Sunday, September 25, 2011

Wells


"Fill what's empty, empty what is full..."

What speaks to your soul?  What speaks to the places in you that cannot be articulated in words, but are there nonetheless, perhaps feeling empty or overflowing like a well? Is it a sunrise over the ocean?  Or maybe working in your garden, smelling the earth and feeling the sun on your skin?  Chances are many, many different things touch your soul depending on what it is trying to tell you.  

Late last night as I was finishing up some work I was listening to one of my favorite singers, Ray LaMontagne. His voice is soulful and full of some unnamable longing or sadness.  The message in his songs is genuine, from his soul, and full of fervency. So as I listened, his voice and music reached out and touched a part of my soul that needed tending to on a deep, visceral level and it released something that I hadn't even realized was there.  Although the song was melancholy, it released a feeling of love and connection. I somehow felt lighter.

We all have deep wells inside of us; sometimes empty and in need of filling, and sometimes overflowing and in need of emptying.  In our practice, we use the breath and the energy of the breath to fill and empty the physical body and the mind in order connect more completely with the soul.  As we do this, we become more sensitive to the needs of the soul. We're aware when it's in need of filling (with more love, compassion, time, space), or when it needs to release something (judgment, anger, fear, worry).  With each inhale, we simply fill what's empty.  With each exhale, we empty what is full.

Take the time to listen to the song that tugs at your heartstrings, or let your soul be touched by the bright blue sky, or heavy rain.

What speaks to your soul?  What speaks to the places in you that cannot be articulated in words, but are there nonetheless?

Until next time...listen :) 

“There are different wells within your heart. 
Some fill with each good rain, 
Others are far too deep for that. 

In one well 
You have just a few precious cups of water, 
That "love" is literally something of yourself, 
It can grow as slow as a diamond 
If it is lost. 

Your love 
Should never be offered to the mouth of a 
Stranger, 
Only to someone 
Who has the valor and daring 
To cut pieces of their soul off with a knife 
Then weave them into a blanket 
To protect you. 

There are different wells within us. 
Some fill with each good rain, 
Others are far, far too deep 
For that.” 
 
Hafiz 





Friday's Playlist:


"Empty"-Ray Lamontagne
"My Sweet Lord"-Yim Yames
"Jolene"-Ray Lamontagne
"Champagne Supernova"-Scala & Kolacny Brothers
"I and Love And You"-The Avett Brothers
"Let It Be"-Joan Baez
"Helplessly Hoping"-Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
"Let It Be Me"-Ray Lamontagne
"Nothing Else Matters"-Scala & Kolacny Brothers
"The Sound of Silence (Live)-Simon and Garfunkle
"Sleep Dog Lullaby"-The Be Good Tanyas
"Use Somebody"-Scala & Kolacny Brothers
"All The Wild Horses"-Ray Lamontagne
"New Morning"-My Morning Jacket
"Die"-Iron and Wine
"The Wind"-Cat Stevens
"Find The Cost Of Freedom"-Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young

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