Community Healing

A lonely feather lays down among the daisies for a child like nap

We have embark on a wonderful journey together using poetry to explore and inform our lives. To that end I thought it relevant to share some valuable tenents developed by Parker Palmer creator of the "Circle of Trust Approach." This quote from his book A Hidden Wholeness puts the approach into per

We are merely seeds that have landed on a patch of soil. Be still and know that I am God Droplets of dew that shimmer on the leaves like bits of a shattered rainbow. Be still and know that I am Black, orange, and white monarch butterflies that flutter from milkweed to milkweed. Be still and know M

Enough This Word This Breath This Sitting This Being This Moment Now Penny Salazar-Phillips 4/29/20

A Voice As Sweet As Honey In the still of the night moonlight shimmers and dances on a tranquil sea. I hear a voice as sweet as honey, an Angels voice. "Come sit with me and enjoy the pink Moon." So I take a little time. Watching the changing color of the waves silently break upon the shore. We sit

Lectio approach with each poem Our first reading - is an opportunity to get to know the poem. I listen carefully for any words or phrases that seem to jump out. It’s important not to force things, but wait patiently. We will then sit in meditation/contemplation for 3 minutes. The second reading of t

Looking out the window the only sound I hear is the hum of the Pellet stove that warms the room. Amidst and amongst those at the table faces of folks at war with themselves for so many years that they had forgotten why heavy their burdens hard to carry no one able or willing to lift a finger to h

Here are the results of my contemplation this morning on Grief and Gratitude. I feel incredibly vulnerable posting these as writing poetry is totally new to me and improvising on the harp only slightly less new! I did the harp improv while meditating on the short poem I had written just before. I wo

Vague thoughts racing through my mind as the aspen leaves twinkle in the wind. Silence A love that conquers hate, justice that rises above greed, joy that is triumphant over sadness. Silence Tragedy, suffering, pain, betrayal, lamentations, that descend and are hurled about by the waves of a turb

I let myself sit on my cushion. I let myself feel the vast depth of my need for people. I let myself feel the joy of not being afraid of my need. I am aligned with this joy. No longer am I armored. I am like the moist slug resting on a leaf, with no shell to protect, glistening and utterly vulnerabl

This great pull in us... Light of moon Whisper of love Melody of knowing Embrace of beauty Rhythm of breath What every other eye is… Longing to see Dying to speak Hungering to hear Aching to touch Craving to savor Why not come to be… The returning The dance The

Trunks of pine trees dark poles vertical lines against white snow. A standing city of muted people. Skinny, with no arms, rooted declaring, “You are in my world now.” Looking right, looking left, thousands of armless poles… I answer them, “Where is your life?” My labo