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Polarities
Light and darkness are not enemies;
they are polarities, like breathing,
each necessary in its turn.
We need rest, renewal, and dreaming
as profoundly as we need
labor, blossoming, and attentiveness.
Solstice
The Summer Solstice is a moment of brilliant glory –
long hours of sunlight en-sparkling our spirits.
Receive this blessing and hope for the second half of Beltane:
Embrace me in the radiance
of Perfect (En)Lightenment:
the resilience of hope,
the levity of humor,
the vitality of play,
the buoyancy of possibility,
the clarity of wisdom,
the vigor of truth,
the optimism of joy,
the peace of honesty,
the exuberance of generosity –
nine blessings to uphold
and encourage me
this day and forever.
Darkness
Being surrounded by so much daylight at Solstice
has made me highly aware of the metaphors using darkness
that are so much in the media these days.
I would observe that overuse seems to be
leading to lazy – even dangerous – thinking and speaking.
If we are talking about ignorance, let’s say that.
If we are talking about evil, let’s say that.
If we are talking about chaos or violence,
let’s use those specific words.
Let’s not use “darkness” when we mean something else
lest we forget that darkness is good and healthy,
indeed, essential to life itself.
(Un) Like
Seeing what is ‘like us’ in other people –
behaviors or goals or yearnings we share –
is a essential step away from stereotyping
or, worse, demonizing,
and a step toward empathy, justice, and peace.
But as some point we need to see beyond ‘likeness’.
We need to acknowledge our real,
and sometimes deep, differences
and still commit to respecting one another,
and to believing in and working toward
a common good that includes us all.
Note to self: Maybe I need to start with Harold.
[If you missed Harold, you can find him in the post “Enemy Wisdom” HERE.]
Laughter
I recently read that several studies
have shown that the average toddler
laughs over 400 times a day –
real laughter in delight, joy, astonishment.
The average adult laughs 15 times.
I will leave you to figure out
what the world would be like
if fewer of us were willing to give up
385 opportunities to laugh every day.
Beyond Brevity
This is a little hard to admit,
given that I have committed
to posting something every day,
but it is perilously easy to get on a roll
and think I need to say something about everything.
Then I (try to remember to) pause
and remind myself,
It often shows a fine command of language to say nothing.
(Anonymous)
Stand!
In a time of global thrashing (read: panic) –
and we have been living through
more than a few days of thrashing (read: widespread panic) –
it is an emotional and spiritual challenge
to remain untroubled or, at least, steady and centered.
This week it happened again:
I felt an almost overwhelming impulse
to start running in circles,
and looking for quick fixes,
and hyperventilating.
And once again, by grace, my psyche
grabbed me by the proverbial shoulders
and in the nanosecond I was still,
flung my ordination text at me like a lifeline:
Take up the whole armor of G-d,
so that you will be able to withstand
in the time of trial
and, having done all,
stand.
Text © 2016, Andrea La Sonde Anastos
Photos © 2016 Immram Chara, LLC