New Year 2012 Blessing/Poem

To 2011 we bid adieu.
I hope the year was kind to you.

The old we now release,
Allowing any regrets to rest in peace.

Again we take out a page of white,
On it our hopes and dreams to write.

Anything is possible in the coming year.
May health, wealth and love in your life appear.

May 2012 be your best year yet,
Fulfilling all desires on which your heart is set.

2012 Prophesy New Year’s Poem

Some say twenty twelve marks the end.
Don’t count on it, my friend.

For sure the year will have surprises,
Hidden blessings in tragic disguises.

Mother Nature will continue to take aim.
Wars and terrorists will do the same.

But the year will also contain great joy,
Wonderful discoveries our spirits buoy.

Acts of bravery and compassion will fill the news.
The arts and new technology will shift our views.

Perhaps our consciousness will open wide,
A new awareness to provide.

But humankind will continue on.
Homo sapiens sapiens are far from done.

The Blessing of New Traditions

Last Sunday after the church service, I participated in the church’s annual caroling and cookie sharing. It was my first time, and I sang at the top of my lungs, not caring whether I was off key. I haven’t had that much fun at Christmastime since before my mother passed away. This year I have been very open to where Spirit wants to lead me in celebrating Christmas.

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May you hold old traditions tenderly in your heart 

But also allow new traditions a chance to start. 

May you find what brings you joy in this changing time

What makes love, peace, and fellowship come to your mind. 

May you cultivate the simple, remember what is true 

Create a holiday that is just right for your loved ones and you.

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Winter Solstice Blessing

The Blessings of Winter Solstice to you!!! 

May you know deep in your heart that life moves in cycles. 

May you know that beneath the deepest snow and the coldest winds, life is curled in sleep, gaining strength, preparing for its emergence. 

May you know that the comings days will be brighter; a new lightness will slowly come into your existence. 

May the coming days be filled with hope and anticipation.

Praying Alone

Mathew18:19-20

Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them. 

Whenever I am in a prayer group, I feel a need to spend a few moments focusing on the people praying alone that day. I like to think that in some unexplained way we are with them, letting them know that there are other people in the world who care about them.

I will be part of your two. 

I will be the other person praying with you. 

Even though there seems to be no one to care, 

Know my thoughts are with you there. 

To your prayers I add my distant voice,

Whether you are alone by circumstances or by choice. 

Today may you be wrapped in Divine comfort and love, 

Receiving wholeness and answers from above.

Prayer Circle Treatment (Affirmation)

Tomorrow I am trying something new at a church I have just started to attend. I don’t know whether this will be a one time prayer circle or will turn into a regular before service activity.

You are a child of God. 

Your true self is whole and perfect. 

Whether you are seeking healing, prosperity, wisdom, or love, that which you are seeking is also seeking you. 

And today you find it.

I Give Thanks for the Unexpected

Yahoo published an article on the health benefits of gratitude. Below are more words of thanks as I count down to Thanksgiving Day.

As much as I want to have my day go as I have planned 

I am grateful when I see the Divine hand 

Adding unexpected twists 

Coincidences and surprises that bring me bliss 

Friends who call out of the blue 

Unlikely deals that now come through 

Unanticipated gifts that come to my door 

A refund that is just a little bit more
Street music that brings me delight
A bad situation that somehow turns out right

As Thanksgiving Day draws near 

The act of being grateful is bringing me cheer

I Give Thanks for the Old

Old books whose messages still ring true;

Old songs that bring me comfort in difficult times;

Old photographs that connect me with happy memories;

Friends who I have known for decades, who have known me in good times and bad;

Antiques handed down through the generations;

Childhood interests that still give me a thrill;

Elderly friends and relatives who fill my heart with compassion and who are also a source of inspiration;

Family recipes that make me feel connected with my roots;

For all these and more I am grateful today.

I Give Thanks for New Beginnings

I am grateful for new beginnings: 

Mornings, when the sun slowly illuminates my world 
New friendships, in which I gradually discover a person and we create a new dance 
The sight of babies, puppies, the buds on tress, shoots rising out of the cold soil 
Walking down new life paths, feeling hope, some fear, and excitement 
New ideas that expand my world, making me wiser, more tolerant, and more capable

For all these and more I give thanks as I approach Thanksgiving Day.

I Give Thanks for Books

Walking the path of a booklover, I have much to be grateful for. 

I am grateful for books that make me think bigger, restore my faith in humanity, provide me with a cathartic release, teach me something new, entertain me and help me forget my troubles for awhile. 

I am grateful for on-line book reviews, author sites, fan sites, genre sites, Twitter, Wikipedia, and Project Gutenberg books. 

I am grateful for the public library, which has provided over a hundred books for me to read this year; the librarians from multiple local libraries who find and transfer the books I want, sometimes having to go into storage; bookstores; book sales; and book-giving friends. 

I feel rich in ideas and very, very blessed.

I Give Thanks for the Necessities of Life

The necessities of life I too often take for granted 

But they ensure my life on the planet. 

