I recently spent a week (online) at an intensive with Deena Metzger. It can be difficult to speak about profound experiences, especially before you've had time to think about and integrate what you received. I'm in that phase now, but here is one thing that came out of the experience that I'd like to share.
Priestess of words, of stars, of stones
(those bones of the earth that carry its stories),
place your hands and lean
your forehead against a great rock.
Let the wind blow through you;
be empty and clear.
Soak up enough of
the stone’s slow rhythm
so that you hear the stories
of the land, this land,
where your exile has ended,
where you don’t forget love and gratitude,
where you meet the sacred.
Then, place fire
in a circle of stones
at the heart of the temple,
which is the heart of your heart.
Tend the fire; do not let it go out,
or the temple will crumble,
and with no heart,
you will as well.
No one said the work
would be easy.
But once you are slow
and hollow and empty,
they will come to the fire.
They will come with
their broken hearts,
and broken bodies,
and broken dreams.
They will listen to the words
and warm themselves.
And you will give them
sanctuary.
