Comments on: Longing for Home

By: carolyn

carolyn — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 16:00:03 +0000

Dear Mahala, Today I stumbled upon this renga of “home” writing by the four of you (through Hiro Boga). Sorry to have missed it happening last summer, but the timing seems also right for the new year.

The photo of your shaman speaks to me in his silence. He’ so beautiful to look at.

Your lines: “It’s the same unobstructed state I experience in some of my Buddhist practices. I overflow with love until everything becomes spacious and empty” also spoke to me and reminded me of something I’d written about one of the places where I study yoga. Through our actions and intentions we create homes not only for ourselves, but for others.

Effective teachers, mothers, friends, colleagues, brothers, healers…and yes, writers and poets, do this for us. My intention for the new year: to create a spacious, healing home for my self and those in my life.

May I add my lines to this home renga inquiry?
with love to you, happy new year. carolyn

It’s called: (the title is followed by a short epigraph from Sappho)
body heart and soul

I could not hope
to touch the sky
with my two arms

Sappho # 129

and yet I travel
the slippery drive
into Panterra—
the green cleft in
earth’s crust—
smitten with the song
of om
driven by a physical
hunger to expand
condense
invert my vision

she waves me in
to truth

I rise from the illusion
of the rickety ride here
descend into
the company of others
laying aside the bare
existence of the world
to drop as a sweet babe
sighing release into
this sight of reality

joining the presence
of birdsong and
skittering ants on the skylights
the rising stars and moon
shining feral light
on this little life

I begin in the plural
walk to my mat as one
of many energies
theirs—mine—hers

each of us opening
into breath
the soft heart of prana
singing in our limbs
we move
breaking old patterns
of destruction
the separateness of lives
and then we exhale
into a single vibration

she guides us
into positions
where we might
feel the flowing
stream
the one life

the land rises
soft with fern
and berries on
either side of
the yoga shala

the sky blooms
an expanse of deep glory
above and within
the clay and stone of solid earth
calling us to lay
down our ambitions
and offer ourselves
to truth
our primordial
home
carolyn´s last blog ..By- carolyn- laughing yogini

By: Mahala Mazerov

Mahala Mazerov — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:18:56 +0000

I’m happy you have love and support in your life now. :-)

By: Mahala Mazerov

Mahala Mazerov — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:16:07 +0000

Becky,
I love you, musician that you are, and the way the right lyrics always speak to you.
It sounds like you had a pretty big shift. I’m happy for you.

By: Becky

Becky — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:04:51 +0000

Wow! That is a theme that comes up a lot for me. I didn’t realize just how much of a home my sweet little place in Altadena had become, until I had to move again. Every time I think of it, I want to cry. But, at the same time, part of me realizes, like what you said, that home is something we can find inside ourselves, regardless of geographical locations. One day I was driving, and I heard a Radiohead Song (no lyrics, don’t know the title), and something about that song told me “We’re all already home.” I don’t usually feel it, but somehow I believe it.

By: Mahala Mazerov

Mahala Mazerov — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 02:42:18 +0000

Ann, I’m so glad you connected with this post.

As you can imagine the last question you ask is a huge one for me, too. “If I’m not willing to live with reslessness, how will I come to peace?” DO let me know if / when you find the answer. In the meantime, I will keep gazing at everyone in my little town with love.

By: Mahala Mazerov

Mahala Mazerov — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 02:38:38 +0000

Sorry about those ikky messages. I’m so very happy you pushed through and found me.

I took a spin over to your blog. Love it!

Do you know the movie Casablanca? I keep seeing the end in my mind http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vY-4zWKsJM

Looking forward to getting to know you.

By: Ann

Ann — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 23:32:36 +0000

Dear Mahala,
I have read this post over and over, because it has touched such a deep place inside me. I think I have lived in two places that felt like home – Seattle and Maui. As I read your lovely post, I ask myself “what constitutes home?” The very question makes me restless. It isn’t length of time, it isn’t geography, it isn’t nearby family. It isn’t even willingness to stay – I left both of those places voluntarily. BUT … I am here, in South Carolina, and almost certainly will continue to live here for years more. So if I’m not willing to live with restlessness, how will I come to peace? I’ll let you know if/when I find the answer.
Namaste,
Ann
Ann´s last blog ..View from a Cubicle – Compassion SOLI 2

By: rebecca @ altared spaces

rebecca @ altared spaces — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 17:24:09 +0000

I had a difficult time getting here. Lots of those ikky messages from my computer telling me the link wouldn’t work. But, after seeing this picture…I knew I had to find you.

Because that picture felt like home.

So then I read and knew why I had to persist. We have lots to talk about, you and I. I’m so glad I found you. So glad.

Your words are kindness embodied.
rebecca @ altared spaces´s last blog ..do soft razors make soft men

By: laney

laney — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 23:20:34 +0000

hi mahala, thank you. at the time i did not have the proper love & support but i do now- some 2o+ years later. i think this is a great topic to think about & to share their thoughts– “home” has different meanings for everyone. again, thank you & to the other writers for discussing this topic & i’m grateful for thinking about “home”.

By: Mahala Mazerov

Mahala Mazerov — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 18:30:18 +0000

Laney, thank you for visiting and leaving your thoughts here. My heart sinks, I can’t imagine what you experienced at age 21. I pray you had love and support.
Like you I constantly give thanks for the safety and structure of my “dwelling place.” I know I am so blessed to have it even though I keep a flame lit in my heart for a true Home.