In my 'medicine wheel'. 

(photo by Art Durand Photography)

Altered States

3/22/09

This body, it's ganglia of impulses

is so easily effected by us,

not only by food consumed

liquids, vitamins, supplements,

but exercise, our social activities

friends and family we converse with

plus special intimate love connections,

there is animal companion influence,

our environment, urban or rural,

including inner landscape as individual

innate interests naturally drawn to,

what brings joy without question

or disdain from vibrational mismatch,

no doubt our thoughts are potent,

spurring emotions, activating adrenals,

sweeping us high, laying us low

often on roller coaster out of control,

add substance use, or abuse to the mix

and humans can become volatile cocktail

messing with one's chemical makeup

to discover temporary formula for peace,

happiness, love of self and this world,

while our 'soul', the 'spiritual witness',

observes this theater of the absurd,

guiding and encouraging us toward balance,

instilling life, as ceremony, into altered states.