Connection

Beloveds, there has been a long writing silence that was necessary for my energy stores. I am back and happy to offer this poem to support our new November theme: Connection







Connection
November 2, 2019
©2019 Karla Johnston, InnerConstellation.com

All Soul’s Day—
three simple words
that describe
this sense of love and warmth
always extended from the other side.

As I write, I take a breath
it catches, then expands,
inside and beyond the walls
of my tiny frame.
To say “I am not this body,”
is to not comprehend
true embodiment.

I am my precious ones,
and they are me:
Nana, Papa,
mother, father,
sister, brother,
daughter, son,
niece, nephew,
friend,
beloved.

Squeaky Clean and Smelling Like Flowers!

Today is a monumental day of deep gratitude and as is my nature—writing helps to soak up the goodness. My nephew is 30 days sober today after much heroic personal work, the care of treatment and the love and support of family and many good and constant A.A. and N.A. friends on the path. How to express this great happiness and keep the momentum going? The practice of mindfulness encourages deep looking and when doing so I remembered a poem I had written 2 years ago entitled, “How Does One Experience Nirvana.” The following is an adaptation of that poem, where lines reflecting on my nephew 2 years ago seem already written for this day of honoring 30 days clean. Please enjoy this new installment:

Remember Our Eternity
©2019 Karla Johnston, InnerConstellation.com

When well-being is held as number one priority:
for ourselves,
loved ones,
community—
compassion is born
and strengthened.
We become sweet lotuses rising from the mud.

Today is 30 days clean and sober,
lotus heading for the light,
how to keep momentum going?
Space. Stillness. Insight—
writing it out, talking it out, fuels the telling of a story:
Nephew is bright eyed,
ripping off baby clothes to run wild through the petting zoo,
squealer-of-delight.
But he is more…so much more.

We are so much more than narrative,
a running commentary!

When a story is no longer told,
the characters break free.
In one breath of awareness,
all suffering ceases.

Perhaps…a new story unfolds:
“I really didn’t have any future,
I figured I’d overdose fairly soon
or go to jail for failing drug tests for probation.
I actually picture being older now.
Idk.”

My heart grows physically warm, full.
I type back via text:
“Smiling at you, older
and me, a granny holding your hand.”
I stop and breathe,
envision us sitting on the bench
outside my parents’ living room window.
Where I sat, hand-in-hand with my dad, so many times.
The next line I type for me more than anyone,
“Keep that picture fresh for you and for all of us.”

When a new story is told,
the characters break free.
In one breath of awareness,
suffering ceases.

Spring Mindfulness Retreat April 27, 2019

Happy Spring everyone! I know looking outside our Tahoe windows at the remaining snow banks it may be hard to believe but…Spring has arrived—chipmunks are out of hibernation, robins and doves have arrived and the glaciers in our yards are receding! We welcome the opportunity to be together as a grateful community on Saturday, April 27, 2019 from 8:30a-1:00p for some extended practice time. Our theme is “Cleanse,” In the spirit of the season, and we’ll be practicing sitting and walking meditation with the energy of shining awareness on areas that can afford simplification——gifting ourselves with a nourishing “Spring Cleanse”! It’s a few hours of loving up time with good companionship and food. Please bring a vegan snack to share if you’re so inclined in addition to a plate, utensil and cup to eliminate waste.

Lake Tahoe Mindfulness Community looks most forward to April 27 and the opportunity to be in service to ourselves and each other. More can be found on the Facebook events page: https://www.facebook.com/events/530505494024315/

She Is Nectar

I recently discovered a Noble Peace Prize winner ~ the amazing Nadia Murad. After hearing her moving story, I found her to be a beacon of light, unable to turn away from the suffering of her people, the Yazidis, who experienced genocide at the hands of the Islamic State. After experiencing first hand the loss of her mother, six brothers and her brother’s children, she was forced into sex trafficking. Nadia’s spirit, rather than being broken, became increasingly brighter, shining light and awareness on the atrocities of war.

It’s fascinating to watch one of her first interviews in 2014 where a veiled and frightened. Nadia asked the cameras to avoid her face and not use her last name. Since then, she has grown increasingly brave, no longer covering her face and transforming her sufferings into medicine to offer to others who have experienced similar circumstances. Nadia Murad has literally and fuguratively shed the veil and speaks out, refusing to be silenced—an unheard of response from a woman of her culture and background. Her request is twofold:

• International protection for her people, the Yazidis 
• That those responsible for crimes of war be brought to justice

Nadia embodies the North Star qualities of courage, resilience, devotion to her people and a pure-heart. I’m delighted to honor her today in the Freedom Series category of this blog. Here are some Nadia Murad resources to water our seeds of bravery and interconnection: 

Nadia Murad’s Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech

Nadia’s book: The Last Girl 

Snow Devils!

Nine foot of snow later and out into the great white expanse I went! Sun was shining and it felt amazing to be out, busting trail on the snowshoes after three weeks of storms. I witnessed something for the first time in 25 years of Tahoe living, not just one, but a meadow of snow devils, one after the other. It was amazing to watch and I felt like I had dropped into a playful other world. Upon arriving home, I researched the occurrence and discovered that snow devils are rare, needing a variety of perfect conditions to materialize. Their sighting is worthy of a poem....

Snow Devils

©2019 Karla Johnston, InnerConstellation.com

Down by the icy river
swirls of powder dance                                                                                                  
across a blanketed, sugary meadow,
mingle, join,
are spirited...up, up, up and away,
in spiraling, widening circles
to culminate and then...
fly apart in a spray of diamonds,
glitter and disappear into blue, blue sky.

I stand in slack-jaw-wonder,
a witness to winter’s dance of beauty
on a frozen February day.

Gratitude of Autumn

There’s just something about the light of Autumn that gives everything a touch of beauty. The season understands the truth that every created thing is a precious treasure. Please enjoy this most recent contemplation:

Autumn Raven, by Wendy Lindbergh

Autumn Gratitude

Gold, slanted rays

touch bodies, blades of amber grass,
tree bark furrowed white.
Leaves hold color glow,
Quake with transient ephemera.
Raven flaps oiled wings
~waves of rippling light~
calls to the one who sits In peace
bathed In Autumn joy.

©2018 Karla Johnston, InnerConstellation.com
Visit Karla’s other blog at: LakeTahoeMindfulness.org

Sunrise Conversation

Poetry Friday is starting early! A continuation of “Amazing, Wonderful Happenings” because the moon can not be without the sun:

Sunrise Conversation

Blue sky said ~ “There Is no limit to your vastness.
It’s Impossible to give yourself away
no more than sunrise can mar with color,
or completely fill my open wonder.
It is the same with you, Vast One.”

I smile and knowingly nod
but the Expanse gently prods ~
“There is also no diminishment.
Just like moon knows, 
she is more than a crescent of light,
and the stars, studded brilliant, pierce the night,
remind of Eternity ablaze 
in every source of life.”

“Do you see it?
Can you find it…
In the waking hubbub?”
Blue Sky, open, spacious and free,
took my hand
and we embraced the rising day. 


©2018 Karla Johnston, InnerConstellation.com