Seeker Magazine

AVANT SOUL

Rhapsodies in Words

to reawaken our fascination with the ever-original SOUL

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Towering Implications


		When you wake up to reality, 
	You will be exactly as you were before // 
There will be the same amount of focus, 
	or no focus...

		Consciousness is no hocus pocus
	It smarts sharply
	the pain can be dulling

			The only thing that can be different
		when observing loss
Is how you pay attention

			The toll gates are heavy these days
		and the trolls are uglier than ever...

...Whatever! 
			There was pain before this
			There was joy before this

The only thing different 
		when you awaken
		is your response
		Ability. 

		You may be disabled by pain
		You may be enabled by pain

There are other sanctuaries
	quietly waiting for your attention
	in meditative, calm spaces of your being.

How you are affected 
Varies from state to state
	of consciousness.  			
					 You may be imprisoned by the state of events
					 You may be set free by the state of events

News? Your Stated Intention
Varies by how you're called into action
				...or do nothing at all. 

					     Then what's the gain-plan?

You may never completely be released from the morrow
Unless you refrain from this day's breaking

Again to realize, see the surprise, even in reactions most fated.

	*INACTION* isn't the same state as rest

			There need be periods which are blessed
			As much as words hurled through veils and curses. 

These states of repose. These states which test our sanity
			These states which test our humanity
Bring strength to face this testy testament
Of crimes and ghoulish times

Of Character
      not sublime,
Of Hours not that long ago 
	you wished were just in jest.

No jokes allowed 
	amidst the grime. Muddy ash // Cruelty //
								    and criminal minds //

Exhaustion feedback's past red lines. 

Where's the Zen of splitting hairs, the balance point
		between infinitely finer wear, 
		Ever diminishing returns of compromise?

			Lest you BE ===>>	 Redoing before realizing,
			Lest you're blind to	 Reworking *without* realization,
There need be periods of replenishment. 

It serves no purpose to be continually exhausted.
                    The mess will still be there when you awaken
The mess and mops will still be grinning. Be not mistaken!

To process that grief which wells in one's chest,
		Where then is peace,
			And contentment,
				And even laughter? (We know of slaughter,
						but laughter's a far more slippery catch these days.)

					Where's the balm of humor
					When hot bombs are triggered
					With rage reddened & annoyance profoundly pissed?

Should you surrender your anger,
It could hardly be missed.

A sense of humor is best when people are suffering.
This sense of humor near difficult when people suffer terribly.

	This PEACE POSSIBLE may only be explained
							... in your own actions
							... in your own families
							... within smaller stages & domains,
	Peace first contained & gently nourished
	Peace which hasn't easily flourished
	Peace which has remained malnourished.

Begin in your homes and neighborhoods and holy bedrooms.

	Sweet peace, even now, still possible to maintain.
	
We can hardly imagine that humankind's 
    *SOUP*
Wasn't already scalding,
That the world's problems weren't already overheated, 
Before this loss most unkind.

You're not out of the loop!
Since the Humors Of This Place Are Horribly Grim,
You're *back* where you started. 

...Just Possibly More Awake And Recommitted...

Sir or Madam, the hospital of your consciousness is ready
								......and waiting
								.......and Nurse Not-Too-Cheerful
Is nearby with An Injection of Consciousness
For All You Would Deny.

How about stealing a kiss?

You still might fail to remember 
That now (more than ever)
This NUT HOUSE
	requires beauty -
	harmony -
	And even *BLISS*

				.... The times are enough to make you sick!

Try not now to obsess on the very hatred
Which can draws us downward
		into spirals
		of only one room, 
Or one hallway in the nuthouse.

 **************************
Consciousness is never to be cracked 
	open
	in just one way
	or split asunder
	by just one nut.

There are other rooms.

(There are other holy spaces.)

	And sanctuaries
	which quietly 
	are waiting for your realized attention
	in meditative 
		 sacred 
			spaces 
				of 
				wonder.



(Photograph and poem copyright 2001 by Darius Gottlieb - No reproduction without express permission from the author)

You're invited to visit Darius' website of his photographs at Art Bliss

Letter to the Author at SoulGnosis@aol.com

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