I'm an inter(no)faith spiritual director. I sit in contemplation before seeing a person and then reach for poetry. By the end of a session I know which one is right for them. I read it to them and then send it to accompany them for the month until we see each other again.
We all need to support one another, in whatever way speaks to us, right now especially…….we are all feeling the worldwide chaos & suffering going on now & it affects us mentally & physically. I know it does me & daily cries are not uncommon when thoughts of the suffering of others creeps in.
The dysfunction going on in Washington DC added to the mix as well. It disgusts me. Sigh
I've been finding this is true more and more over the past few years. I have to have those breaks to remember there is good, beauty, truth and hope out there. Tumultuous times are so taxing. I'm leaving in an hour to go to my Tea & Poetry group. Several ladies meet monthly, share poems and other writings that have meaning to them, that express our insides and our humanity. These other ladies are my cup of tea and, while we don't solve the world's problems (or even our own!), we all feel nurtured by the group and by the words we find that express our humanity. Thanks, Phyllis, for sharing these moments of grace.
Yes, so true. I read a lot of poetry in my spiritual direction work.
Wonderful!
I'm an inter(no)faith spiritual director. I sit in contemplation before seeing a person and then reach for poetry. By the end of a session I know which one is right for them. I read it to them and then send it to accompany them for the month until we see each other again.
Oh, this is a beautiful practice, Jane!
We all need to support one another, in whatever way speaks to us, right now especially…….we are all feeling the worldwide chaos & suffering going on now & it affects us mentally & physically. I know it does me & daily cries are not uncommon when thoughts of the suffering of others creeps in.
The dysfunction going on in Washington DC added to the mix as well. It disgusts me. Sigh
Find your small joys & love one another ❤️
May small joys (and big ones too) sustain us all!
Thanks Phyllis for the reminder of the power of poetry! 😊
Yes'm!
I've been finding this is true more and more over the past few years. I have to have those breaks to remember there is good, beauty, truth and hope out there. Tumultuous times are so taxing. I'm leaving in an hour to go to my Tea & Poetry group. Several ladies meet monthly, share poems and other writings that have meaning to them, that express our insides and our humanity. These other ladies are my cup of tea and, while we don't solve the world's problems (or even our own!), we all feel nurtured by the group and by the words we find that express our humanity. Thanks, Phyllis, for sharing these moments of grace.
I'm so glad that you have Tea & Poetry! And so glad you're on The Raft to add to our "moments of grace" here, too!
Poetry and the Revolution of Being: Jane Hirshfield on How Great Art Transforms Us – The Marginalian
https://www.themarginalian.org/2017/10/02/jane-hirshfield-ten-windows-poetry/
Wasn't that a serendipitous posting?!
This is part of why I love the Thursday Poetry Group!
Exactly! (And we miss you in person!)
I'm hoping to be there this week!
Woohoo!