Be Still and Know ...

Be still and know ...
The Power of the Silence
In the subtle markings
Of a sacred river stone

Be still and know ...
The symphonic sounds of Silence
In sweet bird songs, lapping river banks,
The call of majestic trees

Be still and know ...
The energy of the Silence
In the quiet vibrations of creation
As the earth moves softly under foot

Be still and know ...
The fragrance of the Silence
Brought as gift to the senses
By gushing, generous, playful wind

Be still and know ...
The sacredness of the Silence
In a candle's flicker, an empty bowl,
Works of art, respected space

Be still and know ...

The People of the Silence ~

Heart-connected, Love-inspired ~

Souls enmeshed on the journey

Be still and know ...

The pathway of the Silence ~

Find the secret doorways

Hiding treasures within the depths

Be still and know ...

The intimate touch of Silence ~

Warm kisses of sunshine,

The hug of grass, winks of butterflies

Be still and know ...

The Source of Silence ~

Oh, Divine Spirit!

Radiate Your Silent Light

Throughout my innermost Being!

Be still and know ...

Be still and know the Silence ...

Be still ...

Be.

~ By Karen Wood

You Mirror Me

Photo by Karen Wood

(Meditation musing below comes after meditating upon the portrait above, which is in the private collection of Rev. Arlene Curley, Co-director of the Greenshire Arts Consortium and a Minister of the Church of Illumination, Quakertown, PA.  The meditation honors all seekers on the spiritual path.  It also honors Rev. Curley's recent discourse on sacred-friendship mirrors, delivered 3-25-12 at The Church of Illumination, available on CD from The Philosophical Publishing Co., 215-538-5300 or megbevhall@comcast.net.)

I look into your eyes

And see myself reflected ~

For we are One in Spirit,

Co-creators and Christ-children

Of The Eternal One.

You mirror me,

And I, you ~

And the Image is

Pure Divinity.

In loving recognition

Of our sacred heritage,

I come to you ~

Pledging to you

Deep, Divine Love,

Total acceptance

And unwavering commitment

As we step forward

With Joy

On the journey together.

I embrace and enfold you

With Sacred Love ...

Knowing through Holy Love,

You and I are truly

One.

For you mirror me,

And I, you ~

And the Image

Is Pure Divinity.

~ By Karen Wood



Your Christ Touch

(Photo by Karen Wood)

I stand before You, broken ~

Divine One who art The Christ!

Cleanse me of my pettiness and pride,

My greed and inaction,

My self-haughtiness and intolerance,

My negativity and impatience,

My sadness and grief ...

Take control of my emotions,

My thoughts,

My actions ...

Even my every word!

Imbue every cell of my Being

With Your healing

Christ Energy ...

Imprint every cell

With Your Christ-Love Grace ...

Until all my Being can possibly exude is

Joy and loving-kindness,

Patience and gratitude,

Inner strength and calm peace,

Forgiveness and tolerance,

Creativity and attentive Presence,

But most especially,

Your Christ-Energy Love.

Impregnate every solitary cell

With Your Christ Touch ~

Until all I can do

Is explode with Your Love!

~ By Karen Wood



The Color of Love

Photo by Karen Wood

What is the color of Love?

I asked, expectantly ...

I saw a rainbow explode

Within my Being ~

Each speck of rainbow debris

Birthing a new universe.

I saw a newborn babe

Suckling at its mother's breast,

Drawing sustenance

For a lifetime journey.

I saw

Radiant suns,

Luminous moons,

Brightly painted birds,

Flowers pregnant with vivid hues ...

This ~ and more ~

Unfolded before my mind's eye.

Then all vanished

As the Breath of God

Blew everything away

And Breathed into my Soul

A new understanding:

The color of Love

Is all of this ~

And none of it.

The color of Love

Cannot be seen

Or Named ...

The color of Love

Can only be known.

The color of Love

Is All That Is ~

Pure Existence

Breathed into Being.

It can only be "seen" ...

Reflected.

~ By Karen Wood

Look at Me!

(Photo by Karen Wood)

Oh, Eternal Father!

Look at me!

I come as a little child

Before You ~

Wanting You to see

My childish antics ...

My childish desires ...

My childish accomplishments.

My whole Being screams

"Look at me!"  "Watch me!"

Hoping to grab the attention

Of some Holy Other

Who sometimes seems

Distracted and distant ...

Not paying any attention to me.

I so love You!

My deep affection allows me

To brave calling You

"Holy Daddy!"

I long for You

To notice me ...

To acknowledge me ...

To accept me ...

To affirm me ...

To Bless me!

I open my arms wide ~

Reaching out for You.

I hold out my finger

To touch Your Holy Garment.

Oh, Holy Daddy!

I am but a child!

How could I have known

That the arms reaching out to You

Were Your Own?

~ By Karen Wood

Prayer for Comfort

(Photo by Karen Wood)



Most Holy of Holies ~

You are both Father and Mother to me.

From Your sacred union

You birthed me into Being,

Blessed me with Divine Lineage,

And breathed Light into my Soul.

Come gently to me ...

Stroke me with Your tender grace ...

Wrap Your arms of Loving-kindness

Around my trembling body.

Let Your Word echo through

The still chambers of my Heart.

Allow every place You touch

To reveal to the world

Your Divine Imprint

Upon my fragile Being.

Mark each spot

With Divine Light,

Pure Love,

Holy Joy.

May I always strive to love You

As deeply and as dearly

As You love me ...

And may I forgive myself, daily,

As I realize just how far

I have missed the mark.

~ By Karen Wood

A Most Holy Gift



Photo by Karen Wood
(Above Magi Temple door at Beverly Hall, Quakertown, PA, http://www.soul.org/)

 
You Bless me ~
Showering me
With all Good Gifts ...

I cannot see them ~
For my eyes are fixed
On worldly concerns.

Open my eyes,
Oh, Supreme Giver!

May I recognize
Each Holy Present,
No matter its wrapping.

May I see You
In every Gift ...

May I give back
From a deep well
Of unending gratitude ...

And may I know
Myself
The way You know me ~
As a priceless Spark of the Divine ...
A most Holy Gift.

~ By Karen Wood