Leaves and Blossoms Along the Way by Mary Oliver
A spacious poetry practice for listening with the heart.
Listen + Read
Leaves and Blossoms Along the Way
If you’re John Muir you want trees to
live among. If you’re Emily, a garden
will do.
Try to find the right place for yourself.
If you can’t find it, at least dream of it.
When one is alone and lonely, the body
gladly lingers in the wind or the rain,
or splashes into the cold river, or
pushes through the ice-crusted snow.Anything that touches.
God, or the gods, are invisible, quite
understandable. But holiness is visible,
entirely.
Some words will never leave God’s mouth,
no matter how hard you listen.
In all the works of Beethoven, you will
not find a single lie.
All important ideas must include the trees,
the mountains, and the rivers.
To understand many things you must reach out
of your own condition.
For how many years did I wander slowly
through the forest. What wonder and
glory I would have missed had I ever been
in a hurry!
Beauty can both shout and whisper, and still
it explains nothing.
The point is, you’re you, and that’s for keeps.
― Mary Oliver in Felicity
A Simple Practice
For this practice, settle into your space for 10-ish minutes. The invitation is to be here now and notice your inner experience of Mary Oliver’s poem.
Practice Instructions (use them or skip them!)
Take a moment to arrive
What is it like around you in this moment?
What is it like inside?
Read/Listen
Imagine the words being poured out into your hands. Your thinking mind may strain for meaning, which is not a problem. Let it be as it is.
Read/Listen Again.
What do you notice in your body as you read or hear this poem?
Is there a word, phrase, or image that draws your attention?
Are there words you resist?
Read/Listen Again.
Is there a word, phrase, or question you’d like to carry with you (in a journal, to explore in a conversation with a friend, or a spiritual director)?
Savoring & Appreciation.
You took some moments to be present. This was the invitation. Whether or not you experienced something that sticks with you, consider savoring the experience and appreciating yourself for showing up.
Let the Image Speak
You may try a similar exercise with the image above.
What do you notice inside?
Is there a question?
My name is Kirsten. I am a human and an artist who collages wisdom and beauty to nourish our souls. Thanks for being here!
I love the way Rob Bell describes the kind of space I hold for others, “A spiritual director is trained to ask you the questions—to help you enter into whatever it is more fully, so that you can begin to discern what Spirit is up to in even this. This chaos, this turmoil, this joy. This challenge. This obstacle. This dark night of the soul.”
You can read more about my accompaniment offerings here. I meet with folks on Zoom, the phone, and in person on Vashon-Maury Island.
If this page stirred something in you, please feel free to share it with others who might appreciate it.
