release
from within you
the myriad trials,
and tribulations of
the past, instead
be here
now
Now
Tag Archives: contemplation
Music
The music fills me with such
love and beauty, it’s like free-falling
with all the best intentions, just now,
while the world shepherds a course
of direction, and I feel that deep connection.
I sit and let the music fill me, every nook and
cranny of my soul becomes engulfed in the
sound and feeling of all that’s there. Oh, such
devotion and care.
Care for ourselves is such an important
part of our journey. Sometimes we feel lost,
and unsure, even uncomfortable in our own skin,
even when we are with our kin. It’s not a demerit,
we all feel this way at times, so let your heart inherit.
The joy you feel within, as you take in the piano
paying a melody you swear was written for you, and
you grin.
The smile filling the room with joy and love,
it’s enough to absolve the remainder of the lost
souls, in which you do connect, as you see yourself
in their midst, and have lived through the tests, just
as they are now presently, giving their best.
Best is what we each carry, give out, and try
not to tarry. No, give all that you have, my friend,
and, when it’s time, let the music fill you and
begin the dance again.
A Blogger’s Diary 4/25/21: On Writing and Reflecting, Portland, Reading, and Breathing
I’ve been thinking more this week about how important it is to take time for ourselves. It is interesting, as I know this truth viscerally today, and have written about it several times in the past few months, and yet as life continues to move, I am continually present to the need to stop and breathe. Important.
Alright, more on that in a moment.
Writing and Reflecting
First, let’s take a look at a few reflections from the week.
Flush
The poem Flush occurred to me this week after I dropped off my guitar to be worked on at the local music store. I hadn’t realized how much I’ve loved learning to play the guitar until, all at once, it was removed from my presence for a couple of days.
I actually went to the music store one day, while they were working on my guitar, just to play the guitars on display. I love the feeling that comes with playing the guitar. In fact, I’ve always loved music, which has been a large part of my life, for, well, always. Moving, deeply satisfying, and inspirational. Lovely.
Hug
The Hug poem was inspired by the WDYS #78 prompt from Keep it Alive, by Sadje. As I pondered the picture of a small table, set for two, it reminded me of times as a child and youth at my grandparents house. Being around all of my cousins, and feeling that deep sense of connection and love you get when you are near so much family.
Though I don’t get to see much of my extended family today, I relish these memories. Beautiful.
Next Week
I don’t have much to write about the writing that is coming. That’s fun.
I know there will be more poems, and I do have plans on a post about purpose, yet have not begun to write this piece. All of this unknown is part of the process and joy of creation, which I adore.
Portland
My oldest son has an internship with Intel in Portland this summer. Yes. Exciting. I went up to visit him yesterday, which was my first time in Portland in over 15 months. It was an amazing experience.
We went to a wonderful local grocery story called the India Supermarket, and ate at an equally lovely restaurant called Apna Chat Bhavan. Delicious. We then played guitars for the afternoon. It was so lovely to see him and spend time with him doing things we love to do, two of which, we’ve been unable to do, or have chosen not to do, for a long time. Lovely.
Reading
The remote book club is still alive and well. We just finished The House of the Spirits, by Isabel Allende. An elegant and descriptively written book about war, violence, oppression, love, family, and life. I highly recommend this book. Just know that the book does contain many violent scenes, which may be disturbing to some readers. The book contained about as much violence as I can handle these days.
I am now reading the Mahabharata, by Kamala Subramaniam, which is part of my continual spiritual and devotional development. I am only about 100 pages into the text, and am already seeing parallels to all of life, which I know will continue.
Breathing
Have you ever had someone ask you if you are breathing, or, have you had someone say, don’t forget to breathe? Yep, me too. In fact, I am the one that often says to people, remember to breathe. Yet, more context is needed.
When I say to someone close to me, remember to breathe. These words come along with a historical conversational context about what remembering to breathe really means.
It means creating time in all of our days to stop. Stop working, cooking, cleaning, erranding, working, etc., and just be. Creating time to focus on our breath and be with ourselves. As I’ve written before, you can accomplish this by taking 5-minutes away from everyone and everything, and just focus on the inhalation and exhalation of your breath.
And, as thoughts arise, such as I need to do this, and I need to do that, just let that be. And, return to the breath. If you choose to walk during this time, count your steps as you inhale and exhale, which will help keep the mind at bay.
The point?
We all need time to let ourselves be. Away from all of the “needs” that are arising within us.
When we begin to learn that, in fact, those “needs” never really cease, and that we can take actions to slow down the reactivity of the mind to stimuli; by, for example, taking a 5-minute break away from everyone and everything. Using this time to just breathe, we begin to deepen our understanding of how our minds work. Helpful.
