Wonder

Ask any older person about their life and they will all agree on one thing: that time goes by a lot quicker than you think. We were all born with dreams, desires, potential and secret gifts of genious. But when the practicality of life kicks in (paying rent, bills and taking responsiblity for yourself), those initial dreams and desires become a distant memory. We stop feeling a sense of wonder about the world, we stop being curious and excited, we stop loving ourselves and eachother, we stop trying new things. Khalil Gibran's quote comes to mind: 'The lust for comfort, kills the passions of the soul.'

So I personally make a little note to myself, a reminder to do the following: (just a few, the list could go on for a while...)

Stare up at the sky
Smell and touch a perfect rose
Feel a sense of luck when I find a penny
Take time out in the day to do something that I love
Love my pets
Calm myself and center myself when I feel stressed or overwhelmed
Be open to opportunities
Spend 5 mins a day actioning my goals
Appreciate diversity in the world, but align with my desires
Laugh whenever I can
 

Time moves faster than we can comprehend

How can I impress upon you the
delicateness of life?
Let this first weigh upon you.
Time moves it's moments quickly;
A kaleidoscope of memories,
Catch this brevity and let it still your
thoughts.
This passion -
You were born from the stars;
Embrace this mantle,
And scatter such delusions!
Especially the camaraderie of self
limitation.

LB

Weeping willow

I have always been drawn to the weeping willow tree. There are a couple of these trees in Hyde Park that hold my attention for a long while, sending me into a reverie of thought. They are a unique spring addition to the snowdrops and look both playful and doleful on the landscape. Symbolically, they are linked to the moon and water and everything feminine. They help us to get in touch with our emotions, intuition and inner wisdom and spending time around a willow,s moon energy helps us to express our emotions in an authentic way and shifts us to greater personal understandings.

Alongside hazel and birch, the willow draws water naturally and when a twig or branch is disconnected, it will easily grow into a new tree; highlighting that any loss or new direction can bring forth growth and healing.

I included part of one of my favourite verses on weeping willows by 'Apple Leong.'

Weeping willow

Facade, aura, irridescent green and gold,
Yet sad and forlorn story to be told.
How long as thy wept?
Pandora's box of secrets kept?
Oh weeping willow,
Do you persist in sorrow?
Wisdom stamped from bearded leaves,
Languid whisper in your swaying sleeves...


Weeping willow

How graceful the weeping willow weeps;
Tendrils - brushing gently the ground,
Head bowed and humbled,
And a gentle hushing and swishing sound.

Her voice whispers and urges;
Drawing forth to the surface our internal flow,
Crafted in the expressive arts,
A lifetime of mastery of such art and skill.

She reminds us of such roots;
In times long gone,
The heart of the heart,
Her enchantments and wisdom,
Live through us and on.

LB

Strength

At times in my life I have felt an intense urge to protect or be strong for the family and friends that I love and care for. This urge has translated into my going beyond the call of duty, in variable ways. It has most times created unhealthy dynamics and co-dependencies (that have taken time, unnecessary pain and patience to heal and change). Although at the time I felt that I was doing the right thing, I now realise that this kind of giving can be disempowering to the person I am trying to help in the first place. Also, it can be incredibly draining on your own internal resources and 'you cannot give, what you don't have within.' We cannot protect people from their pain, but we can respect, support and allow their choices. And love them openly and unconditionally; and see them as whole and complete and fully capable of any challenge that comes their way.

The Law of the Jungle

Now this is the law of the Jungle - as old and true as
the sky;
And the Wolf that shall keep it may prosper, but the 
Wolf that shall break it must die.
As the creeper that girdles the tree trunk the Law
runneth forward and back -
For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the
strength of the Wolf is the Pack.

(Rudyard Kipling)


Know This!

In all the moments up to the moment;
I will be there.

A marble pillar of resolve and
strength;
Draw from me,
I have much reserves.

Rest your load on my shoulders;
I gladly carry it.

Place your fears into my lap;
I will care for them tenderly.

Seek nothing but love from me;
For that is all I surrender.

In all the moments up to the moment;

I am your Goliath, your Hercules,
your oak tree;
Side by side, hand in hand,
Heroically bending to the wills of life -

Up to that moment...

