….Tomorrow evening I’m facilitating a group on The Art of Love: Loving Without Fear or Expectation at Phenomenal Woman. Phenomenal Woman is a group that was formed by Imani Latif who runs a fantastic organization called It Takes a Village. They run various programs that serve many but I’ve been affiliated with the “PW’s” for almost TEN years now! Hard to believe, it’s a lovely group. Being that it’s been around so long, many of the ladies have truly grown together (and apart I’m sure) for but for the most part it’s been all positive. The group is always changing and growing. Imani started this group specifically to cater to the emotional and physical health and wellness of black women. …Uh…and she has always provided free dinner and free childcare and if you are a mama, you can’t beat that. In addition to some good social time with adults. It has been beneficial to many in more ways than there are really time to name and it was the first group I was able to develop my art therapy classes on! For years it has provided a place where black women can safely share and gather. They meet every other week, the topics range from everything to money matters to…..to…… dating, to family and friend issues, to gardening…you name it. Anywhoo, I’m syked that tomorrow evening I’m facilitating ‘The Art of Love: Loving Without Fear Or Expectation’ in order to address how well we do or don’t take care of our hearts. …Oh , what a special little organ. The ways in which it serves us physically are…well, you know, SPLENDIFOROUS. And the ways in which it serves emotionally are well, you know….even MORE SPLENDIFOROUS! So I’ll have to report back and let you know how it goes. But for now I’m going to leave you with one of my most favorite pieces of literature ever known to man. …In my book anyway. It’s one of those works that one must not only have as a staple in their library, but REVISIT OFTEN:‘The Prophet’ By Kahlil Gibran. So ahead of his time he was. The book covers everything from love to work and friendships, knowledge of self and freedom. I fell in love with this book in the 90’s and it never gets far. Read on…enjoy….and feel free to comment. We’ll have to continue our discussion on The Art of Love and loving without fear and/or expectation. I would love to hear what you all have to share about such a topic. ‘Cause I know you got SOMETHIN’!!!!
Kahlil Gibran on Love
When love beckons to you, follow him,
Though his ways are hard and steep.
And when his wings enfold you yield to him,
Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.
And when he speaks to you believe in him,
Though his voice may shatter your dreams
as the north wind lays waste the garden.
For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning.
Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun,
So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth.
Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself.
He threshes you to make you naked.
He sifts you to free you from your husks.
He grinds you to whiteness.
He kneads you until you are pliant;
And then he assigns you to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for God’s sacred feast.
All these things shall love do unto you that you may know the secrets of your heart, and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life’s heart.
But if in your fear you would seek only love’s peace and love’s pleasure,
Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love’s threshing-floor,
Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears.
Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.
Love possesses not nor would it be possessed;
For love is sufficient unto love.
When you love you should not say, “God is in my heart,” but rather, “I am in the heart of God.”
And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself.
But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:
To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.
To know the pain of too much tenderness.
To be wounded by your own understanding of love;
And to bleed willingly and joyfully.
To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;
To rest at the noon hour and meditate love’s ecstasy;
To return home at eventide with gratitude;
And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.
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Sigh….Gotta keep the love alive, in Studio5 (and beyond!)
