Thursday, November 19, 2009
Inspirational Lotus Pond
to be truly inspired throughout the day - that's how i wish you would be...enjoy, relish, delight in being inspired...and treasure it for life...
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Of Airports, Storytelling and Food for the Soul
"There are depths within me I would like to touch;
and there are depths of the Great Presence I would like to experience.
Surrender within me, O Great Presence these new depths
as I give myself up in loving abandon
to your holy creativity..."
Just as I thought I could get things done on my way to Malaybalay, Bukidnon* - last minute finishing touches on my module for a workshop - I met Minnie. The air was chilly, passengers were relaxed waiting for domestic flights. Mine was the 9:45. I took out my non-fiction James Conlon book. Snug as I was, waiting for the last youth-participant to this National Youth Peace Camp organized by an NGO I am networking with, my peripheral view saw Minnie quietly reaching into her bag. And then the scent. It was a relaxing one. My eyes met hers, she smiled and as if she knew exactly what I wanted to ask, readily answered, " It's tiger balm, the white one. It's good. Nice scent too. " Yes, I really liked the scent. I love these chinese instant medicines. They're a cure-all. That led to a friendly conversation with Minnie. One story after the other.
I don't really know what's with me, but, when I get into "peopled" places such as airports, malls, bus terminals and ladies rooms, I seem to be a great target for story-telling. Most of them elderly people, or, I would discover later, people suffering from a certain illness. Some people exude a welcoming spirit that attracts other people who might need help. And this 'help' isn't the trivial 'picking up a fallen handkerchief' thing, but can be as serious as helping someone who has "fallen" into spiritual depths. Ever experienced the spiritual depths? It's that never-ending, keeps-coming-back, feels-like-a-roller-coaster-ride-minus-the thrill feeling. I'm lost for words to describe it. Some artists call it the 'dry spells'. Poets call it "a blank page'. Others call it 'depression'.
My early arrival seemed to gather a sacred purpose. I had more than three hours to wait for boarding time. And my book read, " ...interiority means we each have a personality that is our own, a spontaneous energy that creates relationships." Spontaneous it really was. It was a surprise. Have you ever felt like some time in the past, you've met this person you're talking to? Your feeling seems to be so light with this person that everything else around becomes unbearable. It was like I went to the airport just for this purpose. As she opened up her story, I began to feel something deep opened up within me and it was good.
As we talked about the Chinese medication, I discovered her eyes seemed to be exhausted. Her voice was so soft I had to ask her to repeat what she said almost everytime. Then it came, I don't know how, I can't remember. Tears welled up as she talked and I heard her mumble about her father's death. It was four years ago. I still miss him. I am "daddy's girl". He was so gentle, loving, the kindest dad in the world. These were very much impressed into my memory. I can't forget the help-me-i-can't-understand-why look. She was grieving. After four years she never had a chance for real good grieving time. I was struck by this new reality. I had a connection with her story.
I, too, am grieving, not only for my own father's loss last year,but for so many things i have to let go in so many instances in my life. Letting go. That's the issue. Does that sound familiar? How much of our lives have been spent in "letting go"(s)? Parents, I know you can relate to this. But there is an all-familiar experience in each of us. We have had experiences of giving up things, losing friends and loved ones, yielding to unexpected situations, and actions that call for decisions so urgent, you just have to give something up for the benefit of the other. I realized that in my forty-eight years roaming about this planet called Earth, my heart aches for so much losses I've had. Finally, I decided this is what I needed to face. A real encounter with my losses. To tell my story of pain. How grim, you might say, but wait, that's exactly what I found out about facing your loss - the fact is, you can only appreciate the light, when you have been in the dark. Victory comes after the fall. What matters is, the insights and wisdom learned in the process. I remember a gold mine I found from Thomas Moore:
This 'minotaur' of my labyrinth
- my soul - this suffering, this beast
that stirs in the core of my being
is also the Asterion - the star - of my
interior life, my innermost nature.
I have to give time
to care for this suffering with
extreme reverence so that
in my fear and anger at this beast,
I do not overlook the star - the beauty
of my soul -
I have fallen into ignorance
and confusion, so that now I can see this
as an opportunity to discover that this beast
residing at the center of
my interior life is also an angel...
