Water on Buddha Board. Painted by Carolyn Thornlow
(photo by Tamara Magnitsky)
Welcome to Courage week!
COURAGE – the power or quality of dealing with or facing danger, fear, pain, etc; the confidence to act in accordance with one’s beliefs
We all have so many images of courage running through our heads. Carolyn’s iconic Indian Warrior, culturally common here in the United States, is almost omnipresent in my brain. When I think of courage I thing of bravery. I unconsciously think of a fight. To be courageous means to fight if needed… or maybe not. What if courage were something else?
Innocence and Pain
by January Handl
A young child,
open-faced as a sunflower
turning toward the light,
asked me with an earnest worry
creasing her wonder
as she gently fingered
the earrings dangling from
my ears:
Do those hurt you
very much?
I smiled inside.
I told
her it was only
the initial point of contact,
or separation
and my own fears
that caused acute pain,
which faded daily until
the scarring of the
hole left behind
protected me, allowed me
to decorate myself
leaving only the tender
memory of the moment of
piercing.
I gave a silent blessing
for her piercings
yet to come.
January wisely points to our piercings. Places where we hold firm or ideas that become firmly our own. our life’s piercings call us forth.
Courage
by Penny Vieregge
I lie and watch the spreading dawn.
I am the thickness of my breath,
The center point of shoulders pulling tensely in
Toward heartbeat’s space.
Arms and legs have disappeared,
Only pressure of the eyes
Pushing outward
Let’s me know that socket’s skull
Does still exist.
I am afraid.
I greet each day with a summoning of
Spirit’s Force.
My bits of soul I call inside
And gathering
I blow.
They burn.
Then, warming body by that blaze
I rise
And brush my teeth.
And Penny shrewdly notes that this must happen every day. Our soul stirs and body calls. Fear may trickle but courage calls. To live, to fully be, everyday piercings, heartbeat’s call and warrior charge all sound courage’s bell.
This week our Bliss Initiative is to hark Courage’s whisper. Hear not a fight. Let your soul’s knowing lead the way, piercings paving the way for something more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tamara , our photographer, and January and Penny, our poets, are here each Monday to help set the mood for the week!
Tamara Magnitsky
Tamara Magnitsky, a child of the wild blue yonder,
has been an ardent student and advocate for poetry, photography and excellence in general.
She is the mother of a daughter and a beloved wife.
She can be found most days.
Bio written by Cary Brosius ~Tamara’s husband 🙂
January Handl
January Handl is first and always a mother, has been a preschool teacher and parent educator for 25 years. She is currently the Director/head teacher at Gazebo Park School, and lives at Esalen Institute in Big Sur. She lives simply in awe of existence.
She calls her photo “hot tub bliss” 🙂
Penny Vieregge
Penny Vieregge is a long time Big Sur resident with her caring touch in many arenas, from tutoring children at the local elementary, volunteering at the health center, playing piano on Sundays up at the hermitage, or teaching health and safety/first aide to preschool children at Gazebo Park School. She earned her BA from College of the Pacific, majoring in Speech and early education as a minor. Poetry is written in her bones.