Stories

Women circled ’round the candles,
stories waiting to be told.
Each in time would turn the handle,
doors to open to their souls.

From the past a woman’s journey
mirrors steps in life today.
Strength and power, love and joy: we
treasure another woman’s way.

Combing depths within me only,
harvesting the truth that’s mine,
sharing freely that my story
may for you intensely shine.

Help received from lights of others –
strength to walk the path that’s mine.
Onward, upward, outward, inward.
Spirit within: my Truth, my Guide.

By Jeanne Loehnis, 2007

The Golden Rule – with a twist!

Often stated as: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” the golden rule is a fundamental moral principle found in virtually all major religions and cultures, which simply means “treat others as you would like to be treated.” According to Wikipedia, it is arguably the most essential basis for the modern concept of human rights. Very likely, your parents quoted the golden rule often during your childhood in an effort to help you learn how to treat people well and be socially appropriate.

That’s all well and good but, at the risk of being entirely misunderstood and branded as selfish, consider this twist on the familiar rule:

Do unto yourself as you do unto others.

What? Yes, do unto yourself as you do unto others. Two things can happen here. Perhaps you treat others very poorly, you never consider their feelings, never gift them with your generosity, time, kindness. If this is you, try treating yourself that way for awhile. How does it feel? Are you willing to continue this experiment for long? What has the “golden rule” taught you? Continue reading “The Golden Rule – with a twist!”

Tell A New Story

Your neighbor or coworker has stopped you again and you can hardly believe your ears: isn’t this the hundredth time you’ve heard that story? Yet, when the very next person you see asks how you are, you, also, find yourself sharing again about the difficulties that the economy has made for you and how there simply is never enough money to go around.

How can we possibly move beyond present circumstances if we merely rehash the old ideas and never entertain new ones? And, if we only entertain them, allowing safe passage in one ear and out the other, but not incorporate them into our lives, have they done us any good at all? Continue reading “Tell A New Story”

In My Heart of Hearts

In my heart of hearts
I want nothing more
than to reach beyond the wall:
walk straight through the door.
In my heart of hearts
I am standing tall.
Facing possibilities,
I have no fear at all

Funny how I’ve stood
so many times before
face to face unto this wall
and never seen a door.

The wall’s a line unto the sand
that limits what I see.
I focus on the life in view:
reducing possibility.

I’ve drawn this line unto the sand,
turned my back so I’ll not see
the realms that stretch before me:
life’s true immensity.

If but one breath I’d blow
across the line that I’ve embraced,
In just that instant I would find
the line to be erased.

So simple yet I hesitate
my line now to release.
Yet when I do I’ll find myself
enfolded in sweet peace.

By Jeanne Loehnis, 2007

I Think

I think I hear a message.
I think God has a plan.
I think that I’ve been sent here
to lend a helping hand.
I think there is a need
God’s sent you here to fill.
I think your life’s been planned
to be a miracle!
I think we each are needed
on this planet day by day
to share our gifts and talents
with others on our way.
I think that what you offer
is wonderful and true.
You share from wealth within —
that which is uniquely you.
by Jeanne Loehnis, March 2004