Clearing
the whole world
or do anything grandiose.
Instead, create
a clearing
in the dense forest
of your life
and wait there patiently,
until the song
that is yours alone to sing
falls into your open cupped hands
and you recognize and greet it.
Only then will you know
how to give yourself
to the world
so worthy of rescue.
by Martha Postlethwaite
All the paths I tried to make through the dense forest of my modern life wore me out, made me sick and left me deeply unsatisfied. I often felt like something was missing, even when it all looked good. There’s a void created by modern society. The industrial growth model of society keeps us busy, seeking more and artificially creates a feeling of deficit, a hole in the soul.
After trying that way for far too long I stepped back. I sat down in the clearing and waited. Waiting can be tough, the mind likes figuring things out, to plan and progress. However, waiting is also full of gifts. When we are still there is an invitation to take a look around, to take stock, to learn more about ourselves.
As I started to surrender into now I became curious. I’ve tried all ‘that’, what might happen if I let myself fall into the stream of divine universal energy (that which has many names) and allow it to steer my life.
This is where I live from now. To the best of my imperfect human beingness, I pay attention to intuitive nudges, I listen for guidance, I accept the offers and gifts which arrive. I consciously look out for the magic and miracles, they abound. The poem above resonates with me because my song started arriving and it is a very beautiful thing.
Currently I have been called to a new year long project Walking Loch Creran, a new iteration of a journey taken before.
“Many people are alive but don’t touch the miracle of being alive.”
Thich Nhat Hanh