(from Care of the Soul, T. Moore)
And this angel is bringer of good news - that it is possible to begin again, to hope for the best, because better days are coming. Indeed, we think this journey we are taking now seems dark and dreary, but passing through raging waters and braving the strongest storms is challenge for the human spirit. Minnie talked about the things she learned from her father's passing away, and it seemed like it was endless. It was a beautiful symphony. The love she felt from friends, the care of her also-grieving mother; just as she was talking to me everything seemed so significant now. Until that time in the airport, she never felt the need to remember and tell her story. Getting down into the depths is sometimes necessary for the spirit within to quiet down, be still and know, trust and let go (Ps. 46:`10). Most of the time it is the conflict within us that is more difficult to come to terms with than all the battles in the history of the world. As I told Minnie to befriend this pain within her, my heart was full of compassion. I couldn't give her anything except cry with her, hold her hand and assure her of God's faithfulness.
What ever happened to my new-found friend? We exchanged mobile numbers before we said goodbye (yes, just as the last participant arrived, we were done with our sharing), exchanged kisses, hugs, "be safe"s and "take care"s. Up to this moment in time, we are good friends and will remain so as long as life breathes. This is food for the soul...nourishing, nurturing...go gently through life...
(thanks for photos from friends everywhere...)
*Bukidnon is a landlocked plateau province of the Philippines located in the Northern Mindanao region. Its capital is Malaybalay City. The province borders, clockwise starting from the north, Misamis Oriental, Agusan del Sur, Davao del Norte, Cotabato, Lanao del Sur, and Lanao del Norte.
Bukidnon is considered by Filipinos to be the food basket of Mindanao. It is the major producer of rice and corn in the region. Plantations in the province also produce pineapples, bananas and sugarcane.
It has two important landmarks, Mt. Kitanglad and Pulangi River. Mt. Kitanglad is 2,955 meters above sea level. Pulangi River, on the other hand, traverses through the northeastern and southern part of the province towards the Rio Grande of Mindanao.
The province's total land area is 829,378 hectares (8, 293.78 square kilometers). It accounts for 59 percent (59%) of Northern Mindanao.
and there are depths of the Great Presence I would like to experience.
Surrender within me, O Great Presence these new depths
as I give myself up in loving abandon
to your holy creativity..."
Just as I thought I could get things done on my way to Malaybalay, Bukidnon* - last minute finishing touches on my module for a workshop - I met Minnie. The air was chilly, passengers were relaxed waiting for domestic flights. Mine was the 9:45. I took out my non-fiction James Conlon book. Snug as I was, waiting for the last youth-participant to this National Youth Peace Camp organized by an NGO I am networking with, my peripheral view saw Minnie quietly reaching into her bag. And then the scent. It was a relaxing one. My eyes met hers, she smiled and as if she knew exactly what I wanted to ask, readily answered, " It's tiger balm, the white one. It's good. Nice scent too. " Yes, I really liked the scent. I love these chinese instant medicines. They're a cure-all. That led to a friendly conversation with Minnie. One story after the other.
I don't really know what's with me, but, when I get into "peopled" places such as airports, malls, bus terminals and ladies rooms, I seem to be a great target for story-telling. Most of them elderly people, or, I would discover later, people suffering from a certain illness. Some people exude a welcoming spirit that attracts other people who might need help. And this 'help' isn't the trivial 'picking up a fallen handkerchief' thing, but can be as serious as helping someone who has "fallen" into spiritual depths. Ever experienced the spiritual depths? It's that never-ending, keeps-coming-back, feels-like-a-roller-coaster-ride-minus-the thrill feeling. I'm lost for words to describe it. Some artists call it the 'dry spells'. Poets call it "a blank page'. Others call it 'depression'.
My early arrival seemed to gather a sacred purpose. I had more than three hours to wait for boarding time. And my book read, " ...interiority means we each have a personality that is our own, a spontaneous energy that creates relationships." Spontaneous it really was. It was a surprise. Have you ever felt like some time in the past, you've met this person you're talking to? Your feeling seems to be so light with this person that everything else around becomes unbearable. It was like I went to the airport just for this purpose. As she opened up her story, I began to feel something deep opened up within me and it was good.
As we talked about the Chinese medication, I discovered her eyes seemed to be exhausted. Her voice was so soft I had to ask her to repeat what she said almost everytime. Then it came, I don't know how, I can't remember. Tears welled up as she talked and I heard her mumble about her father's death. It was four years ago. I still miss him. I am "daddy's girl". He was so gentle, loving, the kindest dad in the world. These were very much impressed into my memory. I can't forget the help-me-i-can't-understand-why look. She was grieving. After four years she never had a chance for real good grieving time. I was struck by this new reality. I had a connection with her story.
