As I continue with this poem of Maya Angelou’s, so reminiscent of Walt Whitman and British Romantics in many ways, I am floored by the message this poem conveys, still applicable, now more than ever. The choice to personify elements of Nature like “the Rock, the River, the Tree” reveals Spirit-essence in all. The energies of life beating, vibrating, emitting from all in this Universe waits to be tapped. We raise our minds, souls, and bodies to perceive these frequencies by choosing to hear Heart, discover Self, and create Purpose. Here is my response and thoughts to you, Dr. Angelou, of your profound words of love and light.
From the Rock’s testimony of the past, pronouncements and observations of the present, and prophecy of the future, Maya seamlessly slides into the voice of the River: “Across the wall of the world, / A river sings a beautiful song…” The River offers a place of reflection on her shores, a place to consider her song. Not many of us consider the unnatural boundaries humanity has traced on the face of globes, those shapes and entities defined by us as nations. Quite often, rivers demarcate the borders: “Each of you a bordered country…” One of the functions of Ego is to isolate. The existence of nations indicates Ego-energy. In my opinion, their existence shows people, mostly men, who deliberately chose Ego and denied Heart. Strong statement? The river would agree, wouldn’t it, Maya? The river’s estimate of nations recognizes that they are “delicate and strangely made proud…” Why “strangely made proud?” Because they are artificial, they are weak, “delicate.” They rise and fall, sometimes overnight — no cause for pride. Oh, yes, this is River’s intended message — no doubting: the nations are “thrusting perpetually under siege.” The unbridled expressions of hyper-nationalism seen both now and throughout history in many countries might make egotists think they are powerful, but they’re not. Truly strong nations would not have to fight endlessly. Of course, examples of such nations are hard to come by. Why? The ability to wage and win wars — the only possible result of Ego-fueled nationalism — is certainly not based on Heart-energy. Rather, this penchant for flexing muscles derives from this: “Your armed struggles for profit / Have left collars of waste upon / My shore, currents of debris upon my breast.” Nature ravaged by the Ego-choices of humanity, the unabashed dash for wealth, power, and control, results in death and destruction. River has witnessed war from the inception of nations from its unique vantage point of being a border. How can we learn such deep wisdom? “If you will study war no more.” But what about them? What about the threats? What about those who won’t give us what we want? What about…? Keep asking the questions. The answer is the same: “Come, clad in peace and I will sing the songs…” They are songs of peace, harmony, and natural order, the natural laws in place from the beginning “when I / And the tree and the stone were one.” These are the tenets, the precepts, to which the founders of America were attuned, even though the reality of much of the Natural Law escaped them in practice. However, Heart-energy discerns these laws, always has. Those in the fellowship of the Heart perceive Ego and know that individuals must have the opportunity to discover Self and create Purpose. When were these laws enacted? “Before cynicism was a bloody sear across your brow / And when you yet knew you still knew nothing.” No Ego arguments, no rationalizations, no alarmist fears, no hubris and pounding of chests. River, in its ever-flowing course, has a song to sing to us of peace, harmony, and natural law, a song of Heart-energy, Spirit. There is no virtue in knowing everything, all the political stances, always being right, or whenever superior knowledge is touted as desirable, because no one knows everything except those who know they do not. Omniscience is Ego’s feeble attempt to control our world. The evidence of Heart within each of us is found here with the River: “There is a true yearning to respond to / The singing river and the wise rock.” The fact that we, many of us, long for a swift end to foolish Ego hostilities and learn from Nature shows Heart-energy operates in us and longs for productive peace. Hope.
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Questions to consider:How many times have you asked yourself or simply thought about the following questions?
Who am I, really? What is my truth? How do my actions reveal what I really feel and believe? What would I do with my life if I could do anything? What is my passion? Why am I here? How can I discover answers to any of these questions? If you have considered any of these questions, I hope that my experiences and writing will give you some guidance. Please read my blog and comment and share your thoughts. I would love to hear from you! Archives
December 2019
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