There is such beauty
In the way that the grass
Gracefully accepts the snow
And the snow gracefully accepts
The soft landing place of
The grass
They are entirely at ease
With each other’s presence
Outside the world
Of weather warnings and
Closed bridges
There is a grace right here
Right now each flake
Whirling and dancing
Each blade
Gracefully welcoming
Like an old friend
The miraculous arrival of snow
by Orla Beaton
What feelings and images does this poem evoke in you? For me it brings a peaceful acceptance. Along with this feeling there’s a longing, a longing to be more completely and long-lastingly embraced in the grace of this beautiful quality.
I feel that the poet Orla Beaton (for more of her poetry see her blog here) speaks of a grace that can befall us in an instant. The grace of a mind that turns a corner and after a long tussle with turbulent thoughts, all-of-a-sudden, feels outside of thought and in an open landscape of light, ease, clarity and serenity.
Grace for me is something impossible to conjure, manufacture or get. It is a gift, it comes according to a timing and mystery that is beyond me. My most alive connection to grace is in the longing for it.
Perhaps there is a grace in this longing?
But maybe there are some ways we can make ourselves more available for grace to find us. Maybe we can clear space, empty ourselves a little and set ourselves down receptively, like a vessel ready to be filled. Letting the ‘weather warnings and closed bridges’ of the outside world be a world away for a while. Maybe grace may actually arise from a partnership between ‘the beyond’ (whatever we think that is), and ourselves, if we place ourselves in an inner posture of opening, asking, receiving and accepting.
Between Christmas and New Year, we have a special opportunity for you to spend some time opening to grace through mindfulness and compassion practice. Join us for a practice day on Friday 29th from 10am – 4pm.
Ps. Orla Beaton is a yoga and mindfulness teacher and poet living in Fife, Scotland. She’s published a collection of poetry called My Magpie Mind.
There is such beauty
In the way that the grass
Gracefully accepts the snow
And the snow gracefully accepts
The soft landing place of
The grass
They are entirely at ease
With each other’s presence
Outside the world
Of weather warnings and
Closed bridges
There is a grace right here
Right now each flake
Whirling and dancing
Each blade
Gracefully welcoming
Like an old friend
The miraculous arrival of snow
by Orla Beaton
What feelings and images does this poem evoke in you? For me it brings a peaceful acceptance. Along with this feeling there’s a longing, a longing to be more completely and long-lastingly embraced in the grace of this beautiful quality.
I feel that the poet Orla Beaton (for more of her poetry see her blog here) speaks of a grace that can befall us in an instant. The grace of a mind that turns a corner and after a long tussle with turbulent thoughts, all-of-a-sudden, feels outside of thought and in an open landscape of light, ease, clarity and serenity.
Grace for me is something impossible to conjure, manufacture or get. It is a gift, it comes according to a timing and mystery that is beyond me. My most alive connection to grace is in the longing for it.
Perhaps there is a grace in this longing?
But maybe there are some ways we can make ourselves more available for grace to find us. Maybe we can clear space, empty ourselves a little and set ourselves down receptively, like a vessel ready to be filled. Letting the ‘weather warnings and closed bridges’ of the outside world be a world away for a while. Maybe grace may actually arise from a partnership between ‘the beyond’ (whatever we think that is), and ourselves, if we place ourselves in an inner posture of opening, asking, receiving and accepting.
Between Christmas and New Year, we have a special opportunity for you to spend some time opening to grace through mindfulness and compassion practice. Join us for a practice day on Friday 29th from 10am – 4pm.
Ps. Orla Beaton is a yoga and mindfulness teacher and poet living in Fife, Scotland. She’s published a collection of poetry called My Magpie Mind.