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October 2009 
What can you do right now to make a positive difference?
Posted on May 1st, 2009
by 
Centria
Centria
This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for May 01, 2009:
Be quiet. Not talk (or rather, write, as much). Listen to the spaces in between. Listen to the growing lupines and what they're saying. Listen to the dark of the moon and the way the moon opens up like a spring bud. Settle down with a heart of prayer and just watch. Listen some more. Feel the aches of sadness and the swift rushing joy when they appear, and the emptiness too. Drink emptiness instead of tea. And maybe sometimes tea, as well. Quit writing right now. Turn off the computer. Go outside and let the legs guide where they want to go, let the legs sing their walking songs, let the sun shine and the rain drizzle and the silence grow so loud it whispers itself awake, awake.
Access: Public
Oh, beautiful… how lovely it is to listen, how lovely it is to hear. Blue bells, the flowers, sound like blue bells… lol…
The better you listen, the more you hear… no? It's a world of gorgeous sound… all the harmonies beyond harmonies, and the harmonies beyond dischord…
enjoy the listening and the outdoors dear one!
Kathy, this is pure poetry, and very, very insightful. I can only nod in its rhythm: yes, and yes.
Drink emptiness instead of tea.
let … the silence grow so loud it whispers itself awake, awake.
Thank you!
Alan, it is so delightful to be still and listen. Yesterday morning (or was it Thursday morning?) I awoke to the sweetest trill of birdsong. Pure magic. It was the kind of song that sings to the very soul of you. And I thought of my friend with cancer who may be dying and suddenly couldn't reconcile the sound of birdsong to death. How could the bird sing so sweetly in the midst of death or illness? But then it did seem such a gift of hope, or is-ness or whatever. The bird still sings. And sings so beautifully, calling us awake into another morning.
Oh Nicole, thank you. The outdoors is like balm, especially this time of year when it's not acting all brutal and freezing and challenging. Just seeing the peepings of greenery is a joy. I think I'm becoming a head-over-heels Lover of Nature. Maybe just because it's spring and we're in love with everything that's growing and not as easily accepting that the leaves fall from the trees and provide compost for next year's seeds?
Ruth, thank you for reading and sharing rhythm, yes and yes, and yes again. It was so healing yesterday to drop deeper into the silence and let it balm the ragged heart. I like poetry when I'm feeling ragged. It's like poetry is the only language that can speak to the edges of our emotions and attempt to do justice to it. (although, Justice?, what is that? I'm suddenly wondering.)
Blessings, you Three. Your presence and words are bringing tears to my eyes right now. Love, Kathy
http://www.nerve.com/CS/blogs/modernmaterialist/2008/03/ch941030.gif
Because there is no end that isn't also a beginning. Because the tragedy of goodbyes is that the hello which follows it follows after amnesia has closed our eyes.
The second law of thermodynamics applies to you, me, your friend, and us all, dear Kathy… and is misunderstood– energy can be created, but never, ever destroyed.
I love your sadness at this sad moment, when perhaps you are to say goodbye to a dear friend. At best these things are deeply bittersweet– for all our friends never end.
we're with you-
Honoring the resonance of the moment by following it not knowing where it will lead knowing it is totally safe, totally beyond a “me”, no controlling myself, no controlling life or apparent others, being moved by the resonance and in that spaciousness seeing, the bubbling up expression of life constantly changing and how the teacher appears in each moment without even trying to see it as so. Often from the most mundane, benign, and sometimes unspiritual directions. The dots connecting themselves, flashes of insight spontaneously, followed by none. All appearing and disappearing in the openness. That openness I am. Even I am is saying too much.
Allowing questions without the need to answer. Allowing life to answer them whenever, however, and build on it when it will or destroy them if it must. No timeline. Nothing to do. Totally trusting beyond even trying to trust. No more trying. That free! Manifestation manifesting and noticing what is there through all of it and trusting in that knowingness that knows nothing at all and because of that and despite it as well welcomes and recognizes everything in that changeless undercurrent of being. We are that beyond comment, hold my hand.
