Cast All Your Votes for Dancing, Episode 458

On presence, embodiment, and choosing life-giving attention in the midst of our lives. How we might transform our experience into ‘drops of sunlight’ that help us stay in contact with life as we meet despair and the counterfeit comforts that promise relief but leave us diminished. An invitation to notice what brings freedom and love, both within ourselves and in relationship with others.

Hosted as always by Lizzie Winn and Justin Wise of Thirdspace.

---

Our source for this week:

Cast All Your Votes For Dancing

I know the voice of depression

Still calls to you.

I know those habits that can ruin your life

Still send their invitations.

But you are with the Friend now

And look so much stronger.

You can stay that way

And even bloom!

Keep squeezing drops of the Sun

From your prayers and work and music

And from your companions’ beautiful laughter.

Keep squeezing drops of the Sun

From the sacred hands and glance of your Beloved

And, my dear,

From the most insignificant movements

Of your own holy body.

Learn to recognize the counterfeit coins

That may buy you just a moment of pleasure,

But then drag you for days

Like a broken man

Behind a farting camel.

You are with the Friend now.

Learn what actions of yours delight Him,

What actions of yours bring freedom

And Love.

Whenever you say God’s name, dear pilgrim,

My ears wish my head was missing

So they could finally kiss each other

And applaud all your nourishing wisdom!

O keep squeezing drops of the Sun

From your prayers and work and music

And from your companions’ beautiful laughter

And from the most insignificant movements

Of your own holy body.

Now, sweet one,

Be wise.

Cast all your votes for Dancing!

Hafiz
Translated by Daniel Ladinsky

Photo by Javier Allegue Barros on Unsplash‍ ‍

---