Raising the Lid

Fallen limbs strewn about
 Autumn flowers blooming in spring
 Red starburst petals smiling
 Forlorn tom cat crying his longing
 White-gray sky again
 Pinecones populating their tree tops
 Water oak budding neon green
 Birdsong, ringing chimes, intermittent car sounds
 The insistence of a rousing wind
 And now light lifting the air
 inviting the recognition of a higher purpose
 raising the lid off of self-absorption
 so that all can be free

Engaging With The Poem

 Poetry can be a doorway to the soul and your own creativity. Throughout the ages, the written word has been used as a means to access personal truth and as a vehicle for prayer through the practice of sacred reading (lectio divina). I encourage you to try this beautiful practice and let its truths to be self-evident.

 How To Practice Sacred Reading

 Read~Reflect~Respond~Rest

 READ the passage through slowly more than once, noticing how it feels in your body and the response of your heart.

 REFLECT: What word resonates with you? What phrase speaks to you? What overall personal meaning comes to you? Allow yourself to follow a tangent.

 RESPOND by making space for the prayer of your heart to manifest. Write down the words and/or phrases that resonate with you, and allow them to arrange themselves into your own poem or prayer.

 REST with your eyes closed, perhaps using the word that most resonates with you as your mantra for silent meditation.

Dear friend,

 May your mind be peaceful and calm,
 may your body be relaxed and comfortable,
 and may your heart be filled with love.

 Thank you for reading.

 Blessings and gratitude,
 Ani