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SANCTIFIED by Anita Brown

My body responded with unexplained tears…

…when introduced to a man teaching non-violent communication skills in local prisons. For 6 months I prayed about what that very "physical" response was and the message my soul was relaying to me.

 I had no obvious gifts to share with men behind bars. I was teaching yoga in my basement at the time and was told the warden would not allow a woman to teach yoga.  

I began a centering prayer meditation practice because of my concern for my memory, focus and attention issues. Very quickly I realized THIS I could share and the benefits are realized very quickly! (Improved sleep, communication, compassion, forgiveness and overall kindness.)  

I liked 'me' more after meditating and felt this was another healthy practice to add daily. Another pleasant surprise was that a creative channel was opened and my poetry began pouring out!!

This poem is the story of my calling to work with the incarcerated, teaching them meditation:


Sanctified

a wise man told me i was sanctified today
so i returned to the river
coursing through my veins
and felt for the life that swayed to and fro
like a tiny fishing boat trying to settle

but the voyage has merely just begun
and the evolution of this journey
has no end
what appears to be a monsoon
may be a rainbow after all

allowing in the whole possibility
of a captive future
bobbing in this current
experiencing true abundance
and endless feasting

come follow me
said the Nazarene
and the damn broke
causing the rivulets to bubble up
and stream freely
in acceptance of the offer
an inner knowing
to trust my aqueous intelligence
that the hour was ripe
to cast my net
to become 
a fisher of men's souls.

Anita Brown is a content mother of two teenagers and wife of 20 years, both of which she is grateful for every day. She began writing poetry in the fall of 2012 after a mini-breakdown cracked open her heart and allowed this newly found gift to shine through. Many months later, she is realizing the truth in the saying that ‘breakdown equals spiritual awakening’ as she is pleasantly shocked at how much more peace she has in her spirit and how that is reflected in her life.  Anita loves yoga, dancing, traveling, cooking, walking her golden Sierra, and quiet evenings at home. She especially enjoys teaching meditation to under-served communities and listening to others as they express the same joy at the transformation occurring from such simple but regular practice.


~If you are interested in seeing your poetry appear in this blog, or submitting a poem by a woman that has inspired you, please click here for submission guidelines. I greatly look forward to hearing from you!~

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