Journey of the Heart

~Submitted by Savitri Ingga Talahatu~   This morning my sister asked me to choose a poem by Dr. Maya Angelou, in honor of her birthday today…   I immediately said, "Yes", without even thinking about the vast body of Dr. Angelou's literary works over the decades and that important question of "which ONE?"  Dr. Angelou's works have accompanied me in my life's journey since I was a naive young woman in teacher's college in early '80s.  When I was transforming my tomboy-ish existence into that of a woman, I adored her "Phenomenal Woman".  When I left a budding career with UNHCR and found myself as a new immigrant in Canada in the early '90s, her "Alone" and "Still I Rise" spoke to me profoundly. And then there is her first and most highly acclaimed poem, "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969)", a truthful and most sincere account of the first seventeen years of her life. Over the year...

This entry is inspired by a huge personal breakthrough when volunteering for a traveling kirtan group...  The Holy Name dived so deep into my core and lodged Itself there, spontaneously awakened every cell of my body in a kind of primordial dance that I found it rather challenging to fall asleep, eat, work and pretty much do any other mundane worldly "duties", much like being in a heightened state of being in love.  After living the last few years devoid of writing and dancing, the Divine Mother has decided that this was the time for emergence.  Since this past weekend, words came out of me like torrents of rain and movements were potent energy, moving in a speed of light, like a burst of Life and Love.   Interestingly, my mind is quiet, my body is relaxed and has taken a new shape.  My face is serene.  In the last few days, I have been dancing round and round unt...

During a rainy day at a World Peace ceremony community event... ... at Kew Beach garden in Toronto this past summer, folks from all walks life collectively offered prayers for peace to every corner of the world.  I was sitting with two friends who were visiting from Indonesia when a simple but powerful gaze of someone's eyes reminded me of our eternal abode.  With heart opened, senses heightened, spirit and nature danced together wildly within, "I see You" was born.   I see You in the wise counsel of the elders in the innocence of little children and street wisdom of the youths in the sweet embrace and playful exchange of dear friends in the warm sunshine touching my skin in the soft Summer breeze playing with my long hair in every step of Life's ecstatic dance in each gamelan tune and echo of the gongs in the dewy grass and crisp white sand I danced on this morning in the wispy wild flowers swaying gracefully in t...