All is given perfectly even when it doesn't feel so, seem so and welcoming that even through the tears and shaking fist if needed. Why not? Why not. There is nothing to lose, life to gain as it is following the resonance authentically without judgment no matter where it leads so it is seen who I am we are truly is life, knowingness, love beyond evaluation.
Whoa!
“Go outside and let the legs guide where they want to go, let the legs sing their walking songs, let the sun shine and the rain drizzle and the silence grow so loud it whispers itself awake, awake. ” I love this …
And Zennie - “Honoring the resonance of the moment by following it not knowing where it will lead knowing it is totally safe, totally beyond a “me”, no controlling myself, no controlling life or apparent others, being moved by the resonance and in that spaciousness seeing, the bubbling up expression of life constantly changing and how the teacher appears in each moment without even trying to see it as so.” I'm so with this too!
I agree with Rilke when he says, “… live the questions… ”
Kathy,
I've been living my contemplative work in a gray sky drizzly way of late. I am loving the alien forms at the ends of the tree branches and marveling how their form changes to the adult leaf of summer. They are so exotic, they fascinate me. I find no love more unconditional than the wilderness that surrounds me and no silence better for listening to.
Deb
Hello, all you beauties. Even though the silence…the deep texture of it…is lifting a bit now, the edges of it feel so sublime yet. I want to bring a bit of this silence forward into the minutes ahead.
Alan, you are so right about that energy cannot be destroyed. And for the words that our friends can never end.
Zennie, allowing the questions without the need to answer. YES! That resonates so strongly. To love the questions but not be attached to any “answer” that radiates out from them. Totally trusting without any need to trust. (I see that you posted a blog of your own about this subject; will go read again in a minute.)
John, oh we're living the questions. And isn't it delicious? Or shall I tentatively say…juicy? ha ha…
Deb, alien forms at the ends of tree branches, oh yes! I photographed one of those alien ends which had fallen off and it looks like an extraterrestial spaceship. They are exotic! I am so happy to be sharing our newly-growing artists eyes in the woods…
Hi Kathy …
stopped by for a quick hello!
and this was so beautiful… you know how I love the silence and a few birds…
and letting the thoughts wander…
today the quiet is interrupted by hedge trimmers and neighbors dog… but perhaps they are almost done…
so I decided to distract the outside noise, usually so peaceful… to move into myself and let the outside stay outside for a bit…
reading your words always gives me peace and joy and beauty… no wonder i found my way here this morning… and yes i am up this morning… actually for quite a few hours already!!! have errands to run today, so out in traffic… but I have learned that there too, one can find silence inside too. I thank the red lights for letting me just sit for a bit.
I too have sorrow over ill loved ones and the pain it causes the ones we love. I have been letting myself feel the pain… but in a real and also good way. Life is so precious and we often just need to remember how precious it is…
and hold closer to our hearts the love and beauty there also is around us.
along with these bumps in our reality road also comes a time to reflect and be grateful.
so it is in ourselves, and from our hearts that we can reach out to those that need something, whether a hug or words of love… whatever we can give. just letting the ones who are in pain know that they are not alone.
the silence I believe has returned outside… aaaahhh. and it is just the hum of the computer I hear now. even my worry and sadness seem to be drifting in and out… and by sending love to you and all my friends… I hope that this can and will make a positive difference…
may the sun shine on you and give you warmth! and get all those luscious plants the energy they need to grow… sssshhh, can you hear them grow?
to quietly listening… with much love, peace and light, Margo
Kathy, this speaks to me so much (as usual!!). It's like wondering what it would be like to sit in the middle of a twister; spinning perfectly at peace while everything swirls around you (metaphorically of course!).
Thank you for writing this.
Wow, this is beautifully poetic and profound!
Margo, how true that you can find peace and silence even in the midst of traffic and errands and the busy-ness of everyday life. It's been such a gift, lately, to re-remember that. To feel the silence in between moments at work, while typing on the computer, while listening to my husband talk. Seems like I forgot it for awhile. Things got so loud. But now they're both loud and quiet. ahhh…. Yes, feeling the sadness of illness and losing loved ones.
and then the sadness seems to disappear completely as the wildflowers stretch their petals toward the sun or the rain sprinkles itself upon the woods. A dance, that's what it is. Thank you for dancing over this way.
