Category Archives: Poetry

Instrument of Peace

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This was part of our musical week in Poetry and Prayers of Unity. Like Harp and Drum, I wrote this in 2010. It’s still as powerful now, if not more so–so powerful in fact, that I remembered the whole poem, even though I thought I’d have to read rather than recite it… That is the goodness of allowing Spirit to speak through us: It sticks! This one has become one of my signature poems. 🙂

Also shared for OpenLinkNight at
dVerse.

Accompanying instrument: Lady – tenor Flea ukulele

Even in the silence,
Your instrument is sounding,
Sending out a message
To everyone around you.

What is it you’re saying?
Is harmony the essence,
Or dissonance unsettled –
Within your very presence?

The peace and joy within you
Is what you truly are.
So let it be the message
You spread both near and far.

Your instrument is sounding;
You vibrate all the time.
So practice peace and vibrate love
For centered heart and mind.

Harp and Drum – Musical Poem

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I wrote this poem in August, 2010, only a month after beginning committed metaphysical study. It was part of Poetry and Prayers of Unity, the week we discussed The Instrument.

The discussion isn’t included here – the poem speaks for itself, especially with the audio reading-instrumental. However, I welcome anyone’s thoughts or feelings about the poem!

I imagine it speaks to musicians, as it does to me. But you don’t need to “be a musician” to resonate with it! We are vibrational beings, and it’s as much about that as what we describe as music.

Harp and Drum

Instruments: Celtic lap harp, buffalo frame drum

The harp is a Spirit
That carries the light
Of truth, peace and wisdom
Through any dark night.

The drum is a gateway
To journey in you
Reclaiming your wisdom
Your essence of truth.

The harp is your voice
And the drum is your heart
Each working together
To help do their part.

The voice of your Spirit
The rhythm of all
The harmony sings
When you answer the call.

Your Spirit is calling
Just listen, you’ll hear
Its small voice of purpose
That says, “Cast out fear!”

For fear is a rhythm
A dissonant hum
That isn’t in tune
With your true harp and drum.

Now may you be blessed,
May you always feel whole,
Fulfilling the purpose
That’s deep in your Soul.
And so it is!

James Dillet Freeman – Poetry and Prayers of Unity Week 1

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We started off Poetry and Prayers of Unity with Unity’s best-known poet, James Dillet Freeman. This week’s poems were “God Bless your Birthday,” as a member celebrated her birthday, “How do I find what Life’s About?” and the classic “I Am There.”

James Dillet Freeman Biography

This link will take you to a PDF document of a Unity publication called Music of the Soul. You will need Adobe Reader or another PDF-accessible program to read it. Music of the Soul

“God Bless your Birthday” – Contemplation Questions

After reading “God Bless your Birthday” in Music of the Soul, think about your own answers to these questions.

1. Would you send this poem to someone you love, without altering it? Is there anything here you would not wish for someone?

2. Do you see any references to getting old, giving up, negative changes, etc?

3. What feeling do you have when reading this poem?

4. Would you like to receive this poem on your birthday? How would you feel after receiving it? What would you do as a result of that feeling?

5. Do any words or lines stand out to you in this poem? For me especially “smilestone in eternity>’

“How do I find what Life’s About?” – Contemplation Questions

Find this poem on Jim’s bio page, linked above. After reading it, think about your answers to these questions.

1. Did you sense the meaning right away, or did you get carried away by the rhythm and rhyme of the poem?

2. What could you “venture farther out” from?

3. What do we often do when “something in me is not content”? I.e. suppress it, think something is wrong, etc?

4. Is something wrong when something in us isn’t content? Do we have a right to follow it and see where it leads?

5. What does it mean to you to hear “Something affirms that I am meant for more?” How do you feel knowing, or trying on the belief, that this is true?

6. How can we “fly?” What does it mean to you to fly in life?

7. Do you feel that “venture farther out” from line 2, and “going beyond the edge of things” from line 7, are related? How so? Or why not?

8. A basic metaphysical principle is in the lines about wings. Think about what it means to you, to have wings “being mainly in the mind.”

9. What “more” can be found in you, from the last line?

I Am There – Contemplation Questions

Read this poem on Jim’s bio page above, or the Prayer section of www.unity.org.

This is one of the most powerful metaphysical poems I’ve ever read. And it’s not just me! 🙂 This poem has been left on the moon, distributed through publications and on CD through Unity, and read by billions of people. Inspiring, comforting and meditative, I ask that you meditate on “I Am There” if you feel lead.

1. What is the “I am” in this poem?

2. How do you feel knowing that an invisible power sees, hears and feels through you?

3. What is the “self” we must get beyond, and later “get yourself out of the way,” in order to know the “I am?”

4. How can we know this presence?

5. Even in denial, fears, pain, loneliness and lack of prayer – this presence is there. Knowing this presence is only good, how does that make you feel?

