Washing away the barriers that separate

When we sleep

it's our unconscious helps us integrate,

not our conscious mind

grasping at concepts to

protect us from fear and sadness

and the mortality of being someone else's food.

We must merely step into the stream,

allowing tears of loneliness to

wash away the barriers that separate us.

If it's the quality of our attention and listening that

helps us bridge the gap,

that quality is one of seamlessness.

There is no separation

between your pain and mine,

between my love and yours.

It is in the safety of your care full love

that I overcome my fears

to step into the everlasting beauty

that is my particularity

in this tragedy/ comedy

we call the improvisation of life.

To honor our mothers and fathers,

our ancestors, is my path.

and as we are all one,

I honor all those who have

come before us

In homage to their love.

The poem above is one I wrote on woking the last morning of the 2016 Memory Bridge retreat. I am struck by its relevance to my experience this past weekend of my spiritual community’s retreat. In the safety of this loving community to which I have belonged for 34 years, I, and we, reveled, learned, laughed, flourished, and healed one another.

In leading the closing circle for the retreat, I found myself awash in the stream, seamlessly allowing the teachings to flow through my words and movements. I listened as attentively as I have ever listened, appreciating the offerings of every person. I was succinct in my contributions, astonished that what I left out, others filled in.

In truth, we are one.