I take refuge in the stillness ever present within.
Creativity Found
My writing has slipped towards technical over the last year or so, slowly shifting from the creative nonlinear flow of ideas and experiences into commentary and practical approaches to life; this transition has brought about a fascinating evolution in my style, as I find myself focusing more on methods that can guide others in their personal and professional journeys. The transformation has not merely been a change in content, but an exploration of how I can impact others through structured thought and research. However, my soul cries out for creative release through vocabulary instead of a paintbrush; I long to rekindle the spontaneity of my earlier work, where the words danced freely across the page, unbound by constraints and rich with emotion, reminding me of the beauty and depth that creativity can evoke, both in myself and in those who read my words.
a Winding Path
So dear reader, this brief piece below is for me a gentle release; my devotion to the Buddha, my flirtation with Catholicism, and my enchantment with Mother Earth. As I reflect on the winding paths of my journey, I find that each step has intricately woven a tapestry of faith and discovery, where the teachings of the Buddha have offered me solace and guidance in moments of doubt, while the allure of Catholicism has sparked a curiosity about the complexities of spirituality. This delicate interplay between belief systems has not only enriched my understanding of the world around me but has also deepened my connection to nature, as I marvel at the beauty of the landscapes that cradle our existence. Indeed, these experiences have fostered a deep sense of gratitude, reminding me that life is an intricate dance of love, faith, and the ceaseless wonder of the natural world.
Tat Tvam Asi
Aum
oh one who slumbers
such foolish musing attend thee
the path littered with ten thousand shiny things
dropped and fetttered away
heedless, at the narrowing path
Aum
a sound, a murmur
a directional shift, a dance of ritual
from fool to follower
a taste of body and blood
stirs the soul for redemption
Aum
a dance with divinity
crossing lifetimes,
delicate web of reflection
interconnected, interbeing
tat tvam asi
Flirting With Divinity
My flirtation with the spiritual realm began very early in my life, although I was unaware of the term spiritual. One of my first memories of touching the sacred or dissolving into oneness occurred when I was about six years old. My mom had asked me to take a few things out to the garbage. As I returned from my chore, coming around the corner of our small brown metal shed, I suddenly wanted to sit in the deliciously warm sunlight. I plopped down in the grass just in front of our patio (complete with the 1980s aluminum awning), tilted my head back, and closed my eyes. The world melted away: a hush of noise, yet an awareness of sound, a noticing; the softness of the grass beneath me, the support of the earth below; the sun baked my face with radiant light, and I melted into nothingness. To this day, I’m not sure how long I sat there. I was pulled out of my interconnectedness by my mom calling for me. I returned to my day perhaps a little calmer; I am unsure, for I have no recollection of anything else that day. However, the sensation and feeling of connection and dissolution of form (not that I had the words then), those moments in the sun have never left me.
Discovering Interconnectedness
Perhaps you’ve felt it in strange yet calming moments; you notice a tingling of the scalp, a sense of warmth radiating from your heart, a feeling of groundedness, and a sense of knowing everything is perfect as it is. These fleeting moments serve as constant reminders of the truth of our existence: a collective happening, an unfolding of energy, a dance of light.
So that is it, my friends: no meditation, no “how-to” or benefits lists, just me on my path, which I can only walk with you, for none of us walks alone. We go hand in hand across time and space, hiding in form, to experience life with its heartbreaking array of emotions, each one a sweet dance with the infinite.
I am grateful to have met you on the path.
Namaste.