6. Why do you think the presence has faith in us? To me, it is because we are its creations, and Spirit/God/Universe would not create something unless it knew that creation was good. I.e. all creations are good because they all come from and are made of the presence. Therefore, Presence must have faith in us. What an affirmation: God has faith in me!

7. Just an observation… How powerful to be called Spirit’s beloved! Who says that…? We get honey, sweetheart, love, dear, blah blah blah… And from other people. But to be the Beloved of the Universe? And not just be it, because you are, but when you truly feel that… Now there’s a partner!

This poem, to me, is an intellectual exercise. I don’t know what James Dillet Freeman thought when he wrote it. Technically, it could have ended at the beginning: “Do you need Me? I am there.” End of story.

But because we have a personal/ego mind that holds onto things, gets obsessive at times, and needs to be convinced, Freeman goes on. He offers so many affirmations, aspects and descriptions of the I Am, that by the end of the poem, your “logical” conscious mind can’t help but be convinced that, yes, this is Truth. This is why I highly recommend meditating on this poem!

We had a lot of great discussion on all 3 of these poems! I tried here to offer the basics of that. However, as I said in class, especially with “I Am There,” we need to experience God ourselves. Others can, as I intend to, hold the space and know others’ good. However, getting your own personal feeling of God, when you can know, with or without words, that “This” is the Presence, that’s what I believe metaphysics is about. Not intellectual understanding, etc, but about feeling, and thereby experiencing a better life, because you know God.

If you have any comments, questions or other feedback, please send a message using the contact page. Thank you for participating!

Live Class: Poetry and Prayers of Unity

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Beginning tonight, Thursday, 1/10/13, I will be teaching a live class at Unity of Reading.

The poetry and prayers of Unity are well-known throughout New Thought, metaphysics and in general. However, sometimes they become so habitual that we don’t stop to feel what they mean when we say or read them. This class is part poetry appreciation, part meditation, part contemplation and discussion of what the poems and prayers mean. We will discuss what the author meant, or may have meant in writing them, and what they mean to us as individuals and as a spiritual community.

Poetry and Prayers of Unity will be held from 7:00-8:30 p.m, beginning tonight and every Thursday for 6 weeks. The last week will be 2/14/13. Handouts will be provided.

Can’t make it? Discovering this after the fact? No problem! I will not copy others’ poems here, to honor copyright laws. However, I will link to online sources where available. If you want the interaction of the live class, please comment here or contact me via the navbar link, and I’ll see about setting up a forum for this!

I look forward to hearing from you, either in person or online!

11/28/12 Full Moon Celebration

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I created this full moon distance ritual for The Order of the White Moon. I will expand on this soon; for now, realize that I choose to study both metaphysics and Goddess spirituality at the same time. For me they are beautiful companions.

In any case, I share this ritual as a demonstration of openness, acceptance and connection to all people, all beliefs, and all nature. If you resonate with this and wish to participate, perform the ritual yourself on November 28, 2012 – the night of the full moon.

Though OWM is mostly women, like-minded men are welcome in my own practice.

It’s fine if you’re unfamiliar with Pagan, Wiccan or other circle castings and closings! Just intend to create a circle, or create a visible one in your space. When finished, say a blessing and open the circle.

Date: 11/28/2012

Intention: Full moon in Gemini, beaver moon and goddess Ceridwen (Celtic Goddess of rebirth)

Before the ritual, spend some time in nature, ideally at night, in the 3 days preceding the full moon. Even outside on a porch or steps is fine; intention to connect with nature and the moon is the most important here.

As you create this time, think of the Beaver moon. So named because it was traditionally the time to set traps before Winter, it is also a time of incubation. What do you want to gestate or incubate? What is germinating now, to bloom or become tangible or visible in Maiden Springtime?

If you’re in Springtime now, what are you planting and cultivating to harvest/finish in Autumn?

Come to the ritual with these things in mind or written down.

Items

Northern Supplies

warm Autumn drink (apple cider, pumpkin spice-flavored coffee, tea or cocoa, etc, something that tastes like Fall to you)

3 candles (1 orange, 1 black, 1 white)

Southern Supplies

Cool fruit drink, milk, or anything that tastes like Spring to you

Candles as above

Preparation

Prepare drink before ritual. Place on seasonally decorated altar if you have one, along with the candles in holders.

If you like music for meditation, have some on hand.

Ritual

The differences in this ritual between the Northern and Southern hemisphere are subtle and not truly necessary. The main idea is that in the Southern hemisphere, you’ve already started planting what you will harvest, and can see it because you’re cultivating it already.

In the Northern hemisphere, we’re letting our desires grow, unseen, within the Earth until Spring when they will burst forth as buds do. Sometimes through the Fall and Winter, we need reminders to “keep the faith.” This ritual is one reminder.

Cast circle in whatever way you choose.

Invoke/call goddess Ceridwen with these words:
Lady of the resting night
Whom each crossroad brings delight
Welcome in this circle clear
As in time desires appear!

