Category: Earth

Posted in Earth

resting is an activity

Posted on by J.A.B. 
resting is an activity; I give you Permission to Rest 
to take a moment 
                   and just Sit
                                look around you 
                                                       and just BE

this is not meditation; that is a mind exercise
                                      this is Rest 
in our world of busy as a badge of honour 
we do not take the time
                            to be Present 
                                            with ourselves 
                                                        and just Sit Down 

we label resting as laziness; shameful and indulgent
                               still out bodies Need it 
I invite you to Sit, look at the world around you 
 tell your list of things in your head
       that you feel must get done right now
                            that you will be back in 15 min
                                     you're in a meeting for a moment

a meeting with the Present Moment; a scheduled Pause
                 allow your body to stop rushing
you may notice that your body is carrying tension 
your neck and jaw clenched?
                            in your shoulders ?
                                             maybe your hips
                                                         ans lower back

are your idle hands looking for something to grasp?
                  squeezing the arms of your chair?
this tension goes deeper than your muscles you know 
the frenzy of being busy 
                      frays our nerves
                               burns out our adrenals 
                                                            robs us of Joy

the tension is there; even as you run from it by staying busy
                             I give you permission to Rest
Posted in Earth

on the surface

Posted on by J.A.B. 
some days I run out
thin and warn 
I lie like a heap of old rags

forgotten, rumpled and soiled

most days I pull it together
adjust my seams 
so the rips in my shoulder
are not so obvious

the average passerby is easily fooled

to busy 
to look past their own concerns
my stains go un-spotted
the evidence of all I have survived
is safely hidden
just below the surface 
of my smile
Posted in Earth

Sage Sister

Posted on by J.A.B. 
She stands grounded in truth
it is both ugly and beautiful
She sees the sadness and pain in this world
the pain she had carried
pain reflected in eyes
Her own, eyes she loves and the eye of strangers
She hears the cries of neglected children
sees them as their tiny forms slip though the cracks 
in our broken system
She has wiped away their tears
and the tears of her own children of privilege
with full tummies and hands full of books
She has watched them laugh and dance and grow
rejoiced in their common struggles 
grateful for the gift of loving them 
guided them to listen to their heart to speak up for truth
instilled them with kindness
rejoicing in the quiet moment of tea in the garden
She refuels her soul in the comforts she has
shares her hearth with those she loves
offering warm cups and shared laughter 
as we lean on each other
with her other foot she stands in battle
protesting, standing up for her Sisters weary of their battles
Free to speak her mind, she uses her knowledge 
as a sword against the corrupt powers
it is hard work to shine lights in dark places
to reach into the darkness for the hands that are reaching back, 
grasping, searching, clawing to find away out 
work that cannot be left undone
she had seen the darker places in our world
her path has made her a warrior 
not because it made her hard 
because it made her compassionate 
as her heart broke open 
She healed all the pain she inherited

this is dedicated to the women I know and love who are warriors ❤ my tribe of ladies who have not let our hardships make us hard and have instead grown in compassion

Posted in Earth

Paths

Posted on by J.A.B.

the path of the warrior is harder

the path of the healer is more worrisome

the path of the mother breaks your heart

the path of the love is full of burdens

the path of the wise is lonely

the path of the student carries the blessings of them all

Posted in Earth

We Come Together at Home

Posted on by J.A.B. 
Surreal, these new mornings no alarms 
The absence of city life, no traffic sounds,    
with out much notice we find our world on pause
In the place of the bustling electric pulse of cities 
the sound of bird song, and clearing skies  

The absence of city life, no traffic sounds,   
keeping our distance, as we join together  
Italians singing to one another on balconies
Pots banging and cheers for health workers at 7pm
Musicians streaming mini concerts online

Keeping our distance, as we join together,
reaching out.  Offering hope that will ripple,
giving to each other, protecting the vulnerable.
Neighbours shopping for each other 
staying in to keep everyone healthy

Reaching out, offering hope that will ripple.
 in this absence of industry, our focus shifts. 
We are strengthening our communities 
I wonder what world we will create together
When we are no longer at home  
 
                                                  - j.a_b  

 

We will get through this, I have faith in us. And believe in our capacity to learn from this crisis. xoxox stay safe ,wash your hands ❤

Posted in Earth, journal

we are all in this together

Posted on by J.A.B. 
What will this crisis bring,
when we have passed through the cloud of contagion?
My mind drifts and wanders as I sit quietly and
Acknowledge my fear.
Not so much for myself, its the fears I hold in my heart
for of my aging parents, my children. Our economy
 
Into my mind walks and image, of a small woman
with strength in her bones, resilience in her posture,
A thin smile on her lips, and unspoken love in her eyes
My grandmother.
 
