Poem of the Week - Birdwings

Last weekend I spoke/presented at the American Hypnosis Association's monthly conference on "Poetry as Hypnosis." This was based on my article and some further research and information I have done since then. Basically I just put everyone into trance by reading a lot of poetry and talked about how to use similar poetic inductions and suggestions to help our clients. So I have decided to post a hypnotic poem each week for anyone interested. If it speaks to you or heals you, pass it on. Part of the magic of poetry, however, are the sounds and rhythms and pauses. So I encourage you to read them out loud to yourself. Or maybe if I get really fancy, I'll do a hypnotic poetry podcast. Oh the possibilities. Stay tuned. Today's poem is from Rumi:

Birdwings

Your grief for what you've lost lifts a mirror
up to where you're bravely working.

Expecting the worst, you look, and instead,
here's the joyful face you've been wanting to see.

Your hand opens and closes and opens and closes.
If it were always a fist or always stretched open,
you would be paralyzed.

Your deepest presence is in every small contracting and expanding
the two as beautifully balanced and coordinated
as birdwings.

--Rumi