Be gentle with yourself

Be gentle with yourself
as you would be gentle
with a stranded seashell on the shore,
and the River shall gently carry you
back to the numinous sea,
for you carry the seed of fierce waters
within the shell
of your womb.

Be gentle with yourself
as you would be gentle
with a wounded deer
and the Earth shall gently embed your roots
into the yielding soil,
for you carry the seed of splendid antlers
within the hollow
of your mind.

Be gentle with yourself,
as you would be gentle
with a fallen bird
and the Wind shall gently lift you off
into the misty air,
for you carry the seed of mighty wings
within the nest
of your shoulder blades.

Be gentle with yourself,
as you would be gentle
with a burned out firefly
and the Fire shall gently ignite a spark
atop a soaring mountain,
for you carry the seed of astounding flames
within the walls
around your heart.