I, too, am grieving, not only for my own father's loss last year,but for so many things i have to let go in so many instances in my life. Letting go. That's the issue. Does that sound familiar? How much of our lives have been spent in "letting go"(s)? Parents, I know you can relate to this. But there is an all-familiar experience in each of us. We have had experiences of giving up things, losing friends and loved ones, yielding to unexpected situations, and actions that call for decisions so urgent, you just have to give something up for the benefit of the other. I realized that in my forty-eight years roaming about this planet called Earth, my heart aches for so much losses I've had. Finally, I decided this is what I needed to face. A real encounter with my losses. To tell my story of pain. How grim, you might say, but wait, that's exactly what I found out about facing your loss - the fact is, you can only appreciate the light, when you have been in the dark. Victory comes after the fall. What matters is, the insights and wisdom learned in the process. I remember a gold mine I found from Thomas Moore:
This 'minotaur' of my labyrinth
- my soul - this suffering, this beast
that stirs in the core of my being
is also the Asterion - the star - of my
interior life, my innermost nature.
I have to give time
to care for this suffering with
extreme reverence so that
in my fear and anger at this beast,
I do not overlook the star - the beauty
of my soul -
I have fallen into ignorance
and confusion, so that now I can see this
as an opportunity to discover that this beast
residing at the center of
my interior life is also an angel...
(from Care of the Soul, T. Moore)
And this angel is bringer of good news - that it is possible to begin again, to hope for the best, because better days are coming. Indeed, we think this journey we are taking now seems dark and dreary, but passing through raging waters and braving the strongest storms is challenge for the human spirit. Minnie talked about the things she learned from her father's passing away, and it seemed like it was endless. It was a beautiful symphony. The love she felt from friends, the care of her also-grieving mother; just as she was talking to me everything seemed so significant now. Until that time in the airport, she never felt the need to remember and tell her story. Getting down into the depths is sometimes necessary for the spirit within to quiet down, be still and know, trust and let go (Ps. 46:`10). Most of the time it is the conflict within us that is more difficult to come to terms with than all the battles in the history of the world. As I told Minnie to befriend this pain within her, my heart was full of compassion. I couldn't give her anything except cry with her, hold her hand and assure her of God's faithfulness.
What ever happened to my new-found friend? We exchanged mobile numbers before we said goodbye (yes, just as the last participant arrived, we were done with our sharing), exchanged kisses, hugs, "be safe"s and "take care"s. Up to this moment in time, we are good friends and will remain so as long as life breathes. This is food for the soul...nourishing, nurturing...go gently through life...
(thanks for photos from friends everywhere...)*Bukidnon is a landlocked plateau province of the Philippines located in the Northern Mindanao region. Its capital is Malaybalay City. The province borders, clockwise starting from the north, Misamis Oriental, Agusan del Sur, Davao del Norte, Cotabato, Lanao del Sur, and Lanao del Norte.
Bukidnon is considered by Filipinos to be the food basket of Mindanao. It is the major producer of rice and corn in the region. Plantations in the province also produce pineapples, bananas and sugarcane.
It has two important landmarks, Mt. Kitanglad and Pulangi River. Mt. Kitanglad is 2,955 meters above sea level. Pulangi River, on the other hand, traverses through the northeastern and southern part of the province towards the Rio Grande of Mindanao.
The province's total land area is 829,378 hectares (8, 293.78 square kilometers). It accounts for 59 percent (59%) of Northern Mindanao.
Friday, October 23, 2009
hope prevails
i know i've been away for quite a while...
and yes a new typhoon is brewing in the north
people there have been evacuated.
i just can't imagine what else is going to happen.
my best friend, joanne, from dagupan, pangasinan,
one of the hardest hit, with 15 ft. of flood waters,
remains hopeful despite the situation.
oh, so much for that...hope abounds, yes it does. one of the good signs is this...
may i share with you a favorite song...
if all the people around the world
they have a mind like yours
we'd have no fighting and no wars
there would be lasting peace on earth
if all the kings and all the leaders
could see you here this way
they would hold the earth in their arms
they would learn to watch and play...