Gently relax into a light state of meditation, with music as you prefer.

Light orange candle, saying:
By the fire that you keep
Through all growth that comes in sleep
Warm desire in my heart
As in faith I do my part!

Light black candle, saying:
If the way seems dark and bare
Or overwhelm feels like despair,
May I know deep down the truth
That as the wheel turns, next is youth!

Light white candle, saying:
I will see the things I ask
I believe they come to pass
Until then I know their truth
Placing them within your womb!
I give you (name the things that are germinating in Ceridwen’s womb for you now)

Meditate on releasing any attachment you feel to these desires, knowing that all is well.

When you feel ready, bring yourself out of meditation and continue:

Thank you for your presence here
Banishing all doubt and fear
Bringing in the darkness safe
Meant to cradle me in faith!

Drink with gratitude.

Open circle and put out candles safely.

Wings of Autumn – Fall Song

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I wrote this “poem” last week and thought, “Good. Now this is done, I’m ahead,” and moved on to the next thing. But it wasn’t done. 🙂 When I was choosing an accompaniment, it begged to be a song. SO song it is, and I like it better than the written words alone. Imagine that!

Wings of Autumn – Lyrics

Also published in Seasons of the Moon Volume 13 Issue 1 Samhain 2015

Recording updated 2015
Instrument: Brio – Red Cedar Concert Ukulele

1. On wings of Autumn I take flight
Falling into my best life
Knowing that my path is right
On wings of Autumn I take flight!

2. On wings of prayer I soar in faith
Realizing my strength and grace
Right here is my perfect place
On wings of prayer I soar in faith!

3. On wings of love I float with glee
Feeling good, supported and free
So life brings what is best for me
On wings of love I float with glee!

Repeat 1.

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Cricket – Nature Affirmation Poem

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Instrument: Lady – tenor Flea ukulele

Chirp chirp chirp
Sounding cheerful in your gentle way
Chirp chirp chirp
Coming in the house as if to stay…

Chirp chirp chirp
Would you rather be in nature’s green?
Chirp chirp chirp
Heard you are, but hardly ever seen…

Chirp chirp chirp
Evening is your favorite time of day
Chirp chirp chirp
Turning on the lights puts you away…

Chirp chirp chirp
Thank you for your bright-in-darkness sound
Chirp chirp chirp
Music in creation does abound!

Phoenix Rising – Meditation Poem

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Instrument: Lady – tenor Flea ukulele

From the ash She arises
And to it She returns
Appearing, disappearing, re-appearing.

Yet there is no birth
No death
No rebirth.

The Phoenix lives always
Just in different forms
And so do we.

Neither created
Nor destroyed
Only transformed!

From the ash we arise
And to it we return
Appearing, disappearing, re-appearing
In form, perhaps,
But in Spirit, we exist always.

—
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Divine Guidance Positive Prayer Poem

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Use this positive, effective prayer when you desire guidance of any kind.

Though all guidance comes from within yourself, your mind, feelings and circumstances can block you from hearing the truth you already know.

Prayers, affirmations, poems and meditations like this all-in-one help get past the surface, down deep to the truth. This highest truth will never fail you, never lead you astray, and is always within you.

All you need to do is ask, then listen for the answer. It may come as a feeling, imagined words, images, someone physically saying something to you throughout your day, or in any number of ways. It doesn’t need to be a lightning bolt… Just be open to the guidance you asked for, and unattached to how you receive it.

Prayer for Divine Guidance

You, the knower of all things,
Source and substance, guiding star,
I unite my mind with you;
I am wisdom as you are.

Quietly I listen now,
Hearing in me perfect truth.
I receive the word I seek,
Thinking now at one with you.

When to speak and what to say,
All of this I clearly see.
Where to go along my way,
Everything is here in me.

Lovingly I now release
All confusion, fear and doubt.
They are gone and I’m at peace,
Knowing what to carry out.

Thank you, bless-ed voice of all,
Loving, knowing, guiding light,
Flowing like a waterfall,
Never ending, day or night.

I have asked and I receive
That which I have sought to know.
I release this into law,
Where it manifests and flows.
Amen.

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The Good Place – Meditation Affirmation Poem

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There is a place
where the light is so bright
but where no one’s eyes hurt
where no one cringes
where no one turns away

There is a place
where the peace is so deep
that not a ripple disturbs it
except the ripple of joy
the ripple of laughter
the ripple of love
the ripple of life abundant

There is a place
where only good lives
it comes to stay
it flows
it is given
and received
all at once

There is a place
where posession is no object
where everyone has everything
and everyone owns nothing
because ownership is not needed
everything is Spirit
so why would we, and how could we own it?
Yet how could we not?

There is a place
where good is always good enough
and now
I choose to live in that place
forevermore!

Come in with me,
you are so welcome,
here
in the good place!