Tuesday, July 17, 2001 * memories from another time... As I walked the neighborhood today, noticing the other women (and a few men) who walked this ritual walk each morning, I fantasized another time, another place where we also walked this walk. The stone mailboxes in today's world became the circle of stones that encompassed our lives... the trees on the streets became the forest where we once lived... A man passing asked me if I had solved the problems of the world... I answered, "of course... I do every morning." We all did. This ritualistic walking that relaxed and invigorated us. This "quieting of the mind" which allowed us to become more one with nature, to atune with the ancient rites of the Earth Mother (from the old ways) or to God (religious ways) or to both. How much had changed! ... and had not. I know that if I quiet my mind and listen, I leave myself open to that holy silence where forces above and beyond my own can commune with me. Does this mean I hear voices? No, of couse not. But answers come in silence - on occasion. Peace comes - on occasion. However, it's not an easy state to reach. A quote from Brother David Steindl-Rast: "On an island in Maine I once found tidal pools on the granite shore with water so still and clear I could see the fine fibrils of sea anemones on the bottom, waving like festive streamers. Still more limpid is the inner space to which silence is the key. I don't always find that key, but when I do, I simply enter. Just to be there is prayer." Enough for today. Sharon Hartdegen (Rian) Added a poem today to my freeverse section. I wrote it a while back on a women's retreat. It's called, "In the Company of Women"... |
From Dawn to Dusk... the journal (of the white horse) |
Tuesday, July 17, 2001 * memories from another time... As I walked the neighborhood today, noticing the other women (and a few men) who walked this ritual walk each morning, I fantasized another time, another place where we also walked this walk. The stone mailboxes in today's world became the circle of stones that encompassed our lives... the trees on the streets became the forest where we once lived... A man passing asked me if I had solved the problems of the world... I answered, "of course... I do every morning." We all did. This ritualistic walking that relaxed and invigorated us. This "quieting of the mind" which allowed us to become more one with nature, to atune with the ancient rites of the Earth Mother (from the old ways) or to God (religious ways) or to both. How much had changed! ... and had not. I know that if I quiet my mind and listen, I leave myself open to that holy silence where forces above and beyond my own can commune with me. Does this mean I hear voices? No, of couse not. But answers come in silence - on occasion. Peace comes - on occasion. However, it's not an easy state to reach. A quote from Brother David Steindl-Rast: "On an island in Maine I once found tidal pools on the granite shore with water so still and clear I could see the fine fibrils of sea anemones on the bottom, waving like festive streamers. Still more limpid is the inner space to which silence is the key. I don't always find that key, but when I do, I simply enter. Just to be there is prayer." Enough for today. Sharon Hartdegen (Rian) Added a poem today to my freeverse section. I wrote it a while back on a women's retreat. It's called, "In the Company of Women"... |
