The Abundance of Now

The melody of the chimes

 The coolness of the breeze

 Sunshine on a lounging cat

 Blue jays pecking in the grass

 Happy dog wagging his tail

 Rooster and songbirds adding their voices

 Daisies smiling radiantly

 Lavishly blooming petunias

 Day lilies welcoming the light

 A luscious carpet of green upon green

 Tender softness of morning grass

 Velvety lavender releasing her fragrance

 Lonely donkey wanting attention

 I know that suffering will cloud my vision when heartbreak comes,
 as it always does,
 because pleasure and pain are in a divine dance of endless revelation.

 Yet, in this moment now,
 I can see the rightness of All That Is,
 relax into the refreshment of calm repose,
 and delight in the effulgence shimmering around and within me.

 I feel like a dove.

 Make of it what you will.

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

Want a companion to help you dive deeper into your personal and spiritual growth? To book a session with Ani, click here: https://www.alovecenteredlife.com/spiritual-direction