Friday, July 29, 2022

Grant Me The Wisdom

It is refreshing to encounter worn out quotes
enlivened with the chrism of evolutionary thinking.
Breathing new life into tired phrases.
They've worked hard for their time
and we a grateful 
for they have led to this expanded view.
May we continue to quicken our thoughts.
Breaking ground for growth and change.
kastilwell

Here is the entire piece.

Grant me the serenity to accept myself as I am,
to refuse to be at war with my own flesh,
to tend to my needs, my pain, my fears,
gently and without judgment.

Grant me the courage to receive
the accountability of others
that supports my unlearning of dominance,
encourages me towards healing,
and challenges me to deepen
my practice of love.

Grant me the wisdom to know the difference
between invitations to learn
and reasons to self-loath;
between the posture of perfectionism
and the labors of freedom and transformation;
between the entrapments of guilt and shame
and the joy of doing things differently.
In all things, lure me in the ways of liberation,
collective and intimate.

Rev. M Jade Kaiser
enfleshed liturgy library


 

Thursday, July 28, 2022

Water In Our Body

This adds to the thought of becoming
like a river.
I love the idea we are...
"More weather pattern than stone monument."
And also being "a thunderstorm a week ago".
There is something deliciously dazzling
about being a part of so many
astonishing elements of our world.
I believe I'll choose to be
part of a most amazing sunrise,
or a pod of whales,
or a kaleidoscope of monarchs, 
or Havasu Falls.
So many beautiful options.
kastilwell
 

Wednesday, July 27, 2022

Wild in Our Breast For Centuries

How typical that when I ran across this quote, 
there was no one named as the author.
Discovering it was Anna Akhmatova,
an accomplished Russian poet,
made me shake my head
and think of all the accomplished women
lost in the echoes of history.
Lost by name, but not by deed.
For I know they contributed mightily.
They just weren't/aren't recognized for it.
But their impact lives on 
in all of us striving for 
dignity, decency and fairness 
in every corner of the globe.
May I salute the unnamed heroines
for their countless contributions
to the river of goodness.

That being said,
I'm paying attention to
"cherries blowing into town 
from the surrounding woods."

kastilwell

One more thing. If you haven't seen the video of Joni Mitchell
singing Both Sides Now at age 78 after an aneurysm
 took away her ability to sing or play guitar,
I recommend it for inspiration.
Search:  "Joni Mitchell Both Sides Now Newport 2022"
 

Monday, July 25, 2022

Living For Each Other


 I woke up this morning with the thought
that I need to do more for others.
Having saved this quote earlier,
it seemed appropriate.

However, it raises some questions.
For example, what if the sun actually
 shines for the pleasure of it?
Isn't the river water itself? 
Why would it need to drink?
Doesn't the tree benefit from it's own fruit?
And how do we know 
the flower isn't enjoying its fragrance?

I'm taking this consideration along with me.
 kastilwell





Thursday, July 21, 2022

Don't Want To Forget


As someone who feels compelled to take notes,
these words rattle me. 
I remember being a much younger version of myself,
living in Florida and my mom was coming to visit.
I am in the airport at the gate (it was that long ago)
awaiting her appearance with our new video camera
poised to capture the moment.
I got the shot, but as I lowered the camera,
I realized with dismay that I missed the moment.
I can still remember that feeling.
I got the shot but wasn't "there" to wrap her in a hug.
Don't get me wrong, I LOVE photographs.
They are balm to my spirit when I'm missing
my girls and my grands and my mom.
I'm now realizing it's not the 2 dimensional photo
but the body felt memory and love that stirs me.
It's all good but it bears thinking about...
and drinking in the feeling!
kastilwell

PS:  What are you doing that you don't want to forget?

Tuesday, July 19, 2022

Life's Beautiful Questions




I can rely on David Whyte for potent thoughts
when my own well is running a bit dry.
And how he manages to be so upbeat is admirable.
I'm grateful to have an ever growing circle of voices
to inspire and sustain positive imagination 
when things look grim.
kastilwell
 

Friday, July 15, 2022

Love is the Real Power

Love.
When I think of it as an abstract set of marks 
on a page or a screen, it loses vitality
due to overuse, misuse and disconnect.
When I conjure up who I love
and embody the sensations of 
tenderness, quiet appreciation,
exuberant delight, heartfelt amazement,
overwhelming awe...
it becomes indescribably wonderful.
I gather it around me
like a shawl knit together with
stitches of treasured moments
with treasured beings,
and carry it close to my heart. 
kastilwell






 

