Presence

"Lightning rod at the pinnacle
Attracts power by its mere presence.
In the same way, we must work
For substance and height."

Most of the time, I feel like my striving is losing. And most of the time, my belief that that is not my final destiny is what propels me forward. I am about to give up everything I have been and done for the last six years because I have faith that it's time to reach for something more. I pray for God to be with me and meet me in this leap of faith. 

Colorless

"What's the difference between the erotic and the spiritual?
Temples and lovers are equally gaudy."

I think art allows us to transcend everything. I write to seek my best self. Whatever quest for holiness I make in this life, and whatever awaits me in the hereafter, may it all be pure. 

Mysticism

"All mystical traditions are one.
They are the seed of all religions."

I believe that the above is true; I also think that, all too often, in the hands of the people, they lend themselves to certain abuses. It is a hope of mine that by keeping an open mind and heart, I can do my share of work to prevent the abuse. I keep going deeper, so it never feels like enough, but still I go. Being led in the Spirit, it's the best I can do. 

Mate

"Passion is a prelude to
Years of gradual unfolding."

A year and a half in, I still feel like a newlywed. There are struggles, yes, but as long as I remember Who moved me to enter them, love can grow.

Mosaic

"Tiles of carnelian, lapis, and jade,
The muralist sets his picture
One centimeter at a time.
Every piece alone is precious;
Together they make a priceless whole."

I have come to understand myself as a big-picture person with an eye for detail. Even with a talent for focusing on both, it isn't easy to keep a good perspective. Now that I've committed to taking this leap of faith, it's ever more important for me to keep in mind who I am, and Whose I am, in the scheme of things.

Intensity

"Tao is strangely colorless,
Yet intense.
It grips like a tidal wave."

I have often reflected that I am a person without particular avocations or hobbies. Rather, I take an interest in everything, and let my imagination guide me. I have been told this gives me a certain intensity. I even occasionally get told that I am intimidating. I think this is wrong. I am a nobody, and find myself wishing to be invisible most of the time. At the same time, I understand that invisible is not the same as absent. Perhaps I have a wish to be so authentic and natural in my influence that my presence should not be seen but felt. 

Decadence

"Powdered concubine dressed in rich silks--
Feet bound, body soft, lips slack--
Views lotuses through binoculars.
A dragonfly alights on her motionless fan."

I can't be too indulgent now that I've made this life-altering choice. Risk must be followed by edifying action.