$\"Golden$

“Golden Fish 7” by Smith<\/p><\/div>\n

the inner alchemy of fish<\/strong><\/p>\n

A fisherman will tell you that to know a fish
\nyou have to think like one. The river becomes
\na kind of religion and the fish are the wise ones.
\nTo think like a fish you have to know the water
\nin which the fish swims. You must learn to think
\nwet thoughts, learn to distinguish the taste of reeds
\nand the depth a turtle dives by night. Be able
\nto tell the change of seasons by the smell of the river.<\/p>\n

So in the morning, come, make simple offerings of fireflies and
\nriver foam upon altars of fallen trees and tangled roots.
\nLearn to wear the shadow as your shaman\u2019s cloak, Dance
\nthe sacred dance along the tops of boulders in dappled light.
\nBecome invisible.
\nDo your daily pujas along the river bank. Breathe in and out.
\nTake in the early light and the fog that clings along the river\u2019s bend.
\nLike the heron stand stock-still and listen.
\nAnd as the partridge hiding in the underbrush \u2013
\nseek refuge in this sacred place.<\/p>\n

In time you will become familiar with the sutras of the eddies
\nthe unwavering power and message of the undertow
\nand the gentle gospel of the shallows. You will learn
\nthe patience of a sandbar were currents meet inertia,
\nbecome strong and unwavering like a ford were resistance
\nbreaks the raging water into harmless pools of froth and foam.<\/p>\n

The muezzin call of the osprey will call you, again and again,
\nto prayer. The river will teach you the esoteric mysteries
\nof fish, and the fish in turn will teach you how to swim
\nin the sacredness of water. Teach you its inner alchemy
\nto transform a raging heart into a peaceful backwater.
\nIt will teach you the nature of momentum and the epistles
\nof impermanence. Not just by observation but by Nature\u2019s sheer force.
\nYou will be taught that the river, at any moment, can take you
\nand sweep you off your feet.
\nAnd in your rough baptism of humility and respect you will learn
\nthe basic truths of water and of life\u2019s fluid simplicity.
\nAnd like a doe on the river bank; bow in reverence
\nto its glory, drink the teachings the river has to offer
\nand understand the never ending flow of everything.<\/p>\n

~ c.m. brooks, 2012<\/p>\n

…<\/p>\n

STUFF<\/strong><\/p>\n

I keep thinking about the river guy who piled
\nup stones. Or sometimes he was the desert guy,
\npiling up stones. Maybe even in a field, if a
\nfield has stones. A guy who piles up stones.
\nWho piles up stuff from the stuff around, who
\nhe himself is made of stuff. The stuff is so
\nmixed with the stuff that it\u2019s hard to tell if
\nthe stuff is moving the stuff, or if the stuff
\nis moving the stuff.<\/p>\n

~ Lady<\/p>\n

. . .<\/p>\n

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