Never allow yourself to be bullied
into remaining silent.
Accept no one's definition of your life,
but define yourself.

(Harvey Fierstein)
-------------------------------------------------

Love is the final purpose
of the world's history
and the Amen of the Universe.

(Novalis)
-----------------------------------------------

... People of Orphalese,
beauty is life,
unveiling its sacred face.
But you are the life
and you are the veil.
Beauty is eternity
viewing itself in a mirror.
But you are the mirror
and you are the eternity ...

("The Prophet" by Kahlil Gibran)
------------------------------------------------------

... So throw off your stupid cloak
Embrace all that you fear
For joy will conquer all despair ...

(taken from the song "My Blakean Year"
by Patricia Smith)
------------------------------------------------------

When I stand before thee at the day's end,
thou shalt see my scars and know
that I had my wounds and also my healing.

(Rabindranath Tagore)
------------------------------------------------------

The little truth has clear words.
The great truth has great silence.

(Rabindranath Tagore)
------------------------------------------------------

A Call for Prayer - Qinuneq

I walk to the top of the mountain to pray.

Here I am - alone - at the very top of the world looking at the vastness surrounding me.

I feel very small - just like a speck within the greatness of creation.

The Great One, the Creator. Will he see me ?

Will he hear me ?

Then I realize that I am not alone.

The minerals are here with me, but they are asleep.

I know this because when I walk on them I do not see their beauty. They stay asleep.

I need to awaken them so they can show their powerful beauty to the Creator and pray with me.

The plants are here with me, but they are asleep.

I know this because as I walk amongst them they are not blooming.

I need to awaken them, so they can show their beautiful blossoms to the Creator and pray with me.

I see the animals in a distance.

They too are asleep.

I know this because they are walking with their heads hanging low.

I need to awaken them, so the new ones can be born and play.

I need to awaken them, so they can walk in a good way and pray to the Creator.

I see the people of the world are also out there.

They too are asleep.

I know this because they are not chanting the songs of the heart.

I need to awaken them so their hearts can speak to the Creator.

Once I awaken the mineral world, the plant world and the animal world, the people too will awaken.

Then the Creator will hear our prayer and see me.

(Angaangaq Angakkorsuaq,
Kalaallit Elder & Shaman
of Greenland)
------------------------------------------------------

The Grace of Nature

I saw days of bright sunshine,
sparkling light on the rivers flood.

 I felt the black velvet of enchanted nights,
adorned by glittering stars.

I danced with the wind,
lost in his castle of clouds,
holding me under his spell.

I washed my skin with thousands
of rain-drops,
pouring down like crystal pearls from heaven.

Do you see this little bee
fondling the violet there in the grass,
drunk with love ?

Do you hear this bird praising
the joy and lust of existence,
the grace of nature ?

Hush ! ... Listen ! ... See !
It's you, Beloved, it's me !

Namasté
The Owl