We have a beautiful
mother
Her hills
are buffaloes
Her buffaloes
hills.
We have a beautiful
mother
Her oceans
are wombs
Her wombs
oceans.
We have a beautiful
mother
Her teeth
the white stones
at the edge
of the water
the summer
grasses
her plentiful
hair.
We have a beautiful
mother
Her green lap
immense
Her brown embrace
eternal
Her blue body
everything we know.
by Alice Walker
Just a few words from me during a rich and fertile weekend on Engaged Mindfulness in Samye Ling, where Fay read out this poem by the wonderful Alice Walker. I’m again touched by the power of the earth connecting practices we’re doing, inviting us to not hold everything ourselves but to entrust our experience – including our worries and pain – to our ‘beautiful mother’ the earth who will take it in as compost in her vast and ancient self. And struck by the simple beauty of the ducks drinking water from the pond, the plentiful grasses on the rolling hills, the sharp call of the owls at night. Feeling very grateful on this ‘blue body’…
Photo by Stephanie LeBlanc on Unsplash
Thank you Kristine and Fay. It was the most perfect weekend of connection on a limitless scale. I am grateful for your teachings and so grateful for the beauty of our mother .
Lovely to get your comment Louisa, I’m so glad it was a positive experience for you. And I’m curious what might grow from the seeds that were planted during the weekend… Warmest wishes to you 🙂