He’s gone
A lifetime of 83 years
One last breath
And he’s gone
Absence
Silence
Reminders
And then the pain
With no time to absorb
No time to feel
Only the processes, the needs
Of affairs to be resolved
Dictating an attention
Refusing
Postponing
The grief
And now with only space
And a sudden influx of time
Comes the pain, the tears
For he really is gone
Will you…
Hold my hand for a little while?
I don’t need you to save me
No need for you to fix anything
No need for you to hold my pain
But will you simply hold my hand?
I do not need your words
Your thoughts
Nor your shoulders to carry me
But will you sit here for a while with me?
Whilst my tears they stream
Whilst my heart it shatters
Whilst my mind plays tricks on me
Will you with your presence let me know that I am not alone, whilst I wander into my inner unknown?
For my darkness is mine to face
My pain is mine to feel
And my wounds are mine to heal
But will you sit with me here, while I courageously show up for it all my dear?
For I am bright because of my darkness
Beautiful because of my brokenness
And strong due to my tender heart
But will you take my hand lovingly, when I sometimes journey into the dark?
I don’t ask for you to take my darkness away
I don’t expect for you to brighten my day
And I don’t believe that you can mend my pain
But I would surely love if you could sit for a while and hold my hand, until I find my way out of my shadowland!
So will you…
Hold my hand until I return again?”~
~Zoe Johansen ~
Posting this poem as it is so fitting to the moment captured above between my dad and I on his last day here on Earth🙏
Opulent plumage
Golden reflective salute
Mirroring the sun
The universe has conspired
Conspired for your existence
Not against you but for you
The coming together of time
The alignment of elements
Molecules, atoms,
Wind, air, dirt
Yes it has all conspired
That you may be here
That you may feel, see, think, love
Do you feel your existence
The rhythm in which you sway
Can you connect to your source
Can you find the wavelength
Where the eternal sits within you
Be still, be quiet
And the space will find you, hold you
Ironically coined is ‘mind-ful-ness’
As we know only too well
How to continuously over think
And invariably this leads to confusion
Doubt
And ultimately is limiting, crippling
Perhaps we need to be
More of ‘heart-ful-ness’
And less of mind
Heartfulness brings
Fruition to feelings
Of empathy, friendship, trust
Naturally bringing forth
Kindness, love, compassion
Unity and oneness
Which then allows a joyful contentment
A happy gratefulness
An ultimate peacefulness
Such a short distance
From heart to mind
Yet at times they seem as if a million miles apart
Sometimes we even confuse
One for the other
Do you know the difference in their voices?
One will say you must do this or that
The other will say nothing
Letting you feel your way there
Perhaps there are no right or wrongs
But be assured
When you listen to your heart
The answers will be waiting
And your peace and sanity
Have the chance to be restored
Witness the softness
Celebrate the gentleness
Feel the gratefulness
Rave of the age
Is to have ‘self care’
Put yourself first
Take care of you
And all can be well!
How?
Carve out time for you
Take a walk
Take a bath
Read a book
Do what speaks to you!
Yes notes of sarcasm
From the queen of self care
As all we are doing is running
Running from the negatives
Awkward situations
Stresses of life
The inescapables
And so the so called problems
Accompany you everywhere!
It’s the noise between the ears
The constant chatter
Clatter of thoughts
Fueling the emotions
Of anger, fear, jealousy and doubt
These you carry
Never abandon
To these thieves
We open the doors of our mind and heart
They counsel you
Convince you
Tell you your worth
Then they raid and rob you
Leaving you soulless
In despair, with frustration and anxiety
But there’s a larger vault
Deep, much deeper within
Which when opened
Releases a power
Gentle and expansive
Second to none
No matter where you stand
You can smile with understanding
Laugh with joy
And feel vibrantly alive
To recognize this gift
Lifts a veil
And the thieves then must scamper
From the generosity of the Giver
Comes these teachings of a lifetime
What a fortune to listen
To absorb
To feel, to understand
Just a little each and every day
Thank you Diane, holding this ornament has given me a beautiful moment in time to feel the lost physical contact with Dipak, my precious brother.
From a simple ritual
To the practicing yogi,
The one hundred and eight beads
Constitutes a time for intentional focus.
Initiated in the 8th century BC,
These spiritual beads in Hinduism
Now are used through Islam, Christianity
Buddhism, 2/3rds of the world’s population.
Whether wood, seed or stone
They shall deliver
Properties of healing, protection
And most commonly, spiritual practice.
I gift this to you,
So you can intentionally
Breathe 108 times
With vitality, feeling vibrancy.
Speak a mantra
Drawing you inwards.
Feel the earthly element
Connecting you to Mother Earth.
Simply put, I wish you
108 blessings,
108 guardians,
108 freed moments
Each and every day.
May you hold this mala
With the clarity it was made,
With the love it is sent,
And wisdom with which you shall use.
rhythmandthedancer 