Their Slow Way

Let these woods have their

slow way with you.  Patient

pines that hold their green

through all the frozen seasons,

lichen-covered rocks that live

indifferent to time's passage--

these will teach you how to

bring your life to ground.

The fractal chaos of the forest

floor, its white anemones,

spiked grasses and dead leaves,

the fallen trunks and branches

splayed out like pick-up sticks--

these will teach you how

to live freely, with abandon,

and feed the roots of new growth

when your time has come.

--Parker J. Palmer

Mercy Now

My father could use a little mercy now
The fruits of his labor fall and rot slowly on the ground
His work is almost over it won't be long, he won't be around
I love my father, he could use some mercy now

My brother could use a little mercy now
He's a stranger to freedom, he's shackled to his fear and his doubt
The pain that he lives in it's almost more than living will allow
I love my bother, he could use some mercy now

My church and my country could use a little mercy now
As they sink into a poisoned pit it's going to take forever to climb out
They carry the weight of the faithful who follow them down
I love my church and country, they could use some mercy now

Every living thing could use a little mercy now
Only the hand of grace can end the race towards another mushroom cloud
People in power, they'll do anything to keep their crown
I love life and life itself could use some mercy now

Yeah, we all could use a little mercy now
I know we don't deserve it but we need it anyhow
We hang in the balance dangle 'tween hell and hallowed ground
And every single one of us could use some mercy now

Every single one of us could use some mercy now
Every single one of us could use some mercy now

--Mary Gauthier (lyrics)

Wabi-Sabi

Wabi-sabi suggests that beauty is a dynamic event 

that occurs between you and something else. 

Beauty can spontaneously occur 

at any moment given the

proper circumstances, context, or point of view. 

Beauty is thus an altered state of consciousness, 

an extraordinary moment of 

poetry and grace.

– Leonard Koren

Learning is the Thing for You

The best thing for being sad," replied Merlin..."is to learn something. That's the only thing that never fails. You may grow old and trembling in your anatomies, you may lie awake at night listening to the disorder of your veins, you may miss your only love, you may see the world about you devastated by evil lunatics, or know your honour trampled in the sewers of baser minds. There is only one thing for it then — to learn. Learn why the world wags and what wags it. That is the only thing which the mind can never exhaust, never alienate, never be tortured by, never fear or distrust, and never dream of regretting. Learning is the only thing for you. 

--T. H. White, The Once and Future King

To Come Home to Yourself

May all that is unforgiven in you,
Be released.

May your fears yield
Their deepest tranquilities.

May all that is unlived in you,
Blossom into a future,
Graced with love.

--John O'Donohue

Sanctuary

Will you be my refuge
My haven in the storm
Will you keep the embers warm
When my fire’s all but gone?
Will you remember
And bring me sprigs of rosemary
Be my sanctuary
’Til I can carry on
Carry on
Carry on

This one knocked me to the ground
This one dropped me to my knees
I should have seen it coming
But it surprised me

Will you be my refuge
My haven in the storm
Will you keep the embers warm
When my fire’s all but gone?
Will you remember
And bring me sprigs of rosemary
Be my sanctuary
’Til I can carry on
Carry on
Carry on

In a state of true believers
On streets called us and them
Its gonna take some time
’Til the world feels safe again

Will you be my refuge
My haven in the storm
Will you keep the embers warm
When my fire’s all but gone?
Will you remember
And bring me sprigs of rosemary
Be my sanctuary
’Til I can carry on
Carry on
Carry on

You can rest here in Brown Chapel
Or with a circle of friends
Or quiet grove of trees
Or between two bookends

Will you be my refuge
My haven in the storm
Will you keep the embers warm
When my fire’s all but gone?
Will you remember
And bring me sprigs of rosemary
Be my sanctuary
’Til I can carry on
Carry on
Carry on

--Carrie Newcomer

Irish Blessing

May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun.
And find your shoulder to light on.
To bring you luck, happiness, and riches.
Today, tomorrow, and beyond.