Silence

I returned yesterday afternoon from hosting a silent retreat at my family's place in Kirkwood. I can remember 8 years ago having dreams of hosting a retreat in the wilderness and this past weekend was truly the fufillment of a dream. 15 of us gathered in the place that my family has been laboring on for 6 years and the work was well worth it.

I love entering silence and practicing meditation and prayer. During the retreat I had the longing to be on an extended retreat of silence and solitude. Silence is beautiful but when you enter silence and solitude another level is reached.

Here's a poem that came to me one night as I sat on my mat praying to candle light.

The ancient light flickers by my bed
I'm entranced by it's glow and warmth
It's history beyond my knowledge
the inconsistent flashed moves from side to side and flow into my soul
I'm reminded of the light within
the kingdom seed planted in the depths of my soul
even through closed eyes the darkness is intruded upon by it's presence
with each flash
I sink deeper into the presence of the great
I AM
Beheld by the Creators loving goodness my heart beats like an open vessel
As I elongate my torso, opening chest
my breath grows deeper and fills my entire body
tingles begin at the crown of my head and disappear into my ears
beneath my flowing breath I can hear the rhythmic bass gently beating
I can feel peace enter my nostrils
caressingly moving down my nasal cavity
down the back of my sternum
I feel the whispering center calling me home
calling me to live out my birthright
and with each flash I'm reminded of the sacred space that must remain secret
fwoooooof
As I enter complete darkness
the glow of the wick fades
I'm in the shadow
light within glowing