awaken to the mystery

This blessing, "For Presence," by John O'Donohue was offered by Maggie Yowell at the beginning of the SoulCollage workshop I attended on Saturday. The theme of the day was All Souls and All Saints: Honoring our Ancestors. The image is one of the collages that I created during this sacred and holy time.

Awaken to the mystery of being here and enter the quiet immensity of your own presence.

Have joy and peace in the temple of your senses.

Receive encouragement when new frontiers beckon.

Respond to the call of your gift and the courage to follow its path.

Let the flame of anger free you of all falsity.

May warmth of heart keep your presence aflame.

May anxiety never linger about you.

May your outer dignity mirror an inner dignity of soul.

Take time to celebrate the quiet miracles that seek no attention.

Be consoled in the secret symmetry of your soul.

May you experience each day as a sacred gift woven around the heart of wonder.

from whence shall my help come?

I will lift up my eyes to the mountains;
From whence shall my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
He will not allow your foot to slip;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel
Will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper;
The Lord is your shade on your right hand.
The sun will not smite you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
The Lord will protect you from all evil;
He will keep your soul.
THe Lord will guard your going out
and your coming in
From this time forth and forever.

--Psalm 121

creations from my womb

thinking of my children today...my son is here and this is my daughter, a few years past:

May you feel life as an irresistible invitation

To discover and develop your talents,

Each day bringing something new to birth.

--John O'Donohue

matin

Somewhere, out at the edges, the night
Is turning and the waves of darkness
Begin to brighten the shore of dawn

The heavy dark falls back to earth
And the freed air goes wild with light,
The heart fills with fresh, bright breath
And thoughts stir to give birth to color.

--John O'Donohue

photo by h3images