Oh my sleeping child,
the world's so wild
but you've built
your own paradise
that's the reason why
i'll cover you sleeping child
(jascha richter)
the sleep of a baby
undeniably a vivid image
we envy the serenity
the tranquility
in the stillness of the night
they put across a message
the day is over
the sun will be out again tomorrow
in silence, they convey the thought
that we must not look at what has been \
with anger,
nor should we fear the morrow.
how do they get into
deep slumber?
not by being uncaring or indifferent
but the fruit of a heart that
trusts enough
leads to spirit serene
let us be at peace in the loving arms of the
Father and be free from the yoke
of our daily restlessness.
for since the time we were
in our mother's womb,
the Father knew us, and
formed us, fashioned us
in His image and likeness...
"before you were conceived i wanted you,
before you were born, i loved you,
before you were an hour i would die for you,
this is the miracle of life...
(Maureen Hawkins)
go gently through life...
and yes a new typhoon is brewing in the north
people there have been evacuated.
i just can't imagine what else is going to happen.
my best friend, joanne, from dagupan, pangasinan,
one of the hardest hit, with 15 ft. of flood waters,
remains hopeful despite the situation.
oh, so much for that...hope abounds, yes it does. one of the good signs is this...
may i share with you a favorite song...if all the people around the world
they have a mind like yours
we'd have no fighting and no wars
there would be lasting peace on earth
if all the kings and all the leaderscould see you here this way
they would hold the earth in their arms
they would learn to watch and play...
Oh my sleeping child,
the world's so wild
but you've built
your own paradise
that's the reason why
i'll cover you sleeping child
(jascha richter)
the sleep of a babyundeniably a vivid image
we envy the serenity
the tranquility
in the stillness of the night
they put across a message
the day is over
the sun will be out again tomorrow
in silence, they convey the thoughtthat we must not look at what has been \
with anger,
nor should we fear the morrow.
how do they get into
deep slumber?
not by being uncaring or indifferent
but the fruit of a heart that
trusts enough
leads to spirit serene
let us be at peace in the loving arms of theFather and be free from the yoke
of our daily restlessness.
for since the time we were
in our mother's womb,
the Father knew us, and
formed us, fashioned us
in His image and likeness...
"before you were conceived i wanted you,before you were born, i loved you,
before you were an hour i would die for you,
this is the miracle of life...
(Maureen Hawkins)
go gently through life...
Thursday, October 8, 2009
earth and moon...we are connected
i feel this is interesting...and decided to post it here for you... (you can get the code and post it on your blog.) this is real time earth and moon phase. it's so beautiful to discover how close we are...what an awesome relationship...moon and earth...how much we are affected by movements in nature...how awesome the Creator, the Artist...
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
aslagan!
"aslagan" is a kapampangan word for sunrise/sunshine. wonderful! i love sunrises and sunshine and sunsets...it's time for looking at the brighter side of life...i'm sure you'll agree...i am not from pampanga (a province of great cooks and writers and artists in central luzon) but my friend malu gueco is. she is my diabetic friend who survived without amputating her foot.
yes, i was relating to you her story in a previous blog (see my july blogs...). i really thought she lost her foot, but when i visited her 2 weekends ago, lo and behold! both legs greeted me at the door. it was really a miracle, seeing how pale to almost ashen her face and whole body was during that sorry time in the hospital.
it's just wonder-full accompanying her in her healing, in body, mind and spirit. that's what i like in malu, she's got a lot of soul in her...she continues to write in her column "aslagan" in their community paper in pampanga. and while recovering, (this is really great) she began drawing visual representations of her inner lifework...whatever gave her inspiration just moved her to creating and creating and creating...i wish i could post her artpieces here, hopefully i could get photos soon...
by the way, did you know the reason for malu's opting not to have her foot amputated (which is really a brave thing to do...such courage!)? she is on natural healing therapy which i really loved the moment i learned about it! i don't know if i can announce the therapy here. allow me first to get permission. i do believe in natural healing if at all possible. sometimes, integrative medicine is an option. it's a combination of western and eastern medicine. (i'll talk about this in another post...)
i grew up with women in the family who have been herbalists. my maternal grandmother was really good in mixing herbs, as with all other mothers of her time. she was also a natural botanist. she never learned the profession, but she had a natural skill to plant; and anything she planted, grew! she used to encourage my mom when they were kids, to bring viable seeds with them when on an out-of-town trip. and would ask to spread the seeds outdoors....i wonder...those seeds might be those great big trees along the highway going up north today...
oh well...the sun is bursting its beauty out on the horizon...another day is almost over...the sun sets only to rise again...yes, we know it will indeed rise again tomorrow...for the millions who suffered in the storm, the sun will rise tomorrow...there is hope...
embrace tomorrow with faith, hope, love, and peace...(many thanks for photos from everywhere...)
w.w.
