Archive
MONDAY’S POEM: The Moon Grows Swiftly
There’s a full moon tonight, 9:38 East Coast time. Have you ever watched the moon rise in the east as the sun sets in the west? It’s a lovely dance and inspired today’s poem. Enjoy!
The Moon Grows Swiftly
The Moon grows swiftly now,
Swelling to fullness in the next moments.
Her laughing face puffs to the edges
As Sun peaks over the horizon to see
We get the joke.
In her relief she feels no shame,
But jumps up to live her glory.
She gazes whole-heartedly toward
Her husband who sinks quickly out of sight,
Avoiding her glee.
And we are caught up in the juggling act,
Between these mighty space beings;
The wife standing at one end of the world,
Rising sharply; the husband sheepish
In his disappearance.
Sky of blue hues and brilliant reds and golds
Fades and darkens to blackness.
And the yellow Mother shifts her happy face
Through shades of cream to milky-white,
To steady, more serious light.
©2014 Richard W. Bredeson. All rights reserved.
FRIDAY’S POEM FROM “RHYTHMS AND CYCLES” – Light and Dark
I love this time of year; fall is my favorite season. For me the season actually begins with Lammas, that special cross-quarter day in early August when the harvest begins (and it is my birthday!). Now as we move deeper into September and toward the Autumnal Equinox the light begins to play tricks with our eyes. It’s as if the ripe crops of gold are reflected in the light itself, that golden quality that speaks of rest and peace.
This week’s blogs have been about the light, we humans as “the Light of the World.” But let’s not forget Father Sun, Grandmother Moon and all the Celestial Lights to show us the way!
Light and Dark
The Moon waxes to fullness and light.
The days wane to deeper darkness.
The lush green begins to dry and fade.
The shade of Sun’s shine turns gold.
Shadows shrink with the rising Sun.
At noon, high light, they disappear.
With the onset of evening they grow
Long again blending with the dark of night.
Moods wax and wane with cycles and seasons.
Blood ebbs and flows with the pulsingThree Lights.
Choices are many, path forks lie ahead.
Seek light to illuminate those less shadowed.
©2014 Richard W. Bredeson. All rights reserved.
MONDAY’S POEM: Anger
Life is so interesting! Last week I finished a summer series of Qigong classes with the theme: “Transforming Emotions to Virtues.” I followed the Five-Element scheme so deeply rooted in Chinese approaches to life and health. And my first class several weeks ago was on the Wood Element and transforming Anger to Creativity through Forgiveness.
Today, as I searched through my archives and journals for a “Monday Poem” I came across this one I wrote in February 2010. This was a few years before I began my intense practice of Qigong and study of the Five Elements! But even then I knew how to transform Anger. And yes, my predominant element is Wood!
Anger
It’s easy:
Just fear the mistakes,
Fear failure.
How does that feel?
Anger is a defense.
Anger trumps pity.
It is better than loathing.
It can feel good.
Anger can be productive.
It can motivate.
It can compensate,
And cover insecurity.
Mostly it destroys.
Shiva rises and
Clears the path
Through the waste of failure.
Anger operates at
An instinctual level.
Grow and forgive.
Breathe and live!
©2014 Richard W. Bredeson. All rights reserved.
FRIDAY’S POEM FROM “RHYTHMS AND CYCLES” – The Four Directions of My Life
Here is a personal poem from my “Rhythms and Cycles” collection. The theme of this week’s blog posts has been about bringing more light into the world. This is a way I do that:
The Four Directions of My Life
Vision: The rising Sun
Pulls me forward to reveal
Deep Truths to be shared
With the many. These truths
Are my Truths, your Truths.
This is my work in the world.
Growth: The summer Sun
Pumps juice through the green grass
To feed the many. It all starts
With the grass. Throw open the tent flaps
To the purifying Sun.
This is my work in my home.
Rest: The setting Sun
Pacifies the heart, stills the soul
To a quiet place. Yet in that stillness
Lies a deep potential for Love.
There is a strong slow Earth-rhythm
Waiting to awaken me to ecstasy.
Generation: The hidden Sun
Propels me toward new vision,
New growth; the next cycle is about
To begin. The spiral of life
Through days, months, years holds
Me to a certain course toward Love.
©2014 Richard W. Bredeson. All rights reserved.
FRIDAY’S POEM FROM “RHYTHMS AND CYCLES” – Muluc
This week’s posts have been about tools for self-knowledge. I use many tools to continue and further my journey. I have used a number of card-decks over the years from versions of the Tarot to “oracle-style” decks that bring a message or an affirmation to my days. I am currently using the Mayan Oracle Cards and enjoying the openings to that source of revelation.
The other day I drew Muluc which suggests we read the signs and understand the symbols that come to us. These are signals from the Universe, working to awaken humanity to a higher calling. I wrote the following in response to the card. I am putting it in my Rhythms and Cycles collection because the awakening process is ongoing and cyclic; we awaken in levels as more is revealed to us and we peel away the layers of forgetfulness.
Muluc
Perception is everything. It is truth, beauty, wisdom, and ultimately salvation.
And we can change our perception in a blink or a breath.
Perceive the signs from the Universe that are available moment-to-moment.
Open to all that your senses, all of them, have to tell you.
Listen with your heart. It is the largest sense-organ and cannot be filled!
Muluc is the key that turns the lock and opens all the senses to remember.
Star-children are awakening to Truth.
The key is turned, the lock undone.
Remember! Re-member!
©2014 Richard W. Bredeson. All rights reserved.
