POEM: Compassion’s Shelter
My last post was about fighting for freedom, which seemed to resonate with a lot of people. This next poem, about compassion, sparked from my favourite stanza of Fighting Fear (below), and a breath of fresh air on a night where it’s both raining and snowing at the same time.
I am a shelter,
Creating safety in a storm.
I give love freely,
From this hope is born.
Compassion’s Shelter
Compassion cradles me,
A reassuring cloak wrapping
Its wisdom web around me,
Shrugging off the burden.
Calm, grounded, it whispers
Things I already know, but have
Forgotten and remembered
And forgotten again.
Contentment beckons,
Santosha, santosha,
Shanti, shanti, shanti.
A dance within.
This grand, wild chance
At living freely, truly,
Is worth every fail.
Rest, then begin again.
Original poem by Katrina Ariel
Santosha
I am actually wearing a cloak as I type this. The weight helps ground me. It’s green velvet with a soft cotton lining, and I want to put up my hood and go out in the rain-snow night and listen to the quiet.
In case you were wondering, santosha is part of the Yamas and Niyamas, which are the ethical principles that guide yogic philosophy. To simplify it, santosha describes a deep contentment that comes from surrendering need for control. You do your best and realize the outcome is out of your hands.
Santosha is to be able to relax and feel this single breath, right now... To remember that none of this is permanent. To be humble enough not to be attached to outcome.
I haven’t mastered any of this, but it’s nice to remember and put to use in whatever ways I can.
Shanti means peace. It’s a common mantra:
Om shanti, shanti, shanti.
Peace to your mind. Peace to your body. Peace to your heart. Peace to your soul.
Take care of yourself. You are a gift!
Peace. @katrina-ariel
(All photos mine unless otherwise stated.)
Author bio: Katrina Ariel is an old-soul rebel, musician, tree-hugging yogini, and mama bear to twins. Author of Yoga for Dragon Riders (non-fiction) and Wild Horse Heart (romance), she's another free-spirit swimming in the ocean of Steemit.
dragon art: Liiga Smilshkalne
Banner by @PegasusPhysics
Banner by @bearone
very nice , Heartfull
You are a talented lady with a heart of gold. The first poem that I read from you was the one about fighting for freedom, and I felt excited and strong after reading it, and with this one you made me feel different, you made me feel quiet, relax, peaceful. Those are the emotions you put in our hearts when you write. May you have an amazing life.
So glad you're enjoying my poetry. Thanks for finding me here. All my best to you!
Your words calm me down, and who doen't need help to calm down in our crazy world
We all need calm. I write what I need most. ;) Thanks for reading!
Yes. So much chaos in the world, it's good to focus on calm and peace sometimes. Thanks for your comment! :)
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Beautifully written. Sometimes letting it all go and being happy in the current now can be a challenge. :-) But try we must. Have a great day.
Such a challenge to let things go! But definitely a fantastic practice. Thanks for reading!
Wow, the post is beautiful, same as the picture, is that you? the view is perfect. Love it!!
Thank you! Yes, that's me with Mt. Robson in the background. Gorgeous spot. :)
Thank you @katrina-ariel . A really beautiful poem. That discipline of Santosha sounds really beneficial. I think consciously surrendering Control is something we should all strive for at different times in our lives. Thnx. again.
Surrendering attachment is so hard! But, yes, a worthy aim for sure. Do your best, but don't cling to the results. Life teaches us so much. Thanks for your comment!
Another great write Katrina, this stanza stood out to me:
As if you were summoning the elements themselves, unleashing your inner shaman. Your rhythms are as soothing as the cradle of compassion itself :)
Aw, thank you! Yes, I think often my poems (even some of my posts) turn into spells of sorts. But, truly, words are power. Thoughts are power. What we focus on we create, so yes! :)
The idea of the spell itself is so interesting, going back in folktales and myths for millennia, showing that we understood the incredible power of words long before theories about them were first constructed. Keep it up, I love your style :)
Nice poem, I enjoyed the rhythm of it.
It reminds me a little of I've if my favourite poets, David Whyte, do you know him? I would highly recommend The House of Belonging.