What have you been reading?

I love this interchange of Great mind or essence (Brahman) and the individual human consciousness (Atman) taking place in an act of reading the significant correspondences of the world, for natural signs precede language and its conventional semiotics.
I don't know why I immediately thought of the Brahman/Atman relationship when I read this, Minnie, at first I had this madcap thought I was intersubjectively "reading" your mind; then I said to myself, well, I may be prescient at times, but I've never claimed to be psychic, nor ever will!

Perhaps it has to do with the yoga session I just performed. While doing the asanas and controlling my breath serene and beautiful landscapes filled my inscape, though not as majestic as the ones here represented in your superbly composed photos.

There was also an inner dialogue taking place between the observer within me and the busy, chattering mind, always flying to a new thought with a nattering velocity that at times startles me. And the inner witness said nothing, but posed emptiness as a possibility while my maelstrom of voices kept getting distracted from those incredible visions of gardens and deserts and mountains and beaches that the sun salutation, cobra, peacock, queen and so many other asana poses released in me.

This, then, is why I resonated with the 'mustness' of this intriguing invitation from a cosmic source to take the poem beyond its words to what it is pointing at, the mystery of the fullness of the void.

So glad to have you back, my dearest Minnie!

They are interchangeable words: Atman means essence, and the essence of the human personality is Brahman. Atman is Brahman. Tat twam asi — That thou art, immutable, eternal.

I greet this essence, this spark, within you. Namaste.

I don't know if I could choose what line grabs me more. Wow, Minnie, this is superb writing!


wind dances or sun shadows?

Choices... contrasting symbols of ephemeral things... unseen and unfelt like the wind, solid but untouchable like shadows.


This reading, this silent reading of nothingness.




This fullness, this white blank space




Of everything.



Your lines create questions ---

How do you read/ feel/ understand nothingness...

Is there fullness in the blankness of space?

In the end you make me contemplate life and it's many quandaries and dichotomies.

Your pictures tie into the poem brilliantly... even in the shadows, I feel the wind.

This is very compelling reading in itself, Minnie, from your inventive mind.
And the photos for us to "read", also.

Wonderful, dear friend.

Oh heck, John and I cross-posted our comments!

I think in a perfect world, John should always be the last commenter on any thread. That way we, the less intellectual thinkers on Gather may have the chance to at least sound less dorky than when our comments follow his? LOL

Minnie, this seemingly sparse conversation of few words could, at first glance, appear simple. But it is an interchange with the inner Self that is elegant, vivid and very deep.

Bravo!

This deserves more than 10 stars.

First of all Minnie, the photos are of a moving beauty that seems to pull me into the scene. Perhaps it does that because this soul level involvement is part of understanding or even partly relating to your poem.

I find that the questions and answers are mystical and induce thoughts in the reader.

The questions are asked by someone sitting on a rock which she passes. The questions are her own and the answers too are her own. It's all within her, because the the questions are about a deepening soul depth.

I see, perhaps wrongly, that the woman is realising that there is more to discover. That the beauty all around her is for her. It's not just for others. All she has to do is 'read on'.

This is a most moving poem, Minnie. Are you on a new path?

I love it Minnie. I'll remember this the next time a blank piece of paper stares me in the face challenging me. Great photos too.

The books are always writing "You."
I'm a book and you are too
We sigh and pine
contemplating divine
What else has a goddess to do?
Well, there's laundry
Shoe tying
dish drying
and cooking
just to name a few
But as for me I'd rather be reading
The poetry written by you!
And gazing at your photos too!

John, first of all, thank you so much for the way you discussed your own meditative experience here, in relation to the poem.
Psychic? You might be! You are reading my mind here. It is a conversation with the SELF, the Inner Self, the Higher Self, maybe..
Your yogic meditations will reveal so many 'empty nothingnesses' to you! Revel in them! They are the fount of many a revelations . I am most surprised by your Sanskrit knowledge and of difficult postures like the Surya Namaskaar !
You read the words with far more depth of understanding than I might have written them! Glad to be able to give you this instant connection with your own Inner discoveries :)

Duckie, Than you, dear friend! Yes, there is fullness in blankness of space...and I am yet to find it! I have only seen a glimpse, sometimes. It is most alluring, most fulfilling.

