Winter Haiku
To warm your heart and soul by the hearthfire
Icy frozen drops
Water glistening on rocks
A magical world.
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Winter crescent moon,
Venus appears nearby.
Nighttime is magic.
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Stars twinkling high,
Scattering Milky Way,
Dance with meteors.
Clouds painted pink,
Winter sunset the artist,
Golden rays blushing.
A bear wants some food
before her hibernation;
frost on her salad.
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Woodsmoke on the air,
Cozy glow from a bonfire,
Music warms my heart.
Enjoy this audio narration of my haiku:
Poetry’s Place in Our Mystery School
Haiku
Haiku is a special form of poetry that originated in Japan. Haiku are traditionally written about nature, sometimes in praise of nature, and they often include observations about nature that teach us something about our life in general. Some koans (lessons as stories) I’ve heard have been in the form of haiku. They are powerful and timeless.
Haiku is a simple form of poetry that often leads to exquisite expressions of a person’s encounter with natural beauty, and such an encounter’s effect on the poet. Many of you may be familiar with the 3-line format, each with a designated amount of syllables (which don’t need to be exact at all times, but I love the challenge): 5, 7, 5.
My invitation to you is to write a haiku or two. Step outside (bundled up for the weather) to spend time time in nature this week. Take a notebook and pen with you. Write down what you see, and how you feel while watching what is happening around you. Note the thoughts that pop up for you during the process. Spend 10 minutes if you can and it’s not too cold outside where you are ~ and reward yourself with a warm cuppa tea or cocoa as a reward afterward. It’s fine to keep moving, stop to write, and then continue moving. Whatever works for you. ~:0)
Engaging with Mystery While Engaging with Nature
Most often, our most spontaneous expressions are sources of inspiration and insight for ourselves and others, so please don’t overthink this process.
Once you’re unbundled and settled in back at home (or a cafe), look at your notes and create a few haiku. What came up for you? How did they come together for you? Which of your observations played well with others? What type of flow did you experience in the process? If you enjoyed the process of writing a few haiku, you can write more if you are moved to. No reason to stop.
Invitation
You are invited to share a haiku (or two) that you have written below in the comments. I’d love to read what you have to share. We are all each others’ teachers as we are companions on the journey. May your time on the path be lovely, and gently walk with you into this new year. Blessed be!
Your haikus warm my heart 🧡