poetry and prayer Archives - Path With Heart Community

When You Are Lost, Stand Still

When you feel lost, the best advice is to stop, breathe, and stay right where you are. Some of you are dealing with situations filled with unknowns: a new diagnosis, impending retirement, financial distress. You do not yet know the way forward. The pathway is obstructed or unclear, and it feels scary and shaky. Because …

Truth: “We” Is The Only Way

These times require us to acknowledge the truth that WE are all connected. It is the only way. It has always been the truth, but we have failed to accept this reality and live into it. The poet Adrienne Rich writes, “we have lost track of the meaning of “we…” Our world and our country …

Messengers of the Most High: A 9/11 miracle

I had been asked to say a prayer to commemorate 9/11. Larry told me that when I started reading his brother’s last words from the bima, he knew that he had been brought to our services for a reason. He called it a miracle.

Morning Meditation: A Poem

A poem for these times: If you have a sensitive heart
I’m guessing your heart is
bruised these days –
maybe even broken.

who what where why god?

what is god? Where is God? who is god? is God looking for me? God is too big and too small to name – words can only attempt, approximate, give a feel for, the experience. One reason poetry and music are wonderful in god-discussions is because they speak the language of metaphor. Metaphor frees us …

When The World Is Too Much

Poetry helps. Especially poems like this one, “Lie Down” by Nancy Paddock. She reminds us to stop, breathe, be. (I’m not wild about the ant part, but ok.) Taking time out each day to just BE can be part of a Gratitude Practice that profoundly affects your health and wellbeing and helps remind you that …

“We Are All Just Walking Each Other Home”

A favorite poem, by Lawrence Tirnauer* for anyone who (sometimes or all the time) is challenged to get a full night’s sleep – accompanied by an amazing quote by Ram Dass. Whether we are meeting in our mind’s eye in the middle of the night, or in real life, we need each other on this journey “home.” …

“On What Disturbs, Then Nourishes” A guest post by Dani Shapiro

One of my very favorite authors and people – Dani Shapiro, writes about her frequent traveling, coming home and a poem (YES by David Whyte!!) that inspired wisdom within the constancy of change. Thank you Dani for allowing us to share this. Check out Dani’s blog – link at the bottom. And check out her …

Mindfulness, Poetry, Prayer and Song to Open Hearts

At our beautiful all-day retreat last Shabbat, “A Mindful Journey Through Shabbat” we did a morning of chant/kavannah/music/silence. As leaders, we chose several key prayers (only a few) from the morning Shabbat service and went deeper into each one. For example, we started with Modah/Modeh Ani, which means “Grateful/Thankful am I” and offered a brief …

A Poem for Jasmine

the scent of jasmine fills the house so much that we have to leave the front door open so that we can allow the sweet smell of heaven to lighten every moment. Every trip up and downstairs to do the laundry every walk to the kitchen to make tea every pause between computer strokes is …