The sadness, and the joy

The preparing, oh, the sharing.

Easy gets harder, one by one, declaring,

adieu and farewell to this, without lies;

the squares and the heights, the city lines and city skies,

the sacred spaces, the familiar faces,

the shitty places, the unfriendly faces,

the good spots, the special shops,

soon memories, like melting dewdrops,

for new routes and trajectories

the paths we shall walk

the promenades where we'll talk.

And inside the heart is light

as each heavy farewell in sight

as each precious piece, ready for release,

the concerns, slowly lifted

my soul and body already drifted

from the river to the sea

carried by the Thames of pains

to the Sea of new views, new window banes

The sadness, carried floating down the river

Once in the sea, lost forever,

and the joy of the new life ahead,

the fresh new start,

like the first morning bread;

it's time to part.

(For soon we shall part from London and go to Margate,

 the last posts here are about the journey)

 

Joseph Mallord William Turner - Margate, from the Sea [c.1835-40]

Smooth Sailing

To fill each tethered sail, the winds must blow in harmony, while gentle currents flow, and if good fortune wishes to prevail, the winds must blow to fill each tethered sail. To still the roaring sea the winds must calm for sailing ships to play their faring psalm, and when St. Elmo hears a sailor’s plea, the winds must calm to still the roaring sea. To stem a tempest surge, the currents stream beneath the bow, from port to starboard beam, for ev’ry sailor knows, before their sails emerge, the currents stream to stem the tempest surge. As tides recede in rhythm with the moon, that beams its brilliance, making lovers swoon, the rains subside while railing winds concede in rhythm with the moon, as tides recede. Beyond the stormy night, when rains subside, the winds will sing in tempo to the tide. A rainbow may surprise the morning’s light when rains subside beyond the stormy night.

Copyright © Mark Massey 

Trust the Universe

 

For the four directions

to guide me through

this journey shall be

as smooth and as pain free

For the West is our past

we release, we let go

let go with intention, 

holding memories cherished

let go of these walls, release

passing and releasing

letting go, blessed be

May the next people love and cherish

grow and live contently in our home

like we loved and cherished and 

created a beautiful life in this home

Blessed be

For the North is our life

as it is a strong family

with strong ethos

patient and steady

for these walls made us safe 

and secured a healthy home

with good meals, 

colours and scents, comfort

for our furniture served us well

Blessed be

May the people who will live in this house 

also be happy, strong and healthy

Blessed be

For the East, our new beginning,

Our new home waiting, 

may we start a beautiful

calm and steady life

breath in and out, breathe

the new air, the fresh start,

the new life, awaiting

connect with a creative community

May we be inspired and continue

to learn and grow, offer our skills

and knowledge and give and receive

May we continue our journey

our new life, peace, nature and 

good things to come along the way

Blessed be

May we be content, cherish and love

our new home, the way the people

loved their home, blessings

May they also find a new beautiful home and continue their journey

with love and peace and joy

Blessed be

For the South, our will

to move and create a new life

to say goodbye to this place

for all the passion and work we put here

may we take our strength and passion 

to our new place, and go through these changes

let us gather energy the good intentions

the good and the new, with courage

releasing, breathing out,

with courage, breathing in

breath out, release

gather life force, be bold

through the process, accept the ups and downs

and the lengthy legal journey

may we be steady and be strong

focus, stay calm and centred 

until we reach the final outcome

to celebrate the things to come

Blessed be

Trust the Universe

Salt water

 

Times are changing

Even passing through the yearning

for the picture is still far

needing the journey to encounter

obstacles, like huge waves crashing

on the rocks, not quite at shore 

yet, riding over and under

the tumultuous hours

tasting a bit sour

salt water in my eyes

Bittersweet, pounding heart,

holding tight, here we go

keep the faith

keep the faith

Trust the universe

Follow the seagulls

Heart pounding, leaping forward

Spring sun and wind, the changes begin

As the birds, preparing, nesting,

flying south and getting ready

For now the clearing and the shimmering horizon

the sea is calling

things to come, the changes

rebuild a cosy nest

a place to restore and rest

leaving, shedding, ridding,

to embrace the new

a calmer and simpler life ahead

below, a passage from 

Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking

By Walt Whitman

 Shine! shine! shine!

Pour down your warmth, great sun!

While we bask, we two together.

Two together!

Winds blow south, or winds blow north,

Day come white, or night come black,

Home, or rivers and mountains from home,

Singing all time, minding no time,

While we two keep together.

Inner to outer

 

From inner to outer

the good vibes

and the lowdown

What really matters

is change in our lives

and look after your own

So be it, blue sky, green sea

crystal clear, aquamarine,

smooth over, find and see

move away from the has been

All of it, embrace it all

Hear the gentle waves call

Margate seaside sunset

Of Skies, seas and spring

 

March winds, cold and bitter, yet,

as the fog lifts to reveal promising 

glorious sun shine,

a faint whiff of blossoms;

my heart fills, the air feel lighter.

