Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Slow down . . .

Martha Graham
. . . to the pace of the soul...

. . . said my friend Inge recently, and it feels so familiar that she and I keep wondering if someone else famously spoke this gentle admonition first. But Web searches have found no such quote. 

I suppose there are people out there who might have to speed up to the pace of the soul. But for me, I often feel out of sync because my mind is ahead of me, leaning too anxiously into the next minute or hour, as if all the waking moments of my life are an emergency. Nothing new conceptually that “the tyrrany of the urgent” and The Power of Now (and the ancient wise ones) haven’t previously addressed, yet still I succumb to it. (Note to self: Contemplate the differences between emergency and emergent.)

Don’t my tense aching shoulders tell me something is amiss? This week I folded towels, as a break from university work on the laptop at home. The word grace filled me. My awkward hands felt graceful, not because they danced the way Martha Graham’s hands dance in the photograph here, but because I was doing what I wanted to do, when I wanted to do it. Another way of saying it is that I wanted to do what I was doing, what needed doing; and I enjoyed it. Even the towels themselves seemed to flow, in free, delicate motion, as if in a breeze.

Slow down to the pace of the soul. It's a matter of syncing what must be done in a limited amount of time, with the consciousness of staying present with what my soul wants, an abiding challenge.

We press forward. 
But this march of time— 
consider it a glimpse 
of what endures. 

All that hurries will 
soon enough be over, 
because what lingers 
is what consecrates us. 

O, young ones, don’t waste 
your courage on speed 
or squander it in flight. 

Everything is at rest: 
darkness and light, 
blossom and book. 

~ Rainer Maria Rilke 
“Sonette an Orpheus, I, XXII” 
Translated by Mark S. Burrows, 2009 

NOTE about the photo of Martha Graham, taken by Yousuf Karsh: When he arrived in her apartment for the photo session, Karsh was amazed, and impressed, that her lodgings were simple and small. The ceiling seemed to be touchable, so close. He wondered how he would be able to photograph her in dance poses. He placed her on a low stool and asked her to assume positions of dance. This photo was one result. 

~ Ruth

29 comments:

  1. Oh, this is just so gorgeous. Thank you. xo

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  2. Beautifully written reflection, Ruth. Wonderful photo of Graham.

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    1. Thanks, Maureen. I am still just mesmerized by the photo.

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  3. The post itself is soothing.The photo is peaceful. Thanks for the gentle words.

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    1. I'm glad, Herringbone. It takes constant mindfulness for me.

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  4. Yes, yes, yes—or perhaps I should just slow down and simply say yes! Slowing down is absolutely essential to living mindfully, and without mindfulness, we are not really living at all.

    I been very impressed with the slow movement in recent years, the movement to do all things at a slower pace—everything from cooking to transporting ourselves from one place to another. I sometimes think there is a method to the madness of those of us who are passionately addicted to walking. Walking, by definition, slows us down, and when we do it mindfully, it becomes a form of spiritual discipline in which peace and beauty seem always within reach.

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    1. Thanks, George. I had not thought about the slow movement while writing this, so thank you for the reminder. And after your comment, I decided to go out for a walk, so thanks for that as well. You and Robert have helped me be more contemplative about my footfalls.

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  5. ruth, it is only now, now, right now, that i can say that i have arrived at the rightful state of being me. and how exciting it is to know that in each moment, in each growing moment, i will reach a new and rightful state, more right than now. we are moving in the right direction.

    i feel it is important to note that that does not mean yesterday's state of being was any less right. but it is now, now, right now, which is important. always growing, see? this is the most rightful. it does not speak against yesterday. it speaks for it, how we need every step of the way!

    it is allowing what is truly important be important, too, isn't it? losing the clutter of judgement and fear, allowing the soul to coalesce. i see you do this beautifully. you are doing this beautifully beyond blogging, too, aren't you? beautiful you.)))

    xo
    erin

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    1. Truly important, erin. Inge and I spent much time on this last evening. It takes years, for me, for this to feel natural. It is a relief. Yesterday I went from deep lows to the coalescing you wrote about. It was a choice, and it worked, and I was amazed. I struggle for this. Thank you, friend.

