I know I have posted this poem before, but it has a beautiful message. Rumi reminds me I cannot accept only the good that comes into my life. When the darker emotions show themselves at the door of my life, I should welcome them and accept them as a guide from beyond.
Like my delightful emotions, the darker ones are fleeting and temporary. While they are with me, the metaphor of a guesthouse allows me to experience them more fully and be mindful to what they mean at that point in my life.
In those moments, those closest to me help me understand what each arrival may mean. We can ask questions without presuming the answers in advance.
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice.
meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.
Be grateful for whatever comes.
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
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About ivonprefontaine
In keeping with bell hooks and Noam Chomsky, I consider myself a public and dissident intellectual. Part of my work is to move beyond (transcend) institutional dogmas that bind me to defend freedom, raising my voice to be heard on behalf of those who seek equity and justice in all their forms.
I completed my PhD in Philosophy of Leadership Studies at Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA. My dissertation and research was how teachers experience becoming teachers and their role as leaders.
I focus on leading, communicating, and innovating in organizations. This includes mindfuful servant-leadership, World Cafe events, Appreciative Inquiry, and expressing one's self through creativity. I offer retreats, workshops, and presentations that can be tailored to your organzations specific needs.
I published peer reviewed articles about schools as learning organizations, currere as an ethical pursuit, and hope as an essential element of adult eductaion. I published three poems and am currently preparing my poetry to publish as an anthology of poetry.
I present on mindful leadership, servant leadership, schools as learning organizations, how teachers experience becoming teachers, assessement, and critical thinking. I facilitate mindfulness, hospitality retreats. and World Cafe Events using Appreciative Inquiry.
I am writing and researching about various forms of leadership, how teachers inform and form their identity as a particular teacher, schools as learning organizations, hope and its anticipatory relationship with the future, and hope as an essential element in learning.
Teacher as Transformer 
Is this your poem or is it Rumi? Either way, it is excellent and thank you for sharing.
I wish I could write this well. It is Rumi.
Let Rumi inspire us both then!
Beautiful poetry and the meaning is so simple yet so truthful. I am in love with Rumi’s works and each and everything that he has written has such deep messages and meanings that they touch the very inner core of my soul. Thanks for this lovely post. Great words of wisdom to learn from. Take care and God bless. Samina
Yes, I saw your Rumi quote on your most recent post. His poetry and quotes fit some many different contexts and roles.
This is one of my favorites. So glad you posted it. 🙂 ❤
Thank you Natalie.
My pleasure Ivon😊❤️
Wise words, Ivon.
Thank you Tish.
Thought-provoking at a pivotal point in American and world history. Thanks…
That is so true. Thank you for that insight.
A very dear friend made her transition this past week. My experience of her departure is reflected in the poem, Ivon. Thank you. 😉 xoM
It means so many different things. Its meaning depends on the person reading the poem.
That’s the beauty of poetry, isn’t it? 😉 xoM
It is.
Love this!
Every emotion is a color. A rich and beautiful life contains the entire rainbow. Enjoyed this.
Thank you. That is a great metaphor for our emotions.
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I really like the metaphor of a guest house. Emotions come and go…and each can have a message, if we just stop to greet them.
It is a wonderful methaphor and speaks to the transcience of emotions so clearly.