Friday, August 3, 2012

Poem: Lughnasadh Shift


Lughnasadh Shift

Stepping out into sunrise
There is no doubt the Earth
Has turned, deep breaths
Confirm new attitude
Even in the summer desert
New bees buzzing and the
Morning song of mourning doves
Sings of a new harvest
Praises to Creation
In places far away, fresh
Hilltop balefires burn, while
Nimble fingers craft dolls
Of corn harvested fresh
Berries chosen  off the
Prickly vine burst juicy, heady
Taste of autumn rolls across
The skies, the scent of wood smoke
Touched with the promise of rain
Desert dancer, hands aloft, feet
Deep in Sacred Ground, becomes
One with Earth and Sky
This Holy Morning
This new season
This glorious reminder
That life is a circle; everything
Dies, feeds life and returns
Renewed and refreshed
Blessed to bless
And to remember

© 1 August 2012

Thursday, August 2, 2012

In But Not Of: Lao-tzu, Tao Te Ching, Chapter 12


Colors blind the eye.
Sounds deafen the ear.
Flavors numb the taste.
Thoughts weaken the mind.
Desires wither the heart.

The Master observes the world

but trusts his inner vision.
He allows things to come and go.
His heart is open as the sky.

 – Lao-tzu, Tao Te Ching, Chapter 12

Translation by S. Mitchell


In, But Not Of

In the midst of discord
Words spoken thoughtless
Another day passed
Creatures scuttle underfoot
Elsewhere, hungry bellies
Cry, unheard but for 
The vultures overhead
Children of privilege hear
Lullabies from the mouths
Of jeweled parents, feeding
From cardboard and aluminum
Yet overhead, raspberry skies
Glow soft over ravaged lands
And pure alike; no color brings
Peace or happiness to those
Who know not love...

...Love sits barefoot on damp grass
Eyes closed to the bright
Cacophany of arrogant humanity
Within the heart, Love steps out
Of comfort and eternal peace,
Feeding those whose hearts
Yearn for the food the hungry
Cannot imagine, cannot understand
Until Love's hands open,
Inviting them to the feast,
Offering that one smile
In that one moment
When it is most needed

(c) 2 August 2012

Reflection: A Moment Out of Time

Sitting in a quiet place, eyes closed, breath soft as a baby entering sleep, I felt myself rise until I was surrounded by stars.  Colored nebulae swirled about me and I lost form.  Only Being, I heard the voice of God; a whisper - a song - a memory of before and an awareness of after...

All Is Eternal

Face tingling as I returned to Time and limitation, I knew.

Everything matters.

I am responsible.

In Time, we must reveal the Eternal.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Hebrew Bible: Psalm 90:1-2

"A Prayer of Moses, the man of God.  Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.  Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God." ~ Psalm 90:1-2


I dwell in You, O my Lord
Not beside the road
With no riches to my name;
For in You I am home
Without You I would be
No less homeless than
The girl on the city streets
Begging for food to feed
Her hungry cat
Indeed, should I walk up
To her as she leans angry
Against the bricks of the ancient
Tenement, her cat curled by 
Her feet at the end of the
Clothesline leash, frayed where
The knot has rubbed against itself;
Should I walk up to her smiling
And she bore her anguished
Eyes into my privileged soul
I would find my roommate
My bunk-mate, sister, friend
She has been in You since
The day you formed her tiny
Feet within her mother's womb
Since the day I first curled
Fetal within, I was her friend
O Lord, You are our dwelling place
Never has there been a place
Where we could not find Home

(c) 1 August 2012