secret notebooks • wild pages: Thanks

Monday, August 31, 2009

Thanks

I just wanted to say thank you all for the birthday wishes today, and share this card that J's aunt made for me — appropriate, isn't it?

9 comments:

Lynn said...: Sweet card, and Happy Birthday!; August 31, 2009 7:00 PM
elk said...: what a beautiful and appropriate card for you...happiest day and may the next year see all your dreams come true!; August 31, 2009 8:42 PM
Karen L R said...: Hope your day was full of cake and ice cream and fun surprises.

And how cool about the Bread and Puppet post cards...have you been up to Glover, VT to see the museum? AMAZING! They are actually doing a show in Rochester, VT this weekend. We may try to get there...; September 1, 2009 7:01 AM
m. heart said...: Hi Karen, YES! I went up there several years when they were still doing the weekend festivals, in the early '90's. Amazing is right! And they are coming to Northampton too, in a week or two, and we may try to go as well.; September 1, 2009 7:30 AM
Marie said...: Happy late birthday!; September 1, 2009 4:36 PM
Karen Mowrey said...: m

Happy bee-lated! I was writing the date yesterday and remembered it was your birthday. Then my day was all over the place and today as well. So finally HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Love ya, mean it....and winter is around the corner...more time to sit and visit online :); September 1, 2009 7:50 PM
Rachel said...: Sorry I missed out on saying it yesterday. but Happy Birthday to you, M.!; September 1, 2009 8:05 PM
quiltcat said...: very sweet card, and absolutely perfect for "m. heart"!; September 4, 2009 12:32 AM
JC said...: Dang! I know I wished you an early birthday on Twitter, but I missed the actual day. So, happy belated!; September 7, 2009 11:18 PM

Meditation on Affliction

Assailed by afflictions, we discover dharma and find the way to liberation. Thank you, evil forces!

When sorrows invade the mind, we discover dharma and find lasting happiness. Thank you, sorrows!

Through harm caused by spirits we discover dharma and find fearlessness. Thank you, ghosts and demons!

Through people's hate we discover dharma and find benefits and happiness. Thank you, those who hate us!

Through cruel adversity, we discover dharma and find the unchanging way. Thank you, adversity!

Through being impelled to by others, we discover dharma and find the essential meaning. Thank you, all who drive us on!

We dedicate our merit to you all, to repay your kindness.

— Gyalwa Longchenpa

Who Says Words With My Mouth?

All day I think about it, then at night I say it.
Where did I come from, and what am I supposed to be doing?
I have no idea.
My soul is from elsewhere, I'm sure of that,
and I intend to end up there.

This drunkenness began in some other tavern.
When I get back around to that place,
I'll be completely sober. Meanwhile,
I'm like a bird from another continent, sitting in this aviary.
The day is coming when I fly off,
but who is it now in my ear who hears my voice?
Who says words with my mouth?

Who looks out with my eyes? What is the soul?
I cannot stop asking.
If I could taste one sip of an answer,
I could break out of this prison for drunks.
I didn't come here of my own accord, and I can't leave that way.
Whoever brought me here will have to take me home.

This poetry, I never know what I'm going to say.
I don't plan it.
When I'm outside the saying of it,
I get very quiet and rarely speak at all.

— Rumi

The Journey

One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice--
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
"Mend my life!"
each voice cried.
But you didn't stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do--
determined to save
the only life you could save.

Mary Oliver

Monday, August 31, 2009

Thanks

9 comments:

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