The images offered here come from the illuminations of Great Spirit moving within the depths of my soul. Real things have happened to a real person who couldn’t believe what was happening, couldn’t figure out what was happening as more things went wrong than I care to count. There was no path through the mess I encountered. I could only take the next step or go to bed. Somewhere along the way towards healing, I knew I was into something really deep. Only looking back can I see the path I’ve walked. I’m still on the path, can’t see what’s ahead. I can only cherish where I am and trust great good is still to unfold.

My hope for you is that you, too, may see more deeply into the experiences you're facing...and discover potential for great good within them. In that spirit of hope, I share with you this blessing offered from the writings of John O'Donohue

A Blessing Of The Vulnerable

May you be blessed in the name of the holy, the mystery we call God
And in His holy name, may your life be blessed.
May, deep within you, the places of darkness turn towards light.

When pain comes, may you be given a stillness within it.
May you be given the wisdom not to resist, but to let it flow through you.

May you recognize, in any suffering that comes to the door of your heart, a guest who brings you special gifts.
And may you have the courage to open that door so that your lovely heart may become larger and kinder and more beautiful.

May you never forget or lose the fruits of light that your own suffering has brought you.
May you go back in your mind to recover these lost bright candles of light that you sorely earned and that you now need.
And may you be able to gather around you the wonderful shelters that you have received and earned through your own pain.

May you realize that you are sistered to everything that is alive;
And that whatever you suffer brings new life to everything that is.

May you never be afraid of suffering,
May you know that in the eye of the storm that there is the stillness of the Divine voice
Whispering to you that you’re safely held within the loving embrace
Of a great tenderness which will never let anything happen to you.

Although the storms may rage in your heart and all about you
You will never fall out of the tenderness and love
And gentle protection of the Divine embrace.

Blessing from “Inner Landscapes” by John O'Donohue
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