the dandilion

i've often thought of the dandilion as a good metaphor for me.

sure, it's a weed, which we have been trained to spot & pluck & despise in our yards.
but any child will pick the yellow bloom & beam as they hand this pretty little flower to you, prompting you to put in a vase.

it's something beautiful built on a flaw.
something bright that grows out of what is defined as ugly and bad.

i'm hoping that all my mistakes, my shortcomings and crazy detours have created a strength and beauty in me as bright as that familiar golden flowering weed.

(and what about the furry white kind you can blow into the wind? SO fun & a little naughty, too, knowing all those weed seeds are being cast about- yay!)

maybe once i have enough cash-flow for a landscaper i'll change my tune, but for now i quite like the dandilion. it suits me ;)

in my bowl of saki today...

"Commentary by Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan:

In order to reach spiritual perfection the first thing is to destroy this false self. First this delusion must be destroyed. And this is done by the ways taught by the great teachers, ways of concentration and meditation, by the power of which one forgets oneself and removes one's consciousness from oneself, in other words rises from one's limited being. In this way a person effaces himself from his own consciousness, and places God in his consciousness instead of his limited self. And it is in this way that he arrives at that perfection which every soul is seeking."

i just accepted a beautiful gift from a friend (i gave her & her spouse a couples massage at snowbird on their anniversary, and her exchange was an amazing surprise...) she teaches yoga & has a free year-long pass that she can give to whoever & she chose me, after hanging onto it for 5 mos! it's something i would never do for myself (a bit spendy!) & i used it for the 1st time yesterday morning~ i am thrilled and inspired to make this practice a bigger part of my life.

AND i interviewed to do my supervision at a private practice that shares space w/ bodyworkers & is totally me. my supervisor does transpersonal social work & that is also my area of focus. it's a perfect fit & we were also brought together by a dear friend.

seeing the connections like this & feeling guided on this path somehow is very humbling & beautiful. i feel like i am being provided with many teachers & opportunities to let go of my ego. (now if my ass will follow...) my life has felt very full today- just had to share.

blessings,
mel!nda

~(o)~first~time~fire~hooping~(o)~

the swoo~oosh, swoo~oosh, ro(o)ar encirling my middle
that floo~oo~oo~oor'd me
to(o)ar my mind up!
i took fear by the hips
we did the twist instead
fire, ice, breath and
ooo~ooo, (o)yes and ho(o)ly shit
...h i p s...