A Gate Unfastened

These words stopped me.

As I consider plowing through old journals.

I confess, my past endeavors to

"harvest" them have been unsettling.

I found little patience 

for my former self.

Barriers were erected.

Perhaps I need another review.

One from a more compassionate perspective.

Someone with less judgement

and more curiosity.

Less need for "perfection" (whatever that is).

Someone willing to saunter

rather than run;

to experience

rather than produce;

to accept 

rather than "fix".

kastilwell

 

Keeping The Peace

 This is a wakeup thought for someone 

who defers to "harmony" automatically, 

unconsciously, even. 

The programming is deep.

Turn the page.

Start fresh. 

Take up space!

Speak up even while shaking.

kastilwell

Underground River

 I am convinced this "invisible river" of gold exists.

While the outer world shouts and incites,

the inner world nourishes and grows.

Kindness flourishes.

Decency strengthens.

Fairness thrives.

Mutual respect multiplies.

Goodness endures.

A sincere and heartfelt thanks to you

for being present in my world.

kastilwell

Boundaries

 Considering this carefully.

A short statement carrying a

mighty impact.

Most helpful as one 

contemplates their boundaries.

kastilwell

Nature is More

 I would add (wo)man to Lord Byron's words.  

Otherwise he nails it for me. 

The "pathless woods", the "lonely shore",

these are the places of wonder for me.

They are also places of accompaniment.

As if invisible friends walk with me.

May nature accompany you today.

kastilwell

Lightmaking

 This book, The Lightmaker's Manifesto, is so practical.  

There are so many times,

my friends and I say, 

"I want to do something but I don't know what."  

This is the roadmap to figuring out 

what each of us can do to contribute to our world in a positive way.  

If your love language is cooking...cook!  

If your love language is digging in the dirt, dig!  

The key is to find a way to do it for others 

as well as yourself without becoming burned out.  

There are creative ways to contribute.  

kastilwell

Love Affair

 I couldn't wait to share this after hearing it for the first time.

It is provocative and inviting.

To simply be who I am in whatever state I find myself?

That is indeed new and foreign territory.

It makes me wonder if "I" and "myself" 

even speak the same language.

It has opened up an entirely new way

of approaching the moments

 of confusion,

frustration,

incoherence.

Discovering who I am beneath

all the layers of programming?

What an adventure!

KAStilwell

Fear of Dying

This prompts me to take a look

at where I hold back 

with loved ones,

with the work of writing,

with all sorts of potential endeavors.

It seems a worthy exploration.

KAStilwell

 

Unnamed Has Value

 Many times in the recent past, I have found myself incoherent 

when attempting to describe something within.

It's caused humiliation and shame.

A failure to verbalize something with language

 another can understand

seems imperative for someone 

who attempts to write.

It was encouraging to come across this quote

and consider another way of seeing it.

By the way, the forest is golden these days.

It’s a forest of gold in autumn.

It’s a forest of cold and chilly and clear 

on this seventh day of November.

It speaks a parable to the beauty in dying.  

This dying process, 

done in color 

is a harbinger of new life.

A testimony to letting go… 

to the spiral of life...

to resurrection.

To the ever trust-worthy return of the light 

even after the most entrenched darkness. 

The earth is embracing me in this forest of gold.

Reminding me how astonishingly beautiful dying can be.

As astonishingly beautiful as living itself.

Gazing into the sun is too much 

for these human eyes.

(I’m blinded by the light 

yet I receive new sight). 

I require a buffer 

to view its reflection

To witness its presence within 

and among the shadows.

Sometimes its best to turn away

and know it glows behind me.

What a treasure, 

this morning with 

the shadows and the light, 

accompanying, 

reminding, 

restoring, 

redeeming.

kastilwell

Cultivate Sleep and Play

I'm surprised how difficult this concept is to absorb.

Even though I wholeheartedly agree

with the wisdom of this sentiment,

I confess to feeling a twinge of intimidation

when I encounter someone

who seems to be super busy, apparently productive,

always active and involved with many endeavors.

Then I remind myself,

first of all, not to compare,

and second of all,

it's what's under the surface 

and behind the scenes

that matters.

The simple truth is:

bodies need rest and rejuvenation

to operate as they're designed to. 

Just like our earth does.  

kastilwell

 

Creative Transparency

For me, this is an ideal to strive toward. 

(At my age, I best get moving!)

I wonder if anyone is ever truly there?

Brené Brown comes to mind but

I know from reading her interviews,

it's a struggle, even for her. 

The truth is, we're all doing

the best we can.

And that's an achievement.

kastilwell

 

Nothing Wrong With Me

 I respectfully offer this quote 

while acknowledging the differences

of human experience and history.

It seems to me, this is a shared sentiment

among many human creatures.

May we "unlearn the patterns,

embody new behaviors,

and heal the wounds."

May we support each other

on this expedition.

kastilwell