The Journey Inward

Fear grips me,
Holds me in its tight embrace,
Whispers, "Turn inward, come close,"
And my world becomes small.
Constricted, my body tenses,
My shoulders hunch, my jaw sets,
My thoughts circle on an endless loop,
Catastrophizing, taunting, torturing.
Isolations puts up her walls...
And I am "safe."

Love embraces me,
Lifts me in her exuberant embrace,
Shouts, "Open your mind, open your heart!"
And my world becomes wider, deeper, richer.
Expanding, my body relaxes,
My shoulders lower and release, my mouth falls open,
My thoughts are infused with possibilities,
Creating, dreaming, manifesting.
Openness dissolves my walls..
And I am free. 

Photo:  Evergreen Lake, Evergreen, CO.  6.29.23 by LA