I give thanks for clean, gentle moving air 

Most days of it I am unaware. 

I give thanks for solid ground beneath my feet 

Pure, life-supporting soil that nurtures the foods I eat. 

I give thanks for clean water to quench my thirst 

Shelter to protect me from nature’s worst. 

I give thanks for my body, soul, and mind 

My healthy connections with humankind. 

Today I make my grateful way 

On the path leading up to Thanksgiving Day.

I Give Thanks for Food Suppliers

I am grateful for all those along the way 

Who help provide the food for my Thanksgiving Day. 

Store cashiers, managers and stockers who lift the load, 

Truckers who drive long hours on the road. 

Farmers and laborers at the mercy of the weather,

Those who work in factories to put the food together. 

Today I make my grateful way 

On the path leading up to Thanksgiving Day.

I Give Thanks for Kindness

Turkey on my mind

I remember those who were kind.

Those who gave encouragement

Or offered needed nourishment

Of body, mind or spirit.

Those who gave much needed assistance,

Brightening my existence

In moments I questioned my inherent merit.

Today I make my grateful way 

On the path leading up to Thanksgiving Day.

First Comes Thanksgiving Day (Poem)

Just say “No!” 

To ho, ho, ho. 

Resist premature Christmas.

Go against the flow. 

Let your inner rebel shine.

Demand that Thanksgiving Day be next in line.

With your sense of gratitude align.

Spend the first weeks of November.

For all that is good to remember. 

Be the odd one in the crowd 

Dare to say aloud,

“Of Thanksgiving Day I am proud.”

Diagnosis of “Terminal Illness” (Affirmation)

I firmly believe that miracles can happen as the result of prayer/affirmation. At the same time, I don’t believe that we should use our prayers/affirmations to force someone to stay here, especially when they are in a great deal of pain. As a loved one, the situation can create a sort of paradox as we pray for a healing, but at the same time allow for a higher good to place, that may or may not involve the healing of the body. Yesterday, I was talking with my friend Nancy, whose brother-in-law was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Words are difficult at times like this, but here is a try. (Note, because this is such a difficult topic, I would be especially interested in any comments that readers feel might be helpful for me as a writer or for others who are dealing with the illness of a loved one.)

I let go of all belief in diagnosis and prognosis. Instead I see ______ [my loved one] as a child of God, surrounded by God’s presence. [You may want to visualize white light or a group of angels surrounding your loved one. I like the image of placing the person in the heart of Jesus.] God’s love and healing fill every cell of ______’s [my loved one’s] body. God’s peace fills ______’s [my loved one’s] heart and mind. God’s wisdom is guiding the actions of ____’s doctors and healthcare providers. God’s joy knows no bounds, and I know that moments of joy are still possible in the life of my loved one. I know that just as God is always with ______ [my loved one], God is always with me. I know that God’s wisdom guides my words and action when I spend time with ______ [my loved one]. I recognize that God’s power is infinite. I also allow God’s highest good to be done, whether it is a healing into renewed health, unexpected time together, or a healing into the next phase of God’s eternity.

Prayer for Turkey

Dear God, 

Please be with the people of Turkey today and in the weeks and months to come. Be with the searchers and rescuers, helping them to find any missing people quickly, giving them strength to free those who have been trapped. Be with the injured, giving them courage, healing them of their physical and emotional wounds. Be with those who have lost loved ones, wrapping your love around them and comforting them. Be with all of those affected by the earthquake, giving them strength, wisdom, and hope as they rebuild their lives and their communities. Let them know that you are always with them as a stable presence in their lives. A-men.

The Blessing of an Internal Compass

May your Internal Compass be strong 

And point you to where you truly belong. 

May you feel your purpose deep within your heart 

And in your thinking may it play a big part. 

May it guide your actions hour by hour 

And connect you with your love, your joy, your power.

The Way Opening (Quote)

I have been feeling very stuck lately. Stuck, stuck, stuck, stuck. Did I mention stuck? While rereading How to Let God Help You by Myrtle Fillmore, I found the following quote, which seems to address my frustration. I have been contemplating the message all morning.

When we know just what we want and why we want it, we usually find the way opening toward it.

Blessing for Our Tai Chi Class

This week we have our first Tai Chi class of the semester. Many of us in the group have been studying with Bob for over a decade. Below is a little blessing for us and for all the other Tai Chi students around the world who practice so diligently.

May we encourage one another to continue to grow in the Tai Chi form. 

May we become more adept at cultivating our chi, so that we can be healthier in mind and body. 

May we discover new ways to be safe in the world. 

May we strengthen our center of calm, so that we can feel more peaceful as we go about our lives. 

May we learn and laugh together this semester.

Labor Day Prayer

Dear God,
As we celebrate this last holiday weekend of summer, fill us with your joy. We know that you are the warmth we feel in our hearts as we gather with family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers. We know that you are the life that fills the wonderful food that we eat and the beautiful flowers that we see. We also know that your peace fills those quiet moments when we can just be, giving our concerns a vacation for a little while.