MONDAY’S POEM: Leo Sun
I wrote today’s poem about three years ago under a Leo Sun. You probably know by now I was born in Leo, my wife, Rosemary is also a Leo (same birthday!). I have a brother, Jerry who is a Leo (also same birthday!). Our nephew is a Leo. Today is my sister-in-law’s birthday – making her a Leo. And, last and best, our new grandson, Tristan is a Leo! Wow, a lot to celebrate! And we still have a few more days with Sun in Leo to continue the celebration. My poem today is dedicated to ALL LEOs! Enjoy the Sun!
Leo Sun
Our newest Leo, Tristan
Seek the light within;
This is where the fire burns.
It is a golden light,
A speck of the burning Sun.
Breathe in the golden beams;
Feed the inner fire.
The Lion Heart consumes
The flame; rejoice!
Bright August frames
This happy time
When inner shines so bright.
Rejoice, again rejoice! – before the night.
©2014 Richard W. Bredeson. All rights reserved.
MONDAY’S POEM: Transparency
I have several ways I reach inside myself to gain insight (inner sight) into energies around me, intuitive knowing within me. One way is to use cards of various kinds: everything from a number of Tarot decks, to spirit and goddess cards by several authors and artists. I recently picked up a new set of cards that has been in our collection for some time but had remained untouched – The Mayan Oracle deck by Ariel Spilsbury and Michael Bryner. There is deep wisdom in these cards and the writing describing them. I am enjoying the study and the guidance they are bringing to me. I particularly like the subtitle: Return Path to the Stars!
Yesterday I drew a “lens” card, Transparency. I am challenged by it to become more open, clear-minded – like a canvas on which to paint a new self! Today’s poem came from considering this challenge!
Transparency
An open book, a sheet of white paper
Waiting for words, reaching for wisdom.
A gateless gate, the clear sky beyond
Flowing to then, leading to lessons.
A faceless face, the makeup in jars
Tempting the soul, offering a mask.
Five empty lines, a staff with no strokes
Begging for notes, listening for music.
It all begins somewhere, nowhere, now
In the emptiness and purity of light.
This is transparency!
©2014 Richard W. Bredeson. All rights reserved.
A FRIDAY POEM FROM “RHYTHMS and CYCLES” – Community
Today’s poem is a reprise from about this time last year. I”m putting it in Rhythms and Cycles because a community is all about rhythms and cycles: the rhythms of working and playing together, singing and dancing; and the cycles of creating, expanding, breathing a community into health and wholeness. And it is about birth! We continue to celebrate the birth of our newest Grandson, Tristan! His closest community is pictured here:
Community
Safety
Numbers
Together
Family
Extended
Tribal
Sharing
Working
Playing
Singing
Stories
Dancing
Creating
Caring
Healing
Wholeness
Heart Center
Love.
©2013 Richard W. Bredeson. All rights reserved.
MONDAY’S POEM: Connection
The theme I started today’s poem with is “Connection.” I am feeling connected. The last several days have been all about connection: from our trip south, connecting along with way with family and friends, to the event we attended with Red Elephant and connecting with the “herd” at the Stand, Speak and Profit program, to the Ashram, Amrit Yoga Institute and yoga practice, and now prepared to return “home” – to reconnect. The Big Connect for these days is to the future – our newest grandson, Tristan, who brings a new light into the world! Can I summarize all of these delicious feelings in a poem?
Connection
I like the feeling of the word.
I like the sense of it –
The two “ns” in the middle
Are connectors –
Like twins holding hands
Across the word.
I like the feel of the “co”
Within the breath –
A catch in the throat and
A soft exhalation.
Across the “ns” we connect
With the click
In the throat and
With the tongue.
Another quieting sound
Of the breath moving to the close
Of the word
With the trailing n.
Connection.
We are all looking for connection.
And as with all things conscious
The connection begins within.
There is no outer; we create with
The connection within.
It is all inside.
And from there the connection
With breath begins
The connection with the All.
It is deep, inside.
It grows there expanding
Ever deeper and higher and wider
Taking in the totality of it all.
Connection can only expand
From the inside.
Just as all love flows
From self-love,
So too does all connection flow
From inner connection.
Breath
Body
Vibration
Prana
Yoga
Union
Connection.
It is all right here.
©2014 Richard W. Bredeson. All rights reserved.
A FRIDAY POEM FROM “RHYTHMS AND CYCLES” – Grandmother Moon (a reprise)
It hasn’t been that long since I published this poem. But for you new followers, in case you missed it, here it is again. And here we are again, sinking with the moon as she falls ever further behind in her race with the sun. I seem to be sensing the “death” of this particular moon, into the Leo sun, even more powerfully than usual. Maybe the Lion’s jaws are fierce and strong and Grandmother is falling toward them with more than her usual reluctance!
Do you feel the effects of the “old moon” a day or two before the new moon? Check in with your intuitive nature. The moon is there to support that feminine side of you!
Grandmother Moon
She is dying into the arms
Of the Father.
She is old and worn,
So close to his breast.
What will you give her
To offer the Father?
Her emptiness can hold all
You have to release.
Are your standards so fixed
To forgive and forget?
Let fly the high-horse
To Grandmother Moon.
Release your regrets
To her skinny white arms.
She’ll fold them and hold all
To burn with her heart.
In three days she’ll appear
Reborn and renewed.
Look to the west for the joy
Of her face and rejoice.
You too are new!
©2014 Richard W. Bredeson. All rights reserved.
Men and The Goddess 