Holding my fear safely in her hands she speaks
Of times of war, hardship, failed crops
Making bread with no milk. Birthday Cakes with out eggs
and apple pie out of potatoes and cinnamon
 
Her memories embrace me, the warm smell of bread
I hear the Singing of my mother and her sisters,
As she remembers them together in the kitchen
every hand busy and hearts full. 
Into my ear she whispers a truth.... 

Our needs are not as complex as we imagine them to be
 
We are all in this, distanced but together at home
 
Surreal is how to best describe waking up to
The absence of city life, no traffic sounds,
In place of business we have
Italians singing together on balconies
Cities applauding health care workers at 7pm
Songbirds streaming mini concerts online for us all
Neighbours shopping for each other
 
In this absence of industry,
we are strengthening our communities
giving to each other, protecting each other
staying in for each other
 
I wonder what world we will create together
When we are no longer at home  
                                                    - j.a_b
I have been thinking a lot about the generations before us and how they endured WW2, and the great depression. I have seen the the old food stamps my grandmother had for staples like flour. We will come out the other side of this. There will be loss, tragic loss to many families. Some of us will loose loved ones. Others will or may have already lost their businesses and livelihoods.    
I still have great hope that is living along side my fears. Imagine what will grow out of this pause we took for each other? We see some often the results of sowing hatred and fear-mongering. This spring we are planting compassion for each other, we are coming together  in solidarity around this whole big beautiful world. It gives me hope. This pause in our industry and our current path might just be the re-do we are looking for. 
                    ❤ stay safe, wash your hands

Posted in Earth

returning

Posted on by J.A.B. 
Listening to your chatter, run on sentences of your last few days. 

You’ve just returned from the other house. I am full of both joy and anguish. 
 
The effects their tension has on you, my little one, is easy to see. 

Once again you return to me empty needing to be filled with acceptance, warmth, 
comfort, safety. 

It kills me to see the need in your eyes. The pain is white hot, but I keep it buried. 
All I want is for you to see the warmth of my love radiating out at you. 

So I lather you with affection. The softest place to be, your mother’s arms. 
Doing my best to fill you up again, full of love and a sense of belonging.
 
Knowing your reprieve is brief, for in a few short days. I am forced to send you back again. 

Placing you in an emotional wasteland.

-j.a_b

Posted in Earth

one mothers vow

Posted on by J.A.B. 
I didn’t choose to be a warrior; 
this was not what I set out to do.
 
The choice was to be a mother, 
read stories, 
nurture and watch you grow. 
 
For you I will carry this sword
and hold up this shield; 
with out hesitation.
 
I will pull from deep in my bones
when I am weary or sad. 
Somehow I will find a way.

You will have a childhood; 
these storms will not get you.
 
This is my vow, my choice; 
for you my dearest love.

j.a_b

Posted in Earth

its all about perspective

Posted on by J.A.B. 
Stronger now, 
      more than I ever was 
Tempered by the Fire or 
     is it Weathered by the Storm 

 I cannot decide
 
now I stand firm,
                Rock Steady 
for I have seen my own Strength
 
been a Witness at my Trials 
        held fast to Truth  

part of the reward 

is the Knowledge that 
              I am Unsinkable 
                                                                                            
                         - j.a_b

Posted in Earth

Ode to Gaia

Posted on by J.A.B. 
 when I root deeply I feel you, more Alive than the grass under my feet
 with welcoming arms you beacon, as your breath enters my lungs
 cool and silver, the texture of Water with the molten energy of Fire
 You are Creation
 Gaia
 Wisdom Keeper
 offering your Knowledge to us,  who take the time to see
 the perfection of your beauty, it shows the story of who we are
 these connections we cannot deign, we are a part of you
 great Mother
 Gaia
 Life’s Breath

you burst forth with rejuvenation, after drought, fire and flood
bringer of Life with all you do, flowers trail behind devastation
great pressures producing new grounds and mountain ranges
allowing change
Gaia
ever alive

There is never Death or defeat, only vital transformation
 For you hold in your hands the cradle of creation
 will you create with me? Great Mother, please teach my soul to grow
  

j.a_b
sept 5, 2019