Sky and sea, blue and true, 

Spring arrives with promises

of good changes

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Who can resolve for us the mysteries of earth, the wonder of reviving life in the spring?

Not all the stars in the sky are as wonderful as the bursting seed; or the tiny green shoot, or the first brave flower defying the storm.

The birds return, and in the dawn they form cathedral choirs rejoicing in the light.

The scampering squirrels take up the glad refrain – The spring is here!

The trees sing in the wind, and little streams swell into leaping, laughing torrents,

The dead leaves nestling on the earth whisper a glorious secret to the wind: The earth is stirring with new life!

Where yesterday the drifting snow covered grey leaves, impetuous green today thrusts upwards towards the light.

All nature sings, for light is life, and warmth and rain are life.

This is the truth that passes understanding; this is the joy to all forever free:

Life springs from death and shatters every fetter, and winter yields to spring eternally.

 From: The Wonder of Reviving Life by Robert T. Weston, from Songs for Living.

Prayer by Judith Quarles

 

Spirit of life, bring to us beauty – the beauty of snowdrops and tulip shoots.

 

Bring to us strength – the strength of torrents of spring streams and the quiet strength of roots pushing deep into the ground for nourishment.

 

Bring to us pleasure – the pleasures of maple syrup sticky and sweet on our tongues and the wind grabbing a kite and taking it high – if only we could go too!

 

Bring to us wisdom – the knowledge that new life springs up without help. In spite of everything we do or don’t, green shoots will bring in the spring; grass and weeds and dandelions will appear.

 

Bring to us love – springtime love has magic in it. The children look cherubic, the parents look eager, the lovers look lost, the seniors look satisfied. Let springtime love be a part of our lives. Spirit of life, come to us that all the energy and power of spring will make us tall and smiling and expectant.

 

The Calling of The Sea

 

The Calling of The Sea

Grey waters, blue skies,

Blue waters, grey skies.

Salty winds of fresh and 

the new, with the old crashing, like waves

of memories past and the ones that will come.

Change is needed for the soul need renewal,

the bones, healing and the mind, settling.

Recharging, energizing and refreshing,

This is now the time to go listen to the sea,

She is calling and she is waiting.

photo from https://www.urban75.org/blog/margate-photos-the-beach-dreamland-turner-gallery-old-town-and-more/

Imbolc

 Awake awake

The earth still dreams Beneath the frost A candle gleams Awake awake The wheel has turned A fire lights Within the earth Strike the drum Let the fire burn bright Imbolc stirs From the heart of night Blessed Brigid You are the flame That guides us to The light of day Snowdrops rise The maiden's crown And green shoots spring from The frozen ground The lamb's soft cry The milk of life He breaks the still Of winter's night Strike the drum Let the fire burn bright Imbolc stirs From the heart of night Blessed Brigid You are the flame That guides us to The light of day Awake awake The wheel has turned The fire inside Gently burns Bless this land The sky and the sea Brigid's light will Set us free

Molly Anne Chinner

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7-2TnPgQwg

​A Celtic Blessing of Light

 

May the blessing of light be on you – light without and light within.

May the blessed sunlight shine on you like a great peat fire,
so that stranger and friend may come and warm himself at it.
And may light shine out of the two eyes of you,
like a candle set in the window of a house,
bidding the wanderer come in out of the storm.

And may the blessing of the rain be on you,
may it beat upon your Spirit and wash it fair and clean,
and leave there a shining pool where the blue of Heaven shines,
and sometimes a star.

And may the blessing of the earth be on you,
soft under your feet as you pass along the roads,
soft under you as you lie out on it, tired at the end of day;
and may it rest easy over you when, at last, you lie out under it.

May it rest so lightly over you that your soul may be out from under it quickly; up and off and on its way to God.
And now may the Lord bless you, and bless you kindly.

 

To A Snowdrop

By William Wordsworth

Lone Flower, hemmed in with snows and white as they
But hardier far, once more I see thee bend
Thy forehead, as if fearful to offend,
Like an unbidden guest. Though day by day,
Storms, sallying from the mountain-tops, waylay
The rising sun, and on the plains descend;
Yet art thou welcome, welcome as a friend
Whose zeal outruns his promise! Blue-eyed May
Shall soon behold this border thickly set
With bright jonquils, their odours lavishing
On the soft west-wind and his frolic peers;
Nor will I then thy modest grace forget,
Chaste Snowdrop, venturous harbinger of Spring,
And pensive monitor of fleeting years!

January

 

"Winter; listen to the wind, feel the frost on the ground,

seek the warmth that resides within and around.

Hear, now, and see, in stillness, the wonder,

quiet, slow, oh so slow, silently whisper,

white mantle reflecting the holding mind

warmth, seeking, feeling kind.

Hear the slow pulse of Mother sleeping

breathe with her, in sweet surrendering

January trees, in the hazy, still morning light, 

in the pale misty windy night

branches twisting, bending, dancing

silhouettes painting the clear sky, reaching