FAILURE IS THE KEY

DESIRE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF FAILING
RUMI

…You know how it is
Sometimes we plan a trip to one place,
But something takes us to another

When a horse is being broken,
The trainer pulls it in many different directions,
So the horse will come to know
What it is to be ridden

The most beautiful and alert horse
Is one
Completely attuned to the rider

The Universe fixes a passionate desire in you,
And then disappoints you
The Universe does this a hundred times!

The Universe breaks the wings of one intention
And gives you another
Cuts the rope of contriving,
So you’ll remember your dependence

But sometimes, your plans work out!
You feel fulfilled and in control

That’s because
If you were always failing you might give up
But remember,

It is by FAILURES that

Lovers stay aware of how they’re loved

FAILURE IS THE KEY
To the kingdom within…

SULTRY SUMMER SUNDAY

Photo: Tommy Hilfiger Home


©

Sultry Summer Sunday
In early July
The wild sea sleeps
Brazilian hummingbirds
Kiss the sky

A bed of silver driftwood on the beach
Softly slumber
Allow your dreams to teach

The live oak listens
Veils of Spanish moss glisten
The hammock rocks
No shoes
No socks

Far across the abandoned pier
An old man wizened
Dances joyfully with no one but himself
How sublime!

Waltz upon the drowsy waves
The gypsy foretold
Her ancient, mysterious wisdom
Waits patiently to unfold

Tiny baby geckos skitter across bare brown toes
The orchid bloomed last night
Sensual, Beautiful, Mystical Prose

-Royce-

THE GUEST HOUSE

Michelangelo

The Creation 1510

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 your 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 whoever comes
Because each has been sent
As a guide from beyond

RUMI

A STORY OF LOVE AND HUMANITY

Every so often an E-mail comes through our Studio that we feel compelled to share. If you have already been the lucky recipient of this little story of wonder and inspiration, you will recognize it. For the rest of us, it serves as a deeply heart-felt reminder that true goodness does exist in our world. A big THANK YOU to ‘Y’ for sending our way. Children remain the wisest beings among us. We were all one once.


At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves learning-disabled children, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question:

"When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?"

The audience was stilled by the query.

The father continued. "I believe that when a child like Shay, physically and mentally handicapped comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child." Then he told the following story:

Shay and his father had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, "Do you think they'll let me play?" Shay's father knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but the father also understood that if his son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps. Shay's father approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play.

The boy looked around for guidance and said, "We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.”

Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. His Father watched with a small tear in his eye and warmth in his heart. The boys saw the father's joy at his son being accepted. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as his father waved to him from the stands.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat. At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.

However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact. The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher. The game would now be over. The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates.

Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, "Shay, run to first! Run to first!" Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled. Everyone yelled, "Run to second, run to second!"

Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base. By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball ... the smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head. Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home. All were screaming, "Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay"

Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third! Shay, run to third!' As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, "Shay, run home! Run home!" Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team.

"That day", said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, "the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world".

Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making his father so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!

SIDEBAR:
Mystical Quill Productions and MUSEologies is committed to the belief that each one of us makes a significant difference to the well-being of our planet. We have thousands of opportunities in our lifetime to help realize the 'natural order of things’. May we all remember this inspiring story and fill some part of every day with true love and humanity.

RELEASE YOUR CAGED MAGICK

Watchtower

By: Joseph Corsentino

Stone walls do not a prison make,
Nor iron bars a cage;
Minds innocent and quiet take
That for an hermitage;
If I have freedom in my love,
And in my soul am free,
Angels alone that soar above
Enjoy such liberty.

Richard Lovelace 1618 - 1657

To An English Friend in Africa

Photo of BEN OKRI

To an English Friend in Africa
Written By: BEN OKRI (March 1991)

Be grateful for freedom

To see other dreams.

Bless your loneliness as much as you drank

Of your former companionships.

All that you are experiencing now

Will become moods of future joys

So bless it all.

