Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Income? What income?


"I'm living so far beyond my income that we may almost be said to be living apart."

- e e cummings (1894-1962)

Saturday, August 20, 2011

When All Else Fails

When all else fails,

hug the dog.

~Anon

The Invitation

The Invitation
Oriah Mountain Dreamer
Canadian Teacher and Author

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living
I want to know what you ache for
and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool
for love
for your dreams
for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon...
I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow
if you have been opened by life's betrayals
or have become shrivelled and closed
from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain
mine or your own
without moving to hide it
or fade it
or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy
mine or your own
if you can dance with wildness
and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your
fingers and toes
without cautioning us to
be careful
be realistic
to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me
is true.
I want to know if you can
disappoint another
to be true to yourself.
If you can bear the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul.
If you can be faithless
and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see Beauty
even when it is not pretty
every day.
And if you can source your own life
from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure
yours and mine
and still stand on the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon,
"Yes."

It doesn't interest me
to know where you live or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up
after a night of grief and despair
weary and bruised to the bone
and do what needs to be done
to feed the children.

It doesn't interest me who you know
or how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand
in the center of the fire
with me
and not shrink back.

It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom
you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you
from the inside
when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone
with yourself
and if you truly like the company you keep
in the empty moments.


© 1995 by Oriah House, From "Dreams Of Desire"
Published by Mountain Dreaming, 300 Coxwell Avenue, Box 22546, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4L 2A0

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Native American Code of Ethics

Native American Code Of Ethics
Rise with the sun to pray. Pray alone. Pray often.
The Great Spirit will listen, if you only speak.

~
Be tolerant of those who are lost on their path.
Ignorance, conceit, anger, jealousy and greed stem
from a lost soul. Pray that they will find guidance
.
~
Search for yourself, by yourself. Do not allow others
to make your path for you. It is your road, and
yours alone. Others may walk it with you,
but no one can walk it for you.

~
Treat the guests in your home with much consideration.
Serve them the best food, give them the best
bed and treat them with respect and honor.

~
Do not take what is not yours whether from
 a person, a community,the wilderness or from a 
culture. It was not earned nor given. It is not yours
.
~
Respect all things that are placed upon 
this earth – whether it be people or plant.

~
Honor other people’s thoughts, wishes and words.
Never interrupt another or mock or rudely mimic them.
Allow each person the right to personal expression.

~
Never speak of others in a bad way. The negative 
energy that you put out into the universe
 will multiply when it returns to you.
~
All persons make mistakes.
And all mistakes can be forgiven.

~
Bad thoughts cause illness of the mind,
body and spirit. Practice optimism.

~
Nature is not FOR us, it is a PART of us.
They are part of your worldly family.

~
Children are the seeds of our future. Plant
love in their hearts and water them with
wisdom and life’s lessons. When they 
are grown, give them space to grow.

~
Avoid hurting the hearts of others.
The poison of your pain will return to you.

~
Be truthful at all times. Honesty is thev
test of one’s will within this universe.

~
Keep yourself balanced. Your Mental self, Spiritual 
self, Emotional self, and Physical self – all need 
to be strong, pure and healthy. Work out 
the body to strengthen the mind. Grow 
rich in spirit to cure emotional ails.

~
Make conscious decisions as to who 
you will be and how you will react. Be 
responsible for your own actions.

~
Respect the privacy and personal space of
 others. Do not touch the personal property of 
others – especially sacred and religious 
objects. This is forbidden.

~
Be true to yourself first. You cannot 
nurture and help others if you cannot
 nurture and help yourself first.

~
Respect others religious beliefs.
Do not force your belief on others.

~
Share your good fortune with others.
Participate in charity.

Monday, August 8, 2011

A Voice

There Is A Voice Inside Of You That Whispers All Day Long, "I Feel That This Is Right For Me, I Know That This Is Wrong." No Teacher, Preacher, Parent, Friend Or Wise Man Can Decide What's Right For You- Just Listen To The Voice That Speaks Inside.

Shel Silverstein