colors of day
In order for time to stay alive
Within the dark weight of night,
May we lose no one we love
From the shelter of our hearts.
.
When we love another heart
And allow it to love us,
We journey deep below time
Into that eternal weave
Where nothing unravels.
.
May we have the grace to see
Despite the hurt of rupture,
The searing of anger,
And the empty disappointment,
That whoever we have loved,
Such love can never quench.
.
Though a door may have closed,
Closed between us,
May we be able to view
Our lost friends with eyes
Wise with calming grace;
Forgive them the damage
We were left to inherit;
.
Free ourselves from the chains
Of forlorn resentment;
Bring warmth again to
Where the heart has frozen
In order that beyond the walls
Of our cherished hurt
And chosen distance
We may be able to
Celebrate the gifts they brought,
Learn and grow from the pain,
And prosper into difference,
Wishing them the peace
Where spirit can summon
Beauty from wounded space.
.
~ John O'Donohue ~
As twilight makes a rainbow robe
From the concealed colors of day
In order for time to stay alive
Within the dark weight of night,
May we lose no one we love
From the shelter of our hearts.
.
When we love another heart
And allow it to love us,
We journey deep below time
Into that eternal weave
Where nothing unravels.
.
May we have the grace to see
Despite the hurt of rupture,
The searing of anger,
And the empty disappointment,
That whoever we have loved,
Such love can never quench.
.
Though a door may have closed,
Closed between us,
May we be able to view
Our lost friends with eyes
Wise with calming grace;
Forgive them the damage
We were left to inherit;
.
Free ourselves from the chains
Of forlorn resentment;
Bring warmth again to
Where the heart has frozen
In order that beyond the walls
Of our cherished hurt
And chosen distance
We may be able to
Celebrate the gifts they brought,
Learn and grow from the pain,
And prosper into difference,
Wishing them the peace
Where spirit can summon
Beauty from wounded space.
.
~ John O'Donohue ~
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Today's Horoscope: March 13, 2011
Libra
Sept. 23 - Oct 22
It's possible that you'll feel doubly frustrated by today's First-Quarter Moon, Libra, because you may be having a hard time getting your message across to someone, while you are aware of the problems they could cause by not heeding your instructions. You'll need to be patient, and adapt quickly to their level of understanding and experience so that you don't use so much energy you develop some degree of nervous tension yourself. Slow down and ask for feedback; keep it simple. If you're feeling overly optimistic and confident, avoid making important decisions today; things don't always go the way you are feeling at the moment.
Compatibility: Sagittarius
Mood: Demanding
Your Daily Lucky Color: Orange
Lucky Number: 66
Lucky Time of Day: 3pm
Love:
Today would be a good day to express any feelings you've been holding back from someone you care about.
Career:
Don't try to do everything yourself! You've been working hard, ask for assistance and lighten the load!
Health:
You must be achieving your health goals, you're doing great!
Wealth:
You've been doing great keeping up with your financial obligations.
Sept. 23 - Oct 22
It's possible that you'll feel doubly frustrated by today's First-Quarter Moon, Libra, because you may be having a hard time getting your message across to someone, while you are aware of the problems they could cause by not heeding your instructions. You'll need to be patient, and adapt quickly to their level of understanding and experience so that you don't use so much energy you develop some degree of nervous tension yourself. Slow down and ask for feedback; keep it simple. If you're feeling overly optimistic and confident, avoid making important decisions today; things don't always go the way you are feeling at the moment.
Compatibility: Sagittarius
Mood: Demanding
Your Daily Lucky Color: Orange
Lucky Number: 66
Lucky Time of Day: 3pm
Love:
Today would be a good day to express any feelings you've been holding back from someone you care about.
Career:
Don't try to do everything yourself! You've been working hard, ask for assistance and lighten the load!
Health:
You must be achieving your health goals, you're doing great!
Wealth:
You've been doing great keeping up with your financial obligations.
Friday, March 11, 2011
WHEN THE HOLY THAWS
A woman's body, like the earth, has seasons;
when the mountain stream flows,
when the holy
thaws,
when I am most fragile and in need,
it was then, it seemed,
God came
closest.
God, like a medic on a field, is tending our souls.
Our horns get locked with desires, but don't hold yourself
too accountable; for all desires are
really innocent. That is what
the compassion in His
eyes tell me.
Why this great war between the countries -- the countries --
inside of us?
What are all these insane borders we protect?
What are all these different names for the same church of love
we kneel in together? For it is true, together we live; and only
at that shrine where all are welcome will God sing
loud enough to be heard.
Our horns got locked with the earth and sky in some odd
marriage ritual; so what, don't worry. We should be proud of
ourselves for everything we helped create in this
magic world.
And God is always there, if you feel wounded. He kneels
over this earth like
a divine medic,
and His love thaws
the holy in us.
~ St. Teresa of Avila ~
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
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