Monday, September 28, 2009
ketsana's fury in photos...
uncertain steps...you'll never
know what's ahead...
holding on to dear life...
all that's left of my things...
cars afloat in front of a university building...
manggahan floodway had to be destroyed
to give way to enormous volume
of rainwater...
stranded in the airport...
the aftermath...trash and broken fences
...he probably didn't get home on time...
...how did that car get there?...
uh oh...no, they're not matchbox cars...
and no one's playing...they're for real...
in a relief center...cell phones are charging..how much of their lives will be "re-charged"?
oh no, not even a big, beautiful house
was spared...
saving lives on a rubber boat...
they used a banca to save what's left
of possessions...
"salamat kuya!" (thank you my big brother!)...
saturday is a working day for
some of us. september 26,2009 will
never be forgotten..all were
rushing home...(see the traffic
farther down? some reached home
the next day)
holding on to each other amidstthe typhoon's wrath...
even expensive cars were not spared...
these trash came from everywhere brought by the floods...a backlashbecause of humans' indifference to nature...
eroded earth...mud, silt and sand...
where do we start? where do we go from here?
this boy, collects from what's left...mud, plastic bags, trash...
the nameless...faceless...may she
rest in the peace of God...
i light a candle...for the dead who hope to rest in peace...and for the living who continue to hope for
a new beginning...
thank you for visiting this blog. please offer 5 minutes of silence in your workplace...homes...wherever you are for us here and send your positive thoughts,
prayers, energy...we need you now...
here is a flower for you in return...peace...may peace reign in our hearts...
(thanks very much to the heroes behind the lens for these photos...)weena...
i mourn for nature and humanity...
i can't post any pictures today. i can't write poetry. i can't wait for inspiration. i grieve for events past, devastating, destructive. life seems to have stopped. where do i start? what can i say? the rains fell, and fell and fell and for nine hours, poured in 420 mm of rainfall, normally the amount of rain for two months. it's all rain, just rain. and the rivers rose, and they rose and rose and it seemed like it never stopped rising. and the most terrible thing happened.
the river currents did not choose where to go. it just went and went and went. passed houses, trees, people, gas stations, malls, playgrounds, parks, supermarkets, hospitals, churches, city halls, government offices, schools...and i cried for the little houses, with the little people...carried away by the currents. and away and away and away it went with the mothers and children, the old folks, the fathers, the pets, the movie stars and government officials, basketball players, call center agents... were held tight by the strong arms of the river currents...and their senses were carried away. and our senses too were carried away...what do we do? as we watched and watched and watched as all vanished from our sight...
the Marikina Valley and nearby cities, Pasig, Cainta and San Mateo has become a receptacle in geological history. after a great earthquake thousands of years ago, this faultline cracked open and lo and behold, a valley lush and fertile unfolded...sadly, trees from nearby antipolo hills have been wantonly cut, raped and ravaged. where will the rain waters go? and sadly, the people's indifference have contributed to millions of trash...hence the flash floods rising, obtructing all passageways...how sad...i grieve...so many dead and numbers rising...so many of the children and elders lost, missing. and is their wisdom lost too? the children ask. perhaps i will offer a mandala for peace...
we need your positive thoughts...please send us some...we will be peace...
weena
the river currents did not choose where to go. it just went and went and went. passed houses, trees, people, gas stations, malls, playgrounds, parks, supermarkets, hospitals, churches, city halls, government offices, schools...and i cried for the little houses, with the little people...carried away by the currents. and away and away and away it went with the mothers and children, the old folks, the fathers, the pets, the movie stars and government officials, basketball players, call center agents... were held tight by the strong arms of the river currents...and their senses were carried away. and our senses too were carried away...what do we do? as we watched and watched and watched as all vanished from our sight...
the Marikina Valley and nearby cities, Pasig, Cainta and San Mateo has become a receptacle in geological history. after a great earthquake thousands of years ago, this faultline cracked open and lo and behold, a valley lush and fertile unfolded...sadly, trees from nearby antipolo hills have been wantonly cut, raped and ravaged. where will the rain waters go? and sadly, the people's indifference have contributed to millions of trash...hence the flash floods rising, obtructing all passageways...how sad...i grieve...so many dead and numbers rising...so many of the children and elders lost, missing. and is their wisdom lost too? the children ask. perhaps i will offer a mandala for peace...
we need your positive thoughts...please send us some...we will be peace...
weena
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