This Labor Day we ask you to renew our country. Help all those who want to work to find work that allows them to make at least a living wage and to have a sense of purpose. Lift up this country so that it will again be considered a land of opportunity. A-men.

Labor Day Blessing

May you always be able to find work when you want it. 

May you easily be able to make a living wage. 

May you be treated with honesty, fairness, and respect. 

May you work in a safe and healthy environment. 

May your work give you a sense of purpose.

Prayer for Somalia

Dear God,
Please be with the people of Somalia today. Send your power so that relief comes to them quickly and easily. Supply them with more than enough food to sustain their bodies. Fill them with your life so that they can be healthy, strong, and thrive. Spread your protection over them so that they can be safe. Spread your love over them so that they can feel hope. Spread your comfort over them so that their hearts can heal.

Please be with those of us around the world who watch, sometimes feeling helpless. Guide us to know how best to help.

Lastly be with the leaders of government and business, with scientists and entrepreneurs, and with others who can be agents for positive change in the world. Help them to make decisions from a place of wisdom and compassion. As the climate of our planet changes, guide them in creating a world where all people can be safe and healthy. A-men.

Prayer London Riots and Recent Mob Violence

This morning when I checked the news, I read a disturbing story about the riots in London. On a smaller scale—if a hundred people can be considered a small scale—we had mob violence in my community, here in the United States, this weekend. I realize that this has been going on elsewhere in the world for a long time. Somehow it is feels different when it is one’s own community. Here is a prayer for all of us: those in London, in US cities, and elsewhere in the world.

Dear God,

Please spread your protection around those in London and in other cities that have been experiencing mob violence. Send your healing power to diffuse the tension and the anger. Fill the hearts of those who would behave violently with your love and peace. Send your strength, courage, and wisdom to the police forces and community leaders. Lastly, send your guidance to help create long-term solutions that help eliminate the root causes of the recent violence. A-men.

The Blessing of Patience (Others)

May you be blessed with patience as you interact with others.

May you experience a calm, peaceful center within yourself that nothing can disturb.

May you let go of the way things are supposed to be and accept things as they are.

May you be Divinely guided when to act and when to focus on helping yourself feel more tranquil.

May you find wonderful, even surprising ways to amuse yourself or enrich your life while you wait in line or are put on hold.

May you feel yourself infused with feelings of compassion when you deal with children, the elderly, overextended clerks and waitress, and others who are struggling.

May you find serenity in allowing events to unfold in their perfect time.

The Blessing of Patience (Self)

May you be patient with yourself.
May you accept where you are on your life’s journey, regardless of whether or not you plan to make any changes.
May you give up any need to be perfect, appreciating what you have accomplished.
May you surrender any need to compare your progress with that of others.
May you recognize that when you try something new you will make mistakes, especially at first, and that it is part of the process. May you gently and firmly encourage yourself to keep trying.
May you understand that everyone, even you, has off days.
May you be tolerant of yourself if aging, disability, illness, or injury prevents you from doing things as well or as quickly as you might like.
May you be as gentle and kind to yourself as you are to the most precious person in your life.

The Blessing of Sleep

I have had insomnia lately, averaging less than five hours of sleep when I need at least seven. The problem is a combination of high humidity and old memories being stirred up. Here is a blessing for all of us who wish for a good night sleep.

I wish you the blessing of a good night’s sleep.
May your responsibilities still allow you plenty of time to dedicate to rejuvenating rest.
May you fall asleep as soon as your head hits the pillow.
May your dreams be filled with peace and inspiration.
May you sleep soundly throughout the night.
May you wake up the next morning full of energy and joy.

Fourth of July Prayer

This Fourth of July weekend I am aware that we in the United States are both an independent nation and an interdependent nation.

Dear God,
Thank you for the United States of America and for all the men and women whose hard work, courage, tenacity, and wisdom helped make this a powerful nation. As we celebrate the anniversary of our independence, help us put aside any cynicism and see what is truly good and right about our country. Help us to feel truly blessed. Finally, guide us in the years to come. As the world changes, help us to grow in ways that not only help our own citizens to thrive but that also benefit the people of all nations. A-men.

Summer Blessing

May this summer bring you much happiness and a renewed sense of connectedness.

May family and class reunions renew your bonds with family and friends.
May festivals, fairs, and block parties help you embrace your sense of community.
May vacations help you restore your connection with your deeper purpose and joy.

May you celebrate nature’s wonder.
May you see the Divine Mystery in the flight of butterflies, dragonflies, fireflies and birds.
May you feel the sweet sense of anticipation as you watch plants slowly emerge from the soil.
May your body be nurtured with fresh fruits and vegetables.
May your soul be nurtured with the sight of beautiful flowers.
May your heart be nurtured by the songs of birds.

May you know deep down that you are connected with the Divine and all of life.

