mjd - 2016 - amazonite & riverstone japa mala

with trembling voice

and shaking confidence

you question -

why am i here

what is my purpose

who can i touch

when do i begin 

how do i know?

mjd - 2016

the moment is now.

breathe deeply

open your heart

find your place

of stillness and power.

attend to the one you are with

let the love flow

and, most of all, 

trust.

mjd - 2016

the sky is big and blue and deep

the earth is solid at your feet

you belong 

to all that is.

stand within it

in grace and strength

and believe.

the truth you hold

is needed 

at each and every moment. 

chin up

shoulders square

heart soft

mind clear.

what you offer

is held by none other.

make the difference

that is yours alone to create.

capturing stillness

fragile strength talisman/be still - mjd 2014

at first

we seem to catch moments 

of stillness

the way we did 

fireflies

as children.

seeing their flashing light,

we would run carefully

up to them

trying to catch them 

ever so gently 

in cupped hands.

exciting and unique moments,

we feel like 

it must have been the place

or time

that brought it into being

for us.

and so we return 

to that place or time

to find it again. 

fragile strength talisman/be still - mjd 2014

awareness

trickles in 

as we contemplate

how to return to to this place

of tranquility.

we begin to notice 

that stillness 

is not about

external circumstances

or

perfect states of being,

nor 

are they required to be 

present first for 

stillness to exist.

as our moments accumulate,

they grow closer and closer

together.

in the gathering awareness,

we come to realize

that moments of quietude

are always within our grasp.

fragile strength talisman/be still - mjd 2014

we hold the key 

to make them manifest.

and with that knowledge, 

we walk in light. 

the tender heart

mjd - 2013

in our (mistaken) attempt to guard the heart
against vulnerability 
and pain,

mjd - 2013

we can isolate it 

from tenderness

and connection.

loose ends

various fibers, hemp and linen paper

we are connected to others

through a tapestry of place and time.

before us are the ancestors - of all living things

and earth forms.

beside us are family, friends, the global community

and all that grows and exists.

after us is the future we help to (hope to) honor, create and preserve.

mjd - 2013

loose ends are not things left unaccounted for -

at least, they don't have to be.

give them purpose.

like hands reaching out

or a rope thrown to a drowning person,

they are available and willing

to any being who needs them.

creating ties where none existed before. 

the exhale

moments of stillness
(of calm
of peace
of deep exhale)
found in a quiet place
are not how we challenge ourselves
in our practice 
to be awake
mindful
present.

but they are, without question, incredibly precious.

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.

on ahimsa

exercise kindness 

or at least do no harm... 

as we are all connected,

connected,

connected...