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Faith is “confidence or trust in a person, thing, or concept.” Faith can mean holding the belief that, even in the darkest times, light still exists and light will return. It can be helpful to remember that every night eventually turns to morning, every winter turns to spring. There is a yang for every yin. We have faith in these perpetual rhythms of life. And perhaps most importantly, we have faith in ourselves to gather strength in the darkness and be ready for the light. In mindful presence, Lori You darkness from which I come,
I love you more than all the fires that fence out the world, for the fire makes a circle for everyone so that no one sees you anymore. But darkness holds it all: the shape and the flame, the animal and myself, how it holds them, all powers, all sight-- and it is possible: its great strength is breaking into my body. I have faith in the night. —Rainer Maria Rilke, translated by David Whyte Did you ever have the courage to say “yes” to something that pushed you beyond your comfort zone? Those moments can be frightening and exhilarating, all at once. But there is a great freedom that comes from making the choice to open up…to let the unknown unfold. In mindful presence, Lori How did the rose
Ever open its heart And give to this world All its beauty? It felt the encouragement of light Against its being, Otherwise, We all remain Too frightened. —Hafiz Strength comes from being fully and completely who you are, standing where you are, in your body and on your feet. Nothing to prove. Nothing to pretend to be. Standing, warts and all, as your authentic self. It seems to be a lifelong evolution, though perhaps you're not really evolving so much as courageously revealing who you already are. In mindful presence, Lori I said to the wanting-creature inside me:
What is this river you want to cross? There are no travelers on the river-road, and no road. Do you see anyone moving about on that bank, or nesting? There is no river at all, and no boat, and no boatman. There is no tow rope either, and no one to pull it. There is no ground, no sky, no time, no bank, no ford! And there is no body, and no mind! Do you believe there is some place that will make the soul less thirsty? In that great absence you will find nothing. Be strong then, and enter into your own body; there you have a solid place for your feet. Think about it carefully! Don't go off somewhere else! Kabir says this: just throw away all thoughts of imaginary things, and stand firm in that which you are. —Kabir Suffering sometimes comes from feeling like it’s you against the world. There is much to fight for and much to prove. It can be liberating to release this notion of separation and realize the interconnectedness of everything that shares this planet and beyond. In mindful presence, Lori Throw off the bonds of your conditioning and fear
and celebrate the wonder of being here. Experience this moment as it is, connected by breath and essence to the whole. You couldn’t be separate if you tried. Live this day as if the earth exhales blessings in your direction, as if trees speak their deepest secrets in your ear, as if bird songs can lift you outside your ordinary state of mind and bring you into truth. Be the creative juice flowing through the universe. Be silence and stillness, the ocean of love so palpable that not one cell of you disputes the truth that you are that. —Danna Faulds |
AuthorLori Furbush teaches Qigong, Yin Yoga, & Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). She weaves MINDFULNESS & RELAXATION into every moment. Archives
October 2023
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