Do not think your ways superior

To another's

Do not venture to judge

But see things with fresh and open eyes

Do not condemn

But praise what you can

And when you can't be silent.

Time is now a gift for you

A gift of freedom

To think and remember and understand

The ever perplexing past

And to re-create yourself anew

In order to transform time.

Live while you are alive.

Learn the ways of silence and wisdom

Learn to act, learn a new speech

Learn to be what you are in the seed of your spirit

Learn to free yourself from all things that have moulded you

And which limit your secret and undiscovered road.

Remember that all things which happen

To you are raw materials

Endlessly fertile

Endlessly yielding of thoughts that could change

Your life and go on doing for ever.

Never forget to pray and be thankful

For all the things good or bad on the rich road;

For everything is changeable

So long as you live while you are alive.

Fear not, but be full of light and love;

Fear not but be alert and receptive;

Fear not but act decisively when you should;

Fear not, but know when to stop;

Fear not for you are loved by me;

Fear not, for death is not the real terror,

But life -magically - is.

Be joyful in your silence

Be strong in your patience

Do not try to wrestle with the universe

But be sometimes like water or air

Sometimes like fire

Live slowly, think slowly, for time is a mystery.

Never forget that love

Requires that you be

The greatest person you are capable of being,

Self-generating and strong and gentle-

Your own hero and star.

Love demands the best in us

To always and in time overcome the worst

And lowest in our souls.

Love the world wisely.

It is love alone that is the greatest weapon

And the deepest and hardest secret.

So fear not, my friend.

The darkness is gentler than you think.

Be grateful for the manifold

Dreams of creation

And the many ways of unnumbered peoples.

Be grateful for life as you live it.

And may a wonderful light

Always guide you on the unfolding road.

MAY THE MOON...

MOONRISE by Royce©
St. Augustine Beach

MAY THE SUN
BRING YOU NEW ENERGY BY DAY

MAY THE MOON
SOFTLY RESTORE YOU BY NIGHT

MAY THE RAIN
WASH AWAY YOUR WORRIES

MAY THE BREEZE
BLOW NEW STRENGTH INTO YOUR BEING

MAY YOU WALK
GENTLY THROUGH THE WORLD
AND KNOW ITS BEAUTY
ALL THE DAYS OF YOUR LIFE

-apache blessing

Happy Mother's Day...Muses My Muses

Top Photo: FAYE TYLER (1910-1990) Jan Stewart’s Mother
Bottom Photo: JAN STEWART (1934-2004) My Mother

Warm Sands Of Time©

Stretched out in the still warm sand
Under a full moon
Next to the crackling fire
Just laying there
Amazed at the fluid flames of molten gold
Dancing with the sparkling silver moon spirits
Across the velvet darkness
Skipping along the crests of a restless sea
Recognizing the miracle of Nature’s fusion
The dazzling, dizzying movement of light

Moon and Fire
Thinking about two women
Unlike any others
The smell of Estee perfume, Belgium chocolate and oil paints
Drift through my memory
Flickering flames as strokes of their talented creations
Looking into the mesmerizing night
Feeling the subtle vibration
The undulating movement
Of incoming waves
The water foams onto the soft cashmere beach

How I cherish the love

Their beautiful
Wise
Mischievous faces
No longer alive in this world
Whispering their names

Gratitude spills from my heart
A joyous remembering
I thank the Universe for their presence in my life
As our Cherokee ancestors gently nod their approval
They speak to me of love and pain
All of them
Moon Beam Souls
Warming themselves
In the hypnotic bath
Of Freedom’s Firelight

-Royce-

WANDERing & WONDERing

St. Augustine Beach
New Year’s Day 2008


PEOPLE TRAVEL TO WONDER AT
THE HEIGHT OF THE MOUNTAINS,
AT THE HUGE WAVES OF THE SEA,
AT THE LONG COURSE OF THE RIVERS,
AT THE VAST COMPASS OF THE OCEAN,
AT THE CIRCULAR MOTION OF THE STARS,
AND YET…
THEY PASS BY THEMSELVES WITHOUT WONDERING.

