“Awakened Woman” Poems
Poem collections from my DAY RETREATS
Many of you ask about the poetry I select for my day retreats. Please find the poems and poets below. With gratitude to the poets:
Created for Joy
by Hafiz
I sometimes forget
that I was created for Joy.
My mind is too busy.
My Heart is too heavy
for me to remember
that I have been
called to dance
the Sacred dance of life.
I was created to smile
To Love
To be lifted up
And to lift others up.
O’ Sacred One
Untangle my feet
from all that ensnares.
Free my soul.
That we might
Dance
and that our dancing
might be contagious.
Remember the Days
by Becky Hemsley
Remember the days when you couldn’t stop singing,
Dancing and dressing up, laughing and grinning?
Well that was before they mocked how you dressed
Said you would never fit in with the rest
Said that your smile was the ugliest thing
Apart from your dancing and when you would sing
So you stopped smiling and changed what you wore
When music plays you do not dance anymore
In case you look silly, in case you look daft
For fear it will dredge up those memories past
For fear that you’ll feel like you used to back then
Embarrassed and worthless again and again
See, you stopped singing loudly then stopped altogether
Stopped being someone that they could remember
But there’s a girl watching, she’s looking to you
Trying to figure out what she should do
Should she stop singing and swallow her voice?
Pick outfits to wear that would not be her choice?
Should she resist urges to get up and dance?
‘Cause sitting there quietly, no one will laugh
But…
Neither will she, she will not know the feeling
Of singing so loudly and dancing so freely
She won’t understand all the power she holds
To do as she chooses and not as she’s told
So warm up your voice and then strike up the band
Pick out your clothes and get ready to dance
And smile as you do so - think of that girl
She’s the one trapped inside you
So do it for her
Joy for no Reason
by Danna Faulds
I am filled with quiet joy for no reason save the fact that I’m alive.
The message I received is clear—
there’s no time to lose from loving,
no place but here to offer kindness,
no day but this to be my true, unfettered self
and pass the flame from heart to heart.
This is the only moment that exists
– so simple, so exquisite, and so real
Hold Out Your Hand
by Julie Ferenbacher
Let’s forget the world for a while
fall back and back
into the hush and holy
of now
are you listening? This breath
invites you
to write the first word
of your new story
your new story begins with this:
You matter
you are needed—empty
and naked
willing to say yes
and yes and yes
Do you see
the sun shines, day after day
whether you have faith
or not
the sparrows continue
to sing their song
even when you forget to sing
yours
stop asking: Am I good enough?
Ask only
Am I showing up
with love?
Life is not a straight line
it’s a downpour of gifts, please—
hold out your hand
Dear Women
by Donna Ashworth
Dear Women….
Maybe you don’t know, just how amazing you are.
Maybe you don’t see how you keep everyone going, even when you’re struggling yourself.
Maybe you don’t realise how much cheer you bring others, regardless of your own level of happiness.
Maybe you don’t see the smiles you spread, or the joy you bring.
Maybe you don’t know what an amazing effect you have on the world you created?
Well you should know.
You are the kind of women we all need when things get hard.
You hang on, when the wind blows, and even better than that, you keep others hanging on too.
You, my friend are a wonderful creation.
How do I know this?
Because your ability to inspire and support other women, brought you here somehow.
Maybe you were tagged by someone who sees this in you.
Or maybe you are reading this post because you found this page when you were running around facebook spreading joy, the way you do.
You are wonderful.
You should really see that.
Something you can’t see
by Donna Ashworth
Let me show you something you cant see for yourself, because this something only appears with the passing of much time
None of it matters … the jewellery … the followers … the invitations
All that matters … is that you get out in the world unaffected by those who want to dull you down
those who see your shine and want it gone. those who are triggered by your spark.
don’t let them tell you what you bring to this world only you can know that
and its not withing your phone or your latest post reach it’s within you
deep
its in your every cell and it will only get better if you let it.
Let me show you something you cant see for yourself yet you are pretty outstanding, just as you are
and you don’t need their approval if you have your own.
Becoming
by Donna Ashworth
You are always becoming,
the person you were born to be
before the world began to mould you
to its pattern
and not your own.
You are always becoming
she who learned to hide
and shape-shift
to suit the crowd
the mood
the room.
You are always becoming
and every time you release
a little more of her to the world
I like to think Mother Nature breathes out
exhales
a little more deeply…
Here she is.
Keep becoming.
Keep becoming.
