Guru

 

I live within my guru

And my guru lives within me

8604

Dear Lord

 

Please make me an instrument of your goodness and forgiveness.

I have transgressed.

I have been blinded my useless ways.

Grant me sight so I may see. Grant me the ability to follow the greater good.

To you I come again.

I have so much to be grateful for

my wonderful children, a loving family and a free country,

good health...except this one illness which I may have problems with. At times it may be my driver but must I be its passenger?

 

I have written with intentions to share your light as well as solace,

Yet I’ve shared your words with so few

and the beauty of your words, I feel that, I don’t often capture its wonderful grace.

 

Please guide my hands gently.

Please open a door so in this life time, in this now, in this moment may I feel the fruits of your labor.

 

Dear Lord

Thank you for the many inspirations I have received.

I beg of you to guide my hands and feet,

so I may walk proudly and share with many others the light of today.

So I may walk in good health with love in my heart.

 

May the fear I have of tomorrow, stop being my driving force and

may the love and light of today lead my way?

 

Sometimes I think I can only share these feeling and inspirations with others in my death

or it is for naught?

I am afraid. I am afraid of death yet have come so close in my mind,

for that I ask forgiveness.

 

May I, my loved ones, and all other living things and this blue planet live long with healthy minds and bodies? 

May the next step I take be with the strength and faith in today?

 

31008

 

 

 

Mother*

Today I think of you

and feel you thinking of me

Even though you have passed many years ago

I still see you... 

in the deep hues of the lush springtime grass

and feel you in each golden ray of the sun

and hear your laughter in each joyful croak of the frogs

around my meditation pond

And for this is smile

I feel comfort in

sharing my joys

as well as my sorrows

And for this I give thanks

41603

This Autumn

this autumn

i see a street full of dying leaves

i want to scoop all up and hold them in my heart

but I can’t

if I can’t retrieve all

may I just cradle one

11-901

Dreams

Today is solemn.  

A dry leaf caught in the green grass of this late summer’s morning
does not move,
does not dance in its breezes,
does not bask in the warmth of summer…looking upon it, I feel an emptiness,
an old emptiness 

Where has the innocence of summer gone?
Has it happened upon Fall before its time?  

Soon this leaf will become part of the soil,
part of the earth 
I cannot hasten this process. All I can do is observe 
and wait 
for the winter to bury it in its pristine snow

So in the spring it will have the opportunity to nurture new life

I feel the warmth of the morning sunrays upon my eyelids
I hear the crickets’ song and
feel the firm ground support my feet  

Mother Earth
comforts me today

while her many seasons give me hope

and for this I give thanks

 

91112

 

 

Volumes

 

 

Don’t feel compelled to have to

explain myself and my actions

Just be myself

and it will speak volumes quietly

111912

The New Normal

There is a pain in the heart of mother earth

we can now feel it

with all of these power outages

i am no longer afraid of the darkness

everyday i welcome and celebrate each rising sun

 

so begins the dawn of a new generation

11712

 

 

 

 

Hurricane Sandy

Wrote this after my visit to Toms River, 11-6-12

South Brunswick Helps the Flood Victims in Seaside Heights and Toms River 

"I cried for two days. We had to tear the sheetrock off all our walls and pull out the insulation. Nothing is left but the frame of my home. The four of us, my 13 year old daughter, 22 year old son (who just graduated from Stockton College), my husband, and me along with our pets climbed up onto the rafters in the attic to escape the flood waters," lamented Debbie Phillips of Shelter Cove, Toms River.

There was no mandatory evaluation. My neighbor who has lived in Shelter Cove for over 75 years has never seen a flood in this area before.” 

I asked Debbie if she and her family needed a place to stay and she informed me that she and her family along with her sister-in-law's family are presently residing with her mother-in-law in their retirement village home...totaling 7 people and 7 pets.

There is nothing left. The Phillips family has been spending days sifting through the debris and tearing down walls so their house will not become contaminated with mold. All the electrical has to be replaced. Both of their automobiles were flooded out. It is estimated that it will take four to six months to get back into their home.

Assistance Needed

FEMA came to their home the day after the storm and gave them a $32K loan (the maximum amount allowed) but as a grammar school lunch aid, money will be tight to replace...clothes, furniture, automobiles, etc. I asked what she needed most… people to help clear stuff away, an electrician and tree trimmer, and most of all a car to borrow (The good news is that my sister, Judy Lepore is going to lend them her daughter’s car while she is away at college.)

Amidst all of this devastation, Debbie feels fortunate since she has a place to stay and no one was injured. The people of Toms River have come together to aid the flood victims". Toms River East Intermediate School was collecting clothes, household goods, and food, along with various children and baby goods from toys to diapers. You could see that teachers have put this together for it was highly organized and efficient.

When my sister, a retired school teacher who lives in Toms River, told me that she had just gone through her closets to donate some of her clothing, I decided to drive down the shore and help out as well.

