Do you know the 13th century Persian poet, Rumi?
Maybe yes, maybe no.
It doesn't really matter -
You don't need to be a literature scholar
Or a spiritual scholar To be moved by his words.
In fact, it's better if we just stay out of our heads.
There's a Rumi poem I want to share with you -
Because by virtue of you being here, I know this to be true about you -
You won't stay asleep.
Read on. You'll know exactly what I mean by that. And have the courage to keep going...
through whatever is tripping you up in this moment.
Before I share it, what you may not know about Rumi is that he had a spiritual teacher. Who abruptly left. Leaving Rumi to endure the pain of the separation. His anguish was transformed through his writings - Thousands of words and poems. Which speak to us still. Now, today.
Soaked with love, connection, meaning, grief and heartbreak, Rumi's poems reconnect us
to the indescribable power of love that resides within us.
In one particular poem, Ode 314,
Rumi describes a Love so powerful -
that if you don't drink it in fully,
it's depths, it's fullness, it's sharpness...
You might as well stay asleep.
Rumi's talking about a spiritual sleep. A veil between our interconnectedness and the physical and mental world around us.
Resulting in the farce we believe is real: a farce of separateness and aloneness.
Read it for yourself (translated by Coleman Barks) -
See where you can recognize yourself...
Ode 314 Those who don’t feel this Love pulling them like a river, those who don’t drink dawn like a cup of spring water or take in sunset like supper, those who don’t want to change, let them sleep. This Love is beyond the study of theology, that old trickery and hypocrisy. I you want to improve your mind that way, sleep on. I’ve given up on my brain. I’ve torn the cloth to shreds and thrown it away. If you’re not completely naked, wrap your beautiful robe of words around you, and sleep. “Like This” Coleman Barks, Maypop, 1990
Rumi is not talking about you when he says "Let them sleep". He's not talking about you when he says "Sleep on"
You're different - and that path can be tricky to navigate
Especially while others around you, well, snooze.
Let me be clear, there's no judgement in staying asleep.
We all were at some point.
And staying asleep, in the short run, is actually easier...
Rhythmic in our routine. Comfort in the transactional. Yet there comes a day, for us all, When the stirring for more makes itself known. A drop at first. Or a bucket of rain all at once. But it comes. For each and everyone one of us.
It's the blessing of life. And once we taste it, we can choose to remain awake to it - Or nestle back into the comfort of the veil, and fade away.
My ask of you is just today, don't hide. Stay awake to the stirring within you.
See it in the small things -
The way the sun hits the ground this morning. The way the stars sparkle in the sky tonight. In a glimpse of smile - maybe even your own.
In the way the corners of your mouth turn up just a bit when you do.
See the beauty, the aliveness in one, small thing.
Just for today.
If you're in my email community, drop back into email and tell me the one small thing you say today. The one that reminded you that you to stay awake. The one that stirred your soul just a bit more today. The small thing that stoked your fire.
If you're not yet in my email community pop on in - click on "Daily Dose" and pop in your email. I'll send you inspiration once a week, but it'll last you all the other days - I promise.
All my love for you,
Ashley
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