leaf hanging - mjd 2013

balance

greys that calm 

building bridges between 

white and black.

soft threads 

fragile strength

for eons

providing humanity 

with exquisite

function

in the shape of mandalas.

crystals faceted just so

catching light

and releasing it

the dance of all 

that is open

reminders from the himalayas

that clarity 

of

thought 

word 

and 

deed

are critical

and bells,

lovely bells

softly ringing 

gentle reminders 

kin to birds singing

cats purring

leaves rustling

that life is best lived

awake. 

from benedictus by john o'donohue:

may i live this day

compassionate of heart,

clear in word,

gracious in awareness,

courageous in thought,

generous in love.

life promises us nothing, 

not the length of our stay

nor the complexity of our path.

life promises us nothing

except 

that there will be opportunity to learn everything we need to know.

tragedy?

count on it.

but count also upon joy.

joy - mjd 2013

and if 

you stay open

and if 

you grow still,

and if you 

can strip away everything you thought was important,

you will be left with the love

you began with.

your open heart was earned with bravery,

and persistence

and tears.

awaken - mjd 2013

now that you walk the world

with an inner smile

you can do what we were meant to do -

share it.


share your story

share your smile

share your love.


there is an unknowable future

that you can touch.

how you touch it 

is up to you. 

the pregnant pause

light of knowing - mjd 2013

a season that blazes 

to catch our attention

encouraging -
no, demanding -
mindfulness 

a pregnant pause

between death

and the secret life that dwells

in an acorn.

we bear witness 

to balance

and impermanence.

does the chill air that physically wakes us
after the warm breezes of summer

force us to 

rediscover

remember

or just deeply know?

it is
with a sigh
that moves through the upturned
corners of your mouth,

the knowing 
that is 
coupled
with quivering joy

that the path is lit. 

completeness in balance

even in the midst of the darkest forest,
glimpses of sky will appear
and fingers of light will reach down
to delicately brush its loamy floor.
surrounded by light and shadow,
feet firmly planted in the earth,
spirit soaring toward the heavens -
with every breath 
you know completeness.

coming into the light

as deep and dark as some places your path may lead

are those that blind with brilliant light... 

i believe in the balance of the universe

and embrace the totality of the experience... 

is there really any other way?

open

'your humble light
the fire of your mind
blinds you:
if you walk
with a lantern in the dark
you won't see the stars.'
~ hans børli

birdsong

'a bird doesn't sing because it has an answer,
it sings because it has a song.'
- maya angelou

it's 5 am, or earlier, and the birds begin to sing... how do you feel?

as i have gotten older, i have learned to just lay there and listen - it makes me feel peaceful... no more groaning because it's earlier than my alarm clock is set for, i now count upon the song to wake me (that and the kitten licking my face because he's up too!)... and i know i am lucky - afterall, it could be car horns or sirens...

this charm by laura flavin at modernbird sums up the whole experience of nature in such a beautiful way... everything is what it is - and is true to its nature ... birds sing, flowers grow, rain falls, there is balance and harmony... this charm and the natural order yearn to keep things simple and beautiful... we are the ones who botch it up... i love the modern vision that laura brings to her pieces - her clean edge is both aesthetic and symbolic (at least it seems to me)... that is then combined with the diversity and beauty of her metalsmithing... i am truly in love with the textures she applies...

i know that soon the symphony will change and added to it will be the small but demanding chirps of hungry mouths... so when i hear the birds sing in the morning, i know that a whole world awaits, a world that doesn't need me... that no matter how my day goes, things will be what they will be, and i find that to be comforting... i'm ready for the day...