WHY THE LOTUS BLOOMS by Tara Anand

Why The Lotus Blooms: Choosing To Stand Tall" is a memoir I wrote for every woman or mother facing challenges similar to mine. Someone so busy striving to excel in her roles of mother, wife, daughter ... that unknown to her, she slowly loses touch with her inner self.

If some day, forced to face this crushing loss, she decides—as I did—to set out on a journey to reclaim herself, she is likely to face stiff internal and external opposition at every step. This book is a tender offering for her so she does not feel so alone—I hope it will comfort her so she can keep choosing to follow her heart fearlessly.

Each chapter of my memoir begins with a poem I penned contemplating my innermost struggles at the time. 'Why The Lotus Blooms'—the poem I am sharing today—provides the theme for my book, and is one among many that feature in it.

The lotus flower is very precious to me. Whenever I find myself discouraged by the apparent challenges and struggles we must all face in the world, she inspires me to rise above my muddy emotions — and faithfully take the next nervous step in the direction of what's wholesome and true.

Why the Lotus Blooms

The seed was released;
alone herself she found;
Pitch heavy darkness
weighed down all around.

“Where, what, why …?”
- bewildered, she cried.
After a short while,
gathering herself, she sighed

“There must be a purpose
to my being here
I have to believe -
in time it will be clear”

Trembling all the while,
emerging from her shell,
she sent her roots down
to anchor in the bed.

Groping in dull waters,
she looked around confused -
relieved to see above her
a golden beam diffused.

Reaching for the shimmer,
she extended herself up,
trudging through the mire
without the slightest fuss.

She rose to the surface
- by now a reticent bud
savoring the air,
stood tall above the mud.

Warm rays embraced her
and lovingly kissed her face;
She had made her way home
… with splendor & grace

Her joyous petals whispered …
“inspire them, tell your story”
so laying bare her heart …
she bloomed … in all her glory.

(To obtain your own copy of Tara's new book, click here)

Tara Anand is a Couples Therapist and a Mindfulness & Yoga Practitioner who has experienced first-hand how severely the quality of a marriage can impact the lives of couples and their children. She helps couples mindfully work through conflicts and learn new skills to help foster a heart-to-heart connection. She has shared her journey in her memoir, "Why the Lotus Blooms: Choosing to Stand Tall". and can be contacted via her website.

*For submission guidelines, click here.*

Comments

IMAGINE A WOMAN by Patricia Lynn Reilly

This poem invites you to look upon yourself with loving kindness… Gazing at your own true reflection, you will discover that everything you have longed for “out there” is already within you! I invite you to love your creativity fiercely. Faithfully plant seeds, allowing under-the-ground dormant seasons, nurturing your creative garden with love and gratitude. In the fullness of time, the green growing things thrust forth from the ground. It's a faithful, trustworthy process. AND it takes time and patience. Blessed is the fruit of your creative womb! I invite you to trust your vision of the world and express it. With wonder and delight, paint a picture, create a dance, write a book, and make up a song. To give expression to your creative impulses is as natural as your breathing. Create in your own language, imagery, and movement. Follow no script. Do not be limited by the customary way things have been expressed. Your creative intuition is original. Gather

IMBOLC by Caroline Mellor

The inspiration for this poem came after I watched a magical winter sunset and full moonrise from the top of Firle Beacon in the South Downs... Unusually for me, I wrote the poem quite quickly and changed it very little before publishing it – perhaps the energies were working through my pen! Imbolc is the mid-point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. It’s a fire festival which I particularly love because of its associations with Brigid, the Celtic Mother Goddess of arts and crafts, clear sight, healing, inspiration and nurturance of creative talents – something which, through my writing, I am always trying to connect with. I also love Imbolc because, with so much darkness and negativity in the world today, it is a time for hope, potential, visioning and initiation. With love and blessings as the light returns. Photography by Chanel Baran IMBOLC by Caroline Mellor I am the dream of awakening. I am the returning of the night. I am the tough green

WINTER SOLSTICE: A GIFT OF LOVE by Carolyn Riker

I’ve had several days now of alone time… It is unusual and a gift that I couldn’t see until I breathed it. I have been able to watch the sun’s rise through the grey of dawn and smile at the flickers of frost melting on the waving boughs of evergreen. It’s unique to follow daylight as it traverses the tempo of a cat’s soft slumbering purr. Night comes swifter and the glow of candles and the flames of fire comfort me more than the steady stream of always-doing-more. As much as I resisted, I needed this break. I had no idea how much my body was trying to tell me slow down until the exhaustion settled in around my joints. My eyes swam in molasses. Heaviness of I-can’t-hold-out-much-long, walked me to the throne of my nest. It’s winter’s gift of self-nurturing and love. It’s been a quiet proclamation of femininity and a need for comfort foods. Lemon crisps and cranberry, white-chocolate shortbread dipped in tea; I felt a hint of being pampered without

Journey of the Heart

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