Guiding Thoughts

Bamboo – Strength and Surrender

By Sr. Antonia Cooper, OSF, Plainfield, NJ

The bamboo tree inspired this design,

for it holds within itself the reality of

both polarities – strength and surrender.

Being aware of these “pulls” within my life

as I had experienced them,

a sense of peacefulness and groundedness

has somewhat calmed the tugs between the two.

The lesson the bamboo has been teaching me

is to embrace both within.

The yang of strength complements

the yin of surrender.

Strength is so need to be able to surrender

and in the surrendering,

I experience my center of strength.

They are not opposites at all, they co-exist,

harmonize, balance and give life to one another,

and to the persons who welcome them

with an embrace.

Why Have I Come?

(Reflections on the Intensive with Antonia & Pam)

Ringwood, NJ; October 2007

By Dorene Krause, Midland Park, NJ

And again I return to this peaceful place of new beginnings

where my journey began.

The mountains and the trees are as I remember them,

a constant for me,

and I am filled with a sense of coming home.

But much is different for me this time.

There are few familiar faces,

Old friends nowhere around.

I notice this and my mind speaks:
Why have I come?

But in my heart I already know the answer.

For this is where I began to grow,

where my small inner voice dared to speak

and another me emerged.

It is where I learned to fly.

I became my own loving mirror and

smiled at my reflection.

You all remind me of my early steps on a new pathway,

and I am grateful for the reminder . . .

To be embraced by the chi . . .

To trust the process of becoming . . .

And to continue the journey now with new friends

And a heightened awareness.