I’d been searching all my life,
Never knowing why,
Seeking answers without questions,
Afraid to live, afraid to die.
I looked worldwide, tried meditation,
Fueling my desire,
In books, in mind, found fascination,
Thinking I was climbing higher.
Sports and pleasures, men to love,
Yearning after each new goal,
Ecstatic highs to float above
Never soothed my restless soul.
In all the work I’ve tried and done,
My eyes were on my dreams,
Despite the praise, success, and fun,
What’s real was never what it seemed.
For many years I stayed asleep,
Dreaming through my life,
Living others’ plans for me,
A daughter, lawyer, mother, wife.
On waking one day from my slumber
I found a wasteland all around.
So hard to crawl back out from under,
I began a journey homeward bound.
I lacked a ship to start my voyage.
No sails courageous or iron mast.
No map to chart my course unknown.
No rudder strong in trust steadfast.
Tidal waves would lie ahead
Of pain and grief and fear unseen,
My past arising from the dead,
The nightmare that was once the dream.
I looked for signs but saw only darkness.
I had no compass for direction.
I’d sail, and drift, and sink again,
But winds of love were my protection.
I rode the waves, my boat capsizing,
Through a never-ending stormy night.
Then gradually a dawn was rising,
Happiness was in my sight.
I found a love within my heart
And peace I’d never known.
After searching everywhere,
I learned my “Self” was always home.
© Darlene Lancer 2003
Get a Self-Love Meditation
Comments / 0