South Brunswick’s Big Heart

An hour before I was ready to leave Monmouth Jct., I decided to call a few neighbors and friends to see if they'd like to donate anything. Before I knew it many residents of our little neighborhood were leaving multiple bags of clothing and paper goods in my driveway. My next door neighbor, Connie, dropped off 5 large, black bags full of clothes. Another neighbor, Karen, came to my house with one of her friends to drop off even more clothes and assist me in loading up my car. She was a great help not just in manpower but also by taking the initiative to contact a friend last minute to collect even more stuff. Bags filled my trunk, backseat and front. I barely had enough room for myself. It's amazing how much was collected in one short hour.

Even though people of South Brunswick still may have their homes intact and haven’t lost many belongings, we know how it feels to be sitting in the darkness without heat while numerous trees and power lines block our roads. Many schools and companies have also been closed because of loss of power and the treacherous roadways.

Luckily we had days to prepare for this storm, but it blows my mind that this was only a category 1 hurricane...What if it was greater? They're already calling it the storm of the century but the century has barely begun. Unfortunately we are looking at a future of bigger, more destructive storm masses with rising sea levels and greater coastal destruction. How much lose must we sustain before we can come to realize that the time is NOW to make wise choices about the power we use and the resources we waste? All I know is that a moment of darkness without a candle is frightening but a future without Illumination is unlivable. 

YOUR HELP IS URGENTLY NEEDED. If you can…

 * DONATE winter clothes, blankets, paper goods, school supplies, and baby goods

 * VOLUNTEER… Debbie and other hurricane victims need help from any able-bodied

    individuals to aid in the clean up, also electricians, contractors, and tree trimmers

* LEND a car…They were destroyed by the floods. They don’t even have means getting to their jobs.

 * AN INVITATION to host someone/family in your house temporarily.            

 * ORGANIZE a fundraiser

 * WRITE just a note or card expressing your hope and support

 

 

Capacity

Within my meditative intentions of peace…
I can anticipate my capacity for an abundance of love
today as well as tomorrow

May I see and feel this with all of my heart
for it is there and always have been 

All I have to do is grant myself
a moment of silence
and open my eyes to these possibilities

 

102812

 

 

All Day Long

Within this meditative moment of awe as I feast upon this brilliant, blue sky
I have decided to carry it with me wherever I journey today

May I feel it in my heart all day long

102212

Yes

When things go right

and they will
 

Celebrate them

6512

The Bird

 

Against famine

high winds

and frost

 

The bird still flies

The bird still sings

 

For a song lies within its heart

which resonates from rich melodies of its soul

1305

 

Twirl

 

Today is so beautiful

that

I took a moment to

twirl

around

and see the perfectly blue, serene sky

from every angle

 

6812

Reserved Judgment

 

If the lesson is a valuable one, don't judge the teacher.

92312

Completion

 

I may not like the “work”

but I love its completion

42811

9-11-12

Today is solemn.  

A dry leaf caught in the green grass of this late summer’s morning
does not move,
does not dance in its breezes,
does not bask in the warmth of summer…looking upon it, I feel an emptiness,
an old emptiness 

Where has the innocence of summer gone?
Has it happened upon Fall before its time?  

Soon this leaf will become part of the soil,
part of the earth 
I cannot hasten this process. All I can do is observe 
and wait 
for the winter to bury it in its pristine snow

So in the spring it will have the opportunity to nurture new life

I feel the warmth of the morning sunrays upon my eyelids
I hear the crickets’ song and
feel the firm ground support my feet  

Mother Earth
comforts me today

while her many seasons give me hope

and for this I give thanks

 

91112

 

 

Chosen Moments

Take some chosen moments to rest everyday.          

82604

Time

The past is...my teacher

The future ... my hopes, dreams, and aspirations

The present holds my action upon both

 

122304

Enjoy

        Enjoy the gift of this moment

        Be who I am, not a mirror of what others think I should be

81104

Sometimes

Sometimes

things don’t happen for a reason

but

how I move on

is my choice

Lessons are taught

at their own pace

   72004

Seeing

Everyone can

see

their higher

power

All they have

to do

is

look up

2612

Simply Yoga

This year I have been devoting myself to learning, visiting many yoga centers around the Princeton area.

I woke up early this morning and decided to explore yet another yoga studio, Simply Yoga.

Saturday, 9am class with David T. was harmonious from the opening Aum (also ohm, a sound which represents the union of mind, body, spirit and universal oneness) in which I experienced a unique sense of unity, to the shavasana (lying with back flat on the ground giving the body a chance to regroup and reset itself) at the end of the class.

David introduced me to his wife who also teaches at Simply Yoga.

After experiencing David’s Iyengar class (in which props are used to emphasize precision and alignment for every posture) I would welcome being part of her class as well.

During shavasana I visualize myself holding a bouquet of flowers ,as they were actually blooming, ready to share their joyous state with all.

