Gone Fishing #3

Posted on by Harlon

difficultTrust in the Difficult.

Rainer Maria Rilke Letters to a Young Poet, Letter Eight, Stephen Mitchell Translation. (1929).

We have no reason to harbor any mistrust against our world, for it is not against us. If it has terrors, they are our terrors; if it has abysses, these abysses belong to us; if there are dangers, we must try to love them. And if only we arrange our life in accordance with the principle which tells us that we must always trust in the difficult, then what now appears to us as the most alien will become our most intimate and trusted experience. How could we forget those ancient myths that stand at the beginning of all cultures , the myths about dragons that at the last moment are transformed into princesses [and may I add princes as well]? Perhaps all the dragons in our lives are princesses [or princes] who are only waiting to see us act, just once, with beauty and courage. Perhaps everything that frightens us is, in its deepest essence, something helpless that wants our love. So you mustn’t be frightened… if a sadness rises in front of you, larger than any you have ever seen; if an anxiety, like light and cloud-shadows, moves over your hands and over everything you do. You must realize that something is happening to you, that life has not forgotten you, that it holds you in its hand and will not let you fall. Why do you want to shut out of your life any uneasiness, any misery, any depression, since after all you don’t know what work these conditions are doing inside you? Why do you want to persecute yourself with the question of where all this is coming from and where it is going? Since you know, after all, that you are in the midst of transitions and you wished for nothing so much as to change.

20 thoughts on “Gone Fishing #3”

  2. That’s funny, I wrote a poem about dragons just this morning, but I decided not to post it for some reason, here it is:

    Dragons’ breathe without their fire,
    Mist gently lolled the dragons to
    Sleep with its enchanting lyre.
    Ah! but the dragons are aware of the brew!
    Mystical music is a magic dragons wish to aspire;
    It’s where they circle danced and flew ~
    That was then! Now they dream till the spell transpires.

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    • Thanks JoAnna, what could be a nicer feeling that knowing that you were comforted by this. There is something about this passage that touched me so deeply and as you said profoundly.
      The pleasure is mine! Hugs, Harlon

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    • Thank you Michael, I am so pleased that it evoked such a pleasant response. It certainly does the same for me – it’s quite amazing that it was written in 1929 yet it seems so relevant today. The sunshine and water and me are getting along swimmingly!
      Peace, Harlon

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      • Dearest Lorrie – I rather like the idea of love and life becoming synonyms. I am glad the prose touched you on so many levels – I was so moved when I read this – and felt the same way, it really reached inside of me and moved me, inspired me, touched me and somehow I also felt “liberated”. I am so happy to have you in my life/live/love/ 🙂 Harlon

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        • The beautiful energy I feel flowing from you of late, Harlon, washes me with an incredible feeling of peace…and I really enjoy it!! Thank you, friend! I hope your day offers an unexpected blessing ❤ ❤

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  9. This is beautiful, Harlon. Just what I needed to hear today, as my frustration with technology continues. I do go on about – where is this all coming from?!! Haha.

    “Perhaps everything that frightens us is, in its deepest essence, something helpless that wants our love.” This line is so true.

    “Why do you want to shut out of your life any uneasiness, any misery, any depression, since after all you don’t know what work these conditions are doing inside you?” I tend to let myself feel the deep things – challenging as well as beautiful. I always have, as they make my life more interesting. meaningful and expansive. The Love is always at the center of it all.

    Have a great weekend, Harlon. Maybe there is a Dragon Prince that will see your beauty and courage today, or maybe it is you that will see that within yourself in an even deeper way.

    Peace, Love and Dragons
    Mary

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    • Thank you Mary, I’ve really treasured your comment and have read it over several times – and it makes me smile and feel good. I was exposed to this piece of writing recently during a course on Mindfullness when the course leader read it out aloud to us – my eyes welled up with tears (in a princely way of course). There is so much in this that resonated with me and they are the lines you referenced.

      It seems in some ways we are similar, I tend to go deep with my feelings, it is what makes me feel most alive and although some may be dark and difficult, they are part of the rich tapestry that is part of living (and loving – credit to Lorrie Bowden) and what keeps all the threads together and what keeps me from falling apart is love.

      I am now chanelling my dragon spirit and sending love to the beautiful Princess that you are.

      From the heart,

      Harlon

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