How do you welcome a crowd of sorrows?
The Guest House by Rumi
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’re 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 whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
My personal Crowd of Sorrows
I will not say their name, as they’re still busy sweeping–I’ll just call them Crowd. A little over 2 years–that’s the last time I saw them in person, and yet there they were this morning in the middle of my meditation. And at that moment, I didn’t feel grateful.
Instead, I felt annoyed with myself. Why can’t I be evolved enough to just get over them already? And what’s wrong with Crowd? How can they treat people that way?
Most of the time, I do feel grateful to Crowd of Sorrows. They helped clear me out for many new delights. Tnhey gave me the strength to make changes in my life that I was resisting. I knew it was time to move on, but I felt comfortable in my discomfort–preferred to stay in the known rather than start the new adventure that called me. They gave me the kick in the butt–or the bat on the head–that I needed to get out of my rut.
I’m also grateful to have moved on and not have Crowd in my life. But they’re still there–at least in my inner life.
Meditation and breathing
Today, I found Crowd of Sorrows resting on my chest, figuratively, of course. No wonder I couldn’t breathe! It reminded me of this:
I occasionally get asthma. I have an inhaler to use when I need it, but I’ve found that meditation also helps. Today, as I acknowledged my pain, my breathing eased as well–and I realized what Crowd represented for me.
Dharma and doubt
I just started reading The Great Work of Your Life: A guide for the journey to your true calling by Stephen Cope. My friend Cyncie Winter, of Bright Star coaching, recommended it. Personally, I haven’t studied the Bhagavad Gita, but this book is based on it. Cope writes that the central challenge that faces Arjuna, the protagonist, is doubt. I’m looking forward to learning more from this book. But after beginning it, I realized that Crowd of Sorrows upset my inner world again because they tapped into my self-doubt.
They haven’t been part of my life for a long time now (if you consider 2 years a long time), but they’ve become an archetype in my inner world. So I have reason to be grateful to them again–for teaching me to recognize my doubts about myself. Ugh! Do I have to? Well, actually I don’t, but I will do my best to face them/myself. And to welcome them, too.
Poetry Friday
I thought I’d share this poem, even though I shared it before in my post about letting your inner monsters out to play. But it’s one of my favorite poems, so I think it’s worth revisiting.
And thanks to Cheriee Weichel from Library Matters for hosting Poetry Friday and for sharing an interview with children’s poet Avis Harley–a poet I’m looking forward to reading more of.
And as always, thanks for stopping by!
xoxo
It seems that it is a thoughtful thing to open that door, to confront the “Crowd” using whatever tools we might have at the time. Otherwise, it’s a nagging thought hiding out. I like reading about your own self-reflections, Susan–Food for my own thoughts this weekend!
Thanks, Linda!
That Crowd of Sorrows is not always a welcome guest, but if we are open, they can be a powerful teacher. It sounds like you are moving forward with their lessons.
Thanks, Kay. You’re right. I have learned a lot and moved on to new and better things. Still, I haven’t worked through all the pain yet. Must be more for me to learn!
This is a wonderful poem. Thanks for sharing it.
Thanks! It’s one I come back to often.