the view in my backyard

we are spinning. like the sufi mystic who whirls as a spiritual practice, this planet rotates on its axis. we see this every morning, as we spin toward the sun and it appears to rise, and in the evening it appears to set. the moon spins on it's axis and orbits around us, and we spin together as we orbit around the sun. the sun spins on its on majestic axis as it orbits around the black hole at the center of this magnificant galaxy we call the milky way.

.....and at the most elemental level are the spinning atoms that coalesce to make all of matter, including you.

.....circles inside circles inside spirals in the sky. all of it, supported by the dark.

.....from darkness we come to darkness we go. billions of years ago, the universe exploded into being. it is still racing into the infinite, as the red shift attests. the big bang, the great push that happened when another cosmic cycle began, full of all the potential of the universe- just like the winter solstice moment of light being reborn. the big bang, the sound of the universe, the om, the gong, the heartbeat of the drum. the big bang, sperm and egg meeting in the dark feminine body to create you, full of all the potential of the universe.

.....we are stardust, you and i, made of the same matter that begat the universe. our bodies sanctify spirit, giving this loose conglomerate of molecules a place to spin and coalesce out of the dark womb, into light, before returning to darkness again.

.....this is no mere metaphysical musing. it's the most basic tenet of physics, the first law of thermodynamics: matter and the energy that infuses it is never created, nor destroyed, but only changes forms.

.....breath now and inhale the very same molecules of air that jesus, buddha, and allah did hundreds and hundreds of years ago.

.....i invite you to stand beneath the infinite sky some night this season. breathe deep of the night air, and be not afraid. look into the immeasurably vast cosmos and know that your soul's energy is a forever piece in this intricate celestial matrix of light and dark.

........

.

thanks to amy martin for this piece.

please check out her site.

.....www.moonlady.com

 

 

think on these things

     we run all over the country to find a place of peace and enjoyment.  a place to feel safe and contented - but it is in our own backyard. 

    the ideal spot is where we are when we realize that life and happiness is within us and in no other place. 

    when we become complete and coordinated within we may be in some picturesque place, or it may be just sitting on the doorstep in the sunlight with leaves at our feet.

     the feeling is that there is no other place as important as this one. 

     suddenly this moment and this place have all the stuff of happiness because we have found within ourselves the completeness and joy of faith.

 

thanks to

joyce sequichie hifler

 

 

life on a train

life is like a train ride, it read. we get on. we ride. we get off. we get back on and ride some more. there are accidents and there are delays. at certain stops there are surprises. some of these will translate into great moments of joy, some will result in profound sorrow.

when we are born and we first board the train, we meet people whom we think will be with us for the entire journey. those people are our parents

sadly, this is far from the truth.
our parents are with us for as long as we absolutely need them. they too have journeys they must complete. we live on with the memories of their love, affection, friendship, guidance and their ever presence.

there are others who board the train and who eventually become very important to us, in turn

these people are our brothers, sisters, friends and acquaintances, whom we will learn to love, and cherish.

some people consider their journey like a jaunty tour. They will just go merrily along

others, will encounter many upsets, tears, losses on their journey.
 
others still, will linger on to offer a helping hand to anyone in need

 

some people on the train will leave an everlasting impression when they get off….
 
some will get on and get off the train so quickly, they will scarsely leave a sign that they ever travelled along with you  or ever crossed your path…

we will sometimes be upset that some passengers whom we love, will choose to sit in another compartment and leave us to travel on our own.
then again, there’s nothing that says we can’t seek  them out anyway.

nevertheless, once sought out and found,  we may not even be able to sit next to them because that  seat will already be taken

that’s okay …everyone’s journey will be filled with hopes, dreams, challenges, setbacks and goodbyes.
we must strive to make the best of it… no matter what

we must constantly strive to understand our travel companions and  look for the best in everyone.

remember that at any moment during our journey, any one of our travel companions can have a weak moment and be in need of our help.

i’ll be glad to see them again. i ’ll also be glad to have contributed to their baggage… and to have enriched their lives, just as much as they will have contributed to my baggage and enriched my life

we’re all on this train ride together. above all, we should all try to strive to make the ride as pleasant and memorable as we can, right up until we each make the final stop and leave the train for the last time.

