Meditations

The clouds are marshalling across the sky,
Leaving their deepest tints upon yon range
Of soul-alluring hills. The breeze comes softly,
Laden with tribute that a hundred orchards
Now in their fullest blossom send, in thanks
For this refreshing shower. The birds pour forth
In heightened melody the notes of praise
They had suspended while God’s voice was speaking,
And his eye flashing down upon his world.
I sigh, half-charmed, half-pained. My sense is living,
And, taking in this freshened beauty, tells
Its pleasure to the mind. The mind replies,
And strives to wake the heart in turn, repeating
Poetic sentiments from many a record
Which other souls have left, when stirred and satisfied
By scenes as fair, as fragrant. But the heart
Sends back a hollow echo to the call
Of outward things, — and its once bright companion,
Who erst would have been answered by a stream
Of life-fraught treasures, thankful to be summoned, —
Can now rouse nothing better than this echo;
Unmeaning voice, which mocks their softened accents.
Content thee, beautiful world! and hush, still busy mind!
My heart hath sealed its fountains. To the things
Of Time they shall be oped no more. Too long,
Too often were they poured forth: part have sunk
Into the desert; part profaned and swollen
By bitter waters, mixed by those who feigned
They asked them for refreshment, which, turned back,
Have broken and o’erflowed their former urns.
So when ye talk of pleasure, lonely world,
And busy mind, ye ne’er again shall move me
To answer ye, though still your calls have power
To jar me through, and cause dull aching here.
No so the voice which hailed me from the depths
Of yon dark-bosomed cloud, now vanishing
Before the sun ye greet. It touched my centre,
The voice of the Eternal, calling me
To feel his other worlds; to feel that if
I could deserve a home, I still might find it
In other spheres, — and bade me not despair,
Though ‘want of harmony’ and ‘aching void’
Are terms invented by the men of this,
Which I may not forget.
                                 In former times
I loved to see the lightnings flash athwart
The stooping heavens; I loved to hear the thunder
Call to the seas and mountains; for I thought
‘Tis thus man’s flashing fancy doth enkidle
The firmament of mind; ‘tis thus his eloquence
Calls unto the soul’s depths and heights; and still
I defied the creature, nor remembered
The Creator in his works.
                                    Ah now how different!
The proud delight of that keen sympathy
Is gone; no longer riding on the wave,
But whelmed beneath it: my own plans and works,
Or, as the Scriptures phrase it, my ’inventions’
No longer interpose ‘twist me and Heaven.
Today, for the first time, I felt the Deity,
And uttered prayer on hearing thunder. This
Must be thy will, — for finer, higher spirits
Have gone through this same process, — yet I think
There was religion in that strong delight,
Those sounds, those thoughts of power imparted. True,
I did not say, ‘He is the Lord thy God,’
But I had feeling of his essence. But
‘’Twas pride by which the angels fell.’ So be it!
But O, might I but see a little onward!
Father, I cannot be a spirit of power;
May I be active as a spirit of love,
Since thou hast ta’en me from that path which Nature
Seemed to appoint, O, deign to ope another,
Where I may walk with thought and hope assured;
‘Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief!’
Had I but faith like that which fired Novalis,
I too could bear that the heart ‘fall in ashes,’
While the freed spirit rises from beneath them,
With heavenward-look, and Phoenix-plumes upsoaring!

Margaret Fuller

CultFit Bloom


Hello My Old Heart

There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure-

We all have dreams and aspirations. Most of our dreams are left to the dark confines of our mind(s), acting only as seemingly unattainable realities that are nice to think about one busy summer morning in July,a means to escape the daily reality we find ourselves in, right now.

Does it have to be this way?

Each one of us has the incredible ability, the unwavering will and desire that can be a driving force for attaining the most amazing dreams and aspirations we can possible dream up. Why settle for anything less than the life you imagined for yourself?

It doesn’t have to be this way…it doesn’t have to be this way at all.

When we realize the barrier to living our lives in a way (our way) that we feel would make us content and happy sits comfortably between our ears, our own mind? We toss aside the self-imposed limits, socialistic norms, expectations of others!

I want to live my dreamsmy life and chase away the doubts that burden me!

Notes:

Why settle for anything less this on this beautiful morning than that which brings you incredible joy, ecstasy, and happiness … Today, tomorrow and forever?

CultFit Dream


The General Specific

There’s nothing more intimate in life than simply being understood. And understanding someone else-

We’re taught early in life that deep, passionate joy – love, can be found if we follow our most intense desires. It turns out though that these desire(s) are frequently pushing us into a personal hell. A hell riddled with loss, injury and suffering at every turn.

Since I started to explore my path towards developing a real – tangible joy, a healthy love of life. I learned that taking the time to explore failure and learning how to understand the subtle differences between success and failure is paramount. How many of us have started new fitness routines, taken up yoga or running with a sense of new hope, finding a new love … Only to find that they lead us right back to the pains we’ve experienced time and time before?

Many of us has taken center stage and acted out our personal “myth of lost love found.”  The attributes of our failures, success and desires are unique to each one of us, these attributes are deep, personal and must be explored and understood if we wish not to repeat them … Farther down our amazing path(s) in life

Notes:

If you walk away after reading patiently this morning, carrying one single thought throughout the rest of the afternoon , it would be this: Follow your heart exclusively. I believe this to be the kindest path to love.

CultFit Color


Wide Eyes

The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experiences-

Wanting to get out there, on the road and sharing the adventure with other people is something that I believe each one of us has in common …

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This past Saturday night, with the sun softly setting over Omaha, NE . A group of passionate riders took to the moon lit gravel roads, sharing a sense of adventure …

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The GONG Ride is a self supported, nighttime, gravel road ride that occurs each July “somewhere” around Omaha, NE. Instead of writing some painfully long and bloviated post on why you should delve deeper into seeking out and exploring local events? I’ll let the pictures that follow do the work for me.

I would to take a moment once again to thank the organizers and sponsors that made this truly brilliant event possible, Thank you!

To show your support, learn a bit more about the ride and to see more pictures, feel free to head on over to the GONG Ride Facebook Page.


Volando Alto

License my roving hands, and let them go
Before, behind, between, above, below-

I love everything about seduction. Seduction (to me) is about squeezing every ounce of pleasure, out of every experience we come across and embrace – Fully. Life has taught us what happens when we rush “things“, we can miss the best parts of life … The true essence of seduction – is savoring the moments before …

I find it interesting that we often associate seduction with sex, when in fact, true – passionate seduction is the polar opposite of sex. Sex is when our desire(s) are met. Seduction is not about the culmination or gratification of our desire(s), seduction is the thrill that arises in the pursuit of desire itself.

I may have learned something about seduction while wandering my path recently. That the deep truth to seduction, we so often overlook? Is to slow down, savoring the moment unfolding in front of you. Often at times I think that “things” are not moving fast enough in my life, meandering along to their own whimsical beat. In the past. I wanted things now, before they even happened. Today,  I adjust my thoughts to how I can seduce myself with the idea, the possibility – That everything in this beautiful world changes shape and form – Slowly.

Notes:

Savor everything you are about to enjoy today, embrace seduction as a path to pleasure.

CultFit Slowly