Happy New Year ~ Thoughts for Meditation

During this time of personal retreat, I'll be sharing some passages to inspire thought and reflection. With the following, I invite you to take a quiet moment to read and notice what thoughts arise for you during and afterward.
--Tanuja
 
Our passion never leaves us. 
It smolders underneath
Unconscious disappointment, 
Walls, misguided loyalties, 
Denied hurt, grief, self-abandonment, 
Following the rules outside your soul's integrity.Feed your passion from where it is now, 
A smolder, an ember, a flame, a blaze. 
If you blow too hard you’ll lose its trust. 
Feed it as it wants to be fed.
Listen, it will tell you when to add more wood. 
Find the place where your fire feels good.

Passion is not frenetic. 
It burns. It is warm. It is fuel. 
Use wisdom.Passion is first for its own sake, 
From within. 
You may be passionate about some-thing, 
But if you look first for what you are passionate about 
Your passion will be externally driven. Build your own fire. 
Passion is Life itself. 
When your passion can trust you
With your own resources 
It will blaze again. 
It never left you.

© Shelley J. Hawkins 
The Self Connection
Monday Wisdoms™ published January 6, 2014