Thursday, March 26, 2015

oriah amongst the magnolia


the invitation  
                    by Oriah Mountain Dreamer


it doesn't interest me what you do for a living.  i want to know what you ache for and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.

it doesn't interest me how old you are.  i want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love for your dream, for the adventure of being alive.
it doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon.  i want to know if you have touched the centre of your own sorrow, if you have been opened by life's betrayal or have become shrivelled and closed from fear of further pain.

i want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it, or fade it, or fix it.
i want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own;  if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful, be realistic, remember the limitations of being human.

it doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true.  i want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself. if you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul.  if you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy.
i want to know if you can see beauty even when it is not pretty everyday, and if you can source your own life from its presence.

i want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and still stand at the edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, 'yes'.
it doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have.  i want to know if you can get up after the night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone and do what needs to be done to feed the children.

it doesn't interest me who you know or how you came to be here.  i want to know if you will stand in the centre of the fire with me and not shrink back.
it doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. i want to know what sustains you from the inside when all else falls away.

i want to know if you can be alone with yourself and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.


erica
xoxo
(p.s. this is one of my favourites...i'm working hard to put it to memory)

8 comments:

  1. Stunning images and words to remember!
    xo

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  2. beautiful words and thought provoking! Thank you for sharing :)

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    Replies
    1. Isn't it powerful??? She gives us so much to think about.

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  3. So pleased to have found your blog, and especially to have found it today when this post was current :)

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    1. I'm glad you found me too...thanks for popping by and leaving a note!!!

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  4. Love this, the words and your photo. xo

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  5. Yes, I can see why this is a favorite, it's beautiful Erica.

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thank you for your kind words... they really do make my day !!!