practice

How is our creator involved in our human process of “making something of ourselves” in our lives, and in the lives of others? I said the following to my husband in a conversation:

I think for me, the fact that I am on a material planet makes me think that I should have some material goals that actualize before I die. As long as we are alive we want something measurable to become of it. I just think that is human nature. And unless we get real clear about our values and beliefs… and then make plans…Life gets wasted in the loss of memories and unsung songs.” He said, “I think there’s a poem in there.” My goal is to publish another poetry book in 2024. I have other things to consider around the journey of preparing a collection of poems for another book.

What has spawned some of these discussions is something new I’m doing called “Reluctant Shaman,” and this is a 6 week, free course. We ask and answer a series of 30 questions and 5 per week, as a study group. If anyone here is interested in joining our next group iteration (because it might be on zoom) please send me a message in the contact link on my page.

The Sound of Crickets, Hafiz, and the Moon

Lately, we’ve had the pleasure of hosting a most lovely cricket. For me, the presence of a cricket (inside my house) and right next to me on the couch, is usually a sign. Yes, this has happened to me before, but not exactly in the same way. I have no idea how he got inside, but I did coax him out. I want him to live!

The night he was singing the loudest, I was writing, and I needed the support. I was reaching within myself for my inner voice, feeling for it, digging deep, and really just trying to use words evenly. Crickets are special. This cricket may even be my ancestor.

In China, people have been known to keep crickets as pets.

ImageWatercolor by Qi Baishi (1864–1957)

This morning I awoke at 4:30am.  My body/mind/spirit wants to move deeper into my spiritual practice. I received the message that this is what I am going to be doing now. I’ve been nudged. Now it’s up to me to “go with it.” By 5:00am, I decided to go for a walk, and it was a little bit on the chilly side. Yes, I live in sunny California, so when it’s dark – I get sensitive to the cold.

I turned to head back home, and there it was: the brilliant, large, glowing moon. I felt like I could walk to it… and maybe even hug it.

Full moon photo via Lee Capps. http://earthsky.org/space/video-the-moon-illusion
Full moon photo via Lee Capps. http://earthsky.org/space/video-the-moon-illusion

 

Also, this morning, I opened a box of special books that were in storage (I was looking for the Secret of the Golden Flower), and I found this poem by Hafiz, that I’d like to share with you:

I Took It as a Sign

Someone sent a band to my house,

And it started playing

At five in the morning.

I took this as a sign

God wanted me to sing!

Then the moon joined in

And a few of the tenor-voiced stars,

And the earth offered its lovely belly

As a drum.

Before I knew it,

I realized

All human beings could be happy

If they just had a few music lessons

From a Sweet Old Maestro

Like Hafiz