As for your comment on John, my dear girl, sometimes I am so grateful for his commentary on other poems, for then I see the meanings clearly and proceed to add my own little comments! :) I couldn't help laughing here! Sometimes I am so glad that it isn't a perfect world! :D

Barbary, thank you. The images just happened to go so well with what was on my mind as I wrote these lines.

Umar, I probably wouldn't have posted this, Had it not been for the little message you left for me. That kind of spurred me to bring these words out here, and share a very personal feeling with all of you.
I remember now, that your boat is named Wind Dancer. What a co incidence. Thank you, for the most encouraging words and the welcome back! I hope the pages will find a lot to read and be scribbled upon.

Magi, so glad to see you here. Thank you for your beautiful appraisal of these words. I don't know whether I can call it a poem! What you say, that these lines could be read as a simple , sparse conversation is true. That alone makes your comment , and those of all my other friends here, such a joy, such a reward, because the aware ones did see beyond the simplicity!!
Thank you so much, Magi.

Fred, the photos happen so suddenly sometimes..revealing such mysteries and layers of meanings, understanding when we contemplate on them later. These two images just kept calling me into them, drawing me in to 'read' their messages. If you observe , the second one will show you how small we are in the scheme of things! There is so much to 'see,' 'read,' configure and assimilate ..
The questions are for all of us. Aren't we getting lost in an unnatural world, away from the greater power of a Natural world? What have we been feeding our senses with? Have we been outside, seen the stories written in the skies? Read the messages written on water? Most of us are inside..inside an unreal world.
A new path? No. Just an ancient path, I guess :)

Marge, you are so sensitive yourself...I am sure you will bring us some gems as you read your blank pages the next time. Thank you, Marge!

My dear Jan, you honor me with your perfect rhymes! I would fall all over myself, completely tied up in knots , trying unsuccessfully, of course, if I tried to create anything close to your beautiful verses!
Thank you so much, my dear friend, for these charming words! Yes, you are a book too, as is everyone of us. I would love to spend time reading your verse comments compiled into a book, someday.

Dearest Minnie ...welcome back darling ...

wow ..have you been reading nature lately , or trying to converse with it ...
i am lost in your words and am in a world of my own ..reading , understanding few blank spaces , searching self in nothingness ...I loved these lines the most

Must I walk the rain's walk, must I drink the dew of

this morning?




Yes, you must.




Sigh..




I know I need not, for it drinks me up, melting me,

devouring me.

when dew drop could melt you and rain drinks you ...you are doing something right there ...


now ..yeh dil mange more ... I have seen that you have posted some great pics ..will enjoy them tommrow first thing in morning ....

take care
--Amar

Hey Minnie,
That was awesome!
"This reading, this silent reading of nothingness.
This fullness, this white blank space
Of everything."
Like a smile has more meaning then words or a slight touch has more warmth then a hug.
Lovely thoughts merged with nice pics !

Beautiful photos.
The verse reminds me of the Zen Beddhist teachings I learned in Japan. To be able to grasp without holding. To understand without knowing.
These types of teaching seem reflected in your verse. I think the best way to put these teachings is to have an appreciation without having assigned labels from previously learned experience.

Meditating when the sun " goes to bed" and then again when " it wakes up" it's the perfect time to travel within and become one with the UNiverse.
After entering the door to our innerselfs, we are ready to listen beyond the silence.
You have expressed in simple words your inner search.
Welcome back and hope to have the gift of your voice on skype.
Om tat sat

Hiding under that unassuming but sociable title, this almost got by me. It's a remarkable turnabout, the flat black-and-white melting into a really vivid inner experience. Well done, Minnie.

oh Minnie... how beautiful... and those pics are gorgeous...
Blessings...

