There is a light within us,
A light as infinite as the heavens,
A light that burns brightly.
Sometimes when I am alone,
Completely still and quiet,
I can sense this tenderness within me and feel its expansion.
Gentle rhythmic dance throughout my body,
Observing it moment to moment.
And at times I feel as though my whole being is expanding and contracting,
In unison with the universal pulse.
This tenderness is at the very core of my human form and deep within the psyche.
I can sense this powerfully when I rest,
Reflect and restore in a place of peace and quiet.
Tenderness is the fuel that keeps this light shining,
The fuel that entices me to keep living.
I am often haunted by the words of the 17th century philosopher Thomas Browne,
Life is a pure flame and we live by the invisible sun within us.
Sometimes my light shrinks back to a flicker when I am disconcerted or damaged in some way and sometimes the light can barely be discerned,
Almost dimmed down to darkness.
This happens when my heart is broken or I am in physical or emotional pain.
But where there is breath and where there is air,
The light cannot diminish completely.
Its glow can always fight through the grim,
The bleak and the sadness.
And what I go through today is simply tutelage and resilience for tomorrow.
Self-compassion is what I need,
Love for myself,
Understanding of my own inadequacies,
Patience to let them go,
Forgiveness for my misdemeanors,
Tenderness for my heartache,
Sympathy for my distress,
Empathy with my feelings,
Kindness and generosity I must give to myself.
No more tough judgment,
No more harshness,
Release self-criticism,
Have faith in my goodness,
Reflect on my kindness,
Gift kindness to me,
To my vulnerable soul.
I sense my feet touching the earth,
The heftiness in my legs,
The mass of my back,
The weight in my shoulders,
The heaviness of my arms,
The sensations in my body as it lets go breath by breath,
Beat by beat,
Eyes closed to diversion,
Ears open to clarity,
Lightness in my being.
I am feeling here fully,
Sounds arriving,
Thoughts riding on waves,
Soft,
Quietly,
A softness gently cascading through my spine,
From my head to my toes,
The breath cooling and warming,
The pauses long and free,
Mind untethered,
The navel rising and contracting with each inhale and exhale,
My body whispering,
You promised,
Promised,
You promised no more,
No more self-destructiveness,
Obstructive behavior,
To rise,
Strength to resume,
Moments to thrive,
Purpose to fulfill,
Joy to be had,
Compassion,
Acceptance,
Kindness,
Purpose,
Patience,
Practice,
Faith,
Time.
I am stronger than I could ever have imagined.
May I be happy,
May I be peaceful,
May I be healthy,
May I be still,
May my heart be tender,
May my soul be soothed,
May my wisdom deepen,
May each step I take be with love and honor.
May I be happy,
May I be peaceful,
May I be healthy,
May I be still,
May my heart be tender,
May my soul be soothed,
May my wisdom deepen,
May each step I take be with love and honor.
May I be happy,
May I be peaceful,
May I be healthy,
May I be still,
May my heart be tender,
May my soul be soothed,
May my wisdom deepen,
May each step I take be with love and honor.
May I be happy,
May I be peaceful,
May I be healthy,
May I be still,
May my heart be tender,
May my soul be soothed,
May my wisdom deepen,
May each step I take be with love and honor.
May I be happy,
May I be peaceful,
May I be healthy,
May I be still,
May my heart be tender,
May my soul be soothed,
May my wisdom deepen,
May each step I take be with love and honor.
May I be happy,
May I be peaceful,
May I be healthy.
Rumi reminds us with his wisdom,
If light is in your heart,
You will find your way home.
May I be happy,
May I be peaceful,
May I be healthy,
May I be free,
Free from pain and strain and old tensions.
May I walk through this world in a state of grace,
At ease and with an open heart,
With tenderness to myself.
The light within keeps burning brightly and always will.
