November 9, 2020
Reflective Journaling and the Creative Imagination
By Amba Gale
My poetry corner is a sacred space for me, into which I enter every morning, before anything. There, I allow the poetic imagination to speak to me and to speak for me, and I listen, deeply, to whatever comes, and then take pen to paper. The touchstones and keepsakes, mementos, from my travels all over the world, remind me that wherever I go, I belong. Whether it is the colorful cup that looks like a Gaudi wall in a house in Barcelona, or coasters with fine precious stones cut by the men whose ancestors built the Taj Mahal, they bring me to being at home in the world.
Surrounded by photographs of spiritual teachers, a book of poetry by Mary Oliver, statues of Ganesh, the energy of the Hindu God who teaches through the bringing of obstacles our way, so that we may move through the pain of being human, and learn; or my tile of the whale leaping exuberantly out of the frothy waters, knowing he will go back down into the deep; or my red and white plant, always growing, beautifully, into new leaves, I come to rest here, to be at home here, to belong here, to be guided by the Voice that speaks, where I can be in conversation with something or someone that cannot be seen, but is yet very real.
I listen, and then I write whatever comes. And what I write is food for my soul.
I call this “Reflective Journaling.” I invite you to tap into your creative imagination as well, each day, in whatever way you do, in whatever way pleases you.
I would love for you to join me in a special conversation in January and February of next year, called Crossing Thresholds, a New Opening. It is a time in which we re-marry our own creative imaginations, enter into inner space, space in which we do not see, but hear quite well, our own poetic imaginations, leading us through these dark and troubled times, bringing us inner light. Each morning, I let go of my story from yesterday, and enter into a new story. Each morning I enter my world from this space of sacredness.
This is My Poetry Corner
In honor of Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, whose poem, “This is my Prayer Room,” from his book, “Early Music,” inspired this poem.
This is my Poetry Corner.
This is where each morning
I light the candles
and watch the incense smoke
gently rise, and circle, to the ceiling of my room.
One straight thin strand of smoke, and then the circles. Who knows what invisible breath
shapes its climb
shapes mine
shapes yours.
For one who knows nothing,
it is enough
to be still, to let
the spirit-breath grow
shapes around me
that stir my senses
into wakefulness.
This is the corner in my home
where each morning
the silky smooth goodness
of the warm tea
settles into my body and sends
its healing goodness
to start my day.
This is my poetry corner
where my pen and pages of poetry
and blank white pages of poetry not yet born,
await me,
curious, wondering,
ready to discover what new surprise
will find them and fill them
with the soft, loving, wise, artistic voice
of my Muse.
