Going Deeper

In my desire to go deeper, a random pick of three weeks for a desert retreat -- turned into a potpourri of celebrations.

During my stay, unbeknownst to me at the time of booking, the following holidays were honored with various rituals:

Fall Navratri, nine days to honor the Mother.
Rosh Hashanah - "The Day of Awe" Jewish New Year.
Yom Kippur - Day to "Atone" become "At One"... with Self, All Life and God.
The Feast of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, known as the Little Flower.

The Feast of St. Teresa of Avila

This confluence of events has led me to believe that there is a great connection that links and binds us all together.

Although religions and traditions follow their own unique guidelines and teachings -- the core of our praying, seeking, searching, worshiping is one and the same... we seek to feel a deep connection to life, nature, purpose, God, the Divine Mother, Jesus, Buddha, Moses, Mohamed.... and the list goes on.

Going Deeper

Going deeper, going within,

not to a place,

nor to a height,

nothing to achieve,

nor to delight.

Going deeper to

balance the senses,

bombarded with processes

and silly old messes.

Going deeper offers new ground,

fertile areas not to be found.

Just a place to root and grow,

like the flower that bends just so,

holding firm to moist soil,

wet with dewdrops of lament and toil,

All this is written in history books,

void with naughty and hallow looks.

Go now and pierce the hearth of each day,

so you can go deeper,

and find your own way.

Held Captive

I have been held captive by the deserts call,
walking step by step through he scruffy underbrush,
careful not to disturb the prickly cactus.

High above the trees the clouds tumble in,
obscuring the snow capped peaks;
leaving me breathless...speechless.

Every cell of my body is enlivened here in the desert.
Words and thoughts do not root, each moment a sacred gift.

Plans and purposes meld with fleeting moments,
to quick to capture in poetry, prose or plots.

And yet, I walk along the path that has been forged by the hungry souls that prayed before me --- seeking serenity in solitude.

Here in the desert, on this monastery...
it is the ultimate experience of God laughing at the human plan.

And yet, it is truly Divine!

Two Worlds

A young woman who lives in two worlds,
awakens to poetry,
words dance across her mind;
enlivening the senses,
one by one.

Transported from sleep,
the images produce greater awareness
of awareness;
leaving the dreamtime,
behind.

Small acrobatic leaps
burst forth with delightful images
and invitations;
to merge into today,
holding the promise of liberation.

And then,
the to do’s come into focus,
and the promise fades away;
in a swallow or gulp, if you will,
of preparedness.

Jumping up,
she moves forward;
leaving behind the mingling of two worlds
that become one, once again.