So true, D.
Paco - You are a kind compassionate person, but it hurts too much to feel. So you feel nothing. They must have hurt you very badly, so you disconnected from them. But deep within, you still care. You still love them. The remedy is to take really good care of yourself. Practice loving kindness on yourself. Whenever and if ever you find yourself putting yourself down, stop it. Pick yourself up like a small child who has been yelled at, and treat yourself tenderly.
I read somewhere that when Trump won the election the Obama daughters were devastated, like so many of us. President Obama said to them and I'm paraphrasing " listen it's no the end of the world, the end of the world is the end of the world. This isn't the end". I found this to be both comforting and positive, life will go on but adjustments need to be made. The world is changing and it's happening fast, maybe for some overwhelmingly so. But we mustn't lose sight of how powerful we are. When I read and see on the news all the negative stuff that's going on, I take a deep breath and try to figure out how I might be of help, where in my life can I make positive changes. It's like what Trump has unleashed in America was deeply buried and now we need to look at it. Not just get angry and continue the hate, but where can we be better. Frankly, i think he makes me want to be a better person and he has reved up all of our humanity. I see it everyday, people helping each other and I know that Jeanne has mentioned that local gov't and individuals will be the ones to take care of the needs of the people, not those in Washington. I have great hope that we will see someday a better world and a people deserving of this beautiful planet.
Wow. Lola. Thank you.
When I read how the Koch children were raised - the incredible abuse they experienced from a Nazi nanny. (She was literally a Nazi who loved Hitler so much that she finally quit the Koch's to move to Germany during the war and celebrate Hitler's success.) And their father Fred was very harsh. His wife Mary was terrified of him. The kids must have suffered. As they grew up, they hardened.
When I read the Koch brothers I see their hearts are cut off. They are numb to the pain they inflict. I find it hard to empathize with them because of the lives they've ruined and hope to ruin. But when Paco said she was numb, and when I feel that same numbness, I at least understand that, deep inside the Koch's, they have hearts. And when people experience abuse, bullying or neglect, or they see others suffering from this, their hearts can close.
Thank you Jeanne for creating this safe haven and your gifts! I love coming here and reading everyone's insights, intuitions and ideas. It feels positive and hopeful, even when the visions are scary.??
Poet David Whyte on trying to find a path into the unknown in his poem Santiago. He talks about writing this and another poem here. He was inspired by his his 23 year old niece's 500 mile walk to the sea in Spain where he road ends at the sea, dropping away with only sea in front of you after your long journey. The groundless sea, he muses, is the future. It's the unknown.
Santiago
The road seen, then not seen, the hillside
hiding then revealing the way you should take,
the road dropping away from you as if leaving you
to walk on thin air, then catching you, holding you up,
when you thought you would fall - and the way forward
always in the end, the way that you came, the way
that you followed, that carried you into your future,
that brought you to this place, no matter that
it sometimes had to take your promise from you,
no matter that it always had to break your heart
along the way: the sense of having walked
from far inside yourself out into the revelation,
to have risked yourself for something that seemed
to stand both inside you and far beyond you,
that called you back in the end to the only road
you could follow, walking as you did, in your rags of love...
Excerpt from “Santiago”
From Pilgrim: Poems by David Whyte
©2012 David Whyte,
That's absolutely beautiful, Jeanne!!
We may find ourselves stripped to the essentials, but if we can keep heart, we will make it through.
We now have the opportunity to strengthen ourselves by responding to the needs of the hurricane-torn. It gives heart to aid others.
-R1-
Oh, I've been thinking a lot lately how I have been coping with all the scary events and energy that seem to swirling around our country ( US) and the world lately. For me, since I am an artist I've been channeling my anxiety into creating artwork that symbolizes how I feel and depictions of angels protecting me, all of us - humanity, the earth, and positive words of affirmation. I hung a huge 6'x3.5 embroidered tapestry on my stairwell wall of an angel - contained in the body are words and embroidered images of love, hope, strength, care, soul, etc. I also put images of things scaring the crap out of me in the body of two serpents, and the angel wings larger than the serpents engulfing them. I use it as an anchor- and I look at it and sometimes touch it as I am walking up and down my stairs. I am trying to be aware of the news, send light and pray everyday for leaders of the world to consider love and loving responses as a political action and I've been active volunteering, calling my reps, and meditating. Some days are better than others. But I am trying to be aware of the darkness, but to dwell and promote the light. Whatever your skill, your talent, your means of service do that with the best of intentions and the conscious awareness you are setting off ripples of light. Every little action helps. Having a community to be able to express yourself and help one another out processing these times is very helpful. Thank you so much Jeanne, and everyone on this site!
Absolutely beautiful, wonderful, and perfect in so many ways, Shawn!
It is a great blessing to be able create in any creative art form and to share with others. Members have shared under a number of forum topic categories from "Coping...." to sharing "Dreams..." to sharing "Poetry..." to sharing "Angels..." and angelic visitations in our lives.
For many of us these reinforce hope as well as faith in a better world and future during trying times.
Love even the beautiful imagery of your tapestry on the stairway ❣ I have a simple textile prayer flag that I made hanging along my stairs that I pass many times a day and your post illuminated my own subconscious use of a bird/its nest etc. So thank you! Sometimes "hope IS a thing with feathers" whether its avian or celestial❣
Joanna Macy has helped me with these issues. Just listening to her speak inspires and heals me. Here's the trailer to a movie one of her students made about her. He was so inspired by her that he went out and learned how to make a movie, then created an amazing film https://vimeo.com/91432290
She also spoke about the Shambhala Prophecy, which also has inspired me. https://vimeo.com/191169785