Rachel, you know I keep getting the edges of this when the silence gets big enough. Then it does feel like there's a twister of everything making itself available, but it's not imperative. Hope that makes a tiny bit of sense.
Lahn, it's lovely to see you here. Thank you for enjoying it. :)
I also feel that twister often… that loud swooshing of frustrations and too much going on at once… surrounding us and beckoning us, pulling and pushing simultaneously… bouncing off the invisible walls we build..
and then the awareness that is is not imperative–very insightful–thanks for allowing me to also re-remember!
the awareness of what is available… sometimes I feel like I am no longer in control of my own space craft… and then remember i don't need to be!
mother earth will still rotate and revolve without me at the helm, haha!
and some sadness continues to come in waves and pangs.
just some days need to feel a connection, and other days need to disconnect.
but always be with myself, as that is all we really have… and we are all connected at the same time… our 'self' is the universe…
and that can be enough.
along with watching the sun rise or set, and listening to the plants grow and the animals move about, and the wind wander about in all directions.
I can still be still… altho I too, along with the earth, am always in motion,
or emotion or thought…
and in dream state can visit my virtual friends whenever I want…
we are all here… in peacelovelight. ♥ (wishin the rain would dance this way!)
You make me smile so much Margo. …and that can be enough… peacelovelight back to you from the dream state. Love, Kathy
Kathy, even in your silence, we hear your beauty. Thanks to your open-hearted sharings. Thank you!
[and sometimes we come in and fill in the gaps when you're silent!]
My feet just got a jangling of me ol' soul, and a stir of much from your blessed dance.
Light and Love is a movement of such heart felt containment, at times, that rolls me ol' body into tunes of a fragile concern.
You whisk me around with such lively-ness and blessed love that makes my 'soup of the day', and now nourishes me with tidings of great joy.
My () are holding.
“V” and Love
thank you Meenakshi. Sometimes I feel disconcerted when the need for Silence appears (especially after being so outward-oriented for a long time) and feel off-kilter and thinking I should be doing something different. But if you surrender to the silence without the “shoulds” it's so beautiful. Lately it's a joy because the silence seems mixed perfectly with the sharing.
Soup of the day, Mums! You know I've been making wild leek soup, don't you? May the soup of this day nourish you to the very core of your being, and may you dance the dance of the Dance this day! Love to you as well, beautiful spirit.
I found something I wrote back in '07 - The silence of stones If you'd care to read, Kathy.
Thank you, Meenakshi. It's such a beautiful blog. The paradox of a blog.
I am so glad you pointed this out today.
wishing all a happy mothers day! with much love! may the day be filled with JOY!
Margo, don't you think we're all mothers, even the men? We all have a mothering and fathering part of ourselves. Thanks for the JOY wishes! I feel joy whenever I see your spirit fluttering by like a golden Arizona butterfly.
well… I did write 'all'… hehe… and yes I do think we have a masculine and feminine side… and for those who are nurturing… i would characterize that as a mothering thing… but you dont have to be a mother to 'mother' someone… I know quite a few nurturing men and young children that may 'mother' their pets or toys… and for all the single parents… they would get to celebrate mom and dad days!!! personally I have a little gripe about the hallmark occassion tho… I feel that every day is mom day and dad day and kid day! I dont think we need one day in may or june to honor them!!! then, on the other hand… I do like any excuse to celebrate! but it really can be ANY and/or EVERY DAY as far as I am concerned! What I am happy about is that years ago I realized with my folks that mother's day was the worst day of the year to go out to a resaturant. only fine dining expensive places allowed reservations… and one year we drove way out of chicago to go to a place, and it had a 5 hour wait list… then we tried another… the same thing. finally ended up back in the city in a nice neighborhood place… which by the way only had men in it, haha… but by the time we ate we were all grumpy and it was not the best time we ever had exactly… so after that, we went out the day or week before to celebrate it! and it worked great! I passed it on with my daughter too… high expectations of a perfect day and too much disappointment does not make for a fun day… so this year a week or so before moms day, we went to walgreens and shaina read me a bunch of cards, that way we both could be there together, and she read them to me, and we both laughed together!!! it also saves a lot of money… but it is about being together and sharing the day and laughter and joy…
this year she asked if I wanted mums… cuz her dad would always buy me yellow mums… after a bunch of years I finally said no more yellow mums… I always buy pink tulips and blue irises… years later I found out I was actually allergic to mums!!! so this year we looked at flowers and I knew that her heart was in it. but they were not necessary. I obviously am not a good consumer!!!