Deserving Compassion

Once in awhile I wonder whether suffering is a competitive sport. I will hear a speaker trying to convince listeners that their life is the toughest, as though it invalidates the suffering of anyone else. Too often I have heard that someone does not deserve compassion. I have a friend who is in her mid-eighties and has problems with her esophagus, and people have actually said that she does not deserve compassion because she was bulimic when she was younger. After Hurricane Katrina I heard people say that the survivors didn’t deserve sympathy because they should have known better than to live in an area prone to floods. When there were some catastrophes in other countries, I was told that it was inappropriate to pray for the people because the United States has problems of its own.

Of course, the reverse is also true. We can feel burnt out by all the suffering in the world. We can also downplay our own suffering or feel undeserving of compassion because other people have it worse than we do.

Metta, a Buddhist prayer that invokes loving-kindness, is a way of addressing the fact that we all suffer and we all deserve compassion. Many people incorporate it into their daily lives. Some people use it when they are going through a difficult time. Many books and Internet sites contain the full-length version, which will differ slightly from source to source. I encourage you to read more if you are interested. A short version of Metta can be used as a quick prayer when we encounter suffering. I like the idea of also offering compassion to ourselves while we are offering compassion to others. The version below is taken from The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion, an excellent book by Christopher K. Germer, PhD.

May we be safe.

May we be happy.

May we be healthy.

May we live with ease.

Distressing Weather

Vulnerable

Weather’s fury

Life-destroying winds

Floods that devastate home and community

Security shattered

Sharp turns on the pathways of existence

Yet fertile soil

For the seeds of compassion

We pray, meditate, visualize, connect, and act.

We feel our common humanity.

Prayer for Tornado Victims (Repeat)

I am praying for the people in Joplin Missouri and elsewhere in the Midwest who have been affected by the recent tornadoes. I haven’t heard anything about my cousin who lives in Minneapolis, which also had tornadoes. I just read on the internet that this is one of the deadliest tornado years ever. The following is the prayer I wrote last month for tornado victims.

Dear God,

Please, enfold in your loving presence all those affected by the recent tornadoes. Comfort those who have lost loved ones, homes, businesses, and a sense of security. Heal those who have suffered physical or emotional trauma. Send courage and wisdom to help everyone rebuild their lives. In the midst of incredible devastation, help them to know that there is still something they can depend upon. A-men

Neglecting My Cadence Blog

Lately I have been unintentionally neglecting this blog and focusing on Kata Chimes In, where I have been writing about my experiences reading the Hugo Award winning novels. I have now started reading the Hugo Award novel nominees for 2011 and some of their prequels. Once I am caught up, I expect to be spending less time reading and more time writing.

So many books, so little time,

I have been neglecting my rhyme.

Reading, always a faithful friend,

Conspires to set my world on end.

Last June a thought said in my head,

“All Hugo winners can be read.”

Science Fiction and Fantasy

Awards given over half a century.

While my mind is in an unknown land

No lines of verse have come from my hand.

Soon the trend will run its course

Cadence again the main force.

Reinvention

They never tell you about the blank, white paper.

From first memory, the paper has lines
Thick and black.
A box of crayons at your side
Neatly lined up in the box.
You must always put them back neatly in the box.
You must always color within the lines.
You must teach your body to obey the lines.
You see the frowns, the head shakes
The “No! Inside the lines!”

So you are good.
Soon you do not need to see the lines on the paper
You reproduce them from memory.
You make neat, tidy strokes within the shapes.
Soon you are given a bigger box of crayons
Markers, pastels, even brushes if you are especially good.

No one tells you about the shock of that day.
Perhaps no one you know has seen it.
Perhaps they scrunch their eyes shut
No longer see the paper
No longer move their hands along its flat surface.

But, you may see it.
The crayons are worn to stubs or broken.
The markers are out of ink.
The pastels are smeared on the floor.
You cry and cry and cry.
Someone tells you to shut up.
Big girls, big boys don’t cry.
You will upset the others.

But you cry.
You find a big barrel.
In it you put what you cannot use on the paper
Then, if you are daring, you put what you do not want.
A day comes when you wake up.
Light is glaring off the blank, white paper
Like sun rays reflected off smooth metal.
It is too much for anyone to bear.

You could tear up the paper
Leave the room
Even forget that the room ever existed.
It is a choice.

But you do not choose to leave the room.
Instead you remember an even earlier time
A time before the lines
When your little hands gripped the crayon uncertainly
Struggled to make the marks stay on the paper.
Color began to appear.
You were amazed.

You move around the blank, white paper to a new spot.
One cannot call the new spot comfortable.
You look for something to put on the paper again.
Perhaps you find something close at hand.
Perhaps you must find something new
Searching the cupboards
That you never knew existed.
Perhaps you take the edge of your fingernail
And make grooves in the paper.

All that matters to you now
Is that you see and feel the blank, white paper.

