To dance with the energy of immediacy is to begin to learn to walk straight into the equanimity of the heart- beyond like and dislike, beyond drama and its sibling, ‘clinging,’ and, therefore, beyond success or failure. The smallest of kenotic gestures grounded in the life force of sensation and harnessing of eros (as we’ve been working) begins to produce the most precious, yet powerful, gentling of our particular energetic field (or atmosphere) and with the establishment of a measure of will, the environment around us too. So to this week’s task…
Surrendering to the Cave of the Heart
With sensation activated in the lower limbs, begin to place your attention in the space within and around your heart. Sense both your heart’s interiority and its spaciousness. Be with this sensation. More. Use the breath as an aid to increase this sensation. You’re attention below the neck.
From this place allow the question of “who am I?” to emerge into awareness. Allow the question to remain held in the chest as its carried with you into your day, not looking for or expecting an answer-like a baby chick held in its nest, it need not yet fly, for to do so prematurely could equal extinguishing its life. Merely stay with the question. And more so the sensation, letting it ferment as you engage your activities. Observe the sense of meaning that arises as you do so. What do you see? What awakens within?
I invite you to read the poem below as you set an intention to work with this week’s task.
I’ve Stopped Asking What to do When Lighting Strikes
By Jonathan L. Steele
I’ve stopped asking
what to do
when lightning
strikes
and you’re all
poured out
into this heart’s
aqueduct
It does the
doing
As it
does
this raging
sea of
sentiment
concentrates like a
single flint
of flash and grit
I’m set aflame
where I’ve always been
standing inside Eternity’s
aim
I’m born
again
Virgin
Virgin
Virgin
Hem
One touch
Life’s searing search
My guts
This glory
Is it all for us
This love’s story?
Collected
singularities
seize
the incessant
splitting off
on time
Too late
check mate
You win
but God,
I’m not done
until you say
I’m done
and then
when I climb into your
tower
the lighthouse standing
tall in raging
waters
You make space
for this
love
making
every Hour
bliss so
stunning
Razor’s edge
it cuts deeper
with each
strike
rings the bell
Beneath
the noise of wind
and storm
chiasm
ripples
out
Origin
bends
and
breathes
its Christic
pulse
At the
heart
and
the
core
of
the
earth
body quakes
Food
for
the
earth
Inner Task Series by Jonathan Steele
Jonathan Steele posted this Inner Task Series to the Wisdom School Community on Facebook from July 2 – August 21, 2021