Solitude

And you should not let yourself be confused in your solitude by the fact that there is something in you that wants to move out of it. This very wish, if you use it calmly and prudently and like a tool, will help you spread out your solitude over a great distance. Most people have (with the help of conventions) turned their solutions toward what is easy and toward the easiest side of the easy; but it is clear that we must trust in what is difficult; everything alive trusts in it, everything in Nature grows and defends itself any way it can and is spontaneously itself, tries to be itself at all costs and against all opposition. We know little, but that we must trust in what is difficult is a certainty that will never abandon us; it is good to be solitary, for solitude is difficult; that something is difficult must be one more reason for us to do it. ~ Rilke (Stephen Mitchell Translation)

I took the opportunity to spend the better part of this weekend in solitude. My beloved Grace was away for martial arts camp, and I had much that I wanted to experience and accomplish, most of which benefitted from, if not required, solitude.

As Sunday evening draws near, I am reminded of the simple power that lies in the forest and in solitude, and what a rare and beautiful gift it us if we meet each with intention.

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The Dance

Morning Sun,

Hearth rising in the East,

I stand to greet you
Breath full,

Present and open.
Ready to offer as you
Offer.
Light, truth, clarity,
Always open and

Moving with intent

To the West,

The Summerlands.

Where you lie

To sleep,

Leaving the night open for

Her

To dance.

Gratitude For The Stone

As yesterday’s cut is polished away,

the knife never says to the stone,
“You are too rough with me.”
As his edge becomes more keen

and more able to perform

that single act

for which he was made,
only gratitude for the stone
 remains

in the reflection of that blade.

Growing Pains

My good friend Clayton writes in his blog about the impending move of some of our dear friends to the East Coast. Hira is one of my oldest friends in this city. We went to school together at Evergreen starting in 1995, and for 13 years she’s been my friend. We’ve grown much since those early days of adulthood, and as I reflect on what it means to have dear friends move away, I can’t help but try to hold on the bittersweet joy of witnessing the risks involved with spiritual growth and the pursuit of a life fully lived.

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Giving Up The Goal

For many months now, completing this site - or at least the structure and presentation of it - has been one of my primary goals. My hope is that this will become a virtual expression of myself, of the work that I do, of my creations, of my expression, of my learning, and of my wisdom. Looking around, I’m sure you will see that the site is far from complete. Many rough edges remain - invalid links, graphics out of place, empty folders…nor any music posted…anywhere.

When I’m passionate about something, I tend to become hyper-focused on the outcome. In the case of West.FM, I wanted to have the site finished and polished before posting anything. And over the months, I found that the unfinished state of the site, coupled with the focus on the goal, became an obstacle. In a way, the goal itself became a way to justify my inaction.

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