Dear Heart,

We have been on a long journey together you and me. From my first breath in the world and your first beat, we have been partners in keeping my life force vital, free and potent.

Along the way, as I encountered disappointments, disillusion, distress and death of beliefs, loved ones and places, I built a wall around YOU to protect ME.

My head told me this was the right thing to do. The best thing to keep me safe, from those situations which wound and lacerate the softness of my inner home.

For a while it worked. It numbed me. But then as you made a gentle murmur that this was not the way, not the solution, I sat with you and the pain you had been holding.

I allowed myself to feel the bottom of that well of grief. And then as Rumi wrote, I found the gold coins of joy and brought them to the surface.

Keeping you - my precious heart open - shows me that vulnerability connects me to others on their heart journey and I rejoice.

Like the closed rosebud I hid away, your constant messaging to bloom and grow has brought blessings and delights I could never have imagined.

Now at all times it is you - my heart - which navigates the path. The head is on vacation after its long years in action. I breathe anew.

Thank you for keeping witness with me. My rod and staff.

Julia ❤️