Nothing’s like poetry

Last fullmoon I was in Venice, CA.

We had just ended the 10 day Prana Flow Teacher Training immersion with Shiva Rea, and took our friend Sharon for her first tattoo. Her birthday ink to herself.

Me, Rhythm and Ryan accompanied Sharon for support and love. To sooth her pain and tension, we played tribal meditative music from Sharon’s iPhone. And read poetry.

When Rhythm read us this poem, we all cried, overflowing of the beauty within ourselves that had so strongly been evoked during our ten blessed days with Shiva, our mistress yogini.

And Sharon LOVES her tattoo.

From The Odes of Solomon (1st century)

My heart was split, and a flower
appeared; and grace sprang up;
and it bore the fruit for my God.

You split me, tore my heart
open, filled me with love.
You poured your spirit into me;
I knew you as I know myself.

Speaking waters touched me
from your fountain, the source of all life.
I swallowed them and was drunk
with the water that never dies.

And my drunkenness was insight,
intimacy with your spirit.
And you have made all things new;
you have showed me all things shining.
You have granted me perfect ease;
I have become like Paradise,
a garden whose fruit is joy;
and you are the sun upon me.

My eyes are radiant with your spirit;
my nostrils fill with your fragrance.
My ears delight in your music,
and my face is covered with your dew.

Blessed are the men and women
who are planted on your earth, in your garden,
who grow as your trees and flowers grow,
who transform their darkness to light.

Their roots plunge into darkness;
their faces turn toward the light.

And those who love you are beautiful;
they overflow with your presence
so that they can do nothing but good.

There is infinite space in your garden;
all men, all women are welcome here;
all they need do
is enter.