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Author Archives: Herb Stone
poem: the soul perseveres the ego
poem: the soul perseveres the ego
when one’s soul
exits its cycle of nourishment
entering the cycle of famine
it must be endured
one’s self must simply
get out of the way
and receive the unmerited
grace of the Cosmos
succumbing to a poor attitude
is but a misperception of the Truth
from which we must reawaken
time and again
taking leave and taking care
to not further poison
this world of illusion through our
selfish thought, word, and deed
then returning from the wilderness;
its solitude, and silence,
having faced the shadows
the soul again Self nourishing all
Herb Stone
here&now working poetry
July 23, 2021
art by Frida Kahlo
‘The Love Embrace of the Universe’
quote: “…all things are working together as One giving rise to life!”
Reflection: Self Liberation and Walking Each Other Home in Togetherness
Reflection: Self Liberation and Walking Each Other Home in Togetherness
As the author Toko-pa Turner wrote in her seminal work Belonging: Remembering Ourselves Home there has always been this “terror of otherness so malignant in this world” driving us to tribalism, racism (and other oppression of peoples), xenophobia, nationalism, and violence which keeps us divided, separated, and siloed. For many, it appears at this particular time in history, this toxic ‘malignant otherness’ is as extreme as it has ever been in our lifetime.
Certainly within relationships there is a natural flow of being present and being absent. Grounded in the soul’s needs and development of Self, there is need for both periods of exile in the wilderness and feast of togetherness in community. Even outsiders operating at the margins of society long to belong authentically with others in community. As humans, we share this need to live our most true Truth together and to have a Home community we can always return to where we may truly belong in authenticity.
And thus the arduous journey facing us all as individuals in the pathless wilderness exile begins here and now. Resisting the selfish, dominant cultural lies of othering being spread by those operating at the self level of human development, those so called authorities, i.e., politicians, clergy, teachers, CEOs, social media influencers, power brokers, etc., those of the social systems of domination, we go inward, conducting a scorching self inventory of the lies we tell ourselves and others, and die unto that self. Then resisting the lies of the external authorities and annihilating the lies of our inner self, having unlearned all we have mistakenly been taught and believed, we are free to sift through the remains, for the Universal Truth beyond the self, allowing it to rise into the Light and to guide us for evermore.
Now Self liberated in Universal Truth, we join together each walking the other Home in Authentic Communities of True belonging eternally!
Herb Stone
image is the epilogue scene from the movie ‘Cloud Atlas’
My Book is Now on Sale and Features New Cover Art
Featured
My Book is Now on Sale
I am pleased to announce my new book published in April 2021 is now available with NEW COVER ART and is ON SALE at a new low price for a limited time. The new cover art and sales price are the only changes to the book.
The cover art is a photo I made of water lilies in Great Western Lake in Grayton Beach, Florida. The water lily (and lotus) have always been symbols to me of resistance, overcoming, and transformation as it emerges through the muck of the lake, rising up to the light, and transforming into a beautiful and free flower floating at the lakes surface on the currents.
You can click on the link below to find the book and purchase it on Amazon while it is on sale for a limited time.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09328FGXF
You may contact me here on my website by clicking on Contact in the menu.
Beloveds, thank you for your interest and support, and happy reading!
