Since the One is already here and
inescapably so
there is no need to seek it
or to call it in.
The One is busy being One
whatever one chooses
to believe, or pretend,
want or not-want.
There is no need to summon
the One
to the hearth of the heart:
it is that Bright
eternal flame, unlit, undying
(some call it Soul)
apart from which we have
no being.
It casts its eyeless eye around
the hearth’s welcoming glow.
It notices the pillows are plumped
and the kettle sings.
It smiles upon the cluster of
creative, competent, contented
luminaries who have gathered but –
many chairs are empty.
Too many chairs are empty!
Too many tender embers of the One
are absent – worse,
they haven’t been invited to this gathering
of Soul-celebration.
Call them in! The cry echoes through
the clay embodiment
where all those unwelcome embers
languish in exile.
Call them in! Assemble the entire company!
Welcome them all
without reservation or condition;
sit them down, give them tea,
make them comfortable, thank them
for the priceless part they have played
in the journey to now.
Let them know they are loved.
And in they straggle: the timid, the traumatized, the ashamed, the guilty, the grieving, the manipulator, the opportunist, the mute, the defensive, the secretive, the hypocrite, the liar, the sentimental, the stubborn, the light-fingered, the greedy, the stoic, the fearful, the arrogant, the immodest, the undeserving, the critical, the insatiable, the self-righteous, the confused, the impatient, the narcissistic, the lazy, the lost, the untrusting, the ungrateful, the exhausted, the incompetent, the mean, the jealous, the utterly deluded … in they straggle. Some have been banished for so long in the mind’s push towards spiritual or philosophical perfection that they have forgotten the existence of a home hearth. They creep in, cringing.
The chairs fill up and the tears flow – tears of forgiveness, tears of contrition, tears of loving appreciation. Unimpeded, the flow opens out into a current of ecstasy.
And as the clamor settles, the fire in the hearth leaps into life, igniting all these precious embers until the entire company is burning with the Bright.
For this is the ultimate alchemy:
acceptance that the all and the One are One
and never was any ember not a member
of the One Bright beingness
for whom distinctions and differences
have never been a problem;
the One Bright unassailable beingness
known as incredible You.
~ miriam louisa
All know that the drop merges into the ocean,
but few know that the ocean merges into the drop.
~ Kabir
this unlit light 
Please note that this post is not a critique of, or comment on, the book ‘Calling in the One’, which I understand many have found useful. I have not read it.
The post refers to a process that has been particularly intense for she-who-scribbles during the last six months – a process of reconciliation with untold fragments of forsaken souldom. It wasn’t asked for, but like all unfoldings of the Real, came forth unexpected and uninvited.
Gratitude to the precious friends whose wisdom saw the need, and whose compassion supported the process.
~ ml
In we straggle, at our own pace. Love is there.
I’m so happy to hear from you again, Clare. Yes, Love is always there – shining on regardless . . .
Your writing continues to delight and inspire me. I’ve added your site to my *blogamigos page* – hope that’s ok with you. Let me know if otherwise.
I hope you are well and flourishing in every way! 🙂
Love ~ ml
Still here, reading, learning, delighting. Thank you for the listing. You are on my sidebar under the heading “I admire/ love” which gets few clicks, and I wonder how to get more clicks there.
Stunningly Beautiful Re~minder, Miriam~ Thank you for sharing this Jewel~ 🙂
A deep bow to you dear Satprem33. Thank you for leaving your kind comment.
With love ~ ml
This is so wonderful miriam louisa! So authentic… I used to call these “unwelcome embers languishing in exile”, little orphans, exiled to the streets; my little “street people” just wanting to be loved, to come Home. I still have a few stragglers 🙂 I love how we each come to this recognition in our own way. Am so happy for you!
Just a thought on the Kabir poem: The drop and the Ocean were never separate. The drop has always been the Ocean, and the Ocean the drop all along. But you know that! As you say, the “ultimate alchemy”!
Much Love to you!
Lovely to hear from you Christine. Thank you for your beautiful comment…Yes, each dance is unique – and it’s just so amazing that it all takes care of itself. (Which isn’t to say it’s always a smooth ride – as you well know!)
Hoping you are feeling well dear heart.
Love ~ ml
this is stunning…completely flattened me and i am still reeling. thank you…
Oh Linda – it’s amazing to know that you resonated so strongly – thank you for sharing, commenting. So many of us are, to one degree or another, deep in this process of calling in all the bits of us that hallmark our humanity – the bits we want to disown! It took a long time to convince this old girl that it mattered. Now I know it’s crucial, and that it happens in its own good time, by some amazing grace …
With love ~ ml
Miriam Louisa – you have one of the most dangerous blogs on the Internet. You catch the ego flat-footed and knock it senseless. Only Reality can do that!
Crikey. Is that what’s going on! No wonder I’m dizzy. Your last sentence says it all. Fantastic disclaimer.
Chuckles and love ~ ml
Hi Miriam Louisa,
I am nominating you for the Beautiful Blogger Award. If you choose to accept the award, please go to my post for details. Congratulations!
http://thewondrousdharma.com/2012/06/04/beautiful-blogger-award/
Arjuna – how kind! Thank you.
I’m happy that you resonate with this little blog. And I congratulate you on being nominated for this award as well.
I’m somewhat overwhelmed by all these award nominations … unsure how to respond collectively … but something will arise.
I have to confess that, for me, the most heart-warming reward of all is to receive readers’ comments.
With love ~ ml
lovely to see you inviting everyone to the feast!
hurray~
holy hurrays! 🙂
_/|\_ and love ~ ml