WILDLY FREE ELDER
The Artistry of Aging
Day 4/Elder Muse: Circles of Motion
To pray you open your whole self
To sky, to earth, to sun, to moon
To one whole voice that is you.
And know there is more
That you can’t see, can’t hear;
Can’t know except in moments
Steadily growing, and in languages
That aren’t always sound but other
Circles of motion.
Like eagle that Sunday morning
Over Salt River. Circled in blue sky
In wind, swept our hearts clean
With sacred wings.
We see you, see ourselves and know
That we must take the utmost care
And kindness in all things.
Breathe in, knowing we are made of
All this, and breathe, knowing
We are truly blessed because we
Were born, and die soon within a
True circle of motion,
Like eagle rounding out the morning
Inside us.
We pray that it will be done
In beauty.
In beauty.
From In Mad Love and War. Copyright © 1990 by Joy Harjo. Reprinted with kind permission of Wesleyan University Press. Image by Sylvain Mauroux/Unsplash
I begin this days Elder Muse post with the poem above. Indeed, I perceive life in its entirety as a regenerative flow of energy in constant motion. The beauty takes my breath away as light weaves a tapestry with shadow.
More now than ever before I feel the fragility that is embodied life. Moments are precious.
Wouldn’t you want your last breath to be “like eagle rounding out the morning inside” filled with the beauty of a life well lived in the elements of wholeness…..
ABOUT ELDER MUSE – 31-DAYS IN DECEMBER, 2022
Taking responsibility for our own journey is at times incredibly challenging. For those of you who read this blog regularly you may have noticed there was only one blog post published from September-November.
I was on a journey of exploration and discovery on how it felt to work a temporary part time mainstream job 20-hours/week, as well as continue on with my own private house/pet sitting business at the same time. It seemed my writing and creativity went into a hibernation of sorts.
I became acutely aware of what is most important to me at this precious elder time of life..and what is not. What opens me to wholeness, creativity, compassion, beauty, peace of mind and love….and what shuts me down into scarcity and contraction in the midst, of “busyness”. .
From this short 3-month experience the “elder muse” made an appearance and patiently waited to reveal a plan to re-engage with creative artistry when the timing was right. Over the next 31 days you will receive a daily Elder Muse blog post accessed from the unfolding of the day – not planned or scheduled.
I have no idea what will arise…..but then do we really know ahead of time what our moment to moment daily experience will be? We are only asked to pay attention.
Case in point – Just now I almost missed this sunrise extravaganza while focused on the words instead of the ever transitioning beauty emerging right out the window…….
I appreciate that you will be along with me for this journey. Please feel free to make comments or add your own insights and humor…..
In Gratitude & Appreciation!
I am so happy you are doing this 31 day journey.
I’m enjoying the spontaneous energy imbued in these writings.
Very creative and in the moment.
I really enjoyed yesterday’s one that included the 107 year old dancer!
Yes! May that be all of us elders no matter how
Long we live.
I need to dive deep and heal my knee so I can dance within this elder journey of mine.
I am wondering if “dancing” can be held as everything Sbiohan? Expressing from our heart and soul not just physical. As Eileen Kramer ages you see her move from standing to sitting (see 108th birthday party video)….and I am willing to bet that she will still be “dancing”, even if in her imagination on her final embodied breath. So appreciate your comments and acknowledgement of this unfolding 31-day journey! With Love, Gaye
One day at a time, one hour at a time our almost 50 years of marraige is cherished and lived … my dimming brain power to remember what I took for granted is swept away by the eagle wings of Life but joy comes each morning with my husbands faithful return to our bedroom for stretching exercises and shared heart stories as well as plans for the day. Life in the aging brain is about wisdom and community building I’ve been told – (not productivity) which comforts me! I can do this focus on love of whomever comes near – one hour at a time – instead of feeling shame and fear at loss of memory. Your beautiful words, picture, poetry are so WELCOME back… you have a place in my heart!
Nathalie! Your eloquent words and the sentiment behind them fills me with appreciation and opens my heart. Sharing love with all life that moves towards and away from us is one of the many gifts of being at this wise stage of life. We are creating new memories in every single moment and interaction. They then fall away to make room for the next and the next and the next. Such a stage of letting go is elderhood! It feels as if you are walking that path with great awareness. I honor your almost 50 years of marriage and the devotion that it has taken to make that journey. Sending LOVE and gratitude your way…..Gaye