Alright, that’s all for this week.
Have a lovely week.
Flush
I strum the guitar,
just as the dream begins, and close
my eyes, and look within.
The sound coming from this instrument
fills me with a knowing
that feels like the best of times akin.
Back and forth, and forth and back,
strumming,
all the while there’s more coming.
Hands slide up and down the neck,
fingers tired,
yet no one remembers,
because the music
Is simply glorious in all it’s radiance.
The vibration shakes my being,
core holding tight
to this very special delight.
Skin prickles, wakes up,
just as the goose bumps begin to flush.
Presence is Present as a Present: Amber and Jeff (2)
I sit and stare out the window,
as light, refracting,
dances and glints at me,
reminiscent of memories of another
time,
filling my face with light that
glows brightly from within as
the presence
sits upright and holds tight.
Within the temple of my senses,
the mystery I contemplate
awakens me
to the quiet immensity
of the antenna of my satellite.
I watch, listen, and learn, from
within,
the presence fills me with such
delight, and
the awakening keeps my mind clear
insight.
The outer world’s reflection
is alive with sprites,
beings in this garden
of Gaia’s night.
Behold,
the sense of alight
you feel,
as you watch,
the silent observer within,
for the next part of this
rhyme,
we may call life’s present to
sight.
Dreaming imagination,
yet steady observance
within this soul vehicle,
drifting in and out
of shades of consciousness
whilst grounding to the foundations
of the earth’s core vibration.
Within and without, such
a dance of wonder and joy
to conjure and explore. Stay and move
with the vibration that’s there, for it’s the gift
of this life’s stability and core.
Presence is present as a present,
multitudes of every giving galore.
We hope you enjoyed this second collaboration between Amber of DiosRaw and myself. Much fun.
Forevermore
It at times feels so reminiscent,
when scars bear themselves into words;
and we feel as if there tearing open again,
just as the moment that preceded it,
was left on the line drying through time.
And you watch the line,
as the moments wave in the wind,
as you pull everything together, for
one more push towards your center.
Down deep, you stretch into the darkness,
leaving fear behind; and, wondering, if this time,
you’ll have the strength to carry on; and,
in the meantime
you look back at the line, moments there, some,
yes, fair, and some quite contraire. It’s enough,
you know, to face them all, one at a time,
giving them power once more,
while you conjure up the
courage to live
forevermore.
Haiku #17
meadow landscaping
tranquil, as the wind gently
blows, inside you know.
Depend
I hear that voice echoing
from the past,
every second, fast, oh,
how long will this last?
When a moment feels like an eternity,
we hold tight,
and try to let go of the fright we feel,
yet at times,
we hold too close to heart,
and it can feel as if we’re falling apart.
Seams coming undone,
once tethered together,
now bursting with imagination and dread
in this very cold weather.
Inside the drama’s milieux,
perspective is hard to find,
as we run after feelings that are a part of another
place and time.
Remember, then,
as thought precedes feeling, and
you know that you are truly dreaming,
watch, listen, and
observe the scene,
instead of entering into it with every
piece of your being.
Perspective can be regained as
we learn more
about ourselves inside the dance, and
begin to master
the waves of our second chance.
One, two, three,
just like that, is how they
are feeling. Come and gone in an instant,
when we slow down and
let go of our resistance.
Be with all that comes your way,
many a wise one
will say. Nay,
love all that comes your way,
because it is part and parcel of the entire play.
Choose wisely then,
my friend, for on your life it doth
depend.
Devotion
They befall us all,
for it’s a part of being a walking
and breathing kaleidoscope,
on a planet so full of hope.
When they come,
it’s very normal to withdraw,
and look for reasons for this flaw.
Asking questions to the sky above,
yet, that might not be where
the answers are located, my love.
Tragedies are a part of the calamity of
this thing we call life.
They are part and parcel of the
seen and unseen,
and everything in between; conjoined
forever in an illusory dance with,
Blessings
my friend are all around you,
so when you have a moment,
take a minute, and stop. Stop
moving, and just be
with all that surrounds you, and
is within you.
And, in that silence,
listen, feel, and always
keep it real.
Reality holds a lot of promise,
when we move out of the way,
and let go of our preconceived notions.
When we stay in motion,
and let our hearts open,
allowing the silence within to
determine our devotion.
Mind
thinking,
the mind ponders
and creates at will, so
watch, listen, and sit in
the silence in-
between.
The name of this style of poem is called the Hexastich. It took me some time to get to writing one of these. It was fun.
Develop. Inspire. Transform. 