The key is the flow

Posted on December 26, 2010 by Glerikud

Let life flow. Let things come to you and leave you. Allow it.

Let magic flow. Let it come to you and flow through you, then disappear.

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Open the Window

Posted on December 26, 2010 by Michaela

There is a street where the Beautiful One
is known to take a stroll.

When certain radiance is noticed
through the latticed windows
of that neighbourhood.

people whisper, The Beloved
must be near

Listen: open a window to God
and breathe. Delight yourself
with what comes through that opening.

The work of love is to create
a window of the heart,

for the breast is illumined
by the beauty of the Beloved.

Gaze incessantly on that face!
Listen, this is in your power, my friend!

Find a way to your innermost secret.
Let no other perception distract you.

You, yourself, possess the elixir,
so rub it into your skin,

and by this alchemy
your inner enemies will become friends.

And as you are made beautiful,
the Beautiful One will become your own,
the intimate of your once lonely spirit

Mathnawi VI, 3095-3097
From: Rumi: ” Love’s Ripening”
Translated by K Helminsky & A Rezwani
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Away in a manger

Posted on December 25, 2010 by Michaela

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In the spirit of Christmas

Posted on December 25, 2010 by Michaela

Christmas is about giving.

But it is not the egoic “giving” that we encounter during the Christmas season in the Western society.  The abundance and extravagance, the gluttony and self-indulgence, the over-saturation and surfeit.

There is another kind of giving:

‘It suits the generous one to give money,
but truly the generosity of the lover
is to surrender the soul.’

This is a stanza from Rumi’s teaching ” Give your Life” and it has been with me all day today. I have had a beautiful Christmas, with everything you could wish for – a big family, children, presents, champagne, christmas tree, music, singing, happiness, love and beauty. And I looked at all of it, still thinking -what does it mean to surrender the soul ?

To me it means to be real, true and authentic – regardless of what the others do or think. I had a discussion with my twelve year old niece today, who said: ” I just want everything to stay the same” – and she meant the traditions and rituals of her Christmas. My sister had tried to change something and that had caused a major protest and lack of understanding. So I look at the family Christmas, that is not so different from the Christmas I had as a child, and I wondered, what it is that is driving everyone to go at great length to co-operate together for another fabulous Christmas. Is it the desire to fulfill an expectation and create a memory ?

Do not misunderstand me. I love the way I am able to celebrate Christmas and I do like the rituals and traditions. But I watch it and despite the joy of being together and having a good time, I somehow miss the soul in it. I see a strange mixture of true joy – but also acting and playing a role, living up to expectations and knowing one’s part.

And then it occurrs to me that there is only one to surrender the soul – me.
So I just do, and I forget about being critical, or to worry – I say to myself – this Christmas  is what I have this year and it is as loud, chaotic and fun as always. And then I go and find some moments of stillness on my own. Pondering about this holy night, the veil that feels so thin, and the spirit that seems to permeate everything.

‘if you give your life for God’s sake,
you will be given life in return.’

Merry Christmas everyone.

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It’s a small world

Posted on December 25, 2010 by Michaela

Can you guess what this is ?

Crystallized soy sauce (16X)
Posted in Photographs | 3 Comments

Give your Life

Posted on December 25, 2010 by Michaela

It suits the generous one to give money,
but truly the generosity of the lover
is to surrender the soul.
If you give bread for god’ sake,
you will be given bread in return;
if you give your life for God’s sake,
you will be given life in return.

If the leafs of the plane tree drop off,
it will be given the gift of leaflessness

If because of your generosity
nothing is left in your hands,
how could God’s abundance leave you downtrodden?

When a farmer sows seed, he empties the barn,
but out in the fields it’s growing.
left in the barn, time and decay,
weevil and mice devour it.

Mathnawi I, 2235-2236
From: Rumi: ” Love’s Ripening”
Translated by K Hemlinski & A Rezwani
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Just Reminders

Posted on December 25, 2010 by Glerikud

 

Watch your mind as it says no to this moment.

The source of happiness is not the things, but our true being.

See yourself from outside.

Posted in Glances | 3 Comments

Silent Night, Holy Night

Posted on December 24, 2010 by Michaela

Stille Nacht" Chapel in Oberndorf

The most beautiful of all Christmas Carols

” Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht”

This is the original version, as written and performed at Christmas Mass in Oberndorf, Salzburg in 1818.

Happy Christmas

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Symbolism of Christmas

Posted on December 24, 2010 by Michaela

Giotto. The Nativity. 1304-1306. Fresco. Capella degli Scrovegni, Padua, Italy.

Deep in the heart of humanity exists the mystic yearning implanted within it at the first Christmastide when the Light of Man made a definite place for Itself within and upon this dense earth planet.

The word Christmas is derived from the medieval Christe Masse, the Mass of Christ.

The story of the Christ birth is for the Occident what the birth of Krishna is for the Orient. Whether literally, mystically, or symbolically understood, it brings to man fundamental truth which, as his Spirit faculties unfold and function to perceive and accept such truth, raises his entire being to a height not reached hitherto.

For the spiritual aspirant, Christ’s words “No man cometh to the Father save by Me,” carry a transcendent meaning. Parsifal inquires, “Who is the Grail?” The reply indicates high spiritual perception:

“If thou hast by him been bidden,
From thee the truth will not be hidden….
The land to Him no path leads through,
And search but severs from Him wider
When He Himself is not the Guider.”

Continue reading →

Posted in Room to Read | 4 Comments

The Journey

Posted on December 24, 2010 by Michaela

THE JOURNEY
By Justme


Read by the author

At first you did not recognise me…..I came to wake you because you told me so.
You told me you would sleep; you told me just a breath ago.

It seems so long ago, and yet….!

The whirling whirl of everything, but stop …and then a gust passed over me,
not of wind
or air but
of spirit…
I remembered you;
I remembered why I came to you.
It was because you told me to
I shook you at first, but you did not know me.
You wanted me to go away.
Then you looked at me.
What emerged was a strange curiosity.

Then you saw yourself in me.

Serenity,
depth
then finally – mortality

Oh to miss a thousand years, oh to weep a thousand tears
‘Have I nothing? Is what you cried

Silence prevailed

Soon
you flew high.

Then…

Crashing, tumbling torrents of fury
Smashing gouging thunders
Crater and mass obliterating gory.
Why me?’ you said, why you?” you asked

I came to wake you because you told me so, you told me you would sleep you told me this just a breath ago.
I am come to wake you because you told me to..

You came for me?
You promised you would come for me!

Brooding, effervescent unravelling
Bubbling, and unfolding epiphany.
Eyes that see, ears that hear
the veil has lifted, all is clear.

Tenderness touch,
warm embrace,
then finally -translucency.

Recognition of a hundred lives
joyful laugh – bursting breathe

Then you looked at me

Oh my self you came for me.
I asked you to wake me up.
You remembered, you came for me.

Yes. I came because you told me to.
I woke you because you asked me to.

Thank you friend.

Now I must go.
I will drift
with the wind.
Rise in the ether
and fall with the snow

Your eyes are closing and now you will sleep
Is there a promise that I should keep?
Oh dear friend remember me
Come and wake me before my end.
Tell me that I sent you so
Let me know I sent you.

Just a breath, just a moment ago!

 

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