Receiving the Gift of Grief

Poems From The Porch

Cicadas, coffee,

and a pleasant breeze on the porch

My new mug,

gifted to me on my birthday,

that says,

“Finding my Zen”

Sunlight on red blossoms

and petite, purple dots of Mexican heather

Looking for solace and an anchor,

a place to put the grief

so it doesn’t consume me

Living the paradox of the Sacred Heart

that contains the suffering and joy

of the whole world

Expanding wider and wider

to embrace it all

This moment, a cup of cool water offered

Offer it up

Reading notes I’ve written to myself

for such a time as this:

“ Good will come of this“

“Receive it all as gift”

Recognizing

Allowing

Opening my heart

Looking up,

I see the willow weeping in the field

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 fruits 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

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