The Guest House

"The Guest House” 

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!

Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.

He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice.
meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.

Be grateful for whatever comes.
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

Reflections upon  "The Guest House"

-Katy Rose (2018)

I recall in the 1980’s, while in my contemplative practice, the "shadowed griefs" of my guesthouse, began visiting me in vast broken forms of degeneration. I became intimately aware of these childhood constructs of repression starving for emotional equanimity as they asked if their service was necessary to my survival anymore.

I felt surprise and compassion for their nature and resolve to still continue service if it meant my survival. My spiritual guides, the Great Masters of the Heart, helped me to coordinate a spiritual campfire to meet each of these shadowed griefs as a living truth of their embodiment in me.

As I welcomed and listened to each shadow's story of grief,  we shared a cup of tea, ate biscuits and cried together. After the tears, I thanked each for loving me in service of my well-being. And as a gift for their loyalty, I offered passage upon a golden eagle into the beauty and power of loving kindness.

One by one, they mounted, waving and smiling and as the golden eagle took flight, I felt a warm flow of gentle kindness bless my heart space quietly, with equanimity.