our Pure Soul

Our wild hearts are contented with little— nature, the arts and simple pleasure, but the world tells us we need more. 

So we drive ourselves into the city, climb a big ladder, pile on commitments. 

Perhaps we long for solitude and freedom, but the world’s demands have us feel guilty for wanting time and space or feel ashamed for saying ‘no’ to the parties and the crowds.

Maybe we have always been acutely aware, spiritually attuned, and see things that others don’t; 

yet the wary gaze from others has us cover our third eye to avoid being seen as mad.

Could it be that we are happy on our own, and yet our friends and family’s uninvited ‘concerns, passing comments and judgements make us believe that having a (conventional, heterosexual, monogamous) romantic partner is a pre-requisite to being ‘alright’? 

Our naturally open heart has always been soft and tender, yet we have carried so many of our protective parents' worries that we now think if we don’t tough up and freeze up, the world will eat us up. 

What if our wild souls have always been free and open, but we have been indoctrinated with the belief that the world is a dangerous place?

Having forgotten our truths, we now believe that we are these strange, sick and lonely creatures.

We no longer do what brings us joy and nourish our souls. 

You have made enough effort down that path of false belonging now;

if that is no longer working for you, if your soul is aching to break through, it might be time now. 

The trouble is, we think we have time. 

The truth is, there is an existential urgency for us to become fully alive, with the finite time we have.

Go inside.

Listen again.

The real you is light and free.

“ I want to unfold. I don’t want to be folded anywhere, because where I am folded, here I am a lie”- Rilke

today’s Experiment: The ‘I AM’ poetry

Using your visual journal, fill in the blanks and write statements/ poetry with the following prompts.

Do not overthink, or worry about its style.

Allow the playful, spontaneous side of you to take hold.

No matter what you write, it is the right thing.

I am _____.

I hear _____.

I see _____.

I long for _____.

I feel _____.

I act as if _____.

I worry _____.

I fear _____.

I want _____.

I try _____.

I dream _____.

I hope _____.

I know _____.

I love _____.

Review the sentences you have completed, and pick three lines that jump out at you.

What about them makes them powerful, surprising, or revealing?

Now, find an image- either online or in magazines and newspapers- to match each of the three ‘I am’ statements you picked, and paste them in your journal.