Drum Dance - Dene Artist, Roger Deranger

Drum Dance

deep within the Dene forest home
spirits dream wholehearted to roam
they dwell honorably during mystic time
when the heaven and earth vastly rhyme

upon a painted sunset, a silence broke
it was an ancient flame that spoke
and the drums mysteriously, exhilarate
altering each soul into a radiant state

chants and pulse, conjured, impulsively
blessing everyone into a circular flee
round and around they sacredly dance
drowning themselves into a joyous trance

poured with euphoria, the beings paced
leaving each step then majestically traced
within its midst, the fire proudly sing
drawing the ritual into a universal ring

the stars above also harmonized along
ensuring the divine hoop is kept strong
for every life is absorbed into solidarity
a movement of strength and reassuringly

the dance, song and heartbeat, all is real
giving the entire cycle a seed to heal
from dusk to dark, the spirits fly
until our dance has reached the sky

Bob Thurman: Becoming Buddha -- on the Web

Bob quite cleverly explains how to be compassionate in less than 15 minutes in a manner that makes me smile. I like that.

Ram Dass interviews Thicht Nhat Hanh

Anger is an emotion people hold onto by choice unaware that with a simple breathing technique they will find peace. Being angry harms the person holding on to it more than the subject of their anger. Letting go of the anger through mindful breathing releases the heavy burden on your mind and body.

The choice is yours to nourish your emotion and transform the anger into understanding and compassion.

Libby the Wonder Dog (poem)

My friend Carol posted this beautiful poem after reading my blog "Its all in the eyes". She wrote it for her trusted companion Libby before she died. (get some the tissue because its really touching)

This is my dog, Bodhi, taken this afternoon, the snow is melting finally, and he is somewhat muddy. I left his coat long for protection against the inclement weather but it's time to take him to the doggy spa.

The Ten Ox Herding Pictures

Where do your emotions live, can you point in your body where love, happiness, sadness, anger, is? Emotions live in the territory of the mind. Search for the mind - is what is called spiritual path.

Don't fight with your mind, accept it, and it will free you. Fighting with your mind drains you of your energy. Sit still and gradually your energy will increase and you'll find peace.

Say to yourself, "whoever I am, whatever I've done in life, the door to my heat is always open to me unconditionally. Come in." Accept yourself, be kind to yourself, love yourself, be at peace with yourself.

Take an hour and listen to the other jewels of wisdom in this speech from Ajahn Brahm.