You know how when you’re on an adventure and the unexpected shows up?
Well, while I was on a workaway in Tuscany, Italy—surrounded by fields of sunflowers, where I worked helping a family harvest the food they’d grown, care for their toddlers, and be there for them to practice English with—something beautiful happened.
I wrote my first poem. (the beginning of an ongoing soul project of mine).
Really it was more like the poem wrote me, like it came through me from elsewhere to shine some light, shed some wisdom and soothe my broken heart as I was very much in need of some deep healing at that time.
It was inspired by a painting I’d done (below), and by a visit we received from a shaman from Peru during my stay. I wrote part one in the family’s garden and part two aboard a train to Rome.
I share it here in the hopes it sheds some light for you like it did for me. This poem was the beginning of what became my book full of poems.
Here’s the poem: (you can also listen to it below)
What do you see?
PART 1
Look!
What do you see?
The joining of hearts,
united as we.
The stars and the moon,
the sun and the rain.
The happiness, the sadness,
the joy and the pain.
The plants and the trees.
The land, sky and seas.
The honey, wine, oil and cheese.
The gift of the senses—
smell, sound, taste, sight.
The tender touch and strength
to hold on tight.
The seasons,
the night and the day.
All of which come bearing guidance,
to show us the way.
Who am I? Is there a purpose?
Why am I here?
Wisdom shines its light,
often when pain is near.
I wish it were simple,
that someone or something
would wave a magic wand.
Revealing the inner knowledge,
the secrets of the self,
the universe and beyond.
PART 2
Now look closer,
look from the heart.
What do you see?
I see the centre,
my centre.
The centre where I
must enter.
Into the place where
inner knowledge can be found.
Where the senses go beyond
hearing, sight, taste, smell and sound.
Where I can heal
and transform.
Where again and again,
I can be re-born.
Where the rain may pour
or the sun may shine,
where the deeper understanding
of the experience is mine.
Where I can re-visit
and shake hands with the past.
And give thanks for the wisdom given,
which is sure to last.
Where I can acknowledge
the beauty in the pain.
Where there is wisdom
and sacred knowledge to gain.
Where my state of
consciousness can shift.
Where into other
dimensions I can drift.
Where the seeing of cycles,
the circle of life is clear.
Where I can hold myself
and all beings dear.
Where a vital tool that guides
are my breaths.
Where I can experience
mini births and mini deaths.
Where I can give up the attachments
and all the confusion.
Where I can fly to that place
that’s beyond all illusion.
Where energies transform
replacing the old,
opening gateways to pathways
paved with gold.
Where I can nurture
my inner child.
Where new desires
I must follow run wild.
Where I can feel the eternal life force
move through me,
liberating my fears,
thus setting me free.
Where now, the present moment,
is all that exists.
Where the worries of the past and future
no longer persist.
Where I know that everything is
and will be fine.
Where everything I could ever want or need
is already mine.
Where there is no need to climb or struggle,
no big wall.
Where I can appreciate life and
give thanks for all.
YOU CAN ALSO LISTEN TO THE POEM HERE!
I love that travel, time in nature, and the guidance from the people we meet can be sources of inspiration on our path. So why not take that wee trip, wander into the woods, or say yes to a conversation—you never know an angel might be waiting for you with a gift to share.