Prayer for Tornado Victims

Dear God,

Enfold in your loving presence all those affected by the recent tornadoes. Comfort those who have lost loved ones, homes, businesses, or a sense of security. Heal those who have experienced physical or emotional trauma. Send your courage, strength and wisdom to help everyone rebuild their lives. In the midst of incredible devastation, help them to know that there is still something they can depend upon. A-men

I Am Willing to Feel Gentleness

I am willing
Willing
Willing to feel
Feel
Feel gentleness
Gentleness
Gentleness in my heart
My heart
I am willing to feel gentleness in my heart.

After a long time of creating walls
Walls
Walls between myself and others
Walls
Walls between the parts of myself
Walls
Walls between my body and my mind
Walls
I am willing to feel gentleness in my heart.

After months of building walls
After
After numbing with food, books, TV, hurry, crisis
After
After feeding the frost of winter in my soul
After
I am willing to feel gentleness in my heart.

I am willing to feel gentleness toward myself
Gentleness toward imperfection and weakness
Gentleness
Gentleness toward strengths and gifts
Gentleness
I am willing to feel gentleness in my heart.

I am willing to feel gentleness toward the world
Gentleness toward the sick and the well
Gentleness
Gentleness toward the weak and the strong
Gentleness
Gentleness toward those who want to give up
And toward those whose overreaching harms others
Gentleness
I am willing to feel gentleness in my heart.

Ernest Homes Affirmation

I liked this affirmation from 365 Science of Mind by Ernest Holmes and wanted to share it with you.

God’s Love always embraces us,

His wisdom is always within us,

And His Joy is ours to share.

Abundance is everywhere

The Blessing of Luck

You reach into the blessing bowl and pull out a small metal token embossed with the word LUCK. Why has it come to you today? What does it mean to you? My first thought was of the recent lottery winners in New York, a story that speaks of good luck.

When your ship comes in, may you be waiting at the dock.
May happy surprises to you often flock.

May events frequently go your way.
May the blessing of Luck grace your every day.

The Blessing of Charm

You reach into the blessing bowl and pull out a small metal token embossed with the word CHARM. Why has it come to you today? What does it mean to you? My reaction was interesting. First, I thought of the leprechaun from Lucky Charms cereal: “A magically delicious blessing.” Then, I saw an animated version of Prince Charming, kissing Snow White, a twinkle in his eye. Of course, there is charm school with white gloves and impeccable manners. I’m having a difficult time taking this one seriously. Still, perhaps we all could use the blessing of charm now and then.

May your personality dazzle wherever you go.
May you be the one whose parties everyone wants to go.
May people be attracted to your magnetic charm.
May you be the one with whom they want to walk arm and arm.

The Blessing of Resolve

You reach into the blessing bowl and pull out a small metal token embossed with the word RESOLVE. Why has it come to you today? What does it mean to you? This is another blessing that I feel that I, almost desperately, need. Lately I feel that I could so easily give up on everything, absolutely everything. Just when I want to give up for the last time, I will hear a song or read a story that renews my resolve to carry on. Whether you want to quit smoking, lose weight, find a job, have a more abundant life, realize a dream, be a happier person or achieve some other goal/resolution, I wish for you the blessing of resolve.

May the Spirit of Resolve bless you today.

May your goals be your North Star, guiding your actions.

May you feel a Divine momentum, so that each day it becomes easier and easier to keep on the path to what you want.

May you persist until your goal is finally yours.

May you know the satisfaction of a goal achieved.

Prayer for the Nuclear Power Plant Workers in Japan

Dear God,
Please be with workers of the nuclear power plants in Japan that were affected by the recent earthquakes. Fill the workers with your guidance and wisdom so that they can make the plants safe and stable. Send your courage and strength to them so that they can continue on with their work. Help them feel your love and the well-wishes of all those around the world who are thinking about them. Protect them and infuse their bodies with your perfect health. Lastly God, please be with their families and loved ones, helping them to feel your comfort, strength and love. A-men.

Prayer for Japan

This is a revised version of my prayer for the people of Japan.

Dear God,
Please be with the people of Japan today and in the weeks and months to come. Send your wisdom and guidance to those involved with the operation of nuclear power plants, guiding them to make the plants stable and safe.  Be with the searchers and rescuers, helping them to find any missing people quickly. Be with the injured, giving them courage, healing them of their physical and emotional wounds. Be with those who have lost loved ones, wrapping your love around them and comforting them. Be with all of those affected by the earthquake and tsunami, giving them strength, wisdom, good health, and hope as they rebuild their lives and their communities. Let them know that you are always with them as a stable presence in their lives. A-men.

The Blessing of Grace (Personal)

This morning I read an article in which Holland Taylor commented on Charlie Sheen. I confess that I have never been a fan of Two and a Half Men—I can’t relate to the style of humor—but I was very impressed by Taylor’s gracious comments. A few weeks ago I wrote a blessing about Divine Grace, God’s gift to us, the blessing written about in the song Amazing Grace. But, we can also possess a personal grace that makes us a blessing to others.

May the Spirit of Personal Grace bless your life.
May you move with beauty and elegance.
May you speak words of kindness, even when you could easily speak words of ridicule or anger.
May your actions embody your highest ideals.
May people feel better about themselves after being in your presence.

