The unknown may feel scary
that darkness of uncertainty
looms large
and we feel small
like a lost child
afraid of the night
and bigger shadows
fear, uncertainty,
doubt, worry
our survival can be
called into question.
To venture beyond seems
otherworldly or
reckless
To liberate the bonds of fear
we must first bring those
shadows into view
into the light
to be examined
to be seen
and then their booming
dire
warning siren seems to be dimmed
A dimmer switch,
which we absolutely
control,
It is within our grasp
and we have the authority
the audacity
the key
to choose how much depth
and breadth that fear has over us
There is no permission slip
needed.
The permission was only ours
to give
to ourselves
To liberate these bonds of fear
know, my dear,
that it is safe.
Step out of the darkness
and into the light
Tag: light
I am breath and heart
Breath is my life force
my heart alchemizes that
force into fresh blood that
sustains me
It makes me light up
from the inside
Even in its natural course,
I can take the reins
- so to speak –
I can open up my lungs
with deep, mindful breaths
It may seem like it’s
automatic
a response
a reaction
The process is not that
complicated
Try it now.
Inhale slow and full.
Do you feel fulfilled
if not just for this moment?
Exhale even more s-l-o-w-l-y
like exhaling through a straw
Extend that breath
and empty your lungs
Trust that you are safe
another breath is on its way
- for the lucky ones -
Put your hand on your heart
and feel that beating jewel
in your chest
It is your life force
your birthright to this body
Today comes fast
tomorrow uncertain
Feel your light
It is your gift.
Today
I draw the curtain back
and allow the sunlight to
fill the room and all its
edges and corners with light
– sweet blessed light –
to chase away the darkness
of the night.
I was afraid of the dark
as a child I saw the shadows
dance across the walls and
I was filled with terror.
As a child I was powerless
the world loomed large and I
so small, too small to make a difference
to be heard.
The curtain clears the cobwebs
of my mind and I greet the day
counting my blessings to be alive
today is the only one that counts
Today I can make a difference and I do.
I can steer and guide that light
– that inner light intermingled with dark –
and shine a flashlight on all that was
– and is –
filled with fear and unknowing.
I can manipulate and warp the light
like a prism broken into all its colorful
rays of light.
Today I make finger puppets with the shadow
We play and walk,
morphing our shadows into one.
Fear still grips at me sometimes
even in full daylight
Shocks and anxieties aglow
I breathe
And as I do, I steady my heart.
The tick tock of a clock
mimics my heartbeat and I
find that connection once more
to be grateful to be alive.
Today, this moment
I cherish the lessons
even those not faint of heart
that grew and morphed and shaped me
into me
And I smile and greet the day.
The Golden Star
Six planets align in the night sky
Their rotation and route mapped out
by my ancestors
Math never lies
There is predictable safety in their patterns
We try to guess which one is the brightest
Is it Jupiter?
Is that Saturn’s rings – Yes!
The golden star above my house
and the dark silhouette of trees
Can Saturn see the earth?
Is it a blue star in their sky?
The trajectory of me, a mere earthling
looking up and seeing a song of the ancients.
They say a star’s light took billions of light years
just to twinkle in my eye
What an impossible journey
but here it is Painting and lighting up the dark sky
so many stars
at least 12 – 15 by my counting.
It is cold, the dead of winter
– not in the cosmos –
the sleep of winter is just my experience
what seemed a billion lifetimes ago
is not so far from what I can see
counting and marveling at the light
in the quiet of the night.
There is magical possibility
in the incredulous impossibility
What was once expressed as a ball of
gas and light has not been long forgotten
It shines above me now
It has a story to share
to those who look upon it
My ear is open to hear your tale
My heart is open to believe
I see you now
A hand holding mine
We keep each other warm through this night.
Waning Crescent
Our eyes met.
It was the waning crescent
and her bright star companion.
No words were exchanged.
Just a silent greeting
and a reflection of light.
Distance has no bearing
in our quiet reunion.
We share the same sun after all.
Tear
A tear in the fabric
Discarded and forgotten
no time to mend the broken
The wind broke the silence
and the leaves twirled
unable to change their course.
Strong foundations seemed to crumble
and rumble, left tattered
and back to their original stone.
Was it too late to turn back time?
Have I had enough of this game of chance
where no one wins?
The night brought an early chill,
even though it was only late afternoon.
A voice seemed to stir
from the rubble, from the tattered
and torn into shreds.
The stars shined through
A reminder that all isn’t lost
all isn’t gone in the dark.
There is a constant light that can never dim.
Of Shadow and Light
I. Shadows in the corner
A face looks out the window
as I play unaware of its piercing
eyes and snarled face.
It watches me often.
Appears here and there.
I feel helpless and scared.
Those watchful eyes and scowled face.
II. The light turns and turns
Other times I have this power
or at least I think I do.
My bedroom ceiling light.
With its round opaque glass
And swirling patterns of ribbon and flowers.
By its own accord, it spins above my head
Slowly and steadily.
Sometimes I follow it with my finger.
Other times I will it to turn.
Tracing the path
Round and round.
It gets the message.
And the glass starts to spin.
Matching its pace to my pointed finger.
Sometimes I reverse the trace,
just to see if it responds.
And it always does.
This relationship, this power.
A track to follow.
My eyes fixated on its path.
We do this little dance.
I follow you.
You follow me.
The glass never unwinds itself
off its hinges or crashes down.
Just above me as I slumber,
It turns and turns.
[ Based on true events ]
Our light
Do not cower, be worried with doubt and fear.
My stance, my words, my being is light.
To my inner source, to my loves,
Embody and embrace my uniqueness.
Now is the time to shine and feel empowered.
Do not cower.
To shrink is not to be approved.
To shrink is the exact opposite
and our light would dim.
Our voice, our very nature and being is that light.
Breathe in the light.
Let it swirl into your heart
And exhale love,
Metta lovingkindness towards yourself and the world.
The World is Rapidly Changing
The world is rapidly changing
Faster and faster
The moment can hold so much.
My ease, my joy, my lightness,
My good and bad.
The different versions of ourselves.
The good daughter
The sacrificial martyr is not my goal,
Is not the point.
This is the breaking point.
The changing of patterns
That change the story
That change the state of being.
I can be light.
I can jump on the stress train.
I choose where to focus
How to be, to show up.
This is me.
All is Well
There is a lightness of heart
A deep inner brightness.
Full complete acceptance and
Joy that I can tap into.
A current that’s always there
The tap never stops flowing.
It enters my heart.
All is well.
I don’t need to strive to find its waters.
The light fragments into a million stars
Reminding me that we all have this same light.
I can sit.
I can smile.
All is well.
For this moment is my reality.
My presence brought forth its gifts.
With gratitude I embody its presence.
We share the same light.
It can never be dimmed or diminished.
It glows strong and bright
In me and you.