A simple photograph can feel
like an explosion of my senses
Catapulting me back 60 plus years
Causing a reflection of my life from the lens
Of a bird looking at the whys and hows
Of my circumstances.
I have to ask why we suffer
I have to ask why it’s necessary
To hurt others.
I have to ask
And yet here the adult stands
Having survived the abuse
The adult has laughed and cried
The adult has celebrated and wept
The adult has lashed out
The adult has loved
And the adult has lost
Loves and battles and children
Anger starts seeping in
My finger pointing at my father
My feet start filling up with a
Vile feeling of hate and remorse
My mind reels with blame
And my lips hold tight in pain
The adult asks do I want to go there again?
Feel the heat of anger fill my vessel?
I have worked so hard at going beyond
Turning my hurt into self love
Gifting my heart with the love I feel
Softening and blending with a higher knowing
I am a vessel of the universe
My voice I use to speak truth
My actions I use to educate
love feels better than hate
My feet walk away from the abuser
My heart forgives anyone who forsakes their
Light in my presence
I am a Mother Mountain
My strength I carry in my tall
Thick walls of stone.
I weather the hottest heat and chilliest cold
I stand as witness to the lives of people
Animals, energies that pass by me
Over me and on me.
I reach high to heaven and am made
Up of the very essence of Mother Earth
I am majestically beautiful and
Starkly abundant in my stature
I carry within me memories of days
Long past and futures to come
Yet represent the presence of what is.
PARTICIPANTS’ REFLECTIONS:
Thinking of friend with covid during meditation. Frightening how close it is
Since starting this meditation, I start thinking of this group when I wake. Almost forgot this morning. Reminded myself of the 21-day habit-making process
This meditation is a good reminder to breathe. I don’t breathe deeply often enough
As I breathe out, I imagine it is through a straw. It helps me to be mindful.
As I started listening to the reading and heard about the photograph, my mind went to fear. Then I remembered that today I have boundaries, I don’t have memories of my past, only the experience of violent feelings. I learned to replace them with love and with being present in my body. I am at peace and joy now. I choose to live in the now. I don't stay in the negative for long anymore.
My “now” is “my mother mountain” image
This is my first time here. I was stunned that I was able to meditate, and at the end, I felt at peace and relaxed. This is very good for me. It’s the longest I've meditated in years.
Almost didn't come on today. Was in a social media thing that caused me to feel angry. It was abusive. I responded to your image of a vessel full of rage and then emptying the vessel. I feel so much better being with this community in a healing way.
I am breathing
Today's reading was a reminder of the process of getting kicked off the serenity path and getting back on. Very powerful reminder.