finding inner peace

Like a New-Opened Flower

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And if tonight my soul may find her peace

in sleep, and sink in good oblivion,

and in the morning wake like a new-opened flower

then I have been dipped again in God, and new-created.

– D.H. Lawrence, “Shadows” –

 

May you sleep in peace and wake like a new-opened, new-created flower.

Nurture peace. Cultivate kindness. Carry the calm.

 

Nature of the week:

Shadow of the Week:

If you want me to send these thoughts to your email each Sunday, simply sign up on the right.

Text and photos © 2020 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.

In the Stir

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“In the stir of too much motion:

Hold still.

Be quiet.

Listen.”

– Margaret Renkl, Late Migrations –

 

“Hold still.” It’s a curious expression, a lovely image: stillness in our cupped hands, our thirsty hearts, our open minds; restfulness held like a treasure, quietly, carefully, gratefully.

“Hold still.” Nurture peace. Cultivate kindness. Carry the calm.

 

Nature of the week:

Shadow of the Week:

If you want me to send these thoughts to your email each Sunday, simply sign up on the right.

Text and photos © 2020 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.

Pasturing the Soul

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“There is . . .

the fertile silence of awareness, pasturing the soul . . .

the alive silence of alert perception . . .

the silence of peaceful accord with other persons

or communion with the cosmos.”

– Paul Goodman, Speaking and Language –

 

Nurture peace. Cultivate kindness. Pasture your soul, and carry the calm.

You can listen to a beautifully read, one-minute version of Goodman’s thoughts on silence at this link.

 

Nature of the week:

Shadow of the Week:

If you want me to send these thoughts to your email each Sunday, simply sign up on the right.

Text and photos © 2020 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.

They Will Come Again

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“They will come again, the leaf and the flower . . .

Nothing is certain, only the certain spring.”

– Laurence Binyon –

“The Burning of the Leaves”

 

Take courage. Nurture peace. Cultivate kindness. And carry the calm.

 

Nature of the week – a rose in a street flower market in Hanoi:

Shadow of the Week:

If you want me to send these thoughts to your email each Sunday, simply sign up on the right.

Text and photos © 2020 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.

A Glass of Hope

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A special breakfast for you today:

A plate of love,

A bowl of peace,

A spoon of kindness,

A fork of caring,

A glass of hope.

– based on a Vietnamese blessing –

Nurture peace. Cultivate kindness. Carry the calm.

 

Nature of the week – a lotus from my visit to Vietnam/Cambodia:

Shadow of the Week (stretching it to a silhouette) – sunrise at Angkor Wat:

If you want me to send these thoughts to your email each Sunday, simply sign up on the right.

Text and photos © 2020 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.

Before Me, Behind Me

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Before me, may it be delightful.

Behind me, may it be delightful.

Around me, may it be delightful.

Below me, may it be delightful.

Above me, may it be delightful.

All, may it be delightful.

 

– from a Navaho poem, “House Song to the East” –

in Talking to the Sun

 

Nurture peace. Cultivate kindness. Carry the calm.

 

Nature of the week:

Shadow of the Week:

If you want me to send these thoughts to your email each Sunday, simply sign up on the right.

Text and photos © 2020 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.

The Threshold of the Year

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“Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come.”

– Alfred, Lord Tennyson –

 

Hold on to hope. Nurture peace. Cultivate kindness. Carry the calm.

 

Nature of the week – blooming in this warm-weather week of December:

Shadow of the Week:

If you want me to send these thoughts to your email each Sunday, simply sign up on the right.

Text and photos © 2019 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.

The Wonder of Small Gifts

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This day is a gift –

the breeze brushing my face,

the call of the chickadee,

the glint of sunrise on the windowpane,

the flavor of nut-warm coffee

and morning blueberries,

the wonder of breath,

one and then another,

receiving the moment,

the day,

the grace,

the gift.

– KH –

 

In this holiday season of bright bows and shiny paper, may we also find wonder in the small gifts that grace every day.

Nurture peace. Cultivate kindness. Carry the calm.

 

Nature of the week – ice in a flower pot:

Shadow of the Week:

If you want me to send these thoughts to your email each Sunday, simply sign up on the right.

Text and photos © 2019 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.