Category Archives: stillness
Seventy-four days – Time to write a poem.
This is another found poem of sorts. Please see the attributions.
How important is it?
If I had a song,
My very own song,
An earth song,
I would be dancing on my own,
without a care in the world.
Are you listening?
The magical tune of the river tells us
It is hopeful in a time of confusion.
But wait I still hear some craziness.
I still feel like I am in the dark.
Wait a minute.
or is it an hour, a year or just seventy-four days?
I too am beginning
to see the light.
Photograph by Melba Christie
Attributions:
Man of many thoughts, keithgarrettpoetry
johncoyote
Pat Cagan
Sketchuniverse
Connect Ideas
On Breathing
Take a deep breath with me
Visualize a brand new world
free of hatred and craziness
no more absurd
only love and peace conserved.
Take a deep breath with me
close your eyes
there is so much beauty to see
even a raindrop seems magical
learn to watch for the miracles.
Let your goal be to be free.
Take a deep breath with me
look inside your soul
pure love will take control.
Take a deep breath with me
I am sure you will agree
that with every breath you take
you will find that all heartbreak
will disappear
and fears will be no longer
and you will be much stronger.
- I believe that we all need to learn to breathe intently and mindfully in order to free ourselves from pain and anxiety and to reach calmness. During this time of social distancing, isolation and for some of us deep sorrow, it is imperative to keep the faith and to maintain our immune system stronger than ever. Below is a link to a video on how to take deep cleansing breaths by Dr. Andrew Weil. I have passed on this video to many of my family members and friends. A fun way to keep connected is to use the Zoom app and do the exercises with a group of friends. Teach your children how to do the breathing exercises. Please let me know about your experiences. In the meantime, stay safe.
https://www.drweil.com/videos-features/videos/breathing-exercises-4-7-8-breath/
Connect Ideas
BREATHE!
Today, tomorrow and for as long as we will need to deal with the Corona Virus crisis, I plan to do some mindful breathing. Every morning before I get out of bed I breathe deeply, purposefully and with a positive mind.
Panic and worry begets more worry and more tension. This affects our entire system. We need to stop paying too much attention to the increments in the numbers of newly discovered cases and pay more attention to our breathing. We need to take deep cleansing breaths and use meditation as a tool to help us relax through it all.
I am what you may call a natural worry wart but lately I have been focusing more on my breathing and talking myself into calmness. High levels of anxiety can cause our autoimmune system to collapse at a time when we need our immunity to be at its peak performance levels.
I am not saying it is an easy task. I am not a medical professional to tell you this is a cure. I can only tell you that practicing mindfulness and taking charge of my anxious thoughts has worked for me.
I have been painting more and writing more. I have called friends I have not spoken too in a while to help them cope with the craziness. I listen to my collection of oldies but goodies.
My granddaughters are now forced to be at home because schools have closed. We have been told not to visit for now which breaks my heart. So, I have been using Skype and Facetime to communicate with them. I have recorded myself reading stories and send them via email or text. This keeps me busy and it is a way to connect to the girls. I believe that we can always find something good within a difficult situation. This is a time to catch up with family; make the phone call, write a letter or video tape a message. Family should come first.
Oh, and did I tell you I “breeeaaattthhhe” So my friends on WordPress and fellow bloggers I hope you are all well and healthy. I urge you to follow the stipulated guidelines and common sense practices to keep healthy but every time you get a chance please BREATHE! Happy breathing!
Connect Ideas
Haiku by Basho
When I looked under the hedge-
the little grass called shepard’s purse*
was flowering
“Shepherd’s purse is used for heart and circulatory problems including mild heart failure, low blood pressure, and nervous heart complaints. It is also used for headache, vomiting blood, blood in the urine, diarrhea, and bladder infections.” – Google search
Connect Ideas
On Meditation
Meditation brings us closer to the silence
we all need right now
the more silent and still
the more awareness grows
like wild ferns in the deep forest.
Peace evolves from within:
the soul develops hardy muscles
to keep depression out;
like a great cyclone fence
it protects,
but still lets the sun rays dance around you.
Meditation energizes;
it brings back the pep in your step.
Breathe the Yoga Master commands
Breathe and let your heart sing
as you meet all your soulmates.
Breathe and be still
the thrill
will
elevate you
high up
and soon
you will feel
the clouds.
Breathe!
Peace to all.
Connect Ideas
Soft Commotion and Jubilation
Soft commotion
and jubilation
comes at a cost;
we must free ourselves
of negative thoughts;
even the ones we produce on our own,
certainly those grim ideas pronounced
on loud speakers by others.
It seems these days,
the loud speakers are louder than ever.
We know their truth and legitimacy.
there is no doubt.
FEAR suppresses the soul;
But I need a thousand colorful
and unbustable bubbles
to help me smile, sing,
and dance,
I need soft commotion and jubilation.
Don’t you?
Join me at least for today.
Connect Ideas
When We Listen
When We listen
When we listen
we can hear the unspoken words
of the sages of the future
when we listen
the songs of the crickets
are meant to heal our souls
when we listen
we can decipher
the secret whispers
of the butterflies
Photo by Melba Christie
When we listen
we can hear
the heart strings of a young lover
strumming like an acoustic guitar
when we listen
we can hear
the harp of our soul
playing an opus
to help us become
more aware of who we are
when we listen
there’s no telling
what sounds will resonate
to help us appreciate
the life we take for granted
all the more.
Connect Ideas
Interconnected
Isn’t it so clear
Nature knows the connection
Why can’t we see it?
I join the world in mourning the senseless deaths of so many in Paris, France yesterday. If we truly understand that we are interconnected in every way then we will heal together but we must not allow violence and terrorism to win. Vive La France!
Connect Ideas
When We Listen
When We listen
When we listen
we can hear the unspoken words
of the sages of the future
when we listen
the songs of the crickets
are meant to heal our souls
when we listen
we can decipher
the secret whispers
of the butterflies
Photo by Melba Christie
When we listen
we can hear
the heart strings of a young lover
strumming like an acoustic guitar
when we listen
we can hear
the harp of our soul
playing an opus
to help us become
more aware of who we are
when we listen
there’s no telling
what sounds will resonate
to help us appreciate
the life we take for granted
all the more.
Related articles
- Hearing You Loud and Clear: The Effect of Good Communication (workzone.com)
- Active Listening across Cultures (culturalsavvy.wordpress.com)
Poemattic: Poetry and Art for the Soul 
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