Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Vision Quest



My soul goes up into the forest
on a vision quest.
Amongst the breathing trees,
the white owls are speaking,
softly, so as not to be overheard
by the Others:

My child,
you have journeyed far,
and you are tired.
Just a little more,
we promise,
and all will be
as you dreamed.

My soul sits itself down
at the base of a great green cathedral
whose trunk has grown
for almost one thousand years.

My child,
you are weary and heartsore,
and can find no surcease.
Place your hand on my trunk
and I will tell you all I know
about Enduring.

My soul tiptoes up close to
a timid, gentle, startling deer.
She tilts her head, recognizes
that I mean no harm,
and does not turn away.

My child,
you have learned to keep
a distance from the world.
I understand.
My way, too, must be one of caution,
for there are fast unthinking cars and
heavy boots and killing guns
out in the Land from which
you come.

On the shores of my soul,
I hear waves,
forever advancing and retreating,
while I perch in this desert of the heart
as precariously 
as a cactus flower,
afraid to take root for fear
the wound of blooming
will be
life-threatening.

Bloom and thorn-
sometimes the messages
are mixed.

My soul emerges from the forest
somewhat comforted
and quieted,
but as directionless
as any traveler
seeking an answer
that is only found
within.



36 comments:

  1. Good morning Sherry,
    Thank you so much for these lines. Simply wonderful. I shall be re-reading them throughout the day.

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  2. if one sits in front of a mature tree, whether it be a birch, a maple, a cherry, a walnut, an oak or a conifer of sorts, and place one's hand at the base of it, allow oneself to be the tree, escape the self and one will see a different perspective of the world.

    gracias my friend for this reminder

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  3. the trees are where my soul will always find visions...i know the call the ocean has on you thouhg...i do retreat there for the rhythm...to feel the movement...each have a very different feel for me....both good just different places for me...

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  4. I read a scholarly paper once about the effect of forests and oceans on people, something about modern humans' excess of positively charged electrons becoming balanced out by the negative charges abundant near large bodies of water or in forests. I wish I could find that journal again, but we don't need science to tell us where to sit ourselves down.

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  5. I am always in awe what blue brown green n white teach me -I love your view

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  6. Indeed, Sherry, some answers only are found within...and then only if we really listen.

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  7. The spiritual journey through your words is always powerful and this time too, you have hit close to where it matters. Beautiful. :-)
    -HA

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  8. deer used to come and eat my moms roses, so she wasn't too fond of them. but they had free run of the muni golf course we lived near, no predators at all, so they lived pretty well ~

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  9. Amazing teachers, loving and giving--until the waves. The closer we come to self, the more resistant our teacher it seems. And yet that is where the indwelling God waits. Thanks for this vision quest.

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  10. It seems that everything you write lately, I think,'Oh, this is her best yet!' You keep excelling yourself! This is so beautiful and deep and true, has to be my new favourite.

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  11. Sometimes we need to seek for inner peace in any way we can. We need the comfort of silence for a moment to know that we are still alive.

    I like the "communication" between your soul and the nature. It is such a healing place.

    Have a nice week ahead, Sherry.

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  12. This is so good.. Especially the last stanza, we might not learn anything from the trees, but they can make us look deeper in ourselves.

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  13. Beautiful as always. When you have walked in the forest and are trusted it will tell you it's secrets

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  14. I absolutely agree with Rosemary and thank you Sherry for these soul soothing and wise lines...

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  15. Bloom and thorn-
    sometimes the messages
    are mixed.

    That is how life's problems get known to us all mixed and muddled. Unraveling is the bother all will have to go through! Great lines Sherry!

    Hank

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  16. Fantastic last verse..and also the note of caution about living a life distanced from the world - I suppose the further we are removed from it the less likely we are to find the 'answers' we seek as even if we don't feel part of it, it is part of us? Am reading a book at the moment where the 'mother tree' presents itself when needed..there is something solid about that thought..like a sanctuary grown not built..peaceful Sunday to you (i hope later at least ;)

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  17. I love the wisdom of the forest ~ Thanks for the gentle reminder Sherry ~ And I hope we find it within us ~

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  18. Bloom and thorn-
    sometimes the messages
    are mixed.

    These lines are so powerful and bear such a strong reference..! Beautifully penned :D

    Lots of love,
    Sanaa

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  19. Yes ! I agree with Rosemary - thank you for sharing these luscious parts of your own journey.

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  20. My poem took me to the forest as well.

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  21. You truly love the forest Sherry even to dialogue with your soul about it. A wonderful write

    Much love...

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  22. Mary Oliver would be pleased to read this piece, Sherry, much as I do. I love the inner reflections you have had in this quest and reading through in here feels like to me going on the same quest. Thanks a lot for the shared wisdom my friend. Smiles.

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  23. So many indelible images here, the white owls, the green cathedrals. Definitely one of your best.

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  24. Wow... Poetry and wisdom. Bravo...
    ZQ

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  25. what a wealth of inspiration and wisdom Sherry. I know sometimes we only get to journey there in our minds but the sitting on the loamy forest floor or at the edge of roaring waves is where true breathing in occurs...

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  26. Thanks for sharing this journey with us. I like the poem.

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  27. Sometimes the message is not clear...beautiful piece.

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  28. Your vision quest seems much like the path I am following now...still not clear and the answers are not found but within if I listen carefully....another beautiful poem that is so full of vivid, delightful images Sherry!

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  29. This is epic and mystic and filled with lovely, evocative and primordial wisdom and truth. What a journey; the image of that wizened tree: beautifully sketched.

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  30. I loved this, Sherry! Your words are filled with so much rich imagery. I'd love to be in that forest. Sounds like a very comforting place to be.

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  31. for fear
    the wound of blooming
    will be
    life-threatening.... ,love this line!

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  32. for fear
    the wound of blooming
    will be
    life-threatening...love this line!

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  33. Sherry, the quest will always lead you forward. Interesting last night coming home I saw a deer walking up my street as I was driving down. I stopped to take in the wonder.

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  34. Sherry, loved the journey of your soul, esp. words 'Place your hand on my trunk
    and I will tell you all I know
    about Enduring.' ~ and, yes, the truth inside the heart, we need go deeper....

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  35. I really connected with this poem and can tell it was authored by your soul. :D

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  36. So many wonderful images. Beautiful and clearly heartfelt.

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