50th B-day celebration, 2004, Marc Bass on harmonica

Tuning In

3/19/09

There is no greater imperative

for 'know thy self' is at the root

of understanding life's existence

through singularly unique filters

our 'body/mind/spirit/emotion' entity

that is constantly recreating itself

according to circumstances pressing in

and how we equate, assume, react,

where response reveals inner world,

jerky, graceful, empowered, fearful,

often only seen in the distancing,

days, weeks, years pass for hindsight

to witness missed cues or actions taken

then measured according to criteria

mostly that of family, societal upbringing,

amount of education, our working knowledge,

plus wisdom gleaned or imparted by elders

comparing ourselves to others idolized

whether affections are justified or not

which becomes ground for discovery

depending the depth we choose to dig,

do we passively accept what's fed us

or chew on a wide world of ideas

finding our own individual sustenance

no matter how anyone else does it

by tuning in to what turns us on.

Hogminay Fireworks,  Kinloch, Isle of Mull 2006

New Information

3/3/09

In this ever changing world

I make sense according to input

the knowledge gathered and retained

along my 'journey song' path

and often current data can color

or reframe many life experiences

perhaps finally understanding 'why'

I chose some way of acting out

thinking at the time it was right,

truly who I was, never to vary,

only to find otherwise years later

that meaning and truth shift

on this slippery slope of reality

which takes balance to navigate,

being able to adjust one's center,

keep coming back to what is,

my constant responsibility to influence,

be self author of my existence

mustering as much creative power

this mind/body/heart/soul can

while intuiting my feelings for grace,

ease, and flow which will define me,

in high expression, from innate abilities

those that often lie dormant, waiting

for new information to bring them to life.

 Lighthouse and Wharf  from Seabright Beach, Santa Cruz

Chemistry

2/27/09

Some say this is what life is, 

atoms, neurons, active ingredients

even inert substances, interacting,

now we find thoughts spur on adrenals,

fluids course associated with value,

depending if positive, negative, or neutral,

flowing into and flushing our system as affect

until we react with fight, flight, or freeze

perhaps not really agreeing to any

consciously, as our body runs old program

some learned response from past

contrasting with an empowered decision

that lets in emotions to be fully felt

to gather wisdom from different parts

activated in situations, such as 'personas',

and often we are thrown into mystery,

the unfamiliar or previously denied,

territories waiting to be discovered

which flesh out deeper understanding

expand awareness, compassion, trust,

reaffirming that we adapt, survive,

most trauma or drama encountered

when living what is true each moment,

though in comparison it feels less than,

tentative, remembering resourceful times

our chemistry brought out the best in us.