The readings and practices I have encountered and engaged in during this season of Lent have been rich and full of deep meaning for me. I have found myself moving through the desert and awakening into spring. The dark of night has whispered love stories to me and the light of day has proven expansive and wondrous. Integration has been a key theme as I look back on the days and weeks proceeding this day.Yesterday, however, after writing my post about chakras and meditation, I found myself wondering if people are confused by my writing – by me – by my faith. The church of my youth and not-so-distant past frowned disparagingly on notions of yoga and opening your mind beyond the concrete pages of the Bible. So, I guess it’s no wonder there are vestiges of personal thought that linger in that camp. Yet, when I listen deeply to my heart and sink into the word of God that engages me at every turn, I know I’m truly on a Holy path.
Yesterday’s post referred to a small portion of a quote from Tao Te Ching, but I spent much of the day with another piece pricking at my mind:
"Care about people’s approval
and you will be their prisoner."
--Tao Te Ching
and you will be their prisoner."
--Tao Te Ching
Today’s scripture reading offered me affirmation it was time to let go of those lingering thoughts of worry:
“The Lord God has given me a well-trained tongue, that I might know how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them.”
Isaiah 50:4
Isaiah 50:4
…and suddenly the battles of how to communicate my faith dissipated. There is a wholeness I feel that reaches beyond only the Bible’s pages. It comes from the brokenness I have experienced in my life as well as the joy I find in some pretty unexpected places. Learning to rouse myself and those around me is my calling.Exploring the world – all corners of it – is my path to God. Studying yoga – chakras – centering prayer – praying with the elements – soul collage – drumming – water dance – laughter – tears – hours in silence – creating art – writing poetry – doing nothing – going on pilgrimage, et cetera, et cetera – are just a few of the pathways where I have met God.
If I worry about what others think – if I let them pick my path – then they own me. So, I ask myself, “What is my heart?”
My heart is connected to the world – intertwined with God – grounded in the earth – reaching toward the heavens. Knowing what is love and what is fear. We fear what we do not know. Thus, I continue seeking and hoping for a developed mind that learns to speak with a “well-trained tongue, that I might know how to speak to the weary.”
In closing, I must share the final little impetus that led me to write these words. It comes from today’s post at Abbey of the Arts where she asks us to name which angel is calling to us as we enter this final week of Lent. My angel greeted me boldly. She is one who has come before and I pray will come on a regular basis. She is the one I believe overcomes fear and pushes us toward freedom. Beware before you read any further, because I wholeheartedly offer this blessing to you (and me) from this Wild Angel ☺.
May the Angel of Wildness disturb the places
Where your life is domesticated and safe,
Take you to the territories of true otherness.
-John O'Donohue
Where your life is domesticated and safe,
Take you to the territories of true otherness.
-John O'Donohue
The angel of wildness picked me up, pulled me out of complacency and introduced me to “true otherness”. For that (& more) I am eternally grateful.. May you feel whole, connected and free during the coming days. May your week truly be Holy.
Namaste ☺
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13 comments:
care about people's approval...
This is one of the great challenges of blogging. For whom do I write? To what end do I write?
Sometimes, I feel that if I want to be true to my relationship with Godde, maybe I should let go of the blog.
Sometimes it seems the blog comes before Godde.
Where is the truth? I have not answer...
Otherwise, I like angels. I discovered them twenty years in Findhorn. They have a strange way of being accurate and truly helpful.
Thank you for a longer post than usual. Enjoy your wild angel :-)
claire - i hope you and godde can make peace with who comes first without letting go of your blog. personally, i find little pieces of heaven on those pages :-)
i'm also smiling at your thanks for the "longer post." i had a few thoughts wondering if anyone would read such a long missile. angels DO show up in all forms. thank you!!
This post made me smile over and over. I brought this scripture to our Oblate group tonight and "rouse" was the word that shimmered for me with some similar invitations and awarenesses as I read here. Lovely to know we are connected in so many ways. :-) Great quote from the Tao Te Ching, worth lots of pondering. xoxo
ah
to invite the angel of wildness is to invite disturbance
in your world and the world of those connected to you
may you face those turbulent waters with confidence - for it is a sign you are on the right path
hey christine - there seems to be less and less the feeling of linear time these days. perhaps we already had this conversation? :-) xoxo
kel - she kept showing up without formal invitation, so i decided i might as well embrace and welcome the gifts that disturbance ultimately can bring.
funny that you mention 'turbulent waters'. i was in a water yoga class today and we were invited to do an improvisational "dance." my favorite time was when i exhaled through my noise and spun like a tornado - the calm waters turned quite turbulent and it left me laughing and gasping for more :-)
my year of "water" continues...
interesting synchronicity with your water yoga experience and my use of the words turbulent waters
when I was considering this post, the words "turbulent waters" demanded to be put on the page here :)
Well how could anyone resist a post called Wild Angels, no matter how long? (Actually I didn't notice the length until I read the comments.)
I'm reading your post and writing this comment immediately after reading today's Gospel, in which Mary anoints the feet of Jesus with costly perfume, and "...the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil..."
It seems to me there are similarities between them - the sensuality AND sacredness of Mary's act, the physicality AND stillness of the practices describe.
May be all be able to let fragrance flow through our lives.
I'm finding this applicable on both sides--caring too much about what others think about my blog, but also being hesitant in sharing what I feel in comments. I have sometimes held back in my comments on your blog--unsure how you would take my own out of the ordinary beliefs. Perhaps it just needs to come down to self-confidence and respect. Self-confidence to proudly proclaim and hold strong to who we are, and then respect for the perhaps differing beliefs of others. I get so tired of the arguing, don't you? I think there is room for everyone in God's love.
My friend Joyce at Peaceful Legacies just concluded a series on her guardian angels, which she also visualized in a collage.
Lovely quote from Donohue.
I think sometimes there is confusion over being religious and being spiritual and how the two can inform and sustain each other. All those things you do are part of the person you are. God doesn't need to ask for an explanation or justification of them.
A beautiful long post:) I clicked on it earlier today and didn't have time to give it my attention. I'm glad I returned this evening. Of course, I love where the Angel of Wildness leads you because I'm usually in for at least "part" of the ride:) O'Donohue's words so applicable to the openness you embrace in those many might consider beyond your reach.
xoxo
tess - i wonder if mary's act was influenced by the angel of wildness? scripture indicates she had stepped outside the boundaries of "reason." AND what a glorious/fragrant step it was!
karen - oh it makes me so sad to think you've held back here. i've always felt such a kinship with you and believe that even if we have differing opinions there will be space for both! i agree - arguing is exhausting. conversation, however, is stimulating methinks. so, rev up that confidence and say what you need to say :-) (can you hear the john mayer song playing in the background?)
maureen - it's not God that usually asks for an explanation or justification :-)
SS - reaching reaching reaching! xoxox
Simply ~ thank you!
thymekeeper - sending lots of love from the angel of wildness! xo
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