What a deep honor to find my poem here amidst this gorgeous post, dear Carrie. Thank you. Thank you. PS: I sent a longer message via email...(hopefully I sent it to the correct address). I send you so much love and deep bows of gratitude.
Thank you Julia, I was introduced to this luminous poem in the collection The Path of Kindness: Poems of Connection and Joy (Anthology) Edited by James Crews. It moved me powerfully and as you can tell it moved so many others here at A Gathering of Spirits. My email address is contact@carrienewcomer.com
During my quiet time in the morning, I try to make a safe place for myself. It's a meditative time in which I allow myself to be what I am at that moment. Various emotions arise such as grief and joy that are often intermixed. So the image of Janus I think is very true. In one of my favorite films, "Ordinary People," there's a line that speaks to this. A psychologist is working with a young man who has bottled up a lot of sorrow and pain. At one point, the counselor says something like, "if you don't allow yourself to feel any anger or pain, you're not going to feel much joy." It's all part of a whole.
For a long time I have defined JOY as the braiding of the pain and sweetness of loving another or working through an issue...though this post expresses it more clearly.
When I was in a wheelchair for a short time, I had trouble with thresholds. They were like a speed bump and I often got stuck. Then I learned to pay attention in that in-between place from where I’d been to where I was going. Thanks for reminding me of that pausing in the doorway and how precious it can be.
The potluck and how we would treat each other reminds me of a poem from Hafiz that I added to a photograph. I can’t post a picture in comments so it is here for any interested.
Thank you for sharing this, Carrie - such beautiful thoughts and principles to sit with! Right now I’m into a lot of Richard Rhor’s teachings (Universal Christ) and associated writings and thoughts. I’m sitting with them and processing them to better understand what they mean for the New Year. Your post has really helped me, because what I think it all means for me is encountering the divine in all of creation, but specifically what I encounter day by day. In that encounter, I can sit with the “thisness” of each being and hold space for it to be what it is and not what I want or need it to be. And this holding space and creating a “shelter of kindness” allows time and space to generate compassion and solidarity between me and those around me and helps dissolve some of the false boundaries between us. If we could get past the divisions generated by the false self into Rhor’s non-dual thinking we can create more holistic community. That’s my hope and focus for 2023. Happy new Year!
What a beautiful reflection! I had a similar conversation days before my daughter's wedding. We talked about how we learned with time to live with joy and pain at the same time. It was a very special conversation.
I love the image and I’m going to try to put it in practice ,because this spoke to me very deeply, as you said “Janus and imagining how I might turn the last page of the calendar year as not just a time to look forward, but rather as the moment when before and after meet, when I my joys and sorrows pull up a chair and for
My first read of 2023 amd of course it was yours Carrie!!
I love the thought of a potluck gathering. A place to bring our sorrows, heaviness and doubt as well as our Joys, happiness, and celebrations all together. A great space for reflection, to embrace both together.
A shelter of kindness within myself I think would look like a safe space, a gentle place just for me to go and just be, to forgive myself and release all the difficult situations I have encountered over the past year and to celebrate all the positive experiences as well. To embrace and reflect both Joys and sorrows and be able to draw strength from them for the year ahead.
I love and embrace both of these ideas rather than creating New Year’s resolutions.
I’m sorry to hear you won’t be going to India. You were looking so forward to it too. Rest well and may you have all your health back in 2023. Looking forward to what’s in store for you this year!!
Until we meet again I will be holding you in the light!
“ Shelter of Kindness” you continue to create one for so many.... You share and lift others up for many. Gratitude and Blessings to you❤️🙏❤️ Take care and hope 2023 brings more kindness, awe, wonder, love to you and those all around you.
Carrie, Your words could never have come at such the right time. I have been sitting beside my 94 yo mama who is in her last days and hours of being here on earth. A vigil for me in remembering the good, not so good, and learning to accept what i am needing to know and grow with. My heart aches and feels joy all intwined at the same time.
I will seek a shelter of kindness from the higher spirits that provide all things comforting in the coming days. My memories will be the quilt of love in which I wrap myself.
Thank you, Carrie for having the words that I needed to read at this moment.
Carrie, please continue reporting to us about the books and music you’re consuming. It’s exactly the kind of inspiration I’m looking for these days!
What a deep honor to find my poem here amidst this gorgeous post, dear Carrie. Thank you. Thank you. PS: I sent a longer message via email...(hopefully I sent it to the correct address). I send you so much love and deep bows of gratitude.
