It’s a complicated time in U.S. history. During this season, I’m reminded that our history of the pilgrim story and the Thanksgiving part of our narrative is incomplete at best, and a false representation of what actually took place at that time at worst. The worst is actually what we did to the land and the people, to colonize and populate and take over what was a beautiful land of plenty we now call home. It’s less plentiful now and oh so less beautiful in too many places. But it’s not too late to reflect, appreciate, extend gratitude and generosity, value simple thoughts, simple pleasures, and simple beauties. My focus is to find ways to take care of my local community, local inhabitants and living things, local lands, and those people and places I love and appreciate.
In the spirit of the autumn earth’s harvest, the earth, and extending gratitude……. here are two poems to reflect upon.
The Way In- by Linda Hogan
Sometimes the way to milk and honey is through the body.
Sometimes the way in is a song.
But there are three ways in the world: dangerous, wounding,
and beauty.
To enter stone, be water.
To rise through hard earth, be plant
desiring sunlight, believing in water.
To enter fire, be dry.
To enter life, be food.
What If – by Ganga White
What if?
What if our religion was each other?
If our practice was our life?
If prayer was our words?
What if the temple was the earth?
If forests were our church?
If holy water- the views, lakes and oceans?
What if meditation was our relationship?
If the teacher was life?
If wisdom was self-knowledge?
If love was the center of our being?
