COURAGE

"Courage has roots."

I'm enchanted with roots;

as I am enamored with the mycylial network.

Courage indeed as I contemplate the tiny seed

and the bravery required to expand from the shell

confident that exactly the right combination of conditions

will be there making it possible to send out roots and grow.

"Courage is not afraid to pray, even when she is not sure who she is praying to."

Another mighty statement.

It does take great courage to pray when you no longer believe

in the God of your childhood or in any god at all.

In this case, I'd say prayer becomes a belief in the power

of goodness; of the universe and each other.

To believe in this when there is so much evidence to the contrary

is most definitely a courageous act.

Let's wrap ourselves in this energetic mantle of courage.

Let us expand our roots of goodness.

Let us use our voices and our actions 

to grow a world where kindness is abundant

and courage is transforming the landscape

with decency and dignity.

Namaste'

 

I Don't Want To Be

Cicatrice: the scar of a healed wound. a scar on the bark of a tree.

BOTANY a mark on a stem left after a leaf or other part has become detached.

"There is no joy in abstinence from living."

I had  to sit with this for a bit.

It makes me a little uncomfortable...

frankly, it sounds like a whole lot of work.

Pink Floyd's lyric "comfortably numb" comes to mind.

Which makes me consider how worn out one can get

from avoiding difficult realities.

Taking them on can be energizing.

"Liberating ourselves from the golden handcuffs

of self-imposed fear" could be a wild adventure...

may be even better than anything we could imagine?

Now I'm giving a thought to what 

"self-imposed fears" have me confined.

I might need a sign that says:

"Brace yourself, I'm becoming a liberated liberal!"

Wouldn't that be an exercise in courage?

Namaste'

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How Lucky We Are

Obviously tongue in cheek

while also being sadly true.

Try to find a current poetry book in the library

and you'll know what I mean.

It's one of the perks of social media.

In one way, it shouldn't be surprising...

poetry, when well done is priceless.

It can be exceptionally powerful,

especially in fraught times when

all our inner resources are stretched to the limit.

It proves to us we are not alone and often

offers a radically different way of seeing things,

or a tender reminder of what we may have forgotten.

It's a window to goodness when the world feels savage.

Do what you can to support our poets.

They are a treasure.

Namaste'

 

People Speak of Hope

This strong version of hope is required today...

(isn't it always?)

with these stark and cruel circumstances.

She is giving her all without hesitation.

It's not about appearances,

it's about perseverance

and running interference...

protecting and defending those at risk.

Each of us is a guardian of truth, liberty and justice for all

AND the pursuit of happiness.

We're in this together...

We can do this!

Namaste'

 

Some Are Posting

Everyone is doing what they can.

We can do more and we will.

The main thing is being kind...

to ourselves and to each other.

The energy of respect is contagious.

The energy of decency expands.

Every peaceful thought has an impact.

Fear and hatred are contagious as well; however,

they are no match for decency and respect, bolstered by

the power of equality and true justice for every being.

Namaste'

 

Me, To My Therapist:

"did their trauma given them the right

to create new trauma inside you?"

That is a question for our days, is it not?

Although, I wonder if we can lose the "them"

and make it "us"?

Does anyone have the right 

to traumatize another person, ever?

It happens all the time and has for centuries.

Sometimes its unconcious and unintentional.

But, when its done with malignant forethought and planning? 

Can we envision a world where this does not happen?

Can humans learn goodness as well or better than we learn cruelty?

I believe that's the possibility we strive for.

We can feel how the fear and intimidation spreads,

We can also feel how dignity and decency spread...even more.

It is possible.  It is happening. 

Raise a flag to dignity and decency. 

We won't give up.  We can't give up.

We are doing this together.

And we will prevail.

Namaste'

 

In Your Own Rhythm

Isn't this an enchanting way to end the week?

Yes, things are falling apart right now in scary ways...

(I'm thinking of the caterpillar liquifying into a butterfly.)

These words give me great comfort and boost my resilience.

They help me let go of the fear I've missed out on something

as my days wind down and ripening deepens.

I have rushed through much of my life, I confess.

It would have been great to learn this lesson a wee bit earlier.

But I am going to take this sentiment to heart and believe

everything has been perfectly timed.

Namaste'