We were taught that life

is a series of paths and crossroads. 

That we should look at a map, 

chart our course, 

and never cease moving, 

efforting, striving, 

problem solving, 

until we have arrived at our destination. 

Detours and bumps in the road 

are hurdles to overcome. 

We are not to be deterred. 

 

And then one day

from the center of the path

we look around 

and can see no familiar landmarks. 

The destination was a mirage. 

The detours we rushed through

were moments of 

enormous possibility

for presence, noticing, awakening. 

 

With road signs, 

the architecture of assumptions,

and the comfort of knowing

where we stand

fallen away,

flames of opportunity

for self-knowing,

beloved connection,  

and adventure

beckon from the periphery

of our tunnel vision. 

 

May our breath calm and center us

as panic rises. 

Simultaneous elation and terror

at casting off the habits of a lifetime

and venturing into the unknown. 

 

May our guides arrive

just as we despair

and offer direction 

-- sometimes subtle, and easy to miss -- 

but that we have learned to attend

as we have learned

to hear the birds instead of the traffic

and the moon over our fear of the night. 

 

May layers of clarity 

of purpose and connection

integrity and alignment

soothe the rough edges 

that irritated our sleep

and prickled our relationships 

so that we may move

-- most of the time -- 

with grace and ease

and knowing 

that to move with grace and ease 

all the time

would be to strive for perfection

which we no longer aspire to

feeling in our guts and hearts 

the beauty and necessity 

of failure, grief and loss. 

 

May we move

through doorways 

and portals

and ocean waves

with steadiness

knowing that if we can 

name our yearnings

and crawl or stride or swim toward them

with clear hearts

the universe will provide

companions and readiness

to cross over when the time is right

requiring courage 

but not force.

 

And that what lies 

on the other side

is self-knowing

and that it is worth 

every conversation

and trembling collapse

and earth-shaking realization

along the way

because in those moments

we will be fully living

and already on our way.

​

- By Ariel Brooks -