Poet David Whyte wrote, “remember how as a child your arms could rise and your palms turn out to bless the world?”
Two year old Skylar is helping me remember as he delights in the dancing shadows that the tree branches and afternoon sun creates on his bedroom wall, as we gather smooth rocks, each one a treasure, and then solemly let them go, watching them tumble over the dam, the force of the water misting our face if we lean close enough over the edge. I am reminded as we huddle in a blanket on the porch swing, shivering at the sound of the thunder, and gasping as the lightening flashes against the darkening sky. I am reminded as we roll down the hill and rest at the bottom, gazing up together at the clouds, his little hand in mine. He has gathered up for me so much that I had allowed to scatter that my arms rise up and palms turn outward now to bless the world over and over again.
Archive for May, 2009
Blessing the World
Posted in Uncategorized on May 12, 2009| Leave a Comment »
Blessing the World…
Posted in awe and wonder on May 12, 2009| Leave a Comment »
Poet David Whyte wrote, “remember how as a child your arms could rise and your palms turn out to bless the world?”
Two year old Skylar is helping me remember as he delights in the dancing shadows that are created by the tree branches and afternoon sunlight on his bedroom wall. He helps me remember as we gather smooth rocks, each one a treasure, and then solemnly let them go. As we watch them tumble over the dam, the force of the water mists our faces when we lean close enough over the edge. I am reminded as we huddle in a blanket on the porch swing, shivering at the sound of thunder, and gasping as the lightening flashes against the darkening sky. I am reminded as we roll down the hill and rest at the bottom, gazing up together at the clouds, his little hand in mine. He has helped me gather up so much that I had allowed to scatter and because of this tiny little boy, my arms rise up and palms turn outward now to bless the world over and over again.
A Question for Healers and Citizens
Posted in Uncategorized on May 9, 2009| Leave a Comment »
Deena Metzger wrote, “A good question is a great gift. A good question can cohere a community or transform one’s identity. A good question can change one’s life.” She then suggested that healers ask themselves, ” What does it mean to be a healer in the 21st century?” I would add to that questions, “what does it mean to be a healer and a citizen of the United States and of the world here and now?” ” How do we serve others without also addressing the larger social and environmental issues that confront them? ” “How do we ease a wounded soul if we ignore a wounding culture?”
Spirituality and Creativity
Posted in Uncategorized on May 8, 2009| Leave a Comment »
I saw theologian and author Matthew Fox in Portland last Saturday. I had read/heard much of what he shared in other lectures and books he’s previously written but it is always wonderful to be reminded of what feels wise and whole and true. Among the thoughts that he shared which resonated with me were:
Suffering can be initiation into our deeper creativity…
The definition of courage is comprised of two French words meaning “wise heart.”
To overcome our fear it’s helpful to connect with what we love and cherish.
Our culture fails to appreciate the value of the void, we’re always trying to fill it up.
Wisdom brings heart and mind together.
Men have to recover their warrior nature (huge difference between warrior and soldier.)
Christ, Gandhi, King were all warriors.
The warrior is a lover and a mystic.
“Don’t give a loaded gun to young men who have not yet learned to dance.”
The love of death (necrophilia) grows when the love of life (biophilia) is stunted.
Wildness is the wellspring of creativity
Clarissa Pinkola Estes asserts that creativity (and the wild woman) lives in the gut and not in the head
The love of life and the grief of life give birth to creativity
The first level of grief is anger
Our universe is totally committed to birthing and creativity
A Question for Psychotherapists
Posted in Uncategorized on May 7, 2009| Leave a Comment »
Deena Mezger observed, “a good question is a great gift… a good question can change your life…” All too often we avoid really important questions when they feel too difficult to answer or too threatening to face.
Mary-Jane Rust in “Creating Psychotherapy for a Sustainable Future” asks psychotherapists the following question, ” how does psychotherapy need to change, theoretically and in practice, in the service of creating a sustainable future? This is complex, for it ranges from how cultural and global affairs affect and shape our internal and external worlds, to how we feel about being part of the very consumer culture which is causing this crisis, to how we conceive of, and connect with, nature, culture and the larger whole, to how our long, slow, deep process of change might contribute to the creation of sustainability, and more.”
