The Tempest

The Tempest - John William Waterhouse, 1916

O! I have suffered. With those that I saw suffer! 

- Miranda- William Shakespeare

Do not pray for strength 

Pray to be pierced 

Pray to be opened 

And willingly offer your pain 

In exchange for the birth of your Soul. 

No quarter must be given.

Mervyn Brady

"When we suffer, it is as though we are on a stormy ship at sea. 

In an ordinary state of mind, it is hell, the waves are relentless. 

Men are thrown overboard, the ship threatens to sink. 

Hopelessness sets in. Feelings of doom. 

No one can help. We withdraw into tears of sadness, 

wanting to be left alone in a pool of pity.

Surrender and yield to the natural flow of your life. 

Stop resisting.

Your pain arrives like a dark cloud, resting as a 

heavy weight on your chest. Take a moment. 

Breathe in the crisp air of suffering. Let it fill your lungs. 

Allow it to infuse every cell of your body. 

The philosopher knows he or she cannot do much against nature. 

This is the Tempest, the dark night of your soul."

(...)

"You begin to realize that you are here and present. 

Feelings of hope awaken within...Like the weather, 

life in the creature world is ever changing. One day soon, 

the clouds will dissipate; rays of sunlight begin to peer through. 

Eventually the storm quiets, silence sets in. The calm after the storm.

Tears of joy fill your eyes. Your heart fills with love of 

God and mankind. You have nothing left, yet you 

have everything. You are blessed to be alive. 

With radiance from your heart and soul you desire 

to share your joy with others."

~Lauren - excepts from a hand written note

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