More Beautiful Than Silence

I'm guessing an introvert said this.  As much as I agree with the beauty of quiet, there are times when it's very important to break the silence, especially when it gives implied consent to injustice and lawlessness.  So may you find your voice and speak out loudly when necessary and enjoy the quiet when needed for your well-being.  KAS

Mystery of Grace

In the past, I've found myself ambivalent about what grace means.  However, I've come to realize, for me, it means something indefinable and supremely desirable in the quest for a meaningful life. KAS 

What Music does

If you've ever banished a bad mood by putting on tunes that make you dance, you know this to be true.  KAS

What is Prayer?

In that spirit, I send the expression of my silent being along with this post.  KAS

Walk Your Way To a Different Ending

There is much opportunity for practicing this these days.  Learning to move through the pain, continuing to look for the light in the darkness, drawing on compassion for myself and others.  Plenty of work to do!  A return to civility and mutual respect is an ending worth pursuing.  KAS

Get Well Soon

 While this is giving hate a humorous spin, it is a difficult emotion.  One that causes shame.  I've been struggling with it for many months.  So much so, I did a search before posting this to see if I could find anything helpful.  I'm including a link which might be of interest.  I can't say it alleviated my fears but it did offer some suggestions for things one might do to navigate your own feelings of hate as well as the haters you encounter.  KAS

Stillness

Voodoos of ambition, hand wringing anxiety, fear for our earth (that won't go away), all sorts of sinister imaginings and physical worries...these I'm putting in a box for the day.  Many people don't have the luxury of a "day off".  May this stillness be for you.  KAS

The Words You Speak

May they be kind.  May they be curious.  May they be interested and interesting.  May they be encouraging and uplifting.  May they be amusing.  May they be warm and welcoming.  KAS

Truth Is Still The Truth

Just saying.  KAS

Trust Yourself

Sometimes you have to listen long and strong to hear your own true self.  Or you get surprised by it in a moment of vulnerability or duress.  I've come to believe it's vital to do this.  We get so covered up with others expectations and needs.  Listen well so you can hear who you are.  KAS

Where I Came From

I love this poem from Katie Mack even though many of the terms are unfamiliar to me.  It speaks to the magnificence of our universe which we are a particle of.  KAS

The One Thing You Have

There isn't anyone, anywhere, anytime who can replace you.  Not ever.  So go be you.  KAS

Taste As Many As You Can

Wishing sweetness to anyone broken, betrayed, hurt, rejected, or grieving.  KAS

Do Unto Others

A new way of looking at the Golden Rule.  I wish those who refuse to deprive their fellow human beings (and this earth) of dignity, justice, and compassion would have the opportunity for the shoe to be on their foot and know what it feels like to be mistreated.  KAS

We've got this!

I don't know about you, but these days, even simply scanning the news can ignite serious thievery.  It's excellent practice for directing my thoughts toward positive and uplifting things.  Concentrating on the small steps I can take to support the values I cherish.  KAS

I'm including this here as it speaks to this with much eloquence. 

My friends, do not lose heart. We were made for these times. I have heard from so many recently who are deeply and properly bewildered. They are concerned about the state of affairs in our world now. Ours is a time of almost daily astonishment and often righteous rage over the latest degradations of what matters most to civilized, visionary people.

You are right in your assessments. The lustre and hubris some have aspired to while endorsing acts so heinous against children, elders, everyday people, the poor, the unguarded, the helpless, is breathtaking. Yet, I urge you, ask you, gentle you, to please not spend your spirit dry by bewailing these difficult times. Especially do not lose hope. Most particularly because, the fact is that we were made for these times. Yes. For years, we have been learning, practicing, been in training for and just waiting to meet on this exact plain of engagement.

I grew up on the Great Lakes and recognize a seaworthy vessel when I see one. Regarding awakened souls, there have never been more able vessels in the waters than there are right now across the world. And they are fully provisioned and able to signal one another as never before in the history of humankind.

Look out over the prow; there are millions of boats of righteous souls on the waters with you. Even though your veneers may shiver from every wave in this stormy roil, I assure you that the long timbers composing your prow and rudder come from a greater forest. That long-grained lumber is known to withstand storms, to hold together, to hold its own, and to advance, regardless.

In any dark time, there is a tendency to veer toward fainting over how much is wrong or unmended in the world. Do not focus on that. There is a tendency, too, to fall into being weakened by dwelling on what is outside your reach, by what cannot yet be. Do not focus there. That is spending the wind without raising the sails.