-St. Augustine-

FULL MOON RISING

Full Moon Rising
November 2007
St. Augustine Beach, Florida
Photo by Royce Addington©

SOMETIMES I GO ABOUT PITYING MYSELF
AND ALL THE WHILE
I AM BEING CARRIED ACROSS THE SKY
BY BEAUTIFUL CLOUDS

--Ojibway Indian Poem--

FOR THE FIRST TIME

Royce's Dad taking photos in the High Sierras of California 1970
Photo by Royce Addington

FOR THE FIRST TIME

NEVER STOP REACQUAINTING YOURSELF WITH THE WORLD
LIE DOWN IN THE SOFT MEADOW GRASSES
TURN YOUR FACE TOWARD THE WARMTH OF THE SUN
DANCE ACROSS THE VAST SEA OF WILDFLOWERS
DRINK IN EVERY HINT OF COLOUR
BREATH DEEPLY OF THE SWEET MOUNTAIN AIR
HEAR THE WHISPER OF THE DISTANT CANYON WIND
HAVE WE DONE IT ALL BEFORE?
NO MATTER.
BEING WITH NATURE MAKES US FEEL AS THOUGH WE ARE
SEEING
FEELING
AND EXPERIENCING LIFE
FOR THE FIRST TIME...
--Royce Addington--

INTO DEEPER WATERS

Waterfall III by Veselov

"I used to sit on the banks with a raft and watch the water roll lazily by. One day I pushed my raft into the shallows of the water and found the water moved swifter than I thought. My raft was actually a boat. Then, after some time, I rowed my little boat into deeper water. There were great storms, mighty winds, tremendous waves, and sometimes I felt so alone. But I have noticed my little rowboat is now a mighty ship manned by my friends and loved ones; and beautiful calm seas, warm sunny days, and nights filled with comfortable dreams always double after a storm. Now, I could never go back and sit on the bank. In fact, I search for deeper water. Such is life when lived."

--B. D. Gulledge--

What's Behind Your Door of Creativity?

Photo by Eric Kamp

We, in this studio, have become big believers in the power of guided imageries. We use them to jump start a stalled project, access new ideas, solve problems or to discover alternate solutions as well as using the guided imagery as a meditative moment away from the current stress de jour. For those who may not be familiar with this term; it is a process via a human voice, music or a combo of the two which guides you into the deeper levels of your imagination where a river of creative thinking flows unfettered by our every day notions and conditioning. A guided imagery can last anywhere from three minutes to a half hour or longer. We like the 20 minute version.


To give you an example of what can ‘appear’ after a guided visualization; one of our braver souls (thank you Royce) has reluctantly agreed to share what showed up on the page after participating in a powerful teleconference guided visualization created by Jill Badonsky of The Muse is In.

At the end of this guided imagery, each participant was asked to complete, in writing, the sentence,

“Behind the door of my Creativity…”

Royce wrote,

Behind the door of my Creativity…. is a wondrous ancient stone vestibule/entry with a double sweeping staircase which leads to an upper balcony. Dramatic and grand. Burning torches bathe the room in flickering shades of gold and amber. Standing on the steps and all along the balcony railing above are spirit entities (don’t know what else to call them) and people who are there to guide me on my path; even though I’m not sure where this path leads.

A symbol floats into my mind. I see gratitude as a tightly wound circular line, in a nautilus shell shape, wrapped in a golden-white glowing ball of light. Like a ball of string unraveling, it gently floats and extends… this cord of glowing light floats in space. It gently encircles me at the waist and forms a loose knot…then keeps extending on and on as it moves towards the left side of the stairway. Slowly the cord moves up the stairs. The entities gently reach out and hold on to the cord. Each time they touch it, I feel a jolt of spiritual joy beyond description.

Who is the first person all dressed in white to touch the cord? It’s my beloved Faye (my grandmother, mentor, muse) who is smiling that mischievous grinning smile of hers.

