"For Light", A Poem by John O'Donohue

In this episode, I read John O'Donohue's beautiful poem called, "For Light" from his book, To Bless the Space Between Us. on the eve of the presidential election in the United States, which has the air feeling so tense, anxious, full of fear and worry about what will happen. This poem is some medicine for me tonight so I wanted to share it with you. I read it by candlelight while sitting at my little art table.  John O'Dononue was an Irish poet, philosopher and spiritual leader.  "For Light" by John O'Donohue  Light cannot see inside things.  That is what the dark is for: Minding the interior,  Nurturing the draw of growth  Through places where death In its own way turns into life.  In the glare of neon times,  Let our eyes not be worn By surfaces that shine  With hunger made attractive.  That our thoughts may be true light,  Finding their way into words  Which have the weight of shadow  To hold the layers of truth.  That we never place our trust In minds claimed by empty light,  Where one-sided certainties  Are driven by false desire.  When we look into the heart,  May our eyes have the kindness  And reverence of candlelight.  That the searching of our minds  Be equal to the oblique  Crevices and corners where  The mystery continues to dwell,  Glimmering in fugitive light.  When we are confined inside  The dark house of suffering  That moonlight might find a window.  When we become false and lost  That the severe noon-light  Would cast our shadow clear.  When we love, that dawn-light  Would lighten our feet  Upon the waters.  As we grow old, that twilight  Would illuminate treasure  In the fields of memory.  And when we come to search for God,  Let us first be robed in night,  Put on the mind of morning  To feel the rush of light  Spread slowly inside  The color and stillness  Of a found world.  ----- Emma Freeman is an artist, writer, poet, Licensed Massage Therapist and Reiki Practitioner. She teaches online art and writing classes at www.deep-rooted-healing.com. She is a sober and a highly sensitive person. She lives in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.  Online creative classes: ⁠⁠www.deep-rooted-healing.com/classes⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠www.deep-rooted-healing.com⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/deeprootedhealing⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠www.facebook.com/deeprootedhealings⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@deeprootedhealing⁠