The part I take issue with, a little, is the sense of "everything happening for a reason". I appreciate that I'm the one interpreting it like that - perhaps it wasn't meant that way. But that notion sticks in my craw. How can we think that when there is such suffering in the world?
Otherwise, I take comfort from it. I like the idea of closing accounts and not having to actively worry about the past any time.
I have had two experiences much like this. The first was a few months after my father died. I was awake but felt I was dreaming. I was lying in my bed but saw myself standing over my bed and rather than seeing myself I saw my father sleeping peacefully where I actually was. My father’s life was not an easy one and seeing him at peace released me into a moment of pure exhilaration.
The second time, my first born was seven months old. I was holding g her in my arms. We were sitting in a beautiful glass room at my mother in laws house. In spite of the looming distress and uncertainty of needing to return to work, I experienced a deep sense of complete and utter joy.
Oh, that is beautiful and uplifting. I will carry these thoughts to my dying day. What a wonderful expression of how to let go of any part of our past that haunts us and to embrace that we have done our best and can forgive ourselves. Because isn't forgiveness so powerful? Why reserve it just for others and not ourselves?
Usually upon waking in 2 general themes… When I wake up on a day that is all mine - to do what I please, what I choose. When I wake up on a day after a lot of hard work in caring for others & knowing they are comforted & happy… Freedom and connection.
Breath out water ,Soul long to breathe aging,aging and aging,That moment which the visceral kisses the Soul bringing it to wake... Transcendence of letting go but not forgotten for the trees hold so many stories but keep on growing... Laying in a warm cozy place with the light off, single candle flame flickering listening to music that gives you those Soul Chills floating your body away into the depths of visceral ecstasy...
There have been moments in my life (blessed that there's been more than one) that I've felt inexplicable peace, joy...serenity. In my faith, I credit this to God's grace and oh, how kind He's been to me. When these moments, however, fleeting they might be, come my way, I sit there for a little while. I don't ask 'why, what, or how'. I just sit there, grateful that such peace actually exists in the midst of so much chaos. I sit there, grateful, simply because I have known a lot of days and years, in which none of it existed. It might have even passed me by in all the darkness and ugliness around me, I might have noticed it. So I sit there, grateful, because at least I know now that even when it passes, I have hope in crossing paths with it again. It exists. It's enough. It's...grace.
This brought tears to my eyes…And I was sad when I finished reading it, scrolling down in hopes that it would continue! I strive to feel this way but never fully achieve it. I have learned that things have a way of working out if we accept and allow them to evolve in their own time and way. Daily gratitude and meditation helps keep this feeling alive. Thank you for sharing 💓🕊️
I love this poem. I have experienced suggestions of that feeling, usually in the midst of a time of healing, but it has never stayed long enough for me to befriend it. But I guess maybe that’s the essence of it - it’s not meant to be grasped in any way, just quietly and gratefully acknowledged.
This poem is so comforting to me but I have not experienced this but I believe my Dad did as he was dying. He said the most beautiful things to his children the day before he died. He seemed so at peace and the love for us shined through in his eyes☺️
What a brilliant poem! I can honestly say I haven't had that experience. There's the adage that time heals all wounds. If only that were true. That's why there's #5 - "whatever pain you can't get rid of..." axiom on the Kindred list. With respect to my own wounds, I remember and understand a lot more which does helps in healing. But the more I remember, the more I understand about my past, the more dots I connect, the wound is re-exposed deja vu all over again...
I love this poem. For me the experience is linked to an unquestionable knowing; a clarity of mind; a profound awareness of how light - yet profound -
the meaning of our existence is, versus that which our minds may spend a lifetime crafting: a state of self doubt, fear and confusion in which we can find neither meaning, peace nor purpose - leaving us utterly insecure and incapable of ‘being’ - that state where neither our minds nor our hearts dictate our understanding of who we are; and we become conscious of the simple truth that we are as integral to the universe as any other creation, as intricate as the sun and the moon; and as significant as a blade of grass. We can stop worrying now.
Freedom from worry comes with the acceptance the fact that everything unfolded as it was meant to and that we do the best we can each day. When we embrace that freedom life is beautiful for how ever long we get to experience it.
As I approach 82 years and Surgery on my neck on 1/3, the Election, Friends who are mourning , I remember in the past few years a deep peace that will enter…i remember that I am a human gathering Wisdom. The Realm this Poet is sharing, and others too, allows Fear to take a back seat when overwhelm creeps in wanting it to be the only avenue to take…and then I fall into my heart, and there it is, that deep Peace.
I love it.
The part I take issue with, a little, is the sense of "everything happening for a reason". I appreciate that I'm the one interpreting it like that - perhaps it wasn't meant that way. But that notion sticks in my craw. How can we think that when there is such suffering in the world?
Otherwise, I take comfort from it. I like the idea of closing accounts and not having to actively worry about the past any time.
I know what you mean, Poppy.
Milosz was so aware of (and had directly experienced) worldly suffering, that I believe he took this into account within his words - but, yes.
I have had two experiences much like this. The first was a few months after my father died. I was awake but felt I was dreaming. I was lying in my bed but saw myself standing over my bed and rather than seeing myself I saw my father sleeping peacefully where I actually was. My father’s life was not an easy one and seeing him at peace released me into a moment of pure exhilaration.