Then, I don’t know who stands behind her, but she (Faye) knows who it is…from our mutual Indian heritage…a healer. The chord of light vibrates with energy. I see the orange robes of Buddhist monks in jovial conversation with Native American healers and shamans. I see light, just soft, glowing gentle persuasive light which guides me up the stairs one step at a time. As I go, I smile at each of the entities because they make me feel so safe. So welcome. They nod in return.

When I reach the top of the stairs, I see a series of doors lining the far wall of the balcony. Each door beckons me to open it and I have to decide which one to open first. I’m standing on my balcony…so peaceful, so full of serenity…a sense of “knowing” but still undecided as to which door to open first?

Breath. Just Breath. Let go of needing an outcome. Breath and experience this Moment. The answer will reveal itself.

Each person’s response to a guided visualization is unique. Some people feel quite emotional. Others say they feel or see nothing at all. Whatever the outcome, it is all OK. There is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to experience a guided imagery. It’s simply an interesting and creative way to travel deeper into that part of ourselves we seem to isolate too often.

Give it a try. Don’t ‘over-noodle’ the process. Have some fun!
If you feel like sharing any of your experiences; we would love to hear about them either here as a ‘comment’ or drop us an e-mail at mysticalquill@aim.com.

SUMMER'S LEGACY...

Photo by John Ballouz
Close-up of a Royal Poinciana Flowering Tree
Key Largo, Florida
Consistently voted among the top 5 most beautiful flowering trees in the world
Native to Madagascar

Summer's Legacy...

The bloom of a Royal Poinciana
Dolphin in the aqua sea
Bathe in golden light
--Royce Addington--

NEPTUNE'S HORSES

Neptune’s Horses by Walter Crane
Illustration for “The Greek Mythological Legend”
Published in London, 1910


…Along the jagged coastline were outcroppings of craggy old reefs. Exposed and dangerous. The bottle-green water of the sea sparkled in the brilliant sunlight as it tumbled and roared; giving the appearance of great white stallions lifting their mighty heads while galloping forward toward their destiny.

--Royce Addington—
Excerpt from a story-in-progress Pieces of Eight

GONE FISH'IN

The longer I live,

the more my mind dwells upon the beauty and wonder of the world…

I have loved the feel of the grass under my feet,

and the sound of the running streams by my side.

The hum of the wind in the treetops has always been good music to me,

and the face of the fields has often comforted me more than the faces of men.
I am in love with this world...

I have tilled its soil,

I have gathered its harvest,

I have waited upon its seasons,

and always have I reaped what I have sown.
I have climbed its mountains,

roamed its forests,

sailed its waters,

crossed its deserts,

felt the sting of its frosts,

the oppression of its heats,

the drench of its rains,

the fury of its winds,

and always have beauty and joy waited upon my goings and comings.

--John Burroughs--

For 'The Pheasant'

A green iguana taps the restaurant window
Summer sun hidden
Exposes itself in its own reflection

--Royce--

GOT EGGS!?!

Art by Bill Binger

We are the egg.
The egg is the container of our influence.
Cracking it…
Opens us up to the questions.
It exposes
Our passions, creativity and imagination.
Living a life focused on authentic expression
Is the elixir for metamorphosis.
Butterfly or petrified glob?
The choice is ours.
--Royce Addington--

A GOOD DAY

Lance Armstrong by Artist Malcolm Farley
Tour de France Champion (7 times)
Cancer Survivor (2 times)

I TAKE NOTHING FOR GRANTED.
I NOW HAVE ONLY
GOOD DAYS
OR
GREAT DAYS!

--Lance Armstrong--

IN THE JULY SUNSHINE

Photo by Nicole Duplaix

In the July sunshine
The glimpse of an iridescent dragonfly wing
Palm fans waving in the breeze
Deep within the blooming hibiscus
A sleeping frog jumps from my unexpected touch
To the water’s edge we go
For a refreshing dip in the shaded mangrove pond
The giant lily pad gently rocks
In the July Sunshine
--Royce Addington--