I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for JoRene Byers’s reflection and poem “New Moon, Beloved Darkness”.
I wrote this poem after setting aside time to prayfully gather the beautiful symbolic elements, and lighting the candles in a sacred manner for the mandala. Every step is taken with gentle awareness: asking first, giving thanks, offering the beauty and fragrance of the incense of herbs, spices, flowers, fruit, and flame. The generosity of the more than human world always humbles and comforts me. This gathering returns me to my best self, and gives me a way to honor the changing seasons of earth and heart, from grief to joy to deep peace.
New Moon, Beloved Darkness
This is the elegant time
of perfumed thoughts,
when dreams are sent into the ethers
and the sky rains down starlight
to kiss the eyelids of devotees
everywhere.
Fragrant ginger and nutmeg
warm the fire of possibility.
A wish may be fulfilled
and singing heard again.
The tea leaves whisper of
sirens and firelight.
The moon grows now,
as my dreams take root
to flourish
and nourish,
and become real to the touch.
This is the bounty of the moon,
the roots setting forth
so the tendrils
can grow into the light,
the light that loves
unendingly.
JoRene Byers lives in the High Desert, grateful for the visitations of the holy ones: hawks, quail, Mountain Bluebirds, Northern Flickers and coyotes; clouds and dancing stars. Her poetry has been translated into Chinese for Poetry Hall. Visit: Hoffman Center for the Arts and Instagram.com/terry.jorene