i want the heart felt sentiment, not the things…
I loved the years that she drew me cards, with heart ♥ on it, before she could spell! the love she put into them with I ♥ u was more precious than any other gift besides her giggles and hugs…
this year I was graced with her prescence 2 nites in a row! for a bday party for old friend saturday, and on sunday with martha and her kids, shaina's friends. Mike's celebration was tender and loving, and we could not have asked for a more love filled day. it was an honor to be there.
so that is what I feel about mothers day. it is about LOVE< just like all the other days! we all need to express our love as often as we can. I wish my mom was still alive so I could make up for all the lost mothers days that i was out of town. but she is always in my heart. and that is the important thing… as are alll my loving friends, i carry them all in my heart every moment of every day.
even when i forget to say so…
so to tie this back into making things positive, these were the lessons i learned on how to make mothers day a positive day… celebrate life always! and all ways… spread and share joy whenever you can… wherever you can!
and now wishing you a very happy tuesday, and may it be filled with JOY!
with open arms and open heart… peacelovelight!
and can I be a gold and purple butterfly? or at least covered in cool rain? HA!
just no yellow mums… please! ;) I did actually see some real lilacs on sat!JOY!
and you also, always lift my spirit too! mich in summers…divine! someday… :)♥
What a lovely tribute to the “true” meaning of Mother's Day. You got it nailed, Margo. I love that your daughter read cards to you in Walgreens. So you didn't just get one card…you got the spirit of dozens! Yeah! And yes you can be a gold and purple butterfly nicely spritzed with cool raindrops. Feel better? :)
I feel divine… thanks Kathy for those raindrops! ;)
sitting inside with the curtains and shutters all closed right now… to keep out the sunlight. it is a hot day…
this is the down side of desert living… not being able to look outside, whereas the winters up north one can still look outside thru the windows to see the snow… the tradeoff…
at least our nites are still cool for a while longer… :) doors wide open…
some times I ponder your once saying to me that I miss snow… today–yes! :)
but I bet you are enjoying your spring time, as the world comes alive in all its splendor again! hope you are soaking it all in…
I cannot take the layers off to get outside, haha! I sure miss the pool I used to have, it made the summers wonderful, jump in pool, sit on plastic chairs inside with wet clothes and hair and stay cool in the heat…
still remember those wonderful times…
but hey… I hear sweating is healthy for the body! my latest mantra:
sweating is good, sweating is good, sweating is good!
altho I just read dr mercola who said showering with soap kills the vit D that your body converts with the sweat… no wonder our society is not healthy, haha, it takes too many antibacterial soap showers…
just thought I would add a twist of my sense of humor…
a cool water rinse off will feel good shortly tho! ;)
I am so glad to have my memories of 60s in the summer the last 2 years!
and that last nite I had to put on another shirt cuz it got chilly, hahahahaha.
to happy days and nites filled with the scent of lilacs!
have a wonderful wed thurs fri and on and on, dear sweet Kathy!
I think I will go to the store soon to stand in the ac … ;)
sweat is healthy sweat is healthy sweat is healthy…
much love to you! peacelovelight(with blinds and curtains!)
we now have 2 males and 2 females, ducks that is, outside, squaking away!
that territorial thing… they are so funny to watch,, when the sun is not shining in the window late afternoon… we have a small bird bath and roomie feeds the neighborhood birds… and dogs like to chase them!
the little things in life that bring joy!
drink emptiness…awesome.
One of my favorite sayings is
“An empty vessel has the most potential”
Beautifully written Kathy…
Hi Ms. Sunshine! Glad you like this. And I love your favorite saying. It's so true…