KUMBAYA

This weekend I attended a concert by Holly Near and towards the end of the concert we all sang “Kumbaya” – with a significant small change.  She does not have the phrase “O Lord” in the song.  The song is sung;  Someone’s sing – ing, kumbaya,  someone’s sing-ing, kumbaya, someone’s sing-ing Kumbaya – oh - oh Kumbaya.  It was very powerful, of course.  And I so liked the opening up of the song – It means “come by here” – come by here whatever god or goddess or mystery or cosmos or natural world is listening…

She also went on to say that the phrase “Kumbaya” has come to have a pejorative, negative implication in our society.  Like “Oh that was a kumbaya moment”.  Meaning it was superficial and simplistic and emotional.  Her response is “why wouldn’t we want as many Kumbaya moments as we can get”!!  Indeed.  I wish for you to have the sense of some presence larger than yourself coming to you when you are laughing, crying, scared, hopeless, happy, singing, praying…. 

And if by some chance, you do not know the singer,songwriter Holly Near. Click HERE to learn more! She has many, many amazing political songs.

Paper Clip Protest

I have recently become aware of a revival of the idea of wearing a paperclip on your lapel to signify your resistance to the meanness that is happening in the world. It's a quiet type of protest -- no shouting, no sign waving, no marching. Just the simple act of wearing a paper clip on your collar or lapel. If someone asks about it, this gives you the opportunity to explain the protest and to proclaim your support of a quiet, civilized society. Nothing more. I hope you'll consider it!

On another note completely, I want to let you know that I have begun hosting an online writing circle. The next one begins on Friday Oct. 3. The information is below. Please email me if you'd like to join in the fun. Fondly, Penny

Words and Spirit;

Writing as Spiritual Practice

with Penny Hackett-Evans

five Friday mornings in October (3, 10, 17, 24, 31)

9:30 – 11:00 am Pacific standard time

We will gather once a week for five weeks to explore together the idea of using our writing as a way of allowing space for Spirit to show up in our life.  I will bring writing prompts, poems to respond to, some simple combining of art and writing.  All experience levels welcome.  There is no fee for the group.  Just bring your willingness to use writing to explore your life.   We will meet on Zoom. 

What I bring to this gathering is an openness to exploration as well as a commitment to “show up” for a regular practice of writing.  I hope you will join me!    To enroll, e-mail me (Evansph2@gmail.com) indicating your interest and I will put you on the list to receive the Zoom link just before the first class.  I would hope for a commitment to attend all five sessions, but knowing that life is flexible, I can be too!  Looking forward to it!

Softening

Buddhist meditation teacher Jack Kornfield tells of a teacher he encountered that led a full hour-long meditation with a group focused solely on “softening”.  Softening towards whatever arises; itching, pain, aches, desires for this and that.  Instead of reacting to our body and\or trying to “fix” whatever arises, to experiment with merely softening towards it instead.  This is apparently the reason we are told not to move during sitting meditation.  Not to shift your posture, or scratch an itch, or resettle your seat.  Instead of reacting, you are asked to soften into it. 

I’m guessing that our bodily reacting (shifting our posture, scratching etc.) isa way of trying to control something we don’t like.  Meditation is a time to experiment with truly understanding that we can soften towards what we can’t control or don’t like rather than trying to “fix” it.  Of course, you can relieve discomfort easily by scratching an itch.  But if you don’t scratch it, you learn that you can endure it and it will go away on its own eventually.  So, why would this be something I would want to do??   Not totally sure – but I’m guessing it has something to do with teaching myself that I can abide unpleasant sensations and situations, can even stop resisting them, and soften towards them as another way of encountering the world. 

Maybe we can learn to “allow” rather than fix,  to “soften” rather than resist.  I’m also aware that for me this is a VERY hard task!  But, a goal. I am willing to pursue.

Here is a poem from Dana Faulds

ALLOW

There is no controlling life.

Try corralling a lightning bolt, containing a tornado.

Dam a stream and it will create a new channel.

Resist, and the tide will sweep you off your feet.

Allow, and grace will carry you to higher ground.

The only safety lies in letting it all in –

the wild and the weak –fear, fantasies, failures, and success.

When loss rips off the doors of the heart

or sadness veils your vision with despair,

practice becomes simply bearing the truth.

In the choice to let go of your known way of being,

the whole world is revealed to your new eyes.