On a quite eve, between Christmas and New Years, lines from an old poem circulated among the stars above as I went for an evening walk. It wishes to be expressed again, to all my treasures, I love you....
Treasure
© 2013 Karla Johnston InnerConstellation.com
You are precious.
Beyond the value of gems, stones, or gold,
and you are not the exception.
Every one, no matter gender, creed or race
is equally worthy.
Every person, animal, thing
that breathes, contracts, expands,
houses the pulse of life
is an absolute miracle.
We are glorious.
Holding the brilliance of creation
or darkening of damnation
in every word we speak.
If we saw, for brief moment, our radiance
we could never commit a harmful act
for the understanding
that we would diminish it.
If we knew our preciousness,
hateful words could not be spoken.
Malice could find no home in us.
No conflict, no battle, no war.
Our one desire, our sole purpose
to tend carefully
this treasured life
and only ever
cherish it.
Advent ~ Embodiment
Author:
Karla Johnston
at
2:48 PM
Sunday, December 1, 2019
First Week of Advent |
Poets often say in far better and more concise ways, what the many words above only hint at. Please enjoy Denise Levertov’s beautiful offering encapsulating December’s writing theme—Embodiment:
Poem: Denise Levertov's "Annunciation" (Full Version)
First appearing in her book "A Door in the Hive."
Annunciation
‘Hail, space for the uncontained God’
From the Agathistos Hymn,
From the Agathistos Hymn,
Greece, VIc
We know the scene: the room, variously furnished,
almost always a lectern, a book; always
the tall lily.
almost always a lectern, a book; always
the tall lily.
Arrived on solemn grandeur of great wings,
the angelic ambassador, standing or hovering,
whom she acknowledges, a guest.
the angelic ambassador, standing or hovering,
whom she acknowledges, a guest.
But we are told of meek obedience. No one mentions
courage.
courage.
The engendering Spirit
did not enter her without consent.
did not enter her without consent.
God waited.
She was free
to accept or to refuse, choice
integral to humanness.
____________________
to accept or to refuse, choice
integral to humanness.
____________________
Aren’t there annunciations
of one sort or another
in most lives?
of one sort or another
in most lives?
Some unwillingly
undertake great destinies,
enact them in sullen pride,
uncomprehending.
undertake great destinies,
enact them in sullen pride,
uncomprehending.
More often
those moments
when roads of light and storm
open from darkness in a man or woman,
are turned away from
those moments
when roads of light and storm
open from darkness in a man or woman,
are turned away from
in dread, in a wave of weakness, in despair
and with relief.
Ordinary lives continue.
God does not smite them.
But the gates close, the pathway vanishes.
and with relief.
Ordinary lives continue.
God does not smite them.
But the gates close, the pathway vanishes.
____________________
She had been a child who played, ate, slept
like any other child–but unlike others,
wept only for pity, laughed
in joy not triumph.
Compassion and intelligence
fused in her, indivisible.
like any other child–but unlike others,
wept only for pity, laughed
in joy not triumph.
Compassion and intelligence
fused in her, indivisible.
Called to a destiny more momentous
than any in all of Time,
she did not quail,
than any in all of Time,
she did not quail,
only asked
a simple, ‘How can this be?’
and gravely, courteously,
took to heart the angel’s reply,
the astounding ministry she was offered:
and gravely, courteously,
took to heart the angel’s reply,
the astounding ministry she was offered:
to bear in her womb
Infinite weight and lightness; to carry
in hidden, finite inwardness,
nine months of Eternity; to contain
in slender vase of being,
the sum of power–
in narrow flesh,
the sum of light.
Infinite weight and lightness; to carry
in hidden, finite inwardness,
nine months of Eternity; to contain
in slender vase of being,
the sum of power–
in narrow flesh,
the sum of light.
Then bring to birth,
push out into air, a Man-child
needing, like any other,
milk and love–
push out into air, a Man-child
needing, like any other,
milk and love–
but who was God.
This was the moment no one speaks of,
when she could still refuse.
A breath unbreathed,
Spirit,
suspended,
waiting.
____________________
She did not cry, ‘I cannot. I am not worthy,’
Nor, ‘I have not the strength.’
She did not submit with gritted teeth,
raging, coerced.
Bravest of all humans,
consent illumined her.
The room filled with its light,
the lily glowed in it,
and the iridescent wings.
Consent,
courage unparalleled,
opened her utterly.
*Mon-Fri email send, a short one line inspiration to water seeds of compassion and gratitude on the contemplative path. Please contact me if you would like to be added.
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What if everything you need is inherent in you right now—profuse, abundant and perfectly sufficient.
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I'm a holistic practitioner and writer who owns a private practice at InnerConstellation.com. If you benefit from my blog writings, check out my author's page on Amazon.com
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This blog celebrates that you are an expression of the Eternal: body, mind and heart are the gateways. Read on if you need reminding....
Inner Constellation Truths:
1) Everything is energy; the body is the interface
2) Energy never dies it just changes form
3) Everything, no matter how challenging, has the ability to be transformed