Flowers laughing,

flowers singing

and some just smiling and looking pretty…

that was a wonderful way to start my day.

Later, in my personal meditation…

Lilacs were blooming that very moment

sharing their

intoxicating yet subtle aroma

with all that came in their path

Oh sweet and gentle flowers

I give thanks for these lilacs within this meditation

I give thanks for you my reader

I give thanks to all

May we always feel

our own personal bloom

facing the sun on a harmonious summer’s day

May we all experience

our own individual beauty through all of senses as we

see

touch

hear

smell

and even taste

Let’s take a moment

to share our beauty

with one another

today

72812

Our Songs

Each and every one of us

has a song

and it is beautiful

62005

One Yoga

Yesterday

I was awoken by the goddess

within

Today

she returned

May she always see, hear and touch me

May I always

listen

with open arms

61507

This year I have been devoting myself to learning, visiting many yoga centers around the Princeton area.

Today I took a yoga class at One Yoga Center in East Windsor and it was a remarkable experience. The instructor, Suzette Stoddard, was just completing her teacher training and I felt that I was in the class of a seasoned teacher. She also did a reading about a goddess which has inspired me to share this particular entry in my meditation journal. Suzette, I thank you for a wonderful, fulfilling class.

Tracy, the owner informed me that the unique style "Mandala" is taught there. It is a beautiful flow incorporating facing each of our four directions. I look forward to revisiting One Yoga.

Roots

My roots are deep within the ground

Unseen like the mind and spirit

Yet they are the source of my existence

Today I can feel my roots

The deeper they grow

The stronger I am becoming

62603

Joy

We all feel joy.

It is a matter of

catching

the moment and acknowledging it.

62012

Perfection

I do not quest

to be perfect

just to be
little bit better

than yesterday

111504

Middle Branch

Today I do not focus on the highest branch.

I do not focus on the lowest branch

but a middle one—

not to be the grandest, the pinnacle

not to be the lowest, dejected and sorrowful

but just a pleasant peace in between.

It may be a challenge because the middle branch doesn’t prevail

but it is there.

I let the ground support me.

I let my body function.

I let my heart lead me.

I let my thoughts wander freely

And yes, I let myself breathe

A serene breath.

Let the negative, critical voice go.

It is OK to be good

just good.

52812

My Little Seed

We are all

but seeds

planted by angels

80604

Infinity

Loves knows no boundaries.

It is infinite.

6412

Judgment

Do not judge

the quality of a relationship

by its end

52012

The Seeds of Spring

And to the right of me waddles three families of geese with little, down covered goslings gingerly following their mothers. The soft, golden down is such a contrast to the smooth, upright blades of green grass around them.

Oh, how their seeds have grown bringing a smile upon my face and warmth to my heart.

To my left are the remains of a poor gosling possibly mowed down or stepped on.

Oh, how fragile our seeds can be.

Oh, how the hands of fate must also be on our side.

Beneath my foot is one dried seed left behind by a nearby tree. As I roll it under my foot I wonder if it will ever take root or is it too late.

Each seed has its season.

In front of me are the waters of Haven Pond and within it float many lily pads while tall wild grass, raspberry bushes and upright punks surround it. Oh, wild seeds how easy it has been for you to take root.

Today the sun brightly shines while the breezes hush softly, "Come seeds, all seeds, I will carry you through this season so, be it soon, that you may embrace summer."   

52012

Guru

 I live within my guru

And my guru lives within me

            8604

Blue Skies

 Sometimes the sunlight in front of me

is so bright that

I must turn my back to it to see

the blue skies

11511

The Franklin Park Buddha

Today I come to you…

His grace, the Buddha

The sun shines over your right shoulder

Barren trees behind you are beginning to bud in this endless blue sky 

Candles are lit

And meditations are done on this spring morning

I am overjoyed…

Not because of the spirituality in this moment

Not for your two story grandness

Not the wealth of knowledge around you

But when I bring people to you

I can offer the gift of amazement and awe 

.......

3312  

If I can just walk away teaching one way to follow and enter your personal peace and inner spirit (and to possibly to feel how we are all connected) then the reward is there. All I want to do is plant a seed of love, peace and compassion. The rest is up to you to cultivate …be it by practicing meditation with me or alone, but do not judge for this is one pathway and there are many others.  It may not be for you but never stop learning and growing for you are beautiful and strong…just let it flow.  

Bradley Beach

“And we shine like diamonds in the sky, every one of us.” Oh, what peace and beauty lies in this spring day at Bradley Beach…sounds of the seagulls’ wild calls and rolling waves synchronizing with my breath, my heart, my hopes, my dreams.

Today I taught my walking meditation and it came from a place of pure peace, pure love and pure joy.

We are infinite yet we are one

I open my eyes to …

a brand new day

brand new moment

brand new laughter

brand new joy

and for this I give thanks

42012, 7511