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  6. george! i think walking is a path to itself and to ourselves, thereby, to everything. how very important it is!

    xo
    erin

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  7. Happy to report that I slowed down this morning, or better: managed to stay in the slowed-down state one is still in immediately after waking. The moon was silver in the west and the sun only a glowing hint on the eastern horizon, both moving toward the moment when they hang in perfect balance. I felt it then: there is no such thing as time, only the movement of the planets that blesses us with "darkness and light" as in the Rilke poem you posted.

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    1. You know by now how much I love your comment, Ing. This balance is all around us, not only in truth, but I begin to feel it, literally. Oh Life! Thank you.

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  8. I am reminded, strangely enough, of passages in Beowulf, of all places, that warn against "bysigu," busy-ness, though it can also be translated as "distress, affliction." If the speed of life and need to slow to the pace of the soul were already issues in a 9th century monastery -- then what danger we must be in today!

    I am also reminded of those Japanese ponds that can be crossed on stepping stones, but only if you slow down -- the stones are placed carefully with intent, so that if you try to hurry across, you will miss your step and fall in :-)

    Is is the real work of the soul? To slow enough to see what is truly important, then to pause and contemplate it?

    A luminous post, Ruth!

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    1. James, I love that stepping stone image. Yes. Slowing enough to pay attention. I feel this so so keenly. Thank you!

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  9. Thank you Ruth and Lorenzo for continuing with Sparks and Mirrors after A Year with Rilke, I would have missed not having these thoughtful quotes and ideas any more. And slow down, synchronistically enough was exactly what I was shown in last night's dream. I was doing too much and put my back out so now I have to slow right down. Inge, I liked your comment so much, when you woke in the dawn and realised there is no time. Those moments are so special. Yet it's also time that brings the letters, the parcels and the blog posts too - so I also love time, whatever it is really....
    Morelle

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    1. Morelle, it is good to have you here and to follow you now at Rivertrain. It is especially great to know that you felt this same message, and that Inge's comment resonated with you too. These physical matters are the manifestation of a deeper spirit.

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  10. I am often impatient, and need to slow down, and I did this last week during my soul-sojourn in Switzerland.

    '... what lingers / is what consecrates us.' Succinct, beautiful and true.

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    1. Robert, your trip sounds just incredible. Your descriptions at The Solitary Walker were Fermor-esque; I could read you all day.

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  11. Finding the pace of one's soul could be a life's work. I like George's remark that walking is a spiritual practice--when I truly walk (and no I do not mean quickly or with purpose) that is how it feels. Yes, an abiding challenge, this slowing, but an important one. Thank you for this, and its inherent grace.

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    1. ds, it is good to be on this slow journey with you, my friend. Thank you.

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  12. Slow down, each day at work I have to remember this. It's like I'd all things be finished before they've begun. But finally I often noticed things come at the right time. My impatience doesn't do this things come more quickly ! Well, take time and stay confident I say to me when I feel in hurry.

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  13. "what lingers consecrates us" holds this moment for me. steven

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  14. this weekend much went wrong in the glass studio, so I stepped away. Last night I put on an LP of Ella singing Gershwin and got more done than all weekend. That's OK.

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  15. So much of what you write feels like a gift ...

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  16. It is really amazing and beautifully written

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  17. I just found your beautiful blog and this wonderful post! It addresses what I am experiencing at the moment as well - being caught in the wheel of time - chasing after time, being chased by time, never feeling like I have enough time... I love this part: "It's a matter of syncing what must be done in a limited amount of time with the consciousness of staying present with what the soul wants..." Your words here are food for the soul... I will take them to heart. Thank you...

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  18. in the patient slow-pace of the soul is pure grace
    what i am praying for now - if only my mind would
    slow herself-
    thank you, i needed this prose, mini-essay.

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Rainer Maria Rilke wrote, “Go into yourself and see how deep the place is from which your life flows.”