The Gateway
byDanielle Doby
Our practice of cultivating stillness is just as important to our growth as our momentum is
we say we want change and so we must take the time to stop and ask the question
what’s working? What’s blocking?
where can I let go and make room for whats waiting for me?
it’s never too late to push pause
disrupt the plan or choose an entirely new path
1st December 2024
Who Does She Think She Is
by Caren Krutsinger
She came dancing into church with sixty-three-inch heels.
Wearing enough make up to camouflage two pigs and a cow.
Many of us older ones were annoyed; our eyes flipped like peels.
Some young gullible men had mouths that were open; they were yelling wow!
How dare she come into church looking like she loves herself!
Yelled some of the mean ones who had sat long on a shelf.
And these idiots are acting like she is true and fine!
They do not realize she should toe the line!
The young minister looked as smitten as the rest of them.
He suggested they sing “Old Rugged Cross” a hymn.
Then he introduced them to the arrogant woman so keen.
She was his wife, shocking to those who had been totally mean.
Talk to the Trees
by Becky Helmsely
She sat at the back and they said she was shy
She led from the front and they hated her pride
They asked her advice and then questioned her guidance
They branded her loud then were shocked by her silence
When she shared no ambition, they said it was sad
So she told them her dreams and they said she was mad
They told her they’d listen then covered their ears
And gave her a hug whilst they laughed at her fears
And she listened to all of it thinking she should
Be the girl they told her to be best as she could
But one day she asked what was best for herself
Instead of trying to please everyone else
So she walked to the forest and stood with the trees
She heard the wind whisper and dance with the leaves
And she spoke to the willow, the elm and the pine
And she told them what she’d been told time after time
She told them she felt she was never enough
She was either too little or far, far too much
Too loud or too quiet, too fierce or too weak
Too wise or too foolish, too bold or too meek
Then she found a small clearing surrounded byfirs
And she stopped and she heard what the trees said to her
And she sat there for hours not wanting to leave
For the forest said nothing, it just let her breathe
Today I Asked My Body What She Needed
by Hollie Holden
Today I asked my body what she needed,
Which is a big deal
Considering my journey of
Not Really Asking That Much.
I thought she might need more water.
Or protein.
Or greens.
Or yoga.
Or supplements.
Or movement.
But as I stood in the shower
Reflecting on her stretch marks
Her roundness where I would like flatness,
Her softness where I would like firmness,
All those conditioned wishes
That form a bundle of
Never-Quite-Right-Ness,
She whispered very gently:
Could you just love me like this?
Home
by Rupi Kaur
I dive into the well of my body
and end up in another world
everything i need
already exists in me
there’s no need
to look anywhere else
OUR DEEPEST FEAR
by Marianne Williamson
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness
That most frightens us.
We ask ourselves
Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small
Does not serve the world.
There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking
So that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine,
As children do.
We were born to make manifest
The glory of God that is within us.
It’s not just in some of us;
It’s in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we’re liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.
THE ARCHER
by Alison Stormwolf
I take out my arrow
Of unfinished dreams and desires
And place it firmly in the bow
Of my determination
Aim it at the starlit sky,
Such amazing power
Behind the action…
Totally pure intention
And, as my prayers
Ascend the night sky.. transverse
Mother Moon in silhouette
The planets call out in unison
“She knows her path!”
We will assist our sister”
I can close my eyes
And in that deep place
Where day has cast aside my worries
Can rest assured and protected,
The universe is on my side
What now can scare me?
WE ARE GODS IN THE CHRYSALIS
by Elbert Hubbard
Whenever you go out of doors, draw the chin in, carry the crown of the head high,
& fill the lungs to the utmost; drink in the sunshine; greet your friends with a smile,
& put soul into every handclasp.
Do not fear being misunderstood & do not waste a minute thinking about your enemies.
Try to fix firmly in your mind what you would like to do;
& then without veering off direction, you will move straight to the goal.
Keep your mind on the great
& splendid things you would like to do,
& then, as the days go gliding by, you will find yourself unconsciously seizing upon the opportunities that are required for the fulfilment of your desire,
just as the coral insect takes from the running tide the element it needs.
Picture in your mind the able, earnest, useful person you desire to be,
& the thought you hold is hourly transforming you into the particular individual…
Thought is supreme.
Preserve a right mental attitude — the attitude of courage, frankness, & good cheer.
To think right is to create.
All things come through desire & every sincere prayer is answered.
We become like that on which our hearts are fixed.
Whenever you go out of doors, draw the chin in, carry the crown of the head high.
We are gods in the chrysalis.