Amar, thank you for that bubbly welcome back !
Your poetic mind always leaves me smiling. Your comments are refreshing. There is a whole world in those blank spaces, if only you look and listen carefully

Hello, Gagandeep. Thank you for your visit and your beautiful thoughts.

William, if these lines took you to a Zen mindfullness, I feel rather honored! Because the Zen minimalist approach says so much in the most simple, straightforward manner.
'To understand without knowing' that is a beautiful thought...if one really understands the implications. I have to agree with your labels from previous experiences line too. Sometimes it is so exhilarating to forget all learning--and learn what the Spirit teaches you, without any set curriculum.

Marineala...thank you for your visit here, dear friend. You would understand where this is coming from, and why!Yes, sunrise and sunset, two of the three 'sandhyas' or 'meeting/merging points' of time are the best times to meditate. It is the time when the universe is shifting too and all life forms are aligned with the Great Spirit.
Looking forward to talking to you , too. Will try and get in touch with you as soon as I can. Love...

John, I let the title remain as it was, taken from the first line...It crossed my mind that many would assume it to be another questionnaire or a game ..but that did not disturb me much. Glad you found it, and liked it. Thank you so much!

necee, thank you, always, for your blessings!

Oh Minnie, this was so interesting and different. Thank you for sharing your work with us. You are very talented.

This is off subject, but what happened with the horrible fires and the earthquake in Greece?

I love this. I felt the words and the spaces coming from the oneness.

Oh, and isn't your soul beautiful!

Minnie, always you draw me into your poems, and yes the photos are beautiful as always. Glad to be back.

"Must I walk the rain's walk"
"this fullness, this white blank space"
I keep reading this over and over and I feel such sadness in these sparse lines, the hopelessness of goals just out of reach, the feeling that nothing is ever enough. I hope that I have missed the point completely and that my own morose energy is simply clouding your creative presentation.

Non the less I am delighted to see you back.

M&M..THANK YOU.

Sheila, you say it so eloquently--an empty vessel to be filled..a bird listening to everything..
Thank you so much for your compliment, Sheila...

I am not sure I will be able to write to a prompt..I am really lazy, you see :)

No idea, Bill.

Thank you, Ed. Yes, reading between the lines.
Glad you liked it.

Thank you , Chrissjerri..what a nice thing to say.

Rita, seeing you after a long time. Welcome back, my dear.

Neal, you are passing through a difficult phase, losing loved ones..so you see this as a sad poem. It is a happy reaffirmation of being alive..of being aware..

Raven Spirit, your warm words alway make me feel so good..
Thank you for YOUR kind words.

gorgeous... i enjoy reading nature... wonderful sights...
Blessings always...

I loved this. I see you've contributed to expand the general conscience on your page thanks to your thoughts. Very beautifully written. It's uplifting to see individuals manifesting what they've acquired at their inner levels. Congrats for your writing and thanks for a good reading. Beautiful pictures.

I don't know how you do it....but your words mirror questions in my mind....and the images are so true to how I think. Do we not discover ourselves when we enjoy the solitude of walk in the forest and listen to our inner voice. So many people spend so much time running here and there....never stopping and just seeing within and without...and wondering WHY?

Vampires: In their own words

The Harlequin by Laurell K Hamilton

the dog whisperer by paul owens

and a book called Spychips about the tracking devices corporations and government are using on citizens

I looked at a few of your poems and decided to only commet again on this one because your words are like a calming elixir you sip as the sun fades into the horizon.

To me, this is an unsettling existential conversation.

It reminds me of the few times when I have experienced "pure consciousness," in which everything in the physical world lost its context. This was terrifying, a "white blank space of everything."

I disengaged and got back to the real world in a hurry, much like the woman in your poem is called to do.

Ann, since I grew up in an Eastern culture, these experiences do not mystify me. Rather, a lot of my creative outpourings are because of them. I relish the empty space I inhabit in such moments--its pristine clarity, beauty, calm...
Its another thing that I am rarely, if ever at all, able to translate that experience in worldly words.
Thank you so much for reading...I love how you sink into words and fish out another beautiful meaning!