Join Alison Wem on her journey through life as she reflects on Rumi’s insightful poetry on ecstasy, love and longing.
Whatever lifts the corners of your mouth
Trust that
Jalal al-Din Rumi
Greed makes man blind and foolish,
And makes him an easy prey for death
Jalal al-Din Rumi
There are some among us who choose to worship the great god ‘Money’. I have observed that when they have achieved wealth, far from bringing great joy, it brings more work and worry on how to retain it.
Everyone needs a comfortable and safe home, food and warm clothes for their personal well-being. Anything beyond that is a luxury. The time and energy it takes to achieve this ‘luxury’ can make you poor. Poor in time and energy to focus on your relationships, personal study and just enjoying the gift of life.
The spirit is so near
that you can’t see it!
But reach for it… don’t be a jar, full of
water, whose rim is always dry. Don’t be the
rider who gallops all night and never sees
the horse that is beneath him.
Jalal al-Din Rumi
This is so true. My soul Lucinda is so close yet so far. I have to consciously think about her to be able to feel and hear her. She is wise but I have to remember to ask for her help.
Take someone who doesn’t keep score,
who’s not looking to be richer, or afraid of losing,
who has not the slightest interest even in
his own personality: He’s free.
Jalal al-Din Rumi
This is someone who can just be. Do I just want to ‘be’? Having no agenda is good and very relaxing. But I came into this body for a purpose. I am afraid I may fail, so I am not fully the person Rumi describes. All I can do is my best. No-one can ask more of me than that. No-one seeks to fail.
Let silence take you to the core of life
Jalal al-Din Rumi
When I sit in silence, I go within and have the opportunity to traverse my inner landscape. Sometimes I just sit there and absorb the love and peace. Sometimes I actively engage with Spirit to re-discover wisdom.
Have you tried it and what did you discover?
Many of us feel constrained by the attempts of our governments to control the virus – lockdowns, curfews, isolation from our loved ones.
We are never really alone. Going within and reflecting opens up a whole new world. While meditation calms us, I have found having something to reflect on and to sense my own feelings, is a constructive practice that helps me to re-connect with the wisdom of my soul.
To help me with my reflections on Rumi’s poetry, I have chosen to use Paper Trail’s book – Rumi’s Reflection Journal. It gives me individual Rumi quotes to consider. Thank you Paper Trail.