by Judith | Jan 31, 2013 | Gardens, Herbs, nature, poetry, wisdom
Nature is What We See by Emily Dickinson
“Nature” is what we see—
The Hill—the Afternoon—
Squirrel—Eclipse— the Bumble bee—
Nay—Nature is Heaven—
Nature is what we hear—
The Bobolink—the Sea—
Thunder—the Cricket—
Nay—Nature is Harmony—
Nature is what we know—
Yet have no art to say—
So impotent Our Wisdom is
To her Simplicity.
Enjoy this beautiful day as January draws to a close. Judith
by Judith | Dec 21, 2012 | gratitude, nature, poetry, wisdom
The Sun Never Says by Hafiz
Even
after
all this time
the sun never says to the earth,
“You owe me.”
Look
what happens
with a love like that–
it lights the whole
world.
(from Love Poems by God by Daniel Ladinsky)
I cannot remember my feelings exactly back in 1987 when I first heard of the Harmonic Convergence and the Mayan prophecies. Disasters were foretold that would break down old structures , paradigms and essentially clean house. The next 25 years would be a time of purification, a time of cleansing. I wondered. I worried at times when I heard of possible tragedies that could befall us?
We have seen tsunami and earthquakes though not to the extent predicted. Hurricanes and tornadoes blew in. Volcanoes erupted bringing profound beauty in spite of reminding us that we cannot control nature. Our financial systems were exposed and banks are cleaning house. Many of us have lost homes, businesses. Individually we have been given a chance to clean out our lives and begin again, to find and claim our passion.
December 21, 2012 is here today. A long awaited date. I have come upon Mayan teachers and elders who remind me/us that this time was always about preparation for a new beginning.
“Both the Hopis and Mayans recognize that we are approaching the end of a World Age… In both cases, however, the Hopi and Mayan elders do not prophesy that everything will come to an end. Rather, this is a time of transition from one World Age into another. The message they give concerns our making a choice of how we enter the future ahead. Our moving through with either resistance or acceptance will determine whether the transition will happen with cataclysmic changes or gradual peace and tranquility. The same theme can be found reflected in the prophecies of many other Native American visionaries from Black Elk to Sun Bear.” — Joseph Robert Jochmans
Along the way we have experienced trying and horrific times as technology seemed to move us faster and faster into unexplored realms that affected our morals, our ethics, our psyches. We have also experienced tremendous breakthroughs in medicine, health, technology that connects us to each other. We have experienced growth and I trust wisdom along the way.
During these past twenty five years I have seen several themes repeat themselves over and over whether in business models for success or consciousness models and everything in between. It is as if the heavens kept repeating these mantras over and over for us so they would seep into our consciousness and rewrite any old programs that do not serve our highest potential.
Be in the Now. It s all we have.
Focus on what you want in life not the problems.
Trust the answers have already been given.
We are the ones we have been waiting for. It is up to us to make change happen.
I turn my focus to the Winter Solstice upon us and Nature, a turning of the wheel of life, cycles, rythyms, life, death and rebirth for that is what spring promises us right? That life flows from one season to the next even after the starkness of winter, even after tragedy. My heart feels a sadness for the recent tragedy that occurred in Ct that affected all of us and the world. I prayed as others have for healing.
I want to remind myself that every decision I make today, creates the future, so I ask my self these questions:
What can I do to help?
Is my heart holding love strong enough?
Can I give up my old story long enough to cherish this NOW and feel Blessed?
A cycle ends. A huge cycle ends, one that is mathematically complex. A new cycle begins, a new beginning foretold by all the ancient peoples on this planet. Am I ready? Are you ready? Are we prepared enough to come to together to create solutions? Can we love, tolerate, respect, have patience enough to come together and join our hearts for the common good of all? I hope so. I am ready. I hope you are too.
I invite you to take my hand today and link our hearts and minds with Love.
Namaste. Judith
by Judith | Dec 11, 2012 | poetry, short story fiction
I am happy to announce that the Windmore Foundation for the Arts 2012 Anthology is available on Amazon and Kindle.For me personally this was a great creative experience from submission selections to cover design to editing. I learned so much and I am pleased to have been part of this creative endeavor.
Book Description:
This 2012 anthology, Words Across Time, is a celebration of twenty years of creative writing by members of the Windmore Foundation for the Arts. For months the writers from Pen-to-Paper submitted their poems, stories, and essays to the anthology committee. It was difficult to select from such amazing talent. The anthology team chose the submissions that touched us by making us think, laugh, or cry.
To complete the journey through time, selections from three other Windmore anthologies were used to represent previous years. Those books are: Windmore Writers’ Anthology, 1992; Touching the Heart, 1996; and Images in Ink, 2010. The authors from those anthologies are pleased that their work is still recognized as relevant.
The artists of Windmore contributed beautiful, original art work inspired by stories in the book. Literature and art together add charm to this publication.”
Another book for your holiday wish list. Enjoy. Judith
by Judith | Mar 20, 2012 | Gardens, poetry, The West: the land of dreams, wisdom
The Music We are by Rumi
Did you hear that winter’s over?
The basil and the carnations
cannot control their laughter.
The nightingale, back from his wandering,
has been made singing master over
all the birds. The trees reach out
their congratulationsf The soul
goes dancing through the king’s doorway.
Anemones blush because they have seen
the rose naked. Spring, the only fair
judge, walks in the courtroom, and
several December thieves steal away.
Last year’s miracles will soon be
forgotten. New creatures whirl in
From nonexistence, galaxies scattered
around their feet. Have you met them?
Do you hear the bud of Jesus crooning
in the cradle? A single narcissus
flower has been appointed Inspector
Of Kingdoms. A feast is set. Listen.
The wind is pouring wine! Love
Used to hide inside images. No more!
The orchard hangs out its lanterns.
The dead come stumbling by in shrouds.
Nothing can stay bound or be imprisoned.
You say, “End this poem here and
Wait for what’s next.” I will. Poems
Are rough notations for the music we are.
Rumi: the book of Love by Coleman Barks
p.26,27.
by Judith | Feb 14, 2012 | Herbs, poetry, The West: the land of dreams, wisdom
(1207 – 1273)
look at love
by Mevlana Jelaluddin Rumi
look at love
how it tangles
with the one fallen in love
look at spirit
how it fuses with earth
giving it new life
why are you so busy
with this or that or good or bad
pay attention to how things blend
why talk about all
the known and the unknown
see how the unknown merges into the known
why think separately
of this life and the next
when one is born from the last
look at your heart and tongue
one feels but deaf and dumb
the other speaks in words and signs
look at water and fire
earth and wind
enemies and friends all at once
the wolf and the lamb
the lion and the deer
far away yet together
look at the unity of this
spring and winter
manifested in the equinox
you too must mingle my friends
since the earth and the sky
are mingled just for you and me
be like sugarcane
sweet yet silent
don’t get mixed up with bitter words
my beloved grows right out of my own heart
how much more union can there be
by Judith | Dec 27, 2011 | Meditation, poetry
Kabir ( c. 1398-1518)
GARDEN OF FLOWERS
Do not go to the garden of flowers!
O friend! go not there;
In your body is the garden of flowers.
Take your seat on the thousand petals
of the lotus, and there gaze
on the infinite beauty.
translated by Rabindranath Tagore,
Songs of Kabir (2002 Edition)
Judith Dreyer, MS, BSN, Writer, Speaker, and Workshop Presenter, Master Gardener.
