laws of karma

“Life will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness. How do you know this is the experience you need? Because this is the experience you are having at the moment.” 

― Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose

Image by Cristina McAllister, via Google Images

I finally got to yoga this morning after many weeks away . . . body and spirit are refreshed! The thoughtful parting words today had to do with the laws of karma. What you do has an effect. What you say has even more of an effect. What you think has the greatest effect of all. Watch what you are doing, saying, and especially thinking!

I am thinking SPRING! (Actually, why stop at spring? I am thinking SUMMER!)

circles

Come out of the circle of time, and into the circle of love.

- Rumi

mantra

like gravity, the gentle refrain

pulled her to the center

of her heart opening

where love and humility dwell

Copyright © 2012 Nan P.

[This micro-poem is loosely written for The Sunday Whirl, where I only used three of the thirteen words. The words were: humility, trigger, swells, relishes, flicks, crack, grittle, chain, spray, gravity, plant, claim, refrain]                                                                                                        Image found via Google Images.

in the wind

Praise and blame, gain and loss, pleasure and sorrow come and go like the wind. To be happy, rest like a giant tree in the midst of them all.

 -- Buddha

[Image source (Cosmic Mandala): http://www.buddhistelibrary.org/buddhism-online/history/buddhist-art/mandalas.htm]

something circular

something circular

a droplet of water

and the tide

an iris of an eye

and the kaleidoscope’s view

a hula hoop

and the hooping

a planet in the sky

and the orbit that it takes

a perfect argument

and endless karma

a wheel

and its rotation

an inhalation of breath

and the exhalation

mandala

Copyright © 2012 Nan P.

It is Day # 12 of NaPoWriMo and I am still writing. Poetic Asides' PAD Challenge suggested we create a title of "something (blank)" (choose your word or phrase), and then write a poem to that title.

gaelic blessing

In celebration of St. Patrick's Day, a day on which everyone can be Irish, I share a beautiful Celtic mandala and one of my favorite of all the blessings...

Gaelic blessing

Deep peace of the running wave to you.

Deep peace of the flowing air to you.

Deep peace of the quiet earth to you.

Deep peace of the shining star to you.

Deep peace of the son of peace to you.

Amen.

mandala poem

playground

turquoise blue sky
and bubble gum spheres of patchwork color
are what she saw from the floor
of the merry-go-round,
spinning

it was dangerous, of course
but she liked nothing better
than to lie on her back
in the center of the posts --
hanging on tightly, eyes wide open,
and letting her mind go
while they pushed the creaking metal
round, round, round

Copyright © 2012 Nan P.

[Process Notes:  I have always been drawn to mandalas... and have posted some of my favorite mandala images on this blog from time to time. Today - for the heck of it - I decided to Google "mandala poetry," and found that there is such a thing. It is a form that has been used, especially with children, to write poems from a visual, circular image. You can draw a mandala with layers of images and patterns and look for the "story" those images create. The poem can be written in whatever form desired.

Instead of drawing my own mandala, I decided to Google image search mandalas and choose one to stare at, and then write a poem. I think I just created a new prompt! It may not be original, but it is new to me. This is the poem I wrote after staring at this mandala.]

Image found here.

do not carry too much

The driver knows how much the ox can carry,

and keeps the ox from being overloaded.

You know your way and your state of mind.

Do not carry too much.

--Zen saying

Sorry I have been AWOL. Bless me reader; it has been eight days since I last posted. For a bunch of reasons I have been feeling a bit on "overload," and when I don't have any juice left in me to write my weekly poems, I know it is time to sit back a little -- maybe eat some chocolate, do some hula hooping, watch a comedy, and just slow down. So that is what I have tried to do. I'm not sure how successful I have been, but I haven't been blogging, that is for sure. I hope to get my mojo working again soon. Even if I don't get writing again real soon, I really need to prepare for the holidays. So that kick-start is coming soon if it doesn't arrive on its own. It's a wonderful time of year ... I enjoy having a tree full of lights in the house. We have put up an artificial tree for the past few years, but this year, Matt would really like a real tree again. It means we have to postpone the start of the season of lights by a week or two. I am looking forward to picking out that tree soon. Peace!

what poets say

I wish I could have stayed awake long enough to catch a glimpse of the lunar eclipse last night. No go. Was wide awake at 4, however, and fast asleep again for the alarm beeping away at 5:50.

The Writer's Almanac shared this on the solstice today, and I thought I would pass it along here too:

Today is the winter solstice, the shortest day and longest night in the Northern Hemisphere.

Poets over the ages have proffered plenty of advice for the coming months. Poet Pietro Aretino, born in the 15th century, said, "Let us love winter, for it is the spring of genius." William Blake wrote, "In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy." There's a Japanese proverb that says, "One kind word can warm three winter months."

Emily Dickinson wrote, "There's a certain Slant of light, Winter Afternoons — That oppresses, like the Heft Of Cathedral Tunes." Existentialist Albert Camus wrote, "In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer." Victor Hugo once said, "Winter is on my head, but eternal spring is in my heart."

American writer Minna Antrim gave these instructions-in-verse:
"Brew me a cup for a winter's night.
For the wind howls loud and the furies fight;
Spice it with love and stir it with care,
And I'll toast our bright eyes,
my sweetheart fair."

happy thanksgiving

Of all the holidays we celebrate, this one makes the most sense to me. A day to give thanks. I wish you a holiday filled with peace and joy.

khatum

My new favorite prayer is the Khatum! How can one not love the ideals of Universal Sufism?

You Who is the Perfection of Love, Harmony, and Beauty, The Lord of heaven and earth, open our hearts, that we may hear your Voice, which constantly comes from within. Disclose to us your Divine Light, which is hidden in our souls, that we may know and understand life better. Most Merciful and Compassionate God, give us your great Goodness, Teach us your loving Forgiveness, Raise us above the distinctions and differences which divide us, Send us the Peace of your Divine Spirit, And unite us all in your Perfect Being. Amen.

lighting lamps

Some inspirational words to live by:

If you light a lamp for somebody, it will also brighten your own path.

(Buddhist Quotation)

joy and woe

man was made for joy and woe;
and when this we rightly know
through the world we safely go.
joy and woe are woven fine,
a clothing for the soul divine.
under every grief and pine
runs a joy with silken twine.

William Blake (1757-1827), England