To dance with the energy of immediacy is to begin to learn to walk straight into the equanimity of the heart- beyond like and dislike, beyond drama and its sibling, ‘clinging,’ and, therefore, beyond success or failure. The smallest of kenotic gestures grounded in the life force of sensation and harnessing of eros (as we’ve been working) begins to produce the most precious, yet powerful, gentling of our particular energetic field (or atmosphere) and with the establishment of a measure of will, the environment around us too. So to this week’s task…
Surrendering to the Cave of the Heart
With sensation activated in the lower limbs, begin to place your attention in the space within and around your heart. Sense both your heart’s interiority and its spaciousness. Be with this sensation. More. Use the breath as an aid to increase this sensation. You’re attention below the neck.
From this place allow the question of “who am I?” to emerge into awareness. Allow the question to remain held in the chest as its carried with you into your day, not looking for or expecting an answer-like a baby chick held in its nest, it need not yet fly, for to do so prematurely could equal extinguishing its life. Merely stay with the question. And more so the sensation, letting it ferment as you engage your activities. Observe the sense of meaning that arises as you do so. What do you see? What awakens within?
I invite you to read the poem below as you set an intention to work with this week’s task.
I’ve Stopped Asking What to do When Lighting Strikes By Jonathan L. Steele
I’ve stopped asking what to do when lightning strikes and you’re all poured out into this heart’s aqueduct
It does the doing
As it does this raging sea of sentiment concentrates like a single flint of flash and grit
I’m set aflame where I’ve always been standing inside Eternity’s aim
I’m born again
Virgin Virgin Virgin Hem One touch
Life’s searing search My guts This glory Is it all for us This love’s story?
Collected singularities seize the incessant splitting off on time
Too late check mate
You win but God, I’m not done until you say I’m done and then when I climb into your tower the lighthouse standing tall in raging waters You make space for this love making every Hour bliss so stunning
Razor’s edge it cuts deeper with each strike rings the bell
Beneath the noise of wind and storm chiasm ripples out
Origin bends and breathes its Christic pulse
At the heart and the core of the earth body quakes
Food for the earth
Inner Task Series by Jonathan Steele
Jonathan Steele posted this Inner Task Series to the Wisdom School Community on Facebook from July 2 – August 21, 2021