THE STRONG WINDS OF SPIRIT

MAY THE STRONG WINDS OF SPIRIT clear from me these lifeless leaves of fear and hatred that still cling to this magnificent tree that is True Self. May I stand before this world rooted in compassionate depths, in openness and strength, in vulnerability and love, naked, fearless, fierce and free.

ENTANGLEMENT: SPOOKY ACTION AT A DISTANCE

ENTANGLEMENT: SPOOKY ACTION AT A DISTANCE. This was Albert Einstein's way of describing what Quantum Mechanics shows us, namely that two separated atoms continue to affect each other, faster than the speed of light, no matter what the distance of their separation. Perhaps in our prayer and meditation we can remember that our thoughts, words and actions, and even our intentions, may indeed span the known universe in unimaginable and infinite ways. And the distance that we think is there between us, may in the end , turn out to be yet another illusion. After all, we are, each one of us, a wondrous universe of whirling atoms.

THE DREAM MAY NEVER HAPPEN...

THE DREAM MAY NEVER HAPPEN, the vision may never be seen, the song may never be sung... but all through this dark night, this dream, this vision, this song will be a light guiding your faltering steps to that place that, for now ,is only glimpsed in dreams, in visions and songs. 

WHEN WE ARE SHAKEN TO THE CORE...

WHEN WE ARE SHAKEN TO THE CORE...that is NOT the time to react. Rather, when our inner landscape trembles, that is the time to draw more deeply from the well of wisdom and compassion, to cup those wondrous waters with open hands and drink of peace.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXjUwSxNUL8 

LONGING OR THE DOGS OF LOVE

 LONGING OR THE DOGS OF LOVE: When we enter the silence of meditation many things surface from the depths. One such depth-dweller is the presence of longing, the experience of our deepest desires which often we cannot articulate but we know are present in powerful ways. This is the stuff that breaks the heart. Sometimes we attempt to express this longing in terms of our desire for love, meaning, happiness or power. Whatever name we apply, it somehow seems to fall short of the reality we experience. Sometimes, naively, we even try to place our deepest longing on a person or thing, a career, our dream house, a community....But sooner or later we return to this ache of the heart that refuses to leave the room. The Welsh have a word -'Hiraeth', pronounced hee-reyeth. It doesn't translate well into English. It is a particular kind of yearning or homesickness that longs for the land that once was or that never was. A beautiful, painful place in the landscape of the human heart, not unlike Augustine's restless heart. I wonder... might this longing be that good guide and even more... that can lead us further along the Path to that Place we call Home? The poet Rumi has a lovely little poem called " Love Dogs". Here is my own paraphrase based on Coleman Barks translation::

" In the night, a voice cries out
' Oh God, Allah, Oh Love'
Lips grow sweet with the sound of praise-
'Oh God, Allah, Oh Love'
And then... a cynic shows up and says:
'So, I have heard you calling out.
Tell me, have you ever gotten any response?'
Silence. The one who praised stopped praying altogether
and fell into a confused sleep.
Dreams came...
Dreams of Khidr, guide of souls.
Khidr, sitting in a lush green forest asking the question:
" Why have you stopped praising?"
The answer? 'Because I have never heard anything in response.'
" Ah," said Khidr. " Do you not understand?
The Longing you express IS the return message.
The grief you cry out from draws you
closer and closer into Union.
And your pure sorrow desiring help...
your pure sorrow, this is the Secret Cup.
Listen to the moaning of a dog for its Master.
That whining is the connection.
There are Love Dogs no one knows the names of
Give your life to be one of them."
-Rumi

" Out of the Depths I cry to You..." -Psalm 130:1

BEING WITH WHAT IS/BECOMING WHAT IS YET TO BE

BEING WITH WHAT IS AND BECOMING WHAT IS YET TO BE: When we sit in silent meditation we are being with what is.Thoughts. feelings and sensations come and go. We are not trying to change anything or anyone.We are seeing things more and more as they are and not as we wish them to be. And yet, in the simplicity of this moment something IS happening in us and to us and through us. We enter into a deeper acceptance, a non-judgmental spirit, a loving embrace of things as they are, including ourselves and others. That is a powerful moment. Perhaps a difficult moment and even a dangerous moment. For in this moment we ARE being transformed and are being given what is needed to become bearers of peace and transformation in this world. Through our practice, I believe that endless gifts of the heart are given and the infinite goodness of the heart.deepens with each breath. Love is unfolding. By learning to be with what is we practice the true nature of Love. By being with things as they are we are transformed, more and more, into Lovers of what is and loving Creators of what Love desires to unfold in this world.
Blessings on your meditation.
Macushla

IT'S ABOUT SHOWING-UP.

IT'S ABOUT SHOWING-UP. Welcome to day 6 of the Worldwide 30 Meditation for World Peace on Facebook.. Anyone who practices anything regularly knows that it's about showing-up. Sometimes we don't feel like it. We'd rather stay in bed or get busy doing something else. Sometimes we wonder if the practice is doing any good at all. I remember Br. Roger of the Taize Community in France. For more than 60 years, he and his community, showed up everyday, three times a day to sit and meditate, sing and pray. I remember him saying that there were many times when he did not feel like being there. He spoke of his commitment to simply be there and show-up. When we show-up in our meditative practice we attest to a reality larger than our own feelings. We offer ourselves to ourselves, to the world and to Divine Mystery. This past weekend one of the retreatants spoke of " revealing ourselves to ourselves." I like that. I believe that this revelation happens as we practice. Sometimes in spite of our feelings we are there. And sometimes it's a struggle. Frodo Baggins near the end of his journey said, " I can't do this, Sam." Sam's encouraging response might be directed to us ," There's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it's worth fighting for." The myriad of beings from east and west throughout history attest to the goodness, the beauty and the power of a practice of meditation. When we meditate, we join with them and all to come in a timeless transformative moment. And all we need do is show-up...

NEW WEBSITE

I want to thank Rebecca Snyder for her excellent work on the new website. Thank you, Rebecca!

Rebecca is a gifted artist and designer and a joy to work with. I heartily recommend her and her work to those who are looking for website renewal.

You can check out the new website at: www.songsofpeace.net 

Many thanks!

Macushla