March “Bloem”

This is a hybrid blessing and poem.

May the lengthening days lighten your Spirit,
As new life begins to stir around you,
Robins returning, rain nurturing young sprouts,
Changing from frozen dreams to forward momentum,
Hope’s warmth feeding your courage to grow.

March Poem

Last night I was reading about acrostics and decided to try to write a few.

Moody from the long winter dark
Afraid hope will make me appear foolish
Resigned to cold, ice, and snow
Casually I look for signs of new life
How joyful the first buds of Spring.

The Blessing of Grace (Divine)

Today you reach into the blessing bowl and pull out a small metal token embossed with the word GRACE. Why have your drawn it today? What is your reaction? My reaction is, “Yes, yes, this is exactly what I need today.” Here is my blessing for you and for myself.

May God’s Grace bless you today.

May events unfold in your life as if an invisible hand were working behind the scenes, coordinating people and things, so that improbable good now appears in your life.

May your days be filled with happy coincidences and joyful synchronicities.

Blessing for New Zealanders in the Earthquake

Over the years I have met a number of people from Christchurch. My thoughts go out to them and everyone else affected by the earthquake. As soon as I heard the news of the earthquake, I wrote this blessing. I have a prayer that I wrote later and posted to the blog.

May the ground under your feet be firm and steady.

May you feel God’s loving presence wrapped around you, comforting you, helping you to feel secure.

May you quickly heal of any physical or emotional injuries.

May you experience God’s power and wisdom as you rebuild your homes, businesses, and lives.

Prayer for New Zealand

I confess that I have been rather wrapped up in my own personal drama lately. When I turned on the television this morning to check the weather, I heard about the earthquake in New Zealand. My love and prayers go out to all those affected by the earthquake. (I am using a more common format for my prayer today.)

Dear God,
Please be with the people of New Zealand today and in the weeks and months to come. Be with the searchers and rescuers, helping them to find any missing people quickly, giving them strength to free those who have been trapped. Be with the injured, giving them courage, healing them of their physical and emotional wounds. Be with those who have lost loved ones, wrapping your love around them and comforting them. Be with all of those affected by the earthquake, giving them strength, wisdom, and hope as they rebuild their lives and their communities. Let them know that you are always with them as a stable presence in their lives. A-men.

The Blessing of Contentment

Today you reach into the blessing bowl and pull out a small metal token embossed with the word CONTENTMENT. Why have you drawn it today? For me, the word invokes a visceral reaction. I find myself smiling or letting out a small sigh and relaxing my shoulders. For me, contentment is an experience that combines peace and happiness.

May the Spirit of Contentment be a regular companion as you travel on life’s journey.

May each day you find moments where you are at peace with who you are and what is happening in your life.

May you notice and appreciate the little blessings that are sprinkled throughout your day.

May you allow yourself a few moments to savoir the small successes.

Before you go to sleep at night, may you know that, for now, all is well.

Two Thaw

I wrote this poem while waiting for the bus today. I was tapping the iambs on my leg. I need to have a card that says “No, I’m not crazy. I am a poet in training.”

Relief.

I wait no more for warmth

Sun’s rays begin to melt

The snow and muscles tense from cold.

The Blessing of Resilience

Today you reach into the blessing bowl and pull out a small metal token embossed with the word RESILIENCE. Why have you drawn it today? What is your reaction? The old black dog has been nipping at me on and off lately. Maybe I have cabin fever from all the cold and snow or maybe my body just needs its walks in order to be able to think straight. I definitely could benefit from the blessing of resilience. Here is my blessing for you the reader and for myself, too.

If your career or friendships have gotten you down,
May you find Divine inspiration to help you rebound.

If emotions or health have taken downwards turns,
May you be raised by the Light that in your heart burns.

If failure has made you want to hide in your bed
May new possibilities begin to form in your head.

May the Spirit of resilience bless you today
And an upward momentum come your way.

The Blessing of Intelligence

Today you reach into the blessing bowl and pull out a small metal token embossed with the word INTELLIGENCE. Why have you drawn it today? My first thought was, “Yes, I could really use this one.” Here is my take on this blessing today.

May you be smart in school
As well as on the street.

In your chosen field
May your skills be hard to beat.

Any problem that comes your way
May your knowledge easily defeat.

Last, may Intelligence bless your days
And Wisdom guide your ways.

Depression

What monster has swallowed me whole?
No light seems to come from my Soul.

Perplexed.
What next?

Attempt my best?
Will I digest?

Should I wait for a new day’s mood,
Fill myself with sugary food,
Curl up in my soft chair and brood?

Or quietly accept my fate
And wait, and wait, and wait, just wait.

Or love myself in this dark hour
To reconnect with Divine power?

Chinese New Year’s 2011

This is definitely not a traditional Chinese New Year’s Poem. I wish health and wealth to all of you in the coming Year of the Rabbit.--Kata--

Grab your friends for the bunny hop
Chinese New Year is about to drop.