Thank you Julia, I was introduced to this luminous poem in the collection The Path of Kindness: Poems of Connection and Joy (Anthology) Edited by James Crews. It moved me powerfully and as you can tell it moved so many others here at A Gathering of Spirits. My email address is contact@carrienewcomer.com
Test
During my quiet time in the morning, I try to make a safe place for myself. It's a meditative time in which I allow myself to be what I am at that moment. Various emotions arise such as grief and joy that are often intermixed. So the image of Janus I think is very true. In one of my favorite films, "Ordinary People," there's a line that speaks to this. A psychologist is working with a young man who has bottled up a lot of sorrow and pain. At one point, the counselor says something like, "if you don't allow yourself to feel any anger or pain, you're not going to feel much joy." It's all part of a whole.
For a long time I have defined JOY as the braiding of the pain and sweetness of loving another or working through an issue...though this post expresses it more clearly.
The poem...really spoke to my heart. Thank you so much for sharing.
That poem. Wow. That poem. I’m so glad that once it found you, you knew it had to go out from you and find others. Thank you.
I am glad you are feeling ok, Carrie.
When I was in a wheelchair for a short time, I had trouble with thresholds. They were like a speed bump and I often got stuck. Then I learned to pay attention in that in-between place from where I’d been to where I was going. Thanks for reminding me of that pausing in the doorway and how precious it can be.
Dearest Sharon, holding you in the light of light in this tender time. You are wrapped in love my dear. Sending all kindness in the world.
The potluck and how we would treat each other reminds me of a poem from Hafiz that I added to a photograph. I can’t post a picture in comments so it is here for any interested.
https://adobe.ly/3GybrKG
“If God
Invited you to a party
And said,
'Everyone
In the ballroom tonight
Will be my special
Guest...'
How would you then treat them
When you
Arrived?
Indeed, indeed!
And I know
There is no one in this world
Who
Is not upon
His Jeweled Dance
Floor”
-Hafiz
Thank you for sharing this, Carrie - such beautiful thoughts and principles to sit with! Right now I’m into a lot of Richard Rhor’s teachings (Universal Christ) and associated writings and thoughts. I’m sitting with them and processing them to better understand what they mean for the New Year. Your post has really helped me, because what I think it all means for me is encountering the divine in all of creation, but specifically what I encounter day by day. In that encounter, I can sit with the “thisness” of each being and hold space for it to be what it is and not what I want or need it to be. And this holding space and creating a “shelter of kindness” allows time and space to generate compassion and solidarity between me and those around me and helps dissolve some of the false boundaries between us. If we could get past the divisions generated by the false self into Rhor’s non-dual thinking we can create more holistic community. That’s my hope and focus for 2023. Happy new Year!
Thanks Carrie!!
What a beautiful reflection! I had a similar conversation days before my daughter's wedding. We talked about how we learned with time to live with joy and pain at the same time. It was a very special conversation.
I love the image and I’m going to try to put it in practice ,because this spoke to me very deeply, as you said “Janus and imagining how I might turn the last page of the calendar year as not just a time to look forward, but rather as the moment when before and after meet, when I my joys and sorrows pull up a chair and for
share a cup of tea with my hopes and dreams”
My first read of 2023 amd of course it was yours Carrie!!
I love the thought of a potluck gathering. A place to bring our sorrows, heaviness and doubt as well as our Joys, happiness, and celebrations all together. A great space for reflection, to embrace both together.
A shelter of kindness within myself I think would look like a safe space, a gentle place just for me to go and just be, to forgive myself and release all the difficult situations I have encountered over the past year and to celebrate all the positive experiences as well. To embrace and reflect both Joys and sorrows and be able to draw strength from them for the year ahead.
I love and embrace both of these ideas rather than creating New Year’s resolutions.
I’m sorry to hear you won’t be going to India. You were looking so forward to it too. Rest well and may you have all your health back in 2023. Looking forward to what’s in store for you this year!!
Until we meet again I will be holding you in the light!
Carrie,
“ Shelter of Kindness” you continue to create one for so many.... You share and lift others up for many. Gratitude and Blessings to you❤️🙏❤️ Take care and hope 2023 brings more kindness, awe, wonder, love to you and those all around you.
Carrie, Your words could never have come at such the right time. I have been sitting beside my 94 yo mama who is in her last days and hours of being here on earth. A vigil for me in remembering the good, not so good, and learning to accept what i am needing to know and grow with. My heart aches and feels joy all intwined at the same time.
I will seek a shelter of kindness from the higher spirits that provide all things comforting in the coming days. My memories will be the quilt of love in which I wrap myself.
Thank you, Carrie for having the words that I needed to read at this moment.
Happy New year to you
Sending prayers and all good things to you at this time.
Thank you Lindy
Thanks for the poem! Beautiful!