Tags
blogging101, Creative Writing, John O'Donohue, Mindfulbalance, Poetry, Quotes, Ranier Maria Rilke, Writing 101
I’ve stumbled across a very beautiful blog, Mindfulbalance. In the sidebar the author, whose name is Karl, says:
R.M. Rilke
Welcome. This is an Irish Mindfulness Practice Blog containing quotes and reflections to support mindfulness meditation practice. It also has occasional reflections on psychology, spirituality & life. The daily themes are prompted by Rilke’s advice: “Write about what your everyday life offers you; describe your sorrows and desires, the thoughts that pass through your mind and your belief in some kind of beauty”.
Just so happens I love Rainer Maria Rilke’s writing. I featured the Bohemian-Austrian poet/novelist on my Friday Favorites (May 29, 2015) feature back on May 29th.
John O’Donohue
But Karl’s post today was actually a blessing from the book To Bless the Space Between Us by another favorite writer of mine, Irishman John O’Donohue, whom I also featured on a Friday Favorites (May 15, 2015).
It’s a beautiful blessing about Absence and was so appropriate for this autumn time of year I thought I’d post it here as well. O’Donohue’s spirit has touched me deeply through every book of his I’ve read.
And by the way, please do yourself a favor and stop by Mindfulbalance. If you spend awhile there reading, I guarantee you’ll come away feeling a lot more peaceful.
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May you know that absence is alive with hidden presence,
that nothing is ever lost or forgotten.
May the absences in your life grow full of eternal echo.
May you sense around you the secret Elsewhere,
where the presences that have left you dwell.
May you be generous in your embrace of loss.
May the sore well of grief turn into a seamless flow of presence.
May your compassion reach out to the ones we never hear from.
May you have the courage to speak for the excluded ones.
May you become the gracious and passionate subject of your own life.
May you not disrespect your mystery through brittle words or false belonging.
May you be embraced by God in whom dawn and twilight are one.
May your longing inhabit it’s dreams within the Great Belonging.
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from To Bless the Space Between Us: A Book of Blessings by John O’Donohue
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(Picture Credits: Ranier Maria Rilke — Published by Salem Press, Inc. / John O’Donohue — pastordawn.com) / autumn tree — www.shutterstock.com )
Impromptu Promptlings 
Thanks. I’ll stumble over there asap.
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Moved beyond words.
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It’s beautiful, isn’t it… He was a special man.
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I’m going to check out that blog when I feel able.
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Still feeling a bit undone? Everything going ok? {{{Jane}}}
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Every crisis swallows up the previous one. I have written my way through almost 20 years of crises in 25 days. A few years ago they built to a crescendo, and they haven’t abated yet.I feel as if I am going to go mad from the horror of it. I knew it was bad, but not that bad. I don’t know how I’m still standing. i look out of the window and see cars passing, people walking past, and I know that it’s the same way for some of them. I can’t bear the weight of so much pain.
Perhaps I should give it a rest, but if I do, I may never have the strength to finish.
My story is horrible. I have to inject more humour into it, without covering up the seriousness.
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But what if you’re not at a place where you can SEE any humor in it yet? There’s a time and a season for everything. Maybe now is just the drive to get all the bad stuff out on paper where you can begin to exorcise as much as you can. Perhaps then is when the lessons and humor may fall into place? Something has obviously taken hold of you. Do you feel it’s a good thing or does it go against what your soul is telling you to do?
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I’m doing exactly what my soul tells me to do, and although it is painful, I believe it may help.
If it’s published I hope it may also be of use to others.
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You know you had me at the title 🙏
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Morning Dragonfly! Have you read anything by John O’Donohue?
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Just Anam Cara…which I love,,,need to read more!!!!
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Wise and moving words. I have come across John O’Donohue before and liked what I read. I will follow-up Rilke and the mindfulness blog you recommended. As ever, a source of lovely knowledge.
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Hey Derek! John O’Donohue and Rilke both wrote from that inner space where there is so much treasure. I loved their honesty and intuitiveness. I hope you like Rilke. Have a wonderful weekend.
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