"Forgive yourself. Forgive yourself over and over until it feels Real." Still struggling with that, but I am working on it. Beautiful essay - thank you. Blessings
I love this so much. I was thinking about the lotus flower this morning (ok there’s a pond picture on my desk haha, mystery solved) and I have become fairly obsessed with roots in the past few years. When you wrote about blowing up piles, my mind went to Kali, who has a pretty big presence in my life. This line really stood out to me and I so agree: “It is constant sacrifice, leaving where we came from.”
I remember years ago learning an aphorism that made the rest of my life make more sense to me - that the yogi is like water, always moving so they do not stagnate. It made my strong relationship to change feel so much safer. “Ohhhh, ok, I’m not an irresponsible person who goes around blowing my life up all the time. I’m a stream of water staying healthy.” It gave me a lot of much-needed compassion for my seeking ways.
I also loved this reminder: “Embrace all of it because you are all of it.” I had an experience where I realized this recently, post-brain surgery. I was hopped up on an opiate at the time, too, and I woke in a kind of sweaty half-paralysis with this knowledge in the middle of the night. It was pretty wild. I know I need to write about it and yet I keep pushing off some of that homework 😅 It’s among the reasons why I say prayers constantly for friends (including you) writing their books, because I know just how courageous and hard the work is (and how much I avoid it some days, woopsies!)
Anyway, I love your heartfelt, patient, honest explorations. Hope the mud is nourishing you. It sounds like there are some blossoms reaching the light too. XO
Kara, there is so much here my heart is embracing! Gosh, your response really blesses me. I love the connections you found with the lotus and roots (it's still cool I synced with your desk pic? haha) After posting, I had a pinch of remorse for the "blowing up" expression because it could be perceived as pretty aggressive. I hope it was delivered softly enough for your thoughts of Kali. Thank you so much for sharing that about the yogi being like water... I really like that- it helps me feel understood/validated too. If you end up writing about your post-surgery realization, I definitely hope to read it. Thank you for your prayers, sister. You prompt me to now keep you in mine, and I will. <3 Your loving kindness feels like a big hug! Let's keep exploring together and doing the homework when we feel like it hehe
The Thousand Petaled Lotus Blossom has always been a special symbol for me. I smiled when you used it symbolically today. For me it symbolizes ever thing you pointed out and specifically helps me love every aspect of myself, others, and all creation because every single individual petal is unique and integral to the perfection of the whole.
Thank you for re-minding me that without the individual there would be no whole and there could be no Wholey Days.
Perfect, Duke! What a profound statement your last sentence was, while also being clever and witty. ; ) I'm happy this related to something so special to you. Just when I think I fully understand something like the lotus flower, more worlds open up within it. I love your emphasis on the many unique petals.
I love it. Out of chaos: Order. That first baby scream, primal, alive in the world. Terror. Fear. From black nothing to white hot everything. Here we are, unasked for life but life nonetheless. And then society and social norms and taboos all bear down on us each individually and collectively like gas pressure against enclosed walls. We compete. We scream. We become adults. We act like children. Superlatives do not help our cause. We eventually rediscover love. Self and other. We let go. We are free.
Love this simple, frank description of the life cycle Michael. I appreciate this resolution: "We eventually rediscover love. Self and other. We let go. We are free." <3
"Forgive yourself. Forgive yourself over and over until it feels Real." Still struggling with that, but I am working on it. Beautiful essay - thank you. Blessings
I am too Claudia 💜 glad I’m not alone, thank you for sharing your reflection.
I love this so much. I was thinking about the lotus flower this morning (ok there’s a pond picture on my desk haha, mystery solved) and I have become fairly obsessed with roots in the past few years. When you wrote about blowing up piles, my mind went to Kali, who has a pretty big presence in my life. This line really stood out to me and I so agree: “It is constant sacrifice, leaving where we came from.”
I remember years ago learning an aphorism that made the rest of my life make more sense to me - that the yogi is like water, always moving so they do not stagnate. It made my strong relationship to change feel so much safer. “Ohhhh, ok, I’m not an irresponsible person who goes around blowing my life up all the time. I’m a stream of water staying healthy.” It gave me a lot of much-needed compassion for my seeking ways.
I also loved this reminder: “Embrace all of it because you are all of it.” I had an experience where I realized this recently, post-brain surgery. I was hopped up on an opiate at the time, too, and I woke in a kind of sweaty half-paralysis with this knowledge in the middle of the night. It was pretty wild. I know I need to write about it and yet I keep pushing off some of that homework 😅 It’s among the reasons why I say prayers constantly for friends (including you) writing their books, because I know just how courageous and hard the work is (and how much I avoid it some days, woopsies!)
Anyway, I love your heartfelt, patient, honest explorations. Hope the mud is nourishing you. It sounds like there are some blossoms reaching the light too. XO
Kara, there is so much here my heart is embracing! Gosh, your response really blesses me. I love the connections you found with the lotus and roots (it's still cool I synced with your desk pic? haha) After posting, I had a pinch of remorse for the "blowing up" expression because it could be perceived as pretty aggressive. I hope it was delivered softly enough for your thoughts of Kali. Thank you so much for sharing that about the yogi being like water... I really like that- it helps me feel understood/validated too. If you end up writing about your post-surgery realization, I definitely hope to read it. Thank you for your prayers, sister. You prompt me to now keep you in mine, and I will. <3 Your loving kindness feels like a big hug! Let's keep exploring together and doing the homework when we feel like it hehe
Aaaaand sorry my comment is so long! lol. Truly, feel free to “like” and move on 😊 or not even that! haha. just enjoy engaging with your offerings 💘
No way, it made my week!
Blow up the piles! Great. Happy Easter, Jeannie
Boom Matt! ❤️🔥 Happy Easter dear friend.
Beautiful, Jeannie. I'm saving this one to revisit when it's time to try again... again. 💛 I needed it today, too. Thank you! Happy Easter.
Me too Meg 🙏🏼 this one started out with a good ole sob sesh 😂 Happy Easter to you too, sweet friend.
Beautiful, simply beautiful. 💜
I'm so glad you enjoyed this one, Sue. I'm grateful to have you here.
Happy to be here!! 💜
Beautiful essay, love the description of the lotus flower. Its roots in mud!
Thank you, Stephanie! <3 Yes, the lotus symbolism continues to become more profound for me!
Dear Jeannie,
The Thousand Petaled Lotus Blossom has always been a special symbol for me. I smiled when you used it symbolically today. For me it symbolizes ever thing you pointed out and specifically helps me love every aspect of myself, others, and all creation because every single individual petal is unique and integral to the perfection of the whole.
Thank you for re-minding me that without the individual there would be no whole and there could be no Wholey Days.
Duke
Perfect, Duke! What a profound statement your last sentence was, while also being clever and witty. ; ) I'm happy this related to something so special to you. Just when I think I fully understand something like the lotus flower, more worlds open up within it. I love your emphasis on the many unique petals.
I love it. Out of chaos: Order. That first baby scream, primal, alive in the world. Terror. Fear. From black nothing to white hot everything. Here we are, unasked for life but life nonetheless. And then society and social norms and taboos all bear down on us each individually and collectively like gas pressure against enclosed walls. We compete. We scream. We become adults. We act like children. Superlatives do not help our cause. We eventually rediscover love. Self and other. We let go. We are free.
Michael Mohr
"The Incompatibility of Being Alive"
https://reallife82.substack.com/
Love this simple, frank description of the life cycle Michael. I appreciate this resolution: "We eventually rediscover love. Self and other. We let go. We are free." <3
Thank you for reading and sending the compliment, Jay. Happy Easter. <3