We are needed, that is all we can know. And though we meet resistance, we more so will meet great souls who will hail us, love us and guide us, and we will know them when they appear. Didn't you say you were a believer? Didn't you say you pledged to listen to a voice greater? Didn't you ask for grace? Don't you remember that to be in grace means to submit to the voice greater?

Ours is not the task of fixing the entire world all at once, but of stretching out to mend the part of the world that is within our reach. Any small, calm thing that one soul can do to help another soul, to assist some portion of this poor suffering world, will help immensely. It is not given to us to know which acts or by whom, will cause the critical mass to tip toward an enduring good.

What is needed for dramatic change is an accumulation of acts, adding, adding to, adding more, continuing. We know that it does not take everyone on Earth to bring justice and peace, but only a small, determined group who will not give up during the first, second, or hundredth gale.

One of the most calming and powerful actions you can do to intervene in a stormy world is to stand up and show your soul. Soul on deck shines like gold in dark times. The light of the soul throws sparks, can send up flares, builds signal fires, causes proper matters to catch fire. To display the lantern of soul in shadowy times like these - to be fierce and to show mercy toward others; both are acts of immense bravery and greatest necessity.

Struggling souls catch light from other souls who are fully lit and willing to show it. If you would help to calm the tumult, this is one of the strongest things you can do.

There will always be times when you feel discouraged. I too have felt despair many times in my life, but I do not keep a chair for it. I will not entertain it. It is not allowed to eat from my plate.

The reason is this: In my uttermost bones I know something, as do you. It is that there can be no despair when you remember why you came to Earth, who you serve, and who sent you here. The good words we say and the good deeds we do are not ours. They are the words and deeds of the One who brought us here. In that spirit, I hope you will write this on your wall: When a great ship is in harbor and moored, it is safe, there can be no doubt. But that is not what great ships are built for.

By Clarissa Pinkola Estes

American poet, post-trauma specialist and Jungian psychoanalyst, author of Women Who Run With the Wolves.

 

Best Teachers

Dedicated to the marvelous teachers out there. I hope you know who you are!  KAS

Act from Your Heart

These words are easy to read and easy to say.  Acting them is far more difficult and yet, I believe, that is the path to sanity and well being.  May we have the grace to do so.  KAS

Be Free

Go be you...the real you.  KAS

Drifting from the Truth

And there you have it.  We must continue to speak the truth even in the face of hatred and malice.  KAS

Existence is a Celebration

For someone who leans heavily in the direction of serious, this is a welcome reminder.  However, there are some human-related issues that are serious and need our attention.  KAS

Trailblazers

Ok, it's early so this bit of cheerleading is a bit overwhelming.  Nonetheless, it gives me a boast in the direction I want to go.  Not so sure about that leap without a net, though.  Go be you!  KAS

Nine Facts

I love when words give me a chuckle.  This did just that and I'm grateful.  Hope it does the same for you.  KAS

Trust Your Own Power

Loving Yourself

Treat yourself with the same loving respect and consideration you desire from others.  Seems pretty simple.  It's how you teach people how to behave toward you.  KAS

Losing Yourself

To quote a favorite author, "Did you know, you were born as the first and the last and the best and the only one of your kind?"  It's vital that you remember this amidst your loving and your caring for others.  KAS

Unbecoming Everything that Isn't Really You

May we find the way to unbecoming all we are not.  For what remains after that is shed is the perfect person we are--and have always been.  Uniquely qualified to be exactly who we are.  When in doubt, remember the butterfly cannot see her wings.  She has no idea how beautiful she is.  KAS

When We Drop Fear

Dropping fear is the hard part because fear seems to stalk me from every corner these days. I believe that's by design.  Like some psychological predator is seeding our world with it.  The best image I have heard for addressing this is a woman who said she knew her fear could not be banished; so she allowed it to travel with her but it had to sit in the back seat.  Fear was never allowed to drive!  KAS

We Hold These Truths

I ran across this when I was looking for 4th of July quotes.  I've not seen the play but thought this was wonderful.  Let's get on with the sequel!  KAS

Tread Softly

Yes, this image depicts a wintry scene which I thought might be welcome on these hot days.  This sentiment takes on more potent meaning as the news items about climate crisis events increases rapidly.  May we find a way to preserve and conserve our holy ground.  KAS

Start by

Start close in.  What is one small step you can take?  Or not!  Maybe you're perfect right where you are.  Your choice.  KAS

Sit In Nature

Right now, it's best to choose that time in nature first thing in the morning while it's still relatively cool and somewhat bug-free.  KAS