How Childhood Suffering lives on…
Posted in childhood abuse, childhood suffering, healing recovery on May 7, 2009| Leave a Comment »
“Some things that happen to you never stop happening to you…”
Author Unknown
Each of us who has endured prolonged childhood suffering leaves behind our own unique trail of tears. Some of us still have nightmares. Others no longer remember; we simply experience a sense of emptiness and a vague and disturbing suspicion that something was, and perhaps still is, terribly wrong. Although our symptoms and behaviors vary, we are each aware at some level that we have been deeply wounded. For most of us, there’s a secret shame imbedded in this knowledge. In spite of the fact that we intellectually understand that we were innocent and vulnerable children when the deepest wounds were inflicted, there remains a part of us that perceives ourselves as failing. All too often it becomes ourselves whom we cannot trust.
The child who blamed him or herself for the abuse becomes the self-condemning adult. The losses and betrayals he or she endured become promises that more hurt will be forthcoming. The child who was powerless grows into a frightened and defensive adult. The little girl whose body was abused remains disconnected from her grown up body. The anger of the small boy lives on in the man who lets no-one close enough to harm (or heal) him. Another compensates for his or her shame by devoting a life time to achievement, but the struggle never ends. There are no victories great enough to annihalate the inadequacy and self-doubt. The child who acts out his or her pain in destructive ways might continue the pattern into adulthood, unconsciously creating situations that inspire the very misery he or she so desperatley sought to escape. These sad cycles can go on and on. And they can be broken.
A good Question…
Posted in Uncategorized on May 7, 2009| Leave a Comment »
http://www.youtube.com/v/g3VrggQW7tk&hl=en&fs=1
Deena Mezger observed, “a good question is a great gift… a good question can change your life…” What important question have you been avoiding answering?
Latest Information on Swine Flu in Maine
Posted in Uncategorized on May 4, 2009| Leave a Comment »
With so much information regarding Swine Flu available on the internet, it’s easy to obtain a significant amount of misinformation. The Maine Center for Disease Control offers daily updates
regarding diagnosed cases, prevention strategies, and treatment. There is also a general public call in number, 1-888-257-0990 or 207-629-5751.
Spirituality and Creativity
Posted in Uncategorized on May 3, 2009| Leave a Comment »
I saw theologian and author Matthew Fox in Portland yesterday. I had read/heard much of what he shared in other lectures and books he’s previously written but it is always wonderful to be reminded of what feels wise and whole and true. Among the thoughts that he shared which resonated with me were:
Suffering is initiation into our deeper creativity…
The definition of courage is comprised of two French words meaning “wise heart.”
To overcome our fear it’s helpful to connect with what we love and cherish.
Our culture fails to appreciate the value of the void, we’re always trying to fill it up.
Wisdom brings heart and mind together.
Men have to recover their warrior nature (huge difference between warrior and soldier.)
Christ, Gandhi, King were all warriors.
The warrior is a lover and a mystic.
“Don’t give a loaded gun to young men who have not yet learned to dance.”
The love of death (necrophilia) grows when the love of life (biophilia) is stunted.
Wildness is the wellspring of creativity
Clarissa Pinkola Estes asserts that creativity (and the wild woman) lives in the gut and not in the head
The love of life and the grief of life give birth to creativity
The first level of grief is anger
Our universe is totally committed to birthing and creativity
Creation and Spirituality
Posted in Uncategorized on May 3, 2009| Leave a Comment »
I saw theologian and author Matthew Fox in Portland yesterday. I had read/heard much of what he shared in other lectures and books he’s previously written but it is always wonderful to be reminded of what feels wise and whole and true. Among the thoughts that he shared which resonated with me were:
Suffering is initiation into our deeper creativity…
The definition of courage is comprised of two French words meaning “wise heart.”
To overcome our fear it’s helpful to connect with what we love and cherish.
Our culture fails to appreciate the value of the void, we’re always trying to fill it up.
Wisdom brings heart and mind together.
Men have to recover their warrior nature (huge difference between warrior and soldier.)
Christ, Gandhi, King were all warriors.
The warrior is a lover and a mystic.
“Don’t give a loaded gun to young men who have not yet learned to dance.”
The love of death (necrophilia) grows when the love of life (biophilia) is stunted.
Wildness is the wellspring of creativity
Clarissa Pinkola Estes asserts that creativity (and the wild woman) lives in the gut and not in the head
The love of life and the grief of life give birth to creativity
The first level of grief is anger
Our universe is completely committed to birthing and creativity
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