Day 10 Michael Land- Circles

**Written and submitted by Michael**

Planets
Do it
With stars

It’s happening all around
Us, inside of
Us, at the centre
 
Our home is built this way
The one we all share
Water and dirt
Stuck to fire
 
Birds build
This way too
Our own egg of conception
Follows its form
 
And we, much more intricate now
Sense the primal call
To come back
To circle
 
Where we see each
Other, within the sacred
Container
 
Gather round
The fire, spirit
Burns like a sun
And we, together here
One
 
In it’s warmth
Hearts open, ears
And eyes, witness of
What is, how we live
So that we may be, as always
Surrounded
By god
 

 
Tonight I’m going to my men’s circle. Sitting in circle is a practice that I believe is as old as consciousness. It is how we come together as tribe in a way where each person can be seen. I believe circle is an integral part of community. Whether it’s to hear what is in each other’s hearts, or to raise our voices together in song, the circle is the container that helps us find harmony and connection, when each voice is heard, and each heart cared for.

“How do you come together in circle with others?” is the question for 12 days journal #296

Day 6 Sacred Space- Orange

Orange. Door hinge.

Today I was going to write a silly poem about orange. The work has been consuming, so much to do, writing has taken a back seat to studio prep. I had a minute to write, thought I would write some funny little prose. I choose the day I was going to write about our orange walls. Did you know there is next to nothing that rhymes with orange...well except for “door hinge”. So here it goes.

We have 6 walls, most are orange.
We have painted everything now, even the door hinge(s)
Yellow, orange, blue and red
We snack on chips, keep ourselves fed.
Soon the floor and lighting will be complete,
We will dance, and have a “meet and greet“.
Creating a space to infuse community,
Love and empathy, purpose, love and unity.

No, It will likely never win a Pulitzer, but I had a chuckle while writing it and this entry took me less than 10 minutes. Priorities.

I am off to paint.

”What is your life's purpose?“ is the question in 12 days journal #208, inspired by my soon to be prize winning poem! You know you love it!

Day 2 Sans Coffee- The Journey

​

The Journey

One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice --
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
"Mend my life!"
each voice cried.
But you didn't stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do --
determined to save
the only life you could save.

~ Mary Oliver ~

I found my copy of this poem this afternoon. I was gifted it 3 months ago, kept it in a spot for treasures. Today I found it crumpled on the floor of my car, no idea how it got there. It was covered in dirt. I generally consider such occurrences to be a sign.

I wonder what it means? I have ideas, none of which I like. I am going to leave trying to figure it out for now.

“Do you believe in destiny?“ is the question in 12 days journal #168