Hi Karen- I love the example you shared of finding balance amid the wind! I participated in a poetry offering with Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer last week and she shared this poem by Brooke McNamara that resonated with me. Replacing 'yourself' with 'the world' works in these trying times, too. When things look bleak, what can I shine a light on, or illuminate to 'exchange for something softer'?
Here's the link to the poem on Brooke McNamara's website. Scroll down and you'll find it.
Thank you Karen. So great to pick this up! Reading a day after as I stayed away from the viewing of things. The balance discovery you shared calls me to try it on. I practice Qigong for grounding and have found the teachings and practice to be so good! Going to the mat twice yesterday was helpful. Reaching out in my own community to be a “helper”, receiving the unconditional dog love, and writing down how I feel is my jam this week.
Yes to all of your practices and inclinations! Thanks for sharing. I too appreciate Qigong and any way to keep my energy from getting stuck. Peace and good wishes to you, too.
Writing poetry and faithfully doing my (amended process) morning pages. I find I need people around me more often, those I love and respect, despite the fact I am a fairly extreme introvert.
Hello Karen, so lovely to hear from you. It’s not a good day for me so I’m unlikely to come up with any inspirational insights. I can only agree with the direction of your thoughts in that the only way we look at the current chaos is through a universal-historic lens. In other words the big picture. The lens is a wide one that I believe incorporates the universe. We are becoming more and more influenced by changes in the universe as it seeks to balance the destructive actions of humanity. The changes will not be confined to earth, and I will probably not live to experience the restoration of equilibrium. I see God deftly manoeuvring the chess pieces, pulling the strings of puppetry and how he fixes what we’ve destroyed will remain a mystery. We wait in faithful obedience and trust the infinite wisdom of our Deity, moment by moment.
Hi Karen- I love the example you shared of finding balance amid the wind! I participated in a poetry offering with Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer last week and she shared this poem by Brooke McNamara that resonated with me. Replacing 'yourself' with 'the world' works in these trying times, too. When things look bleak, what can I shine a light on, or illuminate to 'exchange for something softer'?
Here's the link to the poem on Brooke McNamara's website. Scroll down and you'll find it.
https://www.brookemcnamara.com/a-month-to-savor/
CHANGE THE LIGHTING
If you can’t change yourself, after all
the efforts, change the light
by which you read your story.
Exchange overhead for something softer -
a lamp, a candle, a vine of shining
holiday lights - and feel yourself
become hugged by the fabric of shadows.
You see the darkness here has wisdom too.
You see these objects around become related
by the pregnant emptiness that holds them,
and you. Let this light reveal the rapture
of being just this. Then, further still, try
moonlight, or no light, until, at last,
this open, sourceless incandescence
which you are
no matter who you think you are
will follow you from the inside
wherever you may go, however
you may change, or not.
BROOKE MCNAMARA
Thanks for this, Sharon. So many helpful images here. I'm grateful for it -- and for you. Take good care.
Thank you Karen. So great to pick this up! Reading a day after as I stayed away from the viewing of things. The balance discovery you shared calls me to try it on. I practice Qigong for grounding and have found the teachings and practice to be so good! Going to the mat twice yesterday was helpful. Reaching out in my own community to be a “helper”, receiving the unconditional dog love, and writing down how I feel is my jam this week.
Sending you peace in your writing too.
Yes to all of your practices and inclinations! Thanks for sharing. I too appreciate Qigong and any way to keep my energy from getting stuck. Peace and good wishes to you, too.
Thank you so much, Karen.
This is just what I need today, and I'm grateful.
You are so clear.
Wishing you happy novel writing! and moments of bliss.
Love, Kate Buckley
Writing poetry and faithfully doing my (amended process) morning pages. I find I need people around me more often, those I love and respect, despite the fact I am a fairly extreme introvert.
Same here (introvert needing to be around people!) thanks for naming that.
Hello Karen, so lovely to hear from you. It’s not a good day for me so I’m unlikely to come up with any inspirational insights. I can only agree with the direction of your thoughts in that the only way we look at the current chaos is through a universal-historic lens. In other words the big picture. The lens is a wide one that I believe incorporates the universe. We are becoming more and more influenced by changes in the universe as it seeks to balance the destructive actions of humanity. The changes will not be confined to earth, and I will probably not live to experience the restoration of equilibrium. I see God deftly manoeuvring the chess pieces, pulling the strings of puppetry and how he fixes what we’ve destroyed will remain a mystery. We wait in faithful obedience and trust the infinite wisdom of our Deity, moment by moment.
Thanks Karen. I'm glad the novel is moving forward. Stay in the chair!
What a gift to receive your post at 11:00 a.m. on Monday. Thank you!
Thank you, Karen!
So good to hear from you, Jane. You’re in my thoughts with care and good wishes.