POEM: I Long to Share a Blanket with You

The Spiritual Practice of Being Human

I haven’t written in a while here, and I am ready to be back writing. It’s felt like there is just so much out there, and after birthing a baby, and writing a book I have felt like: “Can’t I just go inward now?" Disappear during these wild and weird times?” But my Soul says I cannot. I have to stay tethered to the Sharing Heart that beats in my chest, high off caffeine after a long night up with my baby who doesn’t know if she is on PST or EST today.

And with tea stained mugs, a few lingering plates, and yogurt crusted spoons in the sink, and, a pile of crumpled dirty clothes in the hallway, and business to attend to, clients to text back, and an online class later today to teach, and minutes before my daughter wakes…How on earth can I think about the Great Everything going on in the world I wonder?! AND THEN…share my thoughts?!

But I must. And you must.

As an artist, I must write about it.

As a mother, I must write despite the mess.

As a woman, I must reveal this Heart.

And you? What will you do? I wonder this about you.

Hold my hand by the fire.

Here, take a bit of the blanket.

I have plenty to share.

Shoulders pressed together we will make it through, won’t we?

Do you know a song we could sing?

I want to roll in the grass with you, let our hairs get tangled together.

Pray by arranging flowers and sitting in silence over tea.

Letting our tears drip in the same room.

Tears talking to tears talking to tears.

This ritual of humaning with you is all I need now.

This is my spiritual practice.

To be human with you.

To let you see where I have picked my fingers,

because I’m anxious about the world,

and picking them keeps me tethered to my body,

little stings keep me here.

Can you see the number 11 that has settled its way betwixt my brows?

Your smile is full of life,

and I love the map of lines around your mouth,

telling me you have laughed heaps this life.

Isn’t the laughter of my daughter divine?

Come, your softness gives me space to snuggle in.

Without these moments together me and you,

flesh to flesh, breath to breath,

a space to hold emotions and energy,

I shall surely collapse,

or float away,

or stay on the surface,

lacking the roots to dive under into deeper waters.

Come close, let’s remember together:

the simple truths.

Let’s watch the sunset dip under clouds,

and listen to the cicadas rubbing their legs in this bittersweet symphony.

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FIND YOUR TETHER

We all need spiritual ground, something to hold us here. By spiritual, I mean something bigger than us, something mysterious and eternal, something beyond our scope.As things feel shakier and shakier, we need a hand to hold. I do believe this is why many people are returning to Christianity, seeking a “rock” to hold onto in these times. Other people are looking to more money or wealth to help them feel existentially “safe.”

Where are the churches in the West for people who aren’t returning to Christ? Are they in the phone? On Instagram? Are we praying more by sharing stories online and wondering who watches them?

We cannot lose the spiritual practice of being human together.

Of touching hands, leaning a head upon a shoulder, singing a song, having a walk, picking a flower.

This is the Goddess in the here and now.

All around us she beckons us to her, each sunrise, each sunset, each emotion, each desire…

Find the hand you need to hold. Make the space. The circle. The community. Stop being anonymous. Be known to a few good people. Known for making your bread. For your big laugh. For your playlists. For your camping trips. For your witchy nights.

And so it is.

Amen.

Blessed Be.

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I am committing to writing again, at least once a month, then twice. For the pure pleasure, for the joy, for the Sharing Heart. If anything touches you, reach out. Say hi.

With Love,

Alexandra