“What you do for yourself, any gesture of kindness, any gesture of gentleness, any gesture of honesty and clear seeing toward yourself, will affect how you experience your world. In fact, it will transform how you experience the world. What you do for yourself, you’re doing for others, and what you do for others, you’re doing for yourself.”

Pema Chodron

“We give thanks for this season of roses and swifts,
of journeys and long, slow dusks,
of cool breezes and welcome showers,

holding on to this precious moment lightly,
and letting it go like a breath,
gently floating into pixels of light.”

Caroline Blair, Kensington Unitarian, died 2015, quoted in Fragments of Holiness for Daily Reflection

“And now here is my secret, a very simple secret; it is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye.”

From The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupéry (1900 – 1944), born on this day

“Creativity does not belong exclusively to professional artists and geniuses; it is the birthright of every single human being. Creativity is our common heritage. You don’t need to quit your job and move to Paris in order to lay claim to this heritage – all you have to do is clear some space in your life for whimsy, invention, sensory pleasure, and play. Most of all, you have to learn how to follow your curiosity more than your fear.”

Elizabeth Gilbert

“’What I believe’ is a process rather than a finality. Finalities are for gods and governments, not for the human intellect.”

Emma Goldman (1869 – 1940), anarchist publisher, born on this day

“Exclusion is always dangerous. Inclusion is the only safety if we are to have a peaceful world.”

Pearl S. Buck (1892 – 1973) , novelist, humanitarian and social activist, born on this day

“Understanding is the substance out of which we fabricate compassion. What kind of understanding am I talking about? It’s the understanding that the other person suffers, too. When we suffer, we tend to believe that we’re the victims of other people, that we’re the only ones who suffer. That isn’t true – the other person also suffers. They have their difficulties, their fears, and their worries, too. If we could only see the pain within them, we would begin to understand them. Once understanding is present, compassion becomes possible.”

From Peace Is This Moment by Thich Nhat Hanh

Midsummer Day

“Such a day it was as – looking back –
imbues a whole Summer’s memories with warmth
and places a gold overlay on all grey.
Larks lifted at my feet
and climbed, cascading sound, to vanishing point
in faded denim skies.
Foals like glossy chestnuts newly split
lay fallen in their mothers’ shadows
and lizards flickered the furze through.

At length the river valley wound below for respite,
where moorland cattle, unkempt in dark brown habits,
bowed their heads around a granite cross
and grazed by beneficial waters.
Nor moved when I approached, but by their gaze
defied me not to join their worship there.”

Richard Lovis, Unitarian lay leader, quoted in Fragments of Holiness for Daily Reflection

“Make a new start every day, with new resolution, with enthusiasm and love, prayer and silence.”

St. Porphyrios of Kafsokalyvia (1906 – 1991)

“I do not believe that sheer suffering teaches. If suffering alone taught, all the world would be wise, since everyone suffers. To suffering must be added mourning, understanding, patience, love, openness and the willingness to remain vulnerable. All these and other factors combined, if the circumstances are right, can teach and can lead to rebirth.”

From Hour of Gold, Hour of Lead: Diaries and Letters of Anne Morrow Lindbergh, writer and aviator (1906 – 2001), born on this day

Artwork: A Weeping Woman by Rembrandt