Love of family is one of next year’s themes
Also hard work to reach financial dreams.

Kindness and elegance are back in style
Also peace and contentment for awhile.

Now, prepare to inhabit
The Year of the Rabbit.

The Blessing of Certainty

Today you reach into the blessing bowl and pull out a small metal token embossed with the word CERTAINTY. Why have you chosen it today? I have had a strong reaction to the word this week. I feel like the most uncertain person on the planet. Then the thoughts started in my head: “There is no certainty!” “We live in uncertain times.” “Is certainty even a blessing? Haven’t people been certain about things that were later proved wrong? Isn’t certainty to blame for a lot of the misuse of power over the centuries?” Slowly I began to remember that there have been times when I was certain. I am now certain that we all could use at least a little certainty in our lives.

May you be blessed with moments of certainty
When you truly know and know that you know.

May you know in your heart that the world is full of possibilities
and is must bigger than the limitations you see around you.

May you release any uncertainty that has caused you to become stuck
That may have caused you to doubt yourself
And may you be certain of the next small step that you can take.

May you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God loves you
and is always with you.

On Being a Poet (quote)

I'm a poet and poets are wiser than anyone because they’re the only people who have the guts to think and feel at the same time.

Fritz Leiber—The Big Time, 1958 Hugo Award winning novel

The Blessing of Vision

Today you reach into the blessing bowl and pull out a small metal token with the word VISION printed on it. Why have you chosen it today? As I mulled this over the past few days, I was surprised by how many references to vision I came across.

May you be blessed with the Spirit of Vision.

May you clearly see the good around you and within yourself.

May you see how the world around you is evolving and clearly envision how you, your business, or your organization fit into this new world.

May you see the seed of potential curled up within each individual you meet and know what your part is in helping it to grow.

May you clearly see the seed of potential curled up within yourself and be Divinely guided in how to cultivate it today and in the days to come.

The Blessing of Fertility--Mind

Today you reach into the blessing bowl and pull out a small metal token with the word FERITLITY on it. Why have you selected it today? I know that some of you might have different reactions to it. Fertility might apply to having a child, my last blog entry, but it also might apply to having a creative mind, today’s blessing.

May you be blessed with a fertile imagination.

May fresh and innovative ideas easily come to you.

May you be Divinely guided and motivated to cultivate those ideas, helping them to take root, grow, and blossom.

May your ideas finally bear fruit so that they are a blessing to you and to the world.

The Blessing of Fertility--Baby

The next blessing is FERTILITY, which I have decided to separate into two blessings. (I’ll post a blessing for mental fertility in an upcoming blog.) I was born after my parents had been married fourteen years. My mom had a number of miscarriages before my birth and a still-birth a few years later; I am an only child. I know how desperately she wanted a child. In retrospect, I see how that experience shaded her whole life.

May you soon hold in your arms the child you have for so long held in your heart.

May you be helped by health professionals who are compassionate, knowledgeable, and adept.

May your body be your friend and may you send it loving and peaceful thoughts.

May you easily conceive and easily nurture a developing life within you.

May you know the joy of giving birth to a healthy baby.

The Blessing of Swiftness

Today you reach into the blessing bowl* and pull out a small metal token embossed with the word SWIFTNESS . Why have you selected it today? The following is my impression of the word and my blessing for you.

May the Spirit of Swiftness bless you today
Help good things to come your way
And in your life continue to stay.

May you be quick to seize an opportunity
Or to recognize a new trend.

May you be quick to spot danger
So any negative effect you can upend.

May you be quick to recognize a kindred spirit
So you can enjoy the company of a new friend.



*The inspiration for the blessing bowl comes from the novel Troubles Waters by Sharron Shinn. I have also been to bookstores, churches, and workshops that had baskets or bowls from which people could draw small cards to be used as inspiration or as a focus for contemplation.

The Blessing of Clarity

Today, when you reach into the blessing bowl*, you pull out a small metal token embossed with the word CLARITY. What does it mean to you? My reaction was “yes, this is what I need today.” New Thought philosophy believes that we benefit from thinking about what our lives would be like if we had what we now want. For the last few days I have been asking myself: “What would this situation be like if it was blessed with clarity?” In response, I found myself writing a series of mini-blessings, rather than a longer blessing like I normally do.

May the Spirit of Clarity bless you today.

May any confusion quickly disappear
And the truth of the situation become perfectly clear.

May any scattered thoughts quickly melt away
And focused thinking rule the day.

If too many details threaten to overwhelm
May the big picture take the helm.

May any hidden influences no longer be concealed
And the answer you need now be revealed.


*The idea of the blessing bowl was inspired by the novel Troubles Waters by Sharron Shinn. I have also been to bookstores, churches, and workshops that have had baskets or bowls from which people could draw small cards to be used as inspiration or as a focus for contemplation.

