The particular mind of the oceanFilling the coastline's longing
With such brief harvest
Of elegant, vanishing waves
Is like the mind of time
Opening us shapes of days.
As this year draws to its end,
We give thanks for the gifts it brought
And how they became inlaid within
Where neither time nor tide can touch them.
The days when the veil lifted
And the soul could see delight;
When a quiver caressed the heart
In the sheer exuberance of being here.
Surprises that came awake
In forgotten corners of old fields
Where expectation seemed to have quenched.
The slow, brooding times
When all was awkward
And the wave in the mind
Pierced every sore with salt.
The darkened days that stopped
The confidence of the dawn.
Days when beloved faces shone brighter
With light from beyond themselves;
And from the granite of some secret sorrow
A stream of buried tears loosened.
We bless this year for all we learned,
For all we loved and lost
And for the quiet way it brought us
Nearer to our invisible destination.
John O'Donohue,
from To Bless the Space Between Us
Whatever form your celebrations take this evening, be safe, be prudent and be careful.
A whole new calendar year awaits us, and it is one of infinite possibility — radiant sunrises and sunsets, spectacular moons, winding trails and wide flowing rivers, wonder in every leaf and twig and root and blossom. Do whatever you can for each other and the Old Wild Mother, for Gaia and this dear little planet we are wandering around on together. Always remember that we are in this together.
Be wise and wild and well in the coming year — be truly blessed and mindful, fiercely contented in the earthly form you are wearing in life this time around.
8 comments:
As the year draws to its cold and frosty end, I am grateful for the writings of a woman who lives in Canada and brings forth the sacred in the ordinary. Thank you Cate for another mindful year and may 2010 be filled with health and days of quiet joys for you, your family, for Spencer and for all of us.
As an added note: I too have a Spencer who came to us in this year. My new grandson and his twin sister Rowena, true joys of life.
Marti
I read/view your writings almost daily to be reminded that life in all its varied facets requires that we be present.
Thank you for your constant reminders. Best wishes for good health in 2010.
All manner of blessings to you, Cate. I'm so grateful always for your insight and wisdom and the beauty you see in the world and share with me everyday.
Happy New Year to you and yours, and a kiss and a pat on the head to Spencer. ;-)
Wendi
thank you Kate. I just loved your New Year's blessing at the end and I sent it along to my son and daughter and their families this morning. It's a very "Navi" sentiment... have you seen Avatar yet?
best wishes for a fine, feisty, fullfilling 2010!
Cate, the last part of the poem - truly spoke to my heart.
But then most of your words are meaningful to me.
May you be Happy, Well, Safe and at Peace. Fondly, Ernestine from Tennessee.
Wish I could meet you in person.
I would "weep".
Many blessings to you, Cate. Thank you for your words and for the words of others that you post. They all enrich my days.
"Be wise and wild and well in the coming year — be truly blessed and mindful, fiercely contented in the earthly form you are wearing in life this time around."
That is beautiful and I hope that I may.
John O'Donohue, marvellous. I was looking through the books that I have of his, for a New Year quotation, and couldnt find one. So thank you for this.
I thought of you last night, as we paused in our New Year celebrations (village barn dance with teenagers and old folk) to look at the perfect full moon. Wondrous.
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