A Singing Cleaning Woman

Happy Friday to You!

I hope you are all enjoying the close of a great year.

I had a great day yesterday and got into the gym for a nice lunging workout.

In the evenings, I’ve been enjoying my artistic expression by the fire while listening to beautiful music. The warmth and light of a fire kindles a spirit deep within me, something very primal; maybe a reminder that we are all star people and come from beautiful explosions!

A SINGING CLEANING WOMAN

A leaf says,

“Sweethearts—don’t pick me,
For I am busy doing
God’s work.

I am lowering my veins and roots
Like ropes

With buckets tied to them
Into the earth’s deep
Lake.

I am drawing water
That I offer like a rose to
The sky.

I am a singing cleaning woman
Dusting all the shelves in
The air

With my elegant green
Rags.

I have a heart.
I can know happiness like
You.”
(Reference: The Subject Tonight Is Love, by Hafiz, Translated by Daniel Ladinsky, Penguin Compass, 2009, p.33)

COMMENTARY

I’ve always loved the poetry of Hafiz. He is simple, natural, and elegant in his intimate expressions of God and life. This poem is a beautiful reminder that nature is conscious and alive, sharing more with us, than not.

A friend gave me a beautiful little Bonsai tree a couple years ago and this little tree spirit has been a great teacher and source of inspiration to me. I refer to my little Bonsai as a “she” because it is so delicate and feminine.

Many times, while sitting on my couch a few feet from her, while playing relaxing music such as Stephen Halpern, Terry Oldfield, Jonathan Goldman, or some of my music composed of water, bird and other nature sounds, she begins to move her leaves and branches as though she was dancing. The movements are subtle, but noticeable.

As I’ve developed a deeper relationship with her, I’ve been able to witness how much body language is conveyed by her.

Being present with her, has tuned me more deeply to the subtle language of other plants and trees, allowing me to become more aware of the constant communications going on between plants, birds, and humans.

The humans at large, are essentially blind to these subtle cues and communications, which I find is largely due to stressful living and over stimulation in general.

As we get stressed, we tend to toughen as a means of trying to survive situations we’ve assumed we can’t change, just as boxers get tougher and tougher as they fight more without realizing that it isn’t just their nose, it’s their whole being that’s tightening and adopting a defense posture.

It’s safe to assume that if we leave nature alone, she does what she loves to do. Plants love the sun, and grow toward it.

Dogs love chasing things and chewing bones. Horses love to run. Cows love to eat grasses. Rams like to ram things. Monkeys love to swing.

There is a natural harmony in nature that we can easily loose by getting too caught up in the stories of the world, and our own life.

Today, as we approach the end of the year, it’s a great time to meditate on what it is that you love to do.

What makes your leaves and branches dance? What makes your flower open? What inspires you to dig deep with your roots to gather the resources to make sap and bear fruit?

My Bonsai tree probably didn’t think it would end up living with someone that loves it and is willing to study it to learn how to love and care for it, but by being it’s natural, beautiful self, effortlessly, it ended up with me.

When we are willing to take responsibility for the creation of our own love and beauty, we become visible to those that are aware of, and love to share those qualities.

By becoming the lover we desire to be with, we become visible to that person and all the rest of the world. Love attracts, and can identify love.

I’m excited to do my planning for the New Year this weekend. I’ll share my new mandala for 2013 with you soon. If you create one and want to share, Vidya and I would love to see your beautiful creations.

Love and chi,
Paul Chek