 

thanks to: dr. robert w. schwarzmueller

 

 

the grief rock

i don’t have a choice

i haven’t since that day

it’s like putting a jagged rock

in your pocket each day

it hurts.. in fact sometimes it’s

unbearable

but i have to do it

i don’t have a choice

the jagged rock is my grief

and it hurts

it is unlike any hurt

you have ever had

but i have to do it

i don’t have a choice.

i endure the pain

day to day but i find that

as time passes

it gets a little easier

a little easier each day

my pocket rounds the corners

of that sharp jagged rock

each and every day

like a rock in a river

each day it becomes a little smoother

water and life passing over it

i put it in my pocket every day

i don’t have a choice

this day

this is a day that can be yours. claim it, live, bless it, and when night falls,

rest in the knowledge that you didn't dally with trivial,

unnecessary hurts and wounds that usually take over your hours.

walk with steady steps of a determined but patient person

who will help others but keep yourself in line with all that is positive and desirable.

being kind has never been wrong, even when it seems someone is an enemy.

have compassion when others hurt and turn away from sarcasm and spitefulness.

build a habit of doing the right things and don't fall into line with every illness
and

every useless fad that comes around. never watch others and think to yourself that

you will probably have to face this same thing some time.

 

thanks to

joyce sequichie hifler

 

 

For Calling the Spirit Back from Wandering the Earth in Its Human Feet

 

Put down that bag of potato chips, that white bread, that bottle of pop.

Turn off that cellphone, computer, and remote control.

Open the door, then close it behind you.

Take a breath offered by friendly winds. They travel the earth gathering essences of plants to clean.

Give it back with gratitude.

If you sing it will give your spirit lift to fly to the stars’ ears and back.

Acknowledge this earth who has cared for you since you were a dream planting itself precisely within your parents’ desire.

Let your moccasin feet take you to the encampment of the guardians who have known you before time, who will be there after time. They sit before the fire that has been there without time.

Let the earth stabilize your postcolonial insecure jitters.

Be respectful of the small insects, birds and animal people who accompany you.
Ask their forgiveness for the harm we humans have brought down upon them.

Don’t worry.
The heart knows the way though there may be high-rises, interstates, checkpoints, armed soldiers, massacres, wars, and those who will despise you because they despise themselves.

The journey might take you a few hours, a day, a year, a few years, a hundred, a thousand or even more.

Watch your mind. Without training it might run away and leave your heart for the immense human feast set by the thieves of time.

Do not hold regrets.

When you find your way to the circle, to the fire kept burning by the keepers of your soul, you will be welcomed.

You must clean yourself with cedar, sage, or other healing plant.

Cut the ties you have to failure and shame.

Let go the pain you are holding in your mind, your shoulders, your heart, all the way to your feet. Let go the pain of your ancestors to make way for those who are heading in our direction.

Ask for forgiveness.

Call upon the help of those who love you. These helpers take many forms: animal, element, bird, angel, saint, stone, or ancestor.

Call your spirit back. It may be caught in corners and creases of shame, judgment, and human abuse.

You must call in a way that your spirit will want to return.

Speak to it as you would to a beloved child.

Welcome your spirit back from its wandering. It may return in pieces, in tatters. Gather them together. They will be happy to be found after being lost for so long.

Your spirit will need to sleep awhile after it is bathed and given clean clothes.

Now you can have a party. Invite everyone you know who loves and supports you. Keep room for those who have no place else to go.

Make a giveaway, and remember, keep the speeches short.

Then, you must do this: help the next person find their way through the dark. 

thanks to Joy Harjo

 

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