One of my old Self-Healing collages...

"Year of the Ox"
Mixed Media Collage
By
Annie B. Siemer
2009

 

"DON'T move the way fear makes you move...."

The Illuminated Rumi
by
Coleman Barks

 

I have wanted to own this book for sooooo many years. I have checked it out of countless libraries, in places like Columbus,Ohio, Half Moon Bay, California, Silverton Oregon and for many years here in Dunnellon, Florida. 

I have been a fan of Coleman Barks and his translation of the poetry of Jelaluddin Rumi, for a very long time. Barks was encouraged to do so by another poet, Robert Bly, who told Barks that "these birds need to be freed from their cages".  I have watched a video and also checked it out repeatedly, that I think was entitled ," The Heart of Rumi",  in which Mr.Barks tells a story , 'The Story of Club'. I won't retell it  here but encourage you to find that video and hear that story yourself. 

I once had a chance to go see and hear Coleman Barks at The Palace of Fine Arts, in San Francisco.  I had arranged to stay in a private room at the Hostel at Fort Mason which was open to me for free  at the time,  as I was an employee of Hosteling International. I walked around outside the place for hours before the time the event was scheduled to happen , as I have loved that building and it's beautiful surroundings for many years.

When it came time to go..I somehow panicked. It was most likely related to trauma incurred at a dysfunctional workplace...but at the time..I didn't see it for that. So I never did get to see  , hear or meet Coleman Barks.

Coleman Barks introduced me to more than a poet. He introduced me, or rather pulled from within me..... something I knew in my heart..for a long time, to be true: There is more than one path to the divine and that the divine is within the chambers of our hearts.

He lives and teaches at a university in Athens, Georgia and a few years ago I went through there and secretly fantasized running into Coleman at a small cafe there..or maybe a local Thai restaurant.

But as I often do when traveling, especially in the several years before I lost Mollie...stopped briefly at the natural foods store there, let Mollie do her business and got back in the car to forge on and find our next campsite.

Well this year I discovered used bookstores online.  I have resisted online purchases for many years, but the times being what they are during our lives with COVID , I started ordering a few used books online and this one I have told myself..... Is an early Birthday present to myself...a book translating the poetry of a fellow Libra,  as well as beautiful collages that I love they call ,

"Illuminations by Michael Green".

So yes it absolutely falls into my category of Recommended Reading. The book is more than a book...but you will find that for yourself.  

"Don't Move the Way Fear Makes You Move".... is one of my all time favorite Rumi quotes..and of course I have been watching fear move again...to and fro. In stores., On the roads and highways on television and by watching my Dad watch television. Hurricane Ian is barreling down on La Florida...and I am not afraid.

But I might go back to Athens at some point and see if Coleman Barks wants to drum...if he is still even there.

Focus on the Good....in my view this past week.