Thursday, July 14, 2022

Truly Creative



This thought has me pondering.
In particular, is the "sense of competition".
Can a person be "truly creative"
without a sense of competition?
As someone who is seeking to ditch
my own inherited need to compete,
I'd like to think one could be truly creative
minus this factor.  
Although, perhaps competing with oneself 
plays into the scenario?
kastilwell

Wednesday, July 13, 2022

Dandelions


 I confess, I'm not a fan of dandelions.
I considered them with scorn and derision
until reading this and seeing them
from an entirely different viewpoint.
I'll forever see them differently now.
This is the magic of how thoughts
can change your world.
Making it into something amazing
instead of a field of pesky weeds.
kastilwell

Tuesday, July 12, 2022

Trusting Each Other


This thought has stayed with me
since I read it last week.
I realize in my own world,
there is a loss of trust 
in those around me.
I attribute it to a maniacally clever plot
concocted and implemented
by unsavory forces
to divide America.

Hurting people hurt people.
If I shift my perspective 
and see the "enemy" as someone hurting,
someone who has lost trust in me,
and the world around them,
perhaps I can make a tiny gesture
of kindness and understanding?

There is untold hurting
in the history of our world.
My dream is that we will
find the way to heal ourselves
and the world around us
softly, gently, diligently,
by changing from the inside out.

kastilwell

PS:  This is amazing! Take a listen and a look.








Monday, July 11, 2022

Everyday Magic


 This thought raises intriguing questions for me.
It constellates in the last two phrases.
"the hidden presence, when we think we're alone."

Where is this whispered voice originating?
Is it some outside entity
or a part of myself I haven't met yet?
Does it matter?
kastilwell

Friday, July 8, 2022

Creating A Better World


 Overwhelming gratitude is what I'm feeling
as I read these words.  
They join a growing list of voices
in harmony with these thoughts.
Revisiting those from the past
and discovering others who are contributing
 their thoughts and words to the chorus
 is an experience in positive
interdependence that takes my breath away.
In a good way!
We are in the process of evolving our species
into a more just and fair society.
Where decency and dignity are a given;
for ALL creatures coexisting with mutual respect
 on this planet, in this vast amazing universe.
kastilwell

PS:  If you are interested in joining us,
beginning Thursday, July 21 at 3pm via Zoom.
Contact me at graceplays@gmail.com





Thursday, July 7, 2022

Forests For Tomorrow


This felt like receiving a blow.
I metaphorically doubled over in recognition
of the truth of these words.
In our new world, this is already changing.
Forests are recognized 
for the immense treasure they are.
As in, they are our ventilators!
They are literally breathing for us
as we suffer from a life threatening illness.
May we recover, and alter this course.
May the river of goodness prevail. 
kastilwell



The quotation marks around rewards are mine.)

Wednesday, July 6, 2022

Quiet Conversations


 It touched my heart to read this thought.
I have long believed in a quiet river of goodness,
flowing below the noise of the marketplace.
Where decent people are living and loving
and attending to the "disarray" as best we can.
 Not focused on ratings,
or poll numbers,
or clicks 
or shares.
We're quietly going about the "business"
of becoming decent humans,
caring for ourselves and others in our world. 

kastilwell





Tuesday, July 5, 2022

The Art Of Belonging


This thought opened my eyes 
to those particular spots
along the path I walk regularly
which have special meaning.
The tiny cove where I encountered 
the Barred Owl in 2008.
The overlook with the view
 of Cowee Mountain in the distance,
which has become like a 
trip to a museum where
I'm treated to a different work of art
each time I pass through.
The Basswood Tree
dedicated to my sisters.
The scavenger hunt of rocks
created for the grands.
The list lengthens and
grows more dear
as the years pass.
kastilwell





 

Monday, July 4, 2022

Unfold Your Own Myth


 These days are certainly fertile with material
for unfolding our own myth.
They say good stories revolve around conflict.
We have that in abundance right now.
I'm thinking about what mythical character
I'd like to emulate.
I'm not certain she exists.
Creating a new one seems appropriate.
The phrase,"We will overcome" contains
a new level of resonance for me.

kastilwell 


Sunday, July 3, 2022

At A Local Level


 This is where using imagination gets more serious for me.
What additional changes can I make close to home?
How can small changes be fertilized to grow into larger ones?
If you're interested in brainstorming ideas
I'd love to hear from you.
What ripples can be initiated to expand into the community?
What seeds can be dispersed?
It seems like a worthwhile effort.

kastilwell


Friday, July 1, 2022

Turning Together Toward The Horizon


 What systems can we create that
will work in collaboration
with the exquisite wisdom
of the natural world?
Can you imagine living
in a society based on principles
modeled by our galaxy?
Why not?  
kastilwell