Refugia
Now let us turn our faces, our minds, our hearts and hands away
from the amnesia of the old comforts, the old fears and misgivings,
and inhabit the practices of Mother Kali Protector:
severing our cultural bondage and bindings
blowing away the fog of our anesthesia
devouring the old weaknesses and complacencies and
inhabiting the rightful powers of true creativity.
Such turning away unleashes who we really are.
Sovereignty is at the heart of our recovery. It is not personal,
yet is our very personal work to undertake and make tangible:
caring for one another as we build immunity to the poisons of hate and injustice
lending strength, where succumbing may seem easier, or inevitable.
offering love and love’s powers to heal and make whole,
unleashing the potent energy of fearlessly offering one’s gifts.
The healer crones inhabit wisdom only as they trust in their powers,
honoring what they have lived,
honoring what their ancestors have lived,
owning it all with courage and grace.
Such places of refuge give access to others—both a balm and a remedy —
enabling authentic witnessing,
binding sacred wounds,
knowing scars are proof of Mother Kali Protector,
trusting the living body of Mother Earth.
– Judy Todd
Judy Todd, an inherent naturalist, activist grandmother, student of trees, mycelium and mushrooms, and an edge-walker between the human and non-human world, has guided people for over 20 years into a deeper connection with the natural world and all its kin. Living As Nature: Always & Ever Renewing, her second poetry book, is being rolled out this year.
The Solace of Glass Butte
The gift came first
dark and smooth
slipped hand to hand
weight apparent
depths to be explored.
After the hug and gratitude, the story —
location and soundtrack, hers
dirt road and dusty hike
in scrubby nowhere, hers.
The seeking of rainbow and fire
mahogany and black,
hers.
I loosen my fingers from my heart
and close them around
this offering of
obsidian from the black glass river.
Sunlight exposes red gleam
on slick, curved side
lava flow memory.
I am grateful to the Oregon desert
and rock-hounding friend
sharing this treasure
born of earth heat
and heartbeat
all sharp edges concealed
unless dropped or chipped.
The rock is carefully placed
where it catches sun rays
and will not break.
People are rarely so safe.
–Lisa Prantl
Lisa Prantl is a Cincinnati-based writer, gardener, death midwife, and writing circle facilitator at Women Writing for (a) Change®. Lisa believes poetry is a way to make sense of an astonishing and hurting world.
Top image: Pixabay/Enlightening Images
Second image: Oregon Discovery
Side bar image: Pixabay/Edar.