The second time, my first born was seven months old. I was holding g her in my arms. We were sitting in a beautiful glass room at my mother in laws house. In spite of the looming distress and uncertainty of needing to return to work, I experienced a deep sense of complete and utter joy.
Oh, that is beautiful and uplifting. I will carry these thoughts to my dying day. What a wonderful expression of how to let go of any part of our past that haunts us and to embrace that we have done our best and can forgive ourselves. Because isn't forgiveness so powerful? Why reserve it just for others and not ourselves?
Usually upon waking in 2 general themes… When I wake up on a day that is all mine - to do what I please, what I choose. When I wake up on a day after a lot of hard work in caring for others & knowing they are comforted & happy… Freedom and connection.
Breath out water ,Soul long to breathe aging,aging and aging,That moment which the visceral kisses the Soul bringing it to wake... Transcendence of letting go but not forgotten for the trees hold so many stories but keep on growing... Laying in a warm cozy place with the light off, single candle flame flickering listening to music that gives you those Soul Chills floating your body away into the depths of visceral ecstasy...
"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
John 14:27 (The words of Jesus confirmed in my life.)
There have been moments in my life (blessed that there's been more than one) that I've felt inexplicable peace, joy...serenity. In my faith, I credit this to God's grace and oh, how kind He's been to me. When these moments, however, fleeting they might be, come my way, I sit there for a little while. I don't ask 'why, what, or how'. I just sit there, grateful that such peace actually exists in the midst of so much chaos. I sit there, grateful, simply because I have known a lot of days and years, in which none of it existed. It might have even passed me by in all the darkness and ugliness around me, I might have noticed it. So I sit there, grateful, because at least I know now that even when it passes, I have hope in crossing paths with it again. It exists. It's enough. It's...grace.
This brought tears to my eyes…And I was sad when I finished reading it, scrolling down in hopes that it would continue! I strive to feel this way but never fully achieve it. I have learned that things have a way of working out if we accept and allow them to evolve in their own time and way. Daily gratitude and meditation helps keep this feeling alive. Thank you for sharing 💓🕊️
I love this poem. I have experienced suggestions of that feeling, usually in the midst of a time of healing, but it has never stayed long enough for me to befriend it. But I guess maybe that’s the essence of it - it’s not meant to be grasped in any way, just quietly and gratefully acknowledged.
I know what I'm about to share here is in contrast to the poem you shared. Sleepless nights have worn we down, I'm afraid. Gone by S.Donnelly
I have lost my faith
Faith in humanity
Gone.
I feel numb
Unable to see
Unable to taste
Unable to smell
Unable to hear.
I am gone
Resigned to emptiness
I cannot pray
I cannot know
I cannot ….
In my emptiness I fear it will be replaced with hate
Hate for those who voted for Trump
Hate for weak Republicans who failed to protect democracy.
Oddly enough, I do not hate Trump.
Trump is being who he is.
He cannot be anything else.
But those who enabled him
Propped him up
I hate them.
They knew better.
They have not only sold their souls
They have sold this country and everything in it
To the demons of destruction.
They have sold the memories of freedom to Satan himself.
They have buried the promises of peace
In their graves of greed.
They are preparing the very earth we stand on by digging graves.
One by one, until the entire planet is one massive cemetary.
You, who checked that box for a man you would never leave your daughter with, not for an hour, not for a day.
You, who have checked that box for an habitual liar, a thief, a con.
Your vote is your personal shovel.
You can now stand with your team of grave diggers
Smiling and cheering in your wall of red hats
Thrusting your shovels into the ground
Digging, digging, digging
Until the last grave is finished,
Your grave, too!
We could have all lived together but now
We must all die together
Gone.
This poem is so comforting to me but I have not experienced this but I believe my Dad did as he was dying. He said the most beautiful things to his children the day before he died. He seemed so at peace and the love for us shined through in his eyes☺️
what a beautiful memory, Judi. I really appreciate you sharing this.
YES, often, and YES! Thank you
What a brilliant poem! I can honestly say I haven't had that experience. There's the adage that time heals all wounds. If only that were true. That's why there's #5 - "whatever pain you can't get rid of..." axiom on the Kindred list. With respect to my own wounds, I remember and understand a lot more which does helps in healing. But the more I remember, the more I understand about my past, the more dots I connect, the wound is re-exposed deja vu all over again...
I love this poem. For me the experience is linked to an unquestionable knowing; a clarity of mind; a profound awareness of how light - yet profound -
the meaning of our existence is, versus that which our minds may spend a lifetime crafting: a state of self doubt, fear and confusion in which we can find neither meaning, peace nor purpose - leaving us utterly insecure and incapable of ‘being’ - that state where neither our minds nor our hearts dictate our understanding of who we are; and we become conscious of the simple truth that we are as integral to the universe as any other creation, as intricate as the sun and the moon; and as significant as a blade of grass. We can stop worrying now.
Freedom from worry comes with the acceptance the fact that everything unfolded as it was meant to and that we do the best we can each day. When we embrace that freedom life is beautiful for how ever long we get to experience it.
As I approach 82 years and Surgery on my neck on 1/3, the Election, Friends who are mourning , I remember in the past few years a deep peace that will enter…i remember that I am a human gathering Wisdom. The Realm this Poet is sharing, and others too, allows Fear to take a back seat when overwhelm creeps in wanting it to be the only avenue to take…and then I fall into my heart, and there it is, that deep Peace.