poem: lessons revealed on a midsummer’s walk
poem: lessons revealed
on a midsummer’s walk the honey locust
wild apricot
and angelpod vine
surprise us today
as we walk the path
along Seven Mile Creekin these days in theses days
just after midsummer,
hot and humid,
the cumulus clouds
signalling afternoon showers
are close at han walking the damp Earth
revealing its lessons:
inseparability, impartiality,
and mutuality connect
all to the great nest of being
as divine universal love Herb Stone
here&now working poetry
July 11, 2021 photos by Herb Stone
‘Honey Locust, Wild Apricot,
and Angelpod Vine’
on a midsummer’s walk the honey locust
wild apricot
and angelpod vine
surprise us today
as we walk the path
along Seven Mile Creekin these days in theses days
just after midsummer,
hot and humid,
the cumulus clouds
signalling afternoon showers
are close at han walking the damp Earth
revealing its lessons:
inseparability, impartiality,
and mutuality connect
all to the great nest of being
as divine universal love Herb Stone
here&now working poetry
July 11, 2021 photos by Herb Stone
‘Honey Locust, Wild Apricot,
and Angelpod Vine’
poem: life in a small world on a fragile planet (Smokey Redux)
poem: life in a small world
on a fragile planet
(Smokey Redux) last evening
the sun nearing the horizon
here on Bird Heaven Hill
in the Southern Hills haze from wildfires
in British Columbia
over 2,000 miles away
smudged the sky revealing it is a small world
here on Earth Home
where all is connected
and ecosystems are fragile our human impact is large
our neglect, denial, and apathy strong
our building in fragile ecosystems
our waste fueling climate change structures fall into the sea
risking homes and lives
wildfires burn out of control
depleting ozone now peering into the haze
clearly revealing our
human ego, hubris, and will
“Only you” saith Smokey the Bear Herb Stone
here&now working poetry
July 8, 2021 art images
U.S. Forest Service
unattributed
on a fragile planet
(Smokey Redux) last evening
the sun nearing the horizon
here on Bird Heaven Hill
in the Southern Hills haze from wildfires
in British Columbia
over 2,000 miles away
smudged the sky revealing it is a small world
here on Earth Home
where all is connected
and ecosystems are fragile our human impact is large
our neglect, denial, and apathy strong
our building in fragile ecosystems
our waste fueling climate change structures fall into the sea
risking homes and lives
wildfires burn out of control
depleting ozone now peering into the haze
clearly revealing our
human ego, hubris, and will
“Only you” saith Smokey the Bear Herb Stone
here&now working poetry
July 8, 2021 art images
U.S. Forest Service
unattributed
quote: “…..we are Beloveds of the Lover as Love itself…..”
image unattributed
poem: the blessings of a daily walk
poem: the blessings of a daily walk
rambling
among the
wild carrot,
thistle,
crimson clover,
blackberries,
curly dock,
fields of wild flowers,
with the
dragon flies,
creek fish,
while tail,
in the
Southern Hills’ woods,
paddling the creeks,
then sitting a spell
in the deep shade
of mature trees,
with the cool breeze
on our face
fills our hearts
with unending gratitude
and grace
Herb Stone
here&now working poetry
July 5, 2021
photos by the author
‘Our Recent Ramblings’
quote: “True patriots resist injustice and hate wherever it is found amongst us.”
A FEW THOUGHTS ABOUT LIBERTY AND FREEDOM ON THE FOURTH JULY
2021 Note: I have been posting this reminder on the fourth of July for several years now. This year I have tweaked it a bit, however, it remains relatively unchanged as have the threats to our liberty and freedom. This is no time to let our guard down against tyranny or to take our eye off the Beloved Authentic Community of All for the Greater Good! There is much work to still be done! 1) None of us are free until all are free. Don’t mistake your personal privilege for the freedom of all. 2) Freedom is not tolerance for one group to be prejudiced towards and discriminate against another group. That is oppression. Silence in the face of oppression is a victory for the oppressor. Speak truth to power. 3) We continue to live in very volatile times and are in grave danger of losing our democratic republic to a plutocracy of oligarchs and to those with fascist leanings. Do not be silent. Do not be complacent. Do not be complicit. They will eventually come for you too. Resist as if your life and those of your loved ones depends on it! Because it does!! 4) Do the hard work of personal and collective transformation which the world as it is so needs. Be willing to prepare, practice , and participate in being the change we need. Put in some sweat equity and some skin in the game. In relation to the dominant systems of power, control, and violence, one must be transformed, resist, and be an activist for authentic and true change. Only those with eyes to see and ears to hear this call will assure its achievement for the common good of all.
2021 Note: I have been posting this reminder on the fourth of July for several years now. This year I have tweaked it a bit, however, it remains relatively unchanged as have the threats to our liberty and freedom. This is no time to let our guard down against tyranny or to take our eye off the Beloved Authentic Community of All for the Greater Good! There is much work to still be done! 1) None of us are free until all are free. Don’t mistake your personal privilege for the freedom of all. 2) Freedom is not tolerance for one group to be prejudiced towards and discriminate against another group. That is oppression. Silence in the face of oppression is a victory for the oppressor. Speak truth to power. 3) We continue to live in very volatile times and are in grave danger of losing our democratic republic to a plutocracy of oligarchs and to those with fascist leanings. Do not be silent. Do not be complacent. Do not be complicit. They will eventually come for you too. Resist as if your life and those of your loved ones depends on it! Because it does!! 4) Do the hard work of personal and collective transformation which the world as it is so needs. Be willing to prepare, practice , and participate in being the change we need. Put in some sweat equity and some skin in the game. In relation to the dominant systems of power, control, and violence, one must be transformed, resist, and be an activist for authentic and true change. Only those with eyes to see and ears to hear this call will assure its achievement for the common good of all.
