These dark days of winter
no snow or ice
just a grayness
hung low from the sky.
We all want to be free
free from pain
free from hurt
thoughts, mind
body still.
Yet I go outdoors
Praying for the sun rays.
I won’t squint or complain
This time, I promise.
Your rays are not harsh
But a welcome home
Into your warm embrace
We all long to be.
Gray sky
Gray concrete
The houses look dim
The trees stark black.
I can see the cardinals
seeking shelter in the tree.
Where do they sleep at night?
Do they nest or hide in a stronghold
Sheltered from the cold
The gray, the unending hard ground?
The body hardens against the harsh reality
and all I want to do is soften in that warm embrace.
Lead me by the hand
Yours warming my cold fingers
Gloves don’t keep out the cold.
I saw a glimpse of the sun
and I went outside to seek its wisdom
to bask in its glory
to soak up some rays.
The biting wind greeted me.
My strong legs carried me on
Hoping my body would soon warm up.
Stride after stride
We all want to be free
free from pain
free from hurt
free from isolation and a cold shoulder.
A warm smile greets me like a warm mug of tea
The whole room softens in your glow
The light of Imbolc, another of nature’s cues
The darkness is not a permanent state
The sun doesn’t always shine
It doesn’t have to rain or snow on a cold, gray day.
My emerald heart glows in your embrace
To walk upon the body of Earth.
Tag: wisdom
The Wisdom of Trees (Part 2)
The trees are my elders.
Their cyclical change tangible proof
that it’s okay to grow, shine, be
our true selves and let go.
It’s always been the natural order of things
And now they have shared their gilded wisdom.
It may look like trees are stuck
and don’t see so much.
I’ve learned it’s in the pause
that we receive all the gifts
this life has to offer.
[ Listen to this poem read by my friend Jess on her podcast The Pawtuxet General: https://www.pawtuxetgeneral.com/1885927/14088823-the-pawtuxet-general-episode-95 ]
The Wisdom of Trees (part 1)
Red, banana-shaped leaves all beneath a tree, like a bright blanket, winter sparkly lights gleam on its branches. I look up and stare into its outstretched arms trying to learn its secrets. Tell me, how do you so lovingly let go once your true colors have emerged? Show me that it is okay to be naked and surrounded by beauty at the same time. Vulnerable but not lost. Rooted and grounded in that strong inner knowing. Whisper your secret in my ear. Lend me your wisdom. My eager beating heart awaits your reply.
Inspiration and the Sacred
Where does inspiration come from? It can be a fleeting idea, A word or phrase that lights me up And I want to become the explorer of my own inner terrain. [The Sacred] It happens in solitude And when I’m out in nature. I feel most connected to The wisdom of my heart. Beauty always surrounds me, Even in the mundane and hard times. I just have to be willing And open to see it. When I connect to my heart and breath, I feel I am taking an active role in my life. I’m not getting carried away by the rushing tide of emotions and circumstance. In that moment, the magic happens. I no longer have to struggle. I can literally go with the flow. Again, I return to the explorer within, Who recognizes the difficulty in truly letting go With surrender and vulnerability. There is peace and ultimate freedom To find creative solutions, To take a beat before I react, And to connect to my inner wisdom. How does inspiration and the sacred come to you?
LISTEN
The trees have Their own story to tell. Their roots run deep, Slow and powerful Beyond what my eyes can perceive. Listen To their wisdom. The ever silent witness Present to the environment, The changing seasons, The years come and gone, Steady and silent. Touch the tree bark. Its rough outer edge. Can I be a witness Without that hard exterior? Can I be vulnerable, Exposed to all the elements And be just as slow and powerful? Not hardened to the lessons But provide a shelter, To nest and give respite To the quiet integration; To take nourishment, To be held and to hold All who pass and take shelter? What emerges from the wisdom? What tales do I want to share? The trees have their own story to tell. If I get still and quiet, I can hear their wisdom.
Healing Insights 