LB

Secret

The following poem explores the concept of secrets and how carrying a secret for yourself or others can weigh heavily on the heart. It considers, not only the physiological nature of holding secrets, but also the psychological burden constructed of the lies and justifications we make to ourselves - that help us to merge the truth and the lies of such things into one small being or entity; that may be contained conveniently, but holds a mass of density and weight.

I have first included 'Robert Frost's poem, which conversely looks at the idea of those dark places, as spaces within oneself!

They cannot scare me with their empty spaces
Between stars - on stars where no human race is.
I have it in me so much nearer home
To scare myself with my own desert places.


Secret

I carry myself,
Hold tightly this burden;
Inside - layers
Meted upon it's own foundation stone.

Eyes around me - but do not see,
The secret lurks;
Sullen in it's murky depths.
Slowly it grows!

Despite mass and weight,
I store the extra pounds easily;
Forgetting where they originated -
This intimacy.

Denser and denser I become,
This womb and I;
There is no seperation -
Such divides are none.

LB

Dragon

A new year is upon us again, but not just any year! 2012 is meant to signify a change in consciousness for all people, as the Mayan calendar came quietly to a close. But this year personally signifies added value and importance for me; as we move into the Chinese year of the Dragon on the 23rd January. This being my birth year, it alludes to a period of time where my personal growth is accelerated greatly amidst great challenges, change and reward. It is more essential than ever to be aligned with one's higher self and in tune with the signs and language communicated by the universe. Being able to have discernment, clarity and judgement at such a time of growth is imperative to guide oneself through the obstacles and lessons ahead. Good luck and love to all fellow dragons!


Whisper

The whisper of the universe is fragile, vulnerable,
formidable, reverent and powerful;
Are you brave enough to hear its
call?
Take no shame in the collective fear,
Nor recompense this debt.
It takes a courageous soul - to be
home from home;
And to once again speak its
language,
From time eternal.
But such reward, would meet you
and all you encounter -
Nurture such alliance!

LB

Trees

'If you would know strength and patience, welcome the company of trees' (Hal Borland)

Throughout history, trees have been powerful symbols of life, growth, wisdom, nobility and longevity. Their roots reach down into the ground and their branches extend up to the sky at the same time. Steeped in many myths and legends, trees have prevailed throughout time (some oak trees reaching two hundred plus years old). These iconic plants have been recognised in many historic ideas such as the tree of knowledge of good and evil, the tree of life, the ygdrassil tree (in Norse mythology). The druids of early Britain worshipped trees, the Greeks assigned them spirits called dryads and individual trees have been revered as sacred by some cultures. They also support many ecosystems and are specific to certain climates and environments. Some of the oldest trees in the world have been found to be around five thousand years old! Celebrate the value that trees bring to our life!


Tree Consciousness

The twigs, branches - burnt by the season's frost,
Patient, grounded even in suffering;
Alone, always listening - but never forlorn.

There is no question or urgency to it's task,
Quiet understanding of cycles and patterns;
Whispers and murmurs, as the moon saunters past.

Seen through it's barrenness,
The naked eye of truth wisdom;
A blueprint of time that continues to last.

Untroubled, and still with the cold,
A custodian of enigma;
Secret keeper of old.

LB

Autumn

Autumn and spring are my two favourite seasons. I love the moderate nature of both and the wonderful richness in colours. I feel that it is a time of transition for people and nature, and whereas  autumn presents the end of a cycle, conversely; spring represents the beginning of a cyle and new life. The following poem was inspired by the giant chestnut leaves blowing around, and their beautiful, rich colours and hues, of brown, red, orange, gold and yellow.

Ghost Leaves

Into the road - skeleton bodies of leaves
are relentlessly pressed down;
Their autumnal colours, shrouds
of the season gone by.
A myriad wallpaper, brightening
the tarmac.
Little paper crunches;
Under the tyres.
Pensively, I almost wish that they
had been lovingly collected by some
small child, mother in hand.
Or, that the wind had blown them;
Hurtling them at great speed,
Like little gold mice scuttling across
the field.
But here they lay;
Until the first winter frost,
Their star shapes fading into the road -
Until their fossilisation is complete,
And all that remains are sprinkles of 
browns and gold.

LB