Peoples Geography — Reclaiming space

Creating people's geographies

More Rumi-nations

I happened upon more great Rumi verse as I was working today, always good to read this great Persian poet. This is a nice allegory for the value of honouring what we feel, whatever it may be. Being an admittedly “head” person, I found it a wise reminder. Hope you do too.

RUMI, “The Guest House”, translated by Coleman Batch with John Moyne

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’re a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,

still, treat each guest honourably,
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 whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

2 comments on “More Rumi-nations

  1. homeyra
    21 November, 2006

    Dear PPGG :)
    One day one smart person will create some “group therapy” or the like based on these schools of wisdom. I wonder why it was not done yet. There must be a market for this!

  2. peoplesgeography
    22 November, 2006

    Indeed, a splendid idea: therapy-through-Rumi. Hang out the professional shingles, and I’ll help advertise the Rumi Room ;)

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This entry was posted on 21 November, 2006 by in Books, Depth psychology, Empire, War and Terror, Iran, Poetry, USA.

Timely Reminders

"Those who crusade, not for God in themselves, but against the devil in others, never succeed in making the world better, but leave it either as it was, or sometimes perceptibly worse than what it was, before the crusade began. By thinking primarily of evil we tend, however excellent our intentions, to create occasions for evil to manifest itself."
-- Aldous Huxley

"The only war that matters is the war against the imagination. All others are subsumed by it."
-- Diane DiPrima, "Rant", from Pieces of a Song.

"It is difficult
to get the news from poems
yet men die miserably every day
for lack
of what is found there"
-- William Carlos Williams, "Asphodel, That Greeny Flower"


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