Poems From The Porch
http://www.danamanly.com/
Those external circumstances over which you have no agency,
you are yet empowered to address internally.
Notice how your body feels in this moment.
Is your vehicle relaxed and comfortable?
If not, attend first to those needs.
Next, become aware of the state of your thoughts.
Is your mind unattached and curious?
If not, seek an objective perspective and gracious understanding.
Attune now to your emotions.
Is your heart open and welcoming?
If not, acknowledge and honor your feelings in a way that allows you to feel safe.
Life will always present situations in which you feel powerless.
Accept this and know that all is not lost,
for true empowerment lies within.
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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