For a while I was in this phase of writing poetry. It was a pretty intense phase, given I had never really written it before and then suddenly it seemed to be pouring out of me. At times I didn't even feel like it was me. Like somehow these words, this expression, was flowing into me and I was just the vessel through which it could be made manifest. Some of it I look back on and read and honestly can't believe I actually wrote it. But over the past year that river of poetry has slowly dried up. Even when I try to write something, it just feels so contrived. I had shared this with a friend not too long ago and he asked what had changed that had made me close myself off to receiving like I had in the past.
I definitely miss the feeling, the passion that would awaken me at night as the words started flowing in, not allowing me to sleep until I at least jotted some notes down on paper...constantly turning the light on, then off, then back on as more came to me. Restless nights, yet so exciting. I miss the feeling in my heart, the warmth that carried the expression down my arms and out my fingertips to the paper or keyboard. I miss the thrill of finishing a piece, the sense of completion and the desire to read it over and over again because my own poetry was speaking to me on such a deep level. I miss the feeling of vulnerability of reading it to another person, or sharing with the world on my blog, or with only myself because sometimes it's just way too personal.
Have I closed myself off? I really never felt like this was the case. It simply felt like something had changed. That I was meant to receive all I did during that time period (because honestly it helped me through an extremely challenging time in my life) and maybe now...well, now is just different. Now I think poetry has evolved for me. I sit outside on this fall day, caught up in experiencing the coolness of the air and the warmth of the sun on my skin; watching the journey of a single leaf, accentuated by clear blue sky, floating and spinning on it's way to the earth; sharing a moment with the dragonflies that land on my blanket, hopefully rescuing me from the mosquitoes; walking through crunchy leaves in my bare feet; laughing at the look on Gram's face as she exclaims that she almost stepped on a snake; tasting the spreading ecstasy of the leaves as they're slowly lit by the climbing sun. (I had to steal that last line from David Abram as he speaks of Van Gogh's paintings...it was just so incredibly sensuous!)
I am immersed in poetry. I have been absorbed into nature's artistic expression. Maybe poetry for me has evolved from a time to express it in words, to a time to experience it. Each moment is a poem. My life itself is my poetry and it speaks to me. I still like to return to my written poetry, those poems like pictures capturing moments in my life. But no longer is it a time for me to put poetic words to paper or screen, organized into rhymes or stanzas or flowing free, but to live the poetry that is always being received and held within my heart.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Aunnie's Special Reiki Day (Part 2)
I recently taught Reiki 1 to my 7 year old nephew. He was very excited about finally getting to have his special Reiki day with Aunnie (that's me! :) I had taught my niece a couple years earlier (Part 1) and she had told him all about what to expect...hiking, lunch, coloring book...I'm not actually sure how much she remembers of the actual Reiki part, but that's okay. These kids are awesome and I think I end up learning just as much when I'm with them!
As it was the day after Hurricane Irene, we hit a few road blocks to my initial plans. The place I wanted to take him hiking at was closed, the restaurant I wanted to take him to lunch was closed. This involved a lot of driving, through major traffic intersections with no lights working, to find other places. But as my nephew pointed out, "we're going to make the most of today no matter what, right Aunnie?" Yes, yes we are. First stop, Joe's Rock in Wrentham for a little hike as we discussed energy. We were greeted at first arrival by the cries of a red-tailed hawk. This hawk, and about 4 others, seemed to follow us throughout our journey in the woods. It was pretty amazing. But even more amazing to him are the rocks. Ever since I started taking him hiking, he has been a rock hound. Usually my pockets are filled with the cool rocks he has discovered. He is a child after my own heart! We talked about looking for special rocks to use as part of his attunement and what it means to set an intention.
Then to American Joe's for lunch. I have this great little Reiki Kids coloring book and he was thrilled to work on it and talk about Reiki and Energy and Chakras as we waited for our meals. When I asked him to draw a picture of how he could use Reiki, he drew a picture of himself giving Reiki to someone who was sick. I think his favorite part was the energy ball I showed him how to make with his hands. It was so awesome to see his eyes look at me in amazement as he exclaimed he could feel the energy between his hands..."it's like something is there, it's like my hands are growing!"
Then we were off to my office so he could pick out a special crystal to be used as part of his Reiki attunement. Neither my office, nor my home had electricity at the time. I have a special Reiki Kids meditation CD, but I had explained to him we might not be able to do a meditation if there still was no electricity when we got home. He then told me he was going to say a special Reiki prayer that the electricity would be on by the time we got to the house. Holding his crystal in the back seat of my car, he very seriously said a prayer to himself. And believe it or not, we walked in the front door and the lights were on! It was a glorious moment! We finished the day with a Journey with the Dolphins guided meditation and then his attunement.
Truly, it was my special Reiki day and a day I know he'll always remember. I'll repeat what I wrote after the day with my niece: So there's no point here, except to share this beautiful day. Oh, and maybe to share what I learned...the importance of honoring our children for the wisdom they possess and encouraging them to discover it for and within themselves. And the recognition that we have so much to learn from these kids...so much to learn from seeing the world through their eyes.
(For anyone interested in learning more about Reiki Kids: http://www.reikikids.ca/ )
As it was the day after Hurricane Irene, we hit a few road blocks to my initial plans. The place I wanted to take him hiking at was closed, the restaurant I wanted to take him to lunch was closed. This involved a lot of driving, through major traffic intersections with no lights working, to find other places. But as my nephew pointed out, "we're going to make the most of today no matter what, right Aunnie?" Yes, yes we are. First stop, Joe's Rock in Wrentham for a little hike as we discussed energy. We were greeted at first arrival by the cries of a red-tailed hawk. This hawk, and about 4 others, seemed to follow us throughout our journey in the woods. It was pretty amazing. But even more amazing to him are the rocks. Ever since I started taking him hiking, he has been a rock hound. Usually my pockets are filled with the cool rocks he has discovered. He is a child after my own heart! We talked about looking for special rocks to use as part of his attunement and what it means to set an intention.
Then to American Joe's for lunch. I have this great little Reiki Kids coloring book and he was thrilled to work on it and talk about Reiki and Energy and Chakras as we waited for our meals. When I asked him to draw a picture of how he could use Reiki, he drew a picture of himself giving Reiki to someone who was sick. I think his favorite part was the energy ball I showed him how to make with his hands. It was so awesome to see his eyes look at me in amazement as he exclaimed he could feel the energy between his hands..."it's like something is there, it's like my hands are growing!"
Then we were off to my office so he could pick out a special crystal to be used as part of his Reiki attunement. Neither my office, nor my home had electricity at the time. I have a special Reiki Kids meditation CD, but I had explained to him we might not be able to do a meditation if there still was no electricity when we got home. He then told me he was going to say a special Reiki prayer that the electricity would be on by the time we got to the house. Holding his crystal in the back seat of my car, he very seriously said a prayer to himself. And believe it or not, we walked in the front door and the lights were on! It was a glorious moment! We finished the day with a Journey with the Dolphins guided meditation and then his attunement.
Truly, it was my special Reiki day and a day I know he'll always remember. I'll repeat what I wrote after the day with my niece: So there's no point here, except to share this beautiful day. Oh, and maybe to share what I learned...the importance of honoring our children for the wisdom they possess and encouraging them to discover it for and within themselves. And the recognition that we have so much to learn from these kids...so much to learn from seeing the world through their eyes.
(For anyone interested in learning more about Reiki Kids: http://www.reikikids.ca/ )
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