I believe this is a poem by Paul Harrison, of the World Pantheist Movement. I find it beautiful in its simplicity, yet very deep in its meaning.

Something to think about. Enjoy. 🙂

Wow girl, you sure know how to ruin a party.

I have been watching the news recently about the events that have been surrounding hurricane Katrina and it leaves me feeling sad and helpless. New Orleans is one of the most beautiful and vital cities I have ever had the pleasure of visiting. It’s alive on so many levels, so much history, so many amazing old houses, gorgeous gardens, historical cemetaries, and people with such spirit and talent for art and music that it leaves me speechless at times. It hurts my heart to see the devastation that has affected this place and its people. It will take a very long time to put back together, and even then it will never be the same.

To all those who have been affected by this storm, I hold you in my thoughts and my heart. Much love and strength to you all.

My condolences to those who have lost friends, family and pets, my deepest sympathies to those who have lost everything they had, my compassion to those who will struggle to rebuild their lives, and my heartfelt hopes that something like this will never happen again. Of course, I can only hope as I understand that much devastation that happens on the earth occurs due to natural causes, and that there is nothing we can do about it.

I can accept it, but I don’t have to like it.

I know there are many theories about the weather these days, and I suppose that if we stop abusing the planet, things may correct themselves, but I also suppose that won’t be happening in my lifetime or possibly for many lifetimes to come. I will try to do my part to make the world a better place in this lifetime, and perhaps one day, it will make a difference.

I was fortunate enough last weekend to hear the Gayatri mantra in Pen’s final set at Shaktivism. It is such a beautiful mantra, embodying the Mother as the Light in our lives as the Divine Sun and ultimate knowledge, and is one of the oldest and most powerful mantras. They say that there is nothing more purifying on earth than the Gayatri mantra and that it brings supreme good to the person reciting it, so recite it daily!

It goes as follows:

Om Bhur Bhuvah Svaha
Tat Savitur varenyam bhargo devasya dimahi
Dhiyo yo nah pracodayat

And it means the following:

“We contemplate the glory of Light illuminating the three worlds: gross, subtle, and causal.
I am that vivifying power, love, radiant illumination, and divine grace of universal intelligence.
We pray for the divine light to illumine our minds.”

I was also fortunate enough to be able to chant it many times later on in the evening with my friend Michael as the sun began to tickle the dark starry sky with its light.

For more information go here!

Om Shanti Shanti Shanti!

“When you are guided to this pathway, take the opportunity to focus on the face of the One Being in you that is conspicuous, clear, and radiating.”
… so says The Sufi Book of Life by Neil Douglas Klotz

I use this book alot to find out more about my day or week or moment. I find it to always be correct in some way, and find that if I can connect with the heart quality of the sacred name (in Arabic) or the pathway that is opened and I do the meditation, I always learn and grow constructively.

“This pathway tells us that working outwardly in life can be just as important as doing inner work.”

No doubts there! I would assume that moving to Toronto will get me working outwardly on many levels. For the past 5 years, I’ve largely been on an inner journey, so I guess now is the time to put all that inner journeying to the road test! I’m actually looking forward to doing more volunteer work – maybe put a little bit of my clowning experience to good use. 😉

“Perhaps life is calling you right now to take the role of the star – to be clear, radiating, and out-front. Remember that clear, positive action can cause others to become attached to you personally as the “doer”. Use this pathway to meet and purify this starstruck energy with the greater manifested light and life of the One.”

Doesn’t sound like bad advice to me! I guess I will have to connect with my inner dervish. Dervish is a word that means “one who sits in the doorway, or on the threshold of something, ready to move on and tranform him- or herself.” I often find myself on that threshold, waiting for the sign to go or to wait. Much can be said about having good timing – it’s definitely a blessing! And as for those who want to become personally attached to me as the “doer”, I will just start whirling! *hee*

The meditation is as follows:

“Center again in the heart. Consider any areas of your life in which you are called to act publicly in service to your purpose in life. Breathe with the feeling of this pathway and feel the breath softening any rigid areas of your body. Flexibility allows for the greatest radiance. Remember that you don’t have to do it all. When Zahir enters your path, just show up with what you have already cultivated and tell the One Being, “Here I Am!”, then let the divine radiance shine through you.”

Eye Can Do That! 🙂

I find Sufism to be a beautiful and life affirming way to go about life. It is basically a way of experiencing reality as love itself, and is derived from a word that simply means “wisdom”. It is a devotional tradition with a very ancient lineage, yet devoid of any set dogma or ritual. For most of its history however, Sufism has operated as a kind of Do It Yourself tradition. There is no overall leader, or pope. A Sufi guide is more like a cross between a companion, therapist, and trickster than an almighty guru. Sounds like the perfect tradition for me! 😉

In the meantime, I will attempt to illuminate myself and work towards becoming fully human and of course, express myself in a clear, radiating, and concise manner!

😛