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The Guest House

Hello Everyone! I felt compelled to share this poem by Jelaluddin Rumi titled, The Guest House. I thought it was very appropriate with Divine Openings: This being human is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival. A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor. Welcome and entertain them all! Even if they are a crowd of sorrows, who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture, still, treat each guest honorably. He may be clearing you out for some new delight. The dark thought, the shame, the malice. meet them at the door laughing and invite them in. Be grateful for whatever comes. because each has been sent as a guide from beyond. --Julaluddin Rumi, translation by Coleman Barks I hope you enjoyed it. Love and blessings to you all. Karen
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I read this poem

Wow dawnstar that is an awesome post, thank you for sharing. love and blessings leanne x

I read this poem the other

I read this poem the other day and appreciated it immensely. It was like enjoying a huge slice of my favourite delicious fruit pie full of sweet treat goodness and layers of essence to experience and appreciate at will. It lifted me and made me feel strong and I smiled and pushed my shoulders back as I thought to myself, 'Bring on all the guests. I welcome them one and all whatever tidings they bring. I am in a position to greet all with this laughing and joviality Rumi speaks of. I'm ready to embrace all who care to stop by.' And then they stopped by. It was night time and I was safely tucked up in bed. I wasn't expecting them for sure. And they didn't wait for me to answer the door. They didn't wait for me to laugh and invite them in. They ransacked my house and left everything turned upside down. In hindsight, I could feel them approaching way before they mounted the last hill I had built as defense against them, intruders that they were. I had flattened the preceding hills as they had become obsolete along with the stories that helped to shape them. But this one, this was the one that I had maintained because it was the most justified you see. The evidence for it's keeping were the scars I had carried since childhood, the ones so deep within me that I didn't know how to separate myself from them. It was just one last defence after all and this last fortification was also my tool for gauging where others were on MY spiritual scale so I was justified in letting it remain wasn't I. It helped me judge whether people were enlightened enough to allow into my life. They could only pass the test if they could clamber to the top of the hill answering questions as they went (the answers would be judged by me of course) and avoiding all the obstacles and boobie traps I had planted in their way. Once they appeared at the top battered and bruised and still wanting to be my friend I would deem them worthy of initial trust but I would keep an eye on them to make sure they never dug into the hill and therefore expose me to what I had constructed it of in an attempt to bury it. To do that would signal someone who couldn't be trusted any further and an abrupt end to the relationship would follow. Everyone has a right to keep themselves safe don't they. Well it would seem that safety is an illusion and it would seem that any security system no matter how elaborate can be breached by the knowing. My guests weren't strangers stopping by on the off chance of a bed for the night or even intruders bent on stealing from me or on causing upset for their own perverse pleasure. My guests accompanied one who had a key and the liberty to use it at will. Their companion was one who has carried that key across time and space for as long as I can fathom. My guests under the leadership of one who knows laid waste to my last fortification and continued on in full awareness of the chaos they were about to cause. And they woke me from my sleep to have me watch. Today as I read the poem again it feels different. I have a new angle, a new perspective from where to feel the depths of expression from where the words like air bubbles rise into being. My sweet fruit pie is now a hearty and soul-nourishing broth and my mouth waters as I imagine it's rich flavours and comforting warmth. I've started to set my house right, to stand the furniture that was overturned but I think I'll rearrange it. It was time I did that anyway. And as I look out my window at the place where my last hill stood just the night before last, I consider the gift I've been given. A patch of newly exposed earth, nutrient rich and full of yielding promise. I'm going to plant it with the most colourful, beautiful flowers I can find. Flowers without thorns or thistles or irritants of any kind that may deter guests. Maybe poppies to personify the contradictory delicate resilience of the woman who planted them. Flowers with a perfume that will permeate the house and evoke gratitude for their simply being. And in a little while after some more bowls of broth, I really will be ready to meet all visitors at the door laughing and to share with them my gratitude for their visit.

Thank you

Dear Karen, Thank you so much for posting that. What an amazing poem from an amazing person. Thank you for reminding me of my two Rumi books that I want to dig out to peruse again. I am going to rave now about all those visitors who have been in my guest house recently, and look at them in a new light. I had a lot of interesting guests over the holiday season, and I appreciate them...a touch of resentment, some big bills, a feeling of upset...all are guides and I am not afraid to dive in and uncover the blessings! All are welcome here! Lots of love and blessings, Grace

Thanks for sharing

Love the poem.

Just What I Needed

Thank you so much for this post. I've been feeling so many of these "guests" sweeping through my house lately, and feeling a little overwhelmed and nervous. These words really help. The sharing of them is perfect. Much Love and Appreciation, Karen Haskett

Thank you!


Karen.

Thank you so much for posting this!
I love it.

Sending a Divine Mother Hug to anyone who needs it.
Relax and receive.

Happy New Year!

I love you so much,
XOXO
Crystal
DivineOpenings.com/Crystal