unbound

i am currently taking a class through the abbey of the arts called eyes of the heart, photography as contemplative practice. yesterday while i was out walking with my camera, a cedar tree caught my eye because of the interesting lumps and bumps in its trunk. as i drew nearer, however, i saw that the unusual formations had been caused by barbed wire that had been wrapped around her years ago. i was grieved to the core, and received this image as a stark reminder of the cruelty and suffering that exists in this world. i could not get the image out of my mind, and longed to see it transformed in some way. this morning, while looking again at the photograph, i saw a figure in the bark - it looked like a woman dancing, as one released from bondage. i offer this mandala in the hope that one day all who are in bondage (in whatever form that takes) will be released from their suffering.

simple things

inspiration can come

from the most

unexpected places

even the simplest thing

like a muddy puddle

reflecting the sky

can suddenly explode

into a whole new world

the dreaming stone

some say the amethyst

is a dreaming stone

was this the kind jacob

laid his head upon?

an amethyst pillow

stitched with silver threads

(though he did not know it)

how could he not

dream of heaven

eyes of the heart

when seen through

the eyes of the heart

cracked sidewalks

become creek beds

small streams teeming

with fossils, talismans

ancient artifacts, and

long lost arrowheads

now retrieved by

a contemplative hunter

a joy rediscovered

oh why did i ever stop climbing trees?

i hung from branches by my knees

i clambered up wisteria vines fearlessly

and never gave a second thought

to whether they would hold me or not

the trees i climbed, i knew them well

the oak, magnolia, pecan, elm

i knew how best to scale each one -

just where to place my feet and hands,

and which of them had room for friends

i can't remember why i quit

or which tree i climbed last

but now that i've come to think of it

who says my climbing days have passed?

way of the monk, path of the artist

for the past six weeks, i have been participating in a wonderful and unique online course offered by the fabulous christine valters paintner through the abbey of the arts, called way of the monk, path of the artist. it has been a phenomenally enriching, enlivening, transformational experience. the integration of creativity and spirituality has become a passion of mine in recent years that i have longed to explore within a community of kindred spirits. in this class, that longing has been both satisfied and intensified! i would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank christine for creating this class and facilitating it so beautifully. i felt supported at every turn. and to my fellow monks and artists, thank you for sharing your lives with me...because of you, i have felt "witnessed into being whole again."

rhythm and rule

what is the rhythm and rule of my life,

if not the persistent throbbing of my own pulse

the life-force coursing through my body with each breath

and my own heart beating, (i must, i must)

shedding

it's time to shed this skin, thought nag,

looking for something rough and hard

then blue jay cried out, yes! it's time...

and dropped a feather for me to find

the dreamer prays

give me a candle of the spirit, o god

as i go down into the deep of my own being

show me the hidden things -

take me down to the spring of my life

and tell me my nature and my name

give me freedom to grow

so that i may become my true self

the fulfillment of the seed

which you planted in me at my making

out of the deep

i cry unto thee, o god

amen

(a prayer by george appleton)

imbolc

when the rising sun aligns

with the inner chamber

the days grow longer

and the earth rejoices -

for spring is in the belly!