Wonder, Wordsworth ... via Klein

wonder: “The first act of awe, when man was struck with the beauty or wonder of Nature, was the first spiritual experience.” ~ Henryk Skolimowski

Indeed, wonder and awe can … bring about an epiphany … render us speechless … but can also evoke passionate words or poetry stemming from the “deep within” … a form of creativity arising from silence : “… From your Silence comes creativity …” ~ Jean Klein

Of course, one of the greatest examples of the poetry art form arising from the “deep within” is Rumi : his realization (in the depths of inconsolable grief of missing and searching for Shams) that he was already (and always) That which he was searching for; resulted in him uttering amazing poetry (scribed by others) over the last 30 years of his life – that continues to enthrall millions across the globe some 700+ years later …

Today, we offer some small examples of such wonder through William Wordsworth : one of the founders of English Romanticism … also “… remembered as a poet of spiritual and epistemological speculation, a poet concerned with the human relationship to nature and a fierce advocate of using the vocabulary and speech patterns of common people in poetry …”

So, … pause … read … reflect … pause … read again … reflect deeper … and see what is revealed … 🙂

Wonder: The Rainbow

My heart leaps up when I behold A rainbow in the sky:
So was it when my life began;
So is it now I am a man;

So be it when I shall grow old, Or let me die!

The Child is father of the Man;
And I could wish my days to be Bound each to each by natural piety.

It is a beauteous evening

It is a beauteous evening, calm and free,
The holy time is quiet as a Nun
Breathless with adoration; the broad sun
Is sinking down in its tranquillity;

The gentleness of heaven broods o’er the Sea:
Listen! the mighty Being is awake,
And doth with his eternal motion make
A sound like thunder—everlastingly.

Dear Child! dear Girl! that walkest with me here,
If thou appear untouched by solemn thought,
Thy nature is not therefore less divine:
Thou liest in Abraham’s bosom all the year;
And worship’st at the Temple’s inner shrine,
God being with thee when we know it not.

~ William Wordsworth

Above poems are excerpted from from The Book Of Listening by Jean Klein and are published here with the publisher New Sarum Press ‘ generous permission.

Wonder and awe help us remember our humanity … that we are all part of one universal family … so, to honor that “family spirit,” let us help our fellow family members in Ukraine … in whatever way we can … so here are some options:

1) NPR: Want to support the people in Ukraine? Here’s how you can help

2) Washington Post: Here’s how Americans can donate to help people in Ukraine.

3) Go Fund Me: How to Help: Donate to Ukraine Relief Efforts.

4) USA Today: Want to support the people of Ukraine? These apps and websites can help you send money.

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We are all facing financial challenges but IF your situation allows you to donate and help then please do so …

THANK YOU!