I've been pondering the meaning of the phrase 'hand-out', this evening.
Are the goods delivered in the physical act of handing over an object or a spoken agreement, to someone in need? Perhaps we ourselves are the goods being delivered, in this fine art of caring, sharing, and loving without regret or worry of recompense? Might we deliver our very selves to the open heart of the beloved, a song of praise on our lips, falling to our knees in an ocean of roses, their tender perfume forever beckoning back? Give up asking: "Shall I give this all away?" "What will I do when there is no more, and I am hungry; who will feed me then?" "Who is worthy of all that I have?" When you have given up suffering these thoughts, then, and only then, will the kingdom be yours, forever. All love, Analisa
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As you awaken to the dream this morning from the vast dreamless state, imagining you have awakened from the dream, I wonder if you will wonder: "who is dreamer, who is dreamt, who is dreaming dream, who am I?"
We meet in this place, in the dawn of first light. All love, Analisa What a full day you have put in, dear one!
It is time to rest, leaving aside all worry for what has not yet been done. There is nothing more to do. Bless all that you have cared for on this day - for yourself and others, your prayers of gratitude to The One, your loving efforts toward compassion, good deeds, and stillness, too. Tomorrow, the sun will rise and you may be treated with the joy of rising along with it. Should a new day dawn upon you, once again, may all blessings of knowing and wonder be thine! For now, close your eyes and rest. All love, Analisa Dearest One,
There is trembling there, and endless worry. Be still. Offer this soothing balm to the fear that arises within. This one that grasps, so fearful of dying is not the One you are. Know that this one that you are not, is so loved that it was given form, breath, mind. Would Love destroy Love? There is no loss, nothing to be disowned. No obliteration, no one to fix or deny. There is only Love itself, beyond brilliant, bowing at the feet of its own beloved - offering manna for hunger, wine for thirst, a sudden burst of flame for its own illumination. Remain as you are: beautiful body, rich blood, sinner and saint, same only different, knowing and clear. All love, Analisa We're in for another chilly night here - a clear and lovely chilly night. As I ready myself for sleep, I offer deep gratitude for this passing and precious day.
The sweet gifts of friendship, kindness, and love. Fresh water to drink, clean food to eat, a beloved four-legged friend to feed and brush and care for. There were stories of joy, regret, grief, longing, challenge and empowerment, fear and survival. And the love of my dear one, always near, and the noticing of tiny new lines of sadness on his face, ones I had not seen until today. I am grateful for the fresh eyes of the beloved, forever gazing out, forever gazing in, delighting in each new form as it arises, in delicious love with all, as it is and is no more. A chilly night outside, a warm fire burns in the hearth, and it is very warm within. All love, Analisa My dear one asks each morning: "What's your plan for the day?"
Each morning, I wonder: "Whatever do you mean?" The days unfold, with or without our plans, most assuredly, just as they will. I love surprises! Do you? All love, Analisa Where are you today, dearest one? As you hear this question, you may look around - locating yourself, your body, in the physical environment, where you live. You may say: "I am here in Kalamazoo, in my home, in my kitchen; preparing breakfast, feeling lonely and very scared because this loneliness has been with me for far too many days now."
Please ask yourself now: who is this one, afraid of so much loneliness, that it believes it is loneliness itself? Who will eat this breakfast of loneliness? This loneliness is not you. It is a cloud in the sky, passing by; however slowly, it is still just passing by. You are the sky, touched by the clouds, seasoned by the clouds, lovingly holding the clouds as they float and move and shift and dissolve, on their way to nowhere, everywhere, home. Know this, dear one: you are not the clouds, you are forever the sky. All love, Analisa It is a most beautiful day for love. A beautiful day for honoring kinship, sunlight, magic, miracles. It is a most beautiful day to know yourself, in all of your glory, just as you are.
All love, Analisa Every circumstance appears to have two possible presentations. In one view, what is happening is seen as perfection: requiring nothing, but enjoying being witnessed. In the second view, what is happening is seen as imperfection, requiring an observation, an opinion, an interference, and inevitably some measure of suffering. The perfect view is, well, perfect just as it is. And wouldn't you know it, the imperfect one is also perfect, just as it is. And of course, 'perfection' and 'imperfection' might best be understood as mere pointers, with no substance. As we give them too substantial a weight, they begin to imply understandings that are themselves, not the truth.
Suffering arises where a seeming contradiction appears to be seen. Being knows no contradiction. It is as it is. In perfect, resting awareness, everything that arises is already blessed. It is always so. How would it not be? All love, Analisa The divine paradox: small-self seeking god-self. Seeker is always seeker, god is always god. Can't get 'there' from 'here'.
All love, Analisa |
The invitation is to leave it alone. To let life be. To know yourself as being lived. That is what is happening here. Life is alive as you, through your breath, through your being. Don't look for it elsewhere. It does you and undoes you, over and over again. You are not the doer. Stop claiming that you are, and your relentless despair of knowing you are not, will dissolve. The belief in the doer, is what deadens you, and crushes your heart. And yet you fear death. The only death you will ever know is this lifeless longing. Question these beliefs, awaken from them, and live it out loud. Then you will know yourself as boundless life, as freedom, and your body will age and die fully alive, without regret, endlessly beautiful.
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August 2022
CategoriesAnalisa Domenica is in private practice as a Doula for living and dying. She offers private mentoring sessions, end-of-life preparation & transition support, bereavement, home death, funeral, and natural burial guidance, and therapeutic touch for comfort care and pain release. She is available to private clients, small groups, and for public education. Find out more about her by clicking here.
'Li' lives and works in Mill Spring, NC, a stone or two's throw from Asheville, NC and Greenville/Spartanburg, SC. She also works globally via phone and zoom. You may reach her by phone at 828.429.0096 or write to her by clicking here. |