May You Be Well - Gone Resting

A little story for you…

Dear Rest Friends,

This week I’m resting and celebrating my youngest daughter’s birthday. She is a master “rester” who always reminds me to keep it simple. In her honor, we are having a very restful three-day weekend. The intensity of the climate (weather included) is reaching barely-tolerable levels. Retreating to family, friends, reading, art and rest are good medicine for me—bread for the journey. They help me replenish my energy, clear my mind and nourish my body and spirit. And, I get a big helping of joy! Next week, I can rejoin the maelstrom about us with serenity and the right focus.

New seed
is faithful.
It roots deepest
in the places
that are
most empty.

C.P. Estés

This week I offer you a poem and short story from the book The Faithful Gardener: A Tale About That Which Can Never Die by Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés. The short book has many stories layered into a beautiful whole. I will be sharing stories as we move deeper into the fall. I hope you carve out some time to kick off your shoes, take a deep breath, lean back, and incline the ear of your heart.

A Prayer
Refuse to fall down,
If you cannot refuse to fall down,
refuse to stay down.
If you cannot refuse to stay down,
lift your heart toward heaven,
and like a hungry beggar,
ask that it be filled,
and it will be filled.
You may be pushed down.
You may be kept from rising.
But no one can keep you
from lifting your heart
toward heaven—
only you.
It is in the midst of misery
that so much becomes clear.
The one who says nothing good
came of this,
is not yet listening.
C. P. ESTÉS

Love,
Marcela

Listening/Reading/Learning/Supporting

I enjoyed this New York Times interactive virtual exhibit about the origins of the selfie…entertaining, beautiful and informative. Check it out by clicking here: Seeing Our Own Reflection in the Birth of the Self-Portrait.

If you like art and journaling you may enjoy Layers of Meaning—Elements of Visual Journaling by Rakefet Hadar. I wanted to try visual journaling and this book has been a fun way to explore different techniques.