The Blessing of Loyalty

Imagine that today, while looking for a blessing, you receive a small metal token that says  LOYALTY . Why have you chosen it? Ever since I began to write the Blessing of Steadfastness, I have thought about Loyalty. What was Sharon Shinn thinking when she created Loyalty and Steadfastness as two separate blessings? What does Loyalty mean? —About this time I read about the death of Elizabeth Edwards—How does Loyalty play out in my own life?—My neighbor-sister kept her commitment to spend New Year's Eve with me when she could have changed her plans for a better gathering, a gesture which made a big impression on me. — When is it ethically appropriate to withdraw loyalty? — Naomi Novik’s Temeraire series explores that idea — But, in my heart, I knew that for today’s blessing I needed to speak of loyalty in the simplest sense.

May the Spirit of Loyalty bless you today.

Whether country, cause or friend
May you find that to which you can be faithful to the end.

When the going gets rough
May you find the strength to stay tough.

When others try to tempt you
May you find the will to stay true.

May you be Divinely guided to do what’s right
And keep fidelity’s candle burning bright.

Prayer for Tucson Shooting

I believe in the power of affirmative prayers, but I am not always sure how to write them in response to a tragedy. I usually just like to imagine white light surrounding everyone: quick and to the point. I am sending lots of healing energy to Tucson.

Dear God,

I know that you are with all those who have lost loved ones in the tragedy in Tucson, comforting them, healing their hearts. I know that you are also with those who were injured in the shooting, healing their physical and emotional wounds. Your wisdom flows through the doctors who are treating them. Your soothing presence and strength enfolds their families, friends, and those who care about them. I also know that your wisdom and love flows through us as a nation, helping us to make sense of this tragedy. A-men.

The Blessing of Beauty

Imagine that you are at a class or a workshop and the leader passes around a basket filled with slips of paper. You pull one out and unfold it: BEAUTY. What does it mean to you? For some reason, I have been a bit stumped with this one the last few days.

May the Spirit of Beauty bless you today.

May you feel the power of beauty to heal your heart, renew your spirit, and strengthen your connection with the Divine.

May you surround yourself with beautiful objects: perhaps things as simple as an autumn leaf, a pretty stone, a single flower or a greeting card; perhaps an antique handed down in your family or a piece of art created by a favorite artist; perhaps something made with your own hands or by someone you love.

May you invest the time to nurture yourself with beauty, to look for the beautiful things in your everyday world, listen for the beautiful sounds, and perceive the beautiful gestures and kindnesses extended by people.

May you realize that you are beautiful, whether you are physically attractive in the traditional sense or not, appreciating that how you act towards people, your attention, compassion, and words of encouragement create beauty in the world.

Blessing for Losing Weight

This blessing goes out to the many people who have made losing weight one of their New Year’s resolutions, myself included.

May to your health and self-esteem you be kind
And hold your ideal weight in mind.

May in the mirror you see a beautiful person
Speak supportive words to yourself, not a harsh sermon.

May you find others who support your goal
Who in your motivation play a role.

May high calorie foods lose appeal
And temptation your eyes now conceal.

May your emotions no longer lure you to overeat.
Instead to positive activities may you retreat.

May exercise now give you much pleasure
And you do it often in good measure.

May you easily lose inches and pounds
Fit into slim jeans and beautiful gowns.

As you go through the coming year
May “you look great” you often hear.

A Blessing for Those Who Mourn

Ellen, a friend I had lost track of when I moved to another state, died this past week. She was one of the “Lasagna Ladies” of this world, women who know how to gather people around food and create camaraderie. She made friends wherever she went. This blessing goes out to all those who mourn Ellen this week, as well as others who have lost such individuals in their lives.

May you gather together with others who mourn, crying, laughing, telling stories, whispering “It’s not fair.”

May you let your tears flow and feel all your sadness, being tender with the void that has opened up in your heart.

May you also feel gratitude for the fullness she has given you, the friendships, your world expanded, brighter, wilder.

Just as a passionate gardener divides her prized perennial and distributes a division to those she trusts, so She has entrusted a small part of herself with you. May you nurture it, tend it, and help it to grow so that you can share it with other people as a way to honor her and to honor yourself.

Blessing for Quitting Smoking

This blessing goes out to the many people who have made the New Year’s resolution to quit smoking.

May cigarettes no longer have appeal
And your smoke-free life now become real.

May a new, healthy habit now help you feel calm
And you automatically reach for this new balm.

May health fill your body, especially lungs and heart
May of the class of non-smokers you now be a part.

As you go through the coming year
May “congratulations” you often hear.

The Blessing of Time

Imagine that near your computer you find a small, wrapped box with your name on it. You unwrap it up and find a small stone with the word TIME on it. You might sigh and say “This is exactly what I need today.”

May you be blessed by the Spirit of Time.

May you always have enough time in the day for those activities that are most important to you: spending time with loved ones, working towards your dreams, spreading a little kindness in the world.

May you be on time for those events that go strictly by the clock
As well as those we call happy coincidences.

May Now always be the best time of your life.