known and unknown

mjd - 2015

all is not known to us.

not at once

not without work

and that is fine.

where would the wonder reside

if everything were easy,

were obvious?

mjd - 2015

where would the desire

to become our best 

and highest 

self

come from 

if there were no obstacles 

to surmount?

mjd - 2015

how indeed 

could we relate to each other -

understand another's joy

another's pain

another's fear?

mjd - 2015

there is something infinite that connects us all

something we can touch

something we can feel

something we can apply ourselves to

for the betterment of all.

on practice, quiet and intention

sitting with the last light - mjd 2013

i had the great good fortune to hear thich nhat hanh speak in manhattan today.

it was calm

and beautiful,

encouraging 

and thought provoking.

one concept sitting deeply with me

is his discussion on

compassionate listening

and loving speech. 

can we listen

openly

and without interruption

while someone speaks to us 

of their suffering?

especially when it has been at our own hand?

can you wait 3 or 4 days 

(as he suggests)

to clarify any misperceptions?

as a person who cringes

at any sign of conflict,

i feel a strong need 

to resolve things

talk them out

explain myself

when my world gets disharmonious.

i get right speech.

i will bite right through my tongue 

over saying something that will wound someone. 

that's the truth - 

because i know how words

can carve into your heart

and not be resolved by

'i'm sorry.'

this practice will be good

for me and my kids. 

bumpy ride expected - 

but at least it will be

in the name of kindness

understanding 

and love. 

by the way

i love how btw means more to me now than that - it is also bead table wednesday thanks to heather powers... 

with the metalwork done, the final choices (the at-times-agonizing ones) need to be made... and while there is a picasso quote i keep close at these times i had another one in mind... then i got swept away by leann weih with her thoughts and her incredible talent - i confess that it was the first time i interrupted my reading of a post (and this one is dear to me) to go and make a purchase... 

this synchronicity is so meaningful... i just finished deepak chopra's 'buddha' and have been contemplating this::

'the Buddhas do but tell the way;

it is for you to swelter at the task.'

~ buddha

thank you leann - for sharing your depth, beauty and talent... 
and to heather for allowing us to touch base each week... 

'breathe' made manifest

a follow up to my last post ~ and for the wonderful comments received, i thank you...

one always feels better when something gets done after a hiatus of creating ~ am i right? you wonder if all inspiration has deserted you... it's there, just needs the opportunity, i guess...

here's how i used the tiny little charm that kept me centered... it keeps wonderful company with a stoneware link from mellisa at chinook jewelry designs, four different lampwork glass beads from mary ann at linden avenue designs & an ivory glass bead from cate at zippybeads... united with copper chain and wire that i antiqued to soften the effect... paddled headpins were made because i felt they had better 'flow' with their unbroken line... earthy, rustic, understated, natural - just like breathing...

thich nhat hanh, the vietnamese buddhist monk, teaches a practice of mindful breathing and has a meditation poem to go along with it...

in, out
deep, slow
calm, ease
smile, release
present moment, wonderful moment

rock steady

'the more intensely we feel about an idea or goal,
the more assuredly the idea, buried deep in our subconscious,
will direct us along the path to its fulfillment.'
- earl nightingale

'we can never obtain peace in the outer world
until we make peace with ourselves.'
- dalai lama

the past few weeks have been especially capital 'I' intense for a number of reasons... in that time, i have been unable to do any of my creative venturing, except for one little experiment ... & i am currently in withdrawal and hoping this week provides an opportunity for some 'me' time... this small copper charm is the single thing that was worked on... but has had more meaning than i had realized... it's been sitting on my table since i made it and viewed on a number of occasions just as a prompt for calm...

the importance of breath is a subject that is often discussed for many reasons... in anticipation, we 'hold our breath' or 'take a deep breath and jump'... these things create tension ... after having gotten through something difficult, we 'heave a sigh of relief' or exhale... this has a more relaxing effect... when we are trying to settle ourselves we inhale deeply and exhale slowly...taking 3 deep breaths can make you feel more aware and awake... being mindful of the breath can help you to be present... it is pretty amazing how quickly you can feel the physical change that accompanies the different types of breathing...

being present is where i need(ed) to be, being mindful of my breathing helped me through some 'challenges'... emotions become more calm and balanced, thinking is clearer, & even a moment of peace can be found... definitely an almost daily practice...

retrospectively, i think it was interesting that 'breathe' was the first word i choose to imprint into metal (with physical force - hammering it into my psyche?)... finding peace is a journey for me (& you i am sure) and this goes hand in hand with it...

two nights ago, i picked up the current copy of shambhala sun and was drawn into an article titled 'ready, steady, go'... it discusses how focusing the mind can have great advantages... it is very interesting and my ten word description pales if you are interested in the topic... 'the approach to harnessing our mind is by using the wind, or the breath.' ...

wind horse by beth hemmila

the author also shares info about tibetan warrior teachings...a concept called windhorse relates to vitality... while reading i immediately thought of beth's charm at hint... i have such respect for her ability to communicate a concept so simply and eloquently... i really could have one for all of my moods... but my lotus is a treasured friend... (i know material things are not supposed to have great significance, but i admit to my human frailty & tell you now i wear it daily)... i can feel in this charm, the meaning of the article, the power of the mind that can carry one forward in life when properly harnessed...

we enter the world with breath, we leave with its absence, and all of those inhalations & exhalations in between are opportunities to learn, helping us to find the inner peace that we so desire...