As early as I can remember, times I just knew I did exist was looking at my mother’s face beam at me. I felt alive and at one with her then. I think that period is different for everyone but the symbiosis was powerful between my mother and me. I never questioned my existence in her presence.
reflection of me in those hazel eyes I am perfect
I am not sure when I felt separate. As I understood more about G-d and The Eucharist (communion) again, I felt connected and not separate. I used to feel a warmth or glow so intense after communion, it made me weep…
if He exists then and only then am I
Later in my adult life, learning various imageries and meditation starting with mindful breathing, I chose two imageries to form one which I have been doing for decades that make me feel free of the clutters of worry and stress …then I begin to exist.
each breath urging through the darkness fuels surrender
each breath
pure air
gives life
urging through the darkness
the spirit
grows
fuels surrender
emerge above the surface
like a lotus
I had never heard of this prayer…Latifa but I have heard of similar meditative affirmations. For days I thought about the entire prayer and tried to experience it. So I looked further and found two sites that explained how to experience praying by articulating these words of the Latifa Prayer:
I exist I desire I hope I believe and I trust I let go I love I am prepared
Our host includes background information on this prayer, here.
I was so captivated by these words that I did a little research myself because I wanted to actually experience saying these words out loud, feeling them from my centre and so I took three mindful breaths from my belly. I took each word and thought about what it meant after reading this blog here which later brought me to the Happenz Blog and then I saw a post on the Gayatri mantra which is one of my favourite mantras I even purchased last year and listen to often on my phone and MP-3.
The one on Youtube lasts for two hours and sometimes I play it all afternoon at home with the sounds calming my entire apartment. I can see my cat is even affected by it. When I found this mantra lI did not know what the Sanskrit words meant in English but still, it lifted my spirit and made me feel a special energy filled with love for Our Creator. I am sure I am not conveying the mixed emotions I feel but it is like wanting to scream from the top of a mountain the love you have for the Divine.
Later today, I read the second post on the Latifa Prayer and realized the prayer is broken down and I was not expected to write a haiku on each line of this prayer. Now I know why I did not always do well on tests…I don’t always interpret the instructions very well.
And so, I am back to listening to Deva Premal chant Gayatri mantra to be inspired…I have the words and translation in my I-Phone which I will share here:
Devi Gayatri
ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः
तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं ।
भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि
धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ॥
Om Bhuur-Bhuvah Svah
Tat-Savitur-Varennyam |
Bhargo Devasya Dhiimahi
Dhiyo Yo Nah Pracodayaat ||
Meaning:
1: Om, (that Divine Illumination which Pervades the) Bhu Loka (Physical Plane, Consciousness of the Physical Plane), Bhuvar Loka (Antariksha or Intermediate Space, Consciousness of the Prana) and Swar Loka (Swarga, Heaven, Consciousness of the Divine Mind),
2: On that Savitur (Divine Illumination) which is the Most Adorable (Varenyam), …
3: … and which is of the nature of Divine Effulgence (Bhargo Devasya), I meditate,
4: May that Divine Intelligence (Dhiyah) Awaken (Pracodyat) our (Spiritual Consciousness).
Meditate on the glory of the Creator, Who has created the Universe. Whis worthy of Worship; Who is the embodiment of Knowledge and Light; Who is the remover of Sin and Ignorance. May He open our hearts and enlighten our Intellect.
Our host’s contribution:
dervishes whirling
– seeking a higher consciousness
third eye opens
If teeter-totter were named something else, I wonder what that might be. It certainly does not seem to reflect the extreme highs and lows my tummy experiences when a partner decides to let go suddenly! I’m not sure what other name would suit it best.
It is that time of year where children of all ages are filling parks early evenings or after dinner. You hear a whine now and then pleading to stay a few minutes longer but it’s a school night and parents have things to do once the children are tucked in. That’s for sure!
I love spring and noticing each day a new birth, buds on tree branches, leaves starting to grow and so many at different stages. Nature in spring is a bit like growing into adolescence. March and early April there is a sudden surge of energy and glow on so many faces, somewhat like the glow of a woman with child. The first few years after a birth, a child is active in the home or daycares but as the season progresses one takes notice of the adolescent. The tulips, then the lilacs and cherry and apple trees show off their early growth like the young teen with the body of a woman or the tall, lanky athlete towering over teammates.
Isn`t nature amazing offering flora throughout the season onto mid-autumn, from tulips to sunflowers bowing slowly and majestically even after the first snowfall I am always awestruck. Maybe that’s why I love sunflowers and my nom-de-plume for waka (Japanese form poetry) is Tournesol.
Such a lovely spring day to be in a park. An old couple sit on a park bench. The man leans on his cane, watching his life partner talk to the birds. Gnarled fingers toss seeds to the pigeons, then places a plastic bowl filled with seeds under the bench where grateful sparrows wait.
cycling by the park boy holding tight, kite on a string
cycling by the park
child hangs on the monkey bar
squeak of swings
boy holding tight,
hand on her swollen belly
teeter-totter moans
kite on a string
dancing on blue canvas
how the wind sings!
We are asked to write a haibun of 100 words with the theme the circle of life. I chose to include a troiku making my narrative and haiku a troibun. To see what a troiku is, check at our host’s website CarpeDiemHaikuKai here.
She saw an ant by the living room window…a sure sign spring is nearing summer. The heat is already getting to her with the ragweed gnawing at her sinuses. Her chest is heavy although she blames the pollution and the pollen of the old oak tree and ragweed. Yes, that’s it, dust and pollution.
(c) Clr ’15My grands, Mia and Heidi (sisters)
In July she will be house and pet sitting for a week in Rougemont, a small village known for its apple orchards. In the back yard there are very berry bushes, three apple trees, lilacs, rose bushes and a long yard for Mia and Heidi to run. The end of the yard is lined with various trees that give an illusion of being in the country by the forest. She likes to sit there at mid-day in the shade and cool breeze the leaves offer her. The girls have their spot in the shade after they’ve had their time to play tag and play wrestle. They are sisters but fraternal twins. Mia is a Golden mix and Heidi is a German Shepherd mix. And she, is their Nana.
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apple blossoms
blessings in many forms
fingertips on silk
apple blossoms
fruitful
promises
blessings in many forms
Golden licks a hand
that pets her
Tournesol dans un Jardin 