mushin || day 137: vulnerabilities 脆弱性

Posted on by Michael Raven

©2022 Michael Raven

as though i have not
yet learned from my past
i remain vulnerable
bamboo in the storm

This series of writing explorations that I call mushin are an attempt to grasp the concept of mushin no shin (mind without mind, 無心の心, often shortened to mushin, or “no-mind”). I am using prompts from 365 Tao, largely because they are Zen and Tao themes for meditation (which suits this exploration), not as an endorsement for the book from which they are derived. The daily prompts can be found in this table. Anyone wishing to participate is welcome to do so, either post your own response to the prompt below or post a link to your response in the comments.

mushin || day 136: judgment 判断

Posted on by Michael Raven

©2022 Michael Raven

trees, wild things & stones may judge me
skeptical as to what people may think

This series of writing explorations that I call mushin are an attempt to grasp the concept of mushin no shin (mind without mind, 無心の心, often shortened to mushin, or “no-mind”). I am using prompts from 365 Tao, largely because they are Zen and Tao themes for meditation (which suits this exploration), not as an endorsement for the book from which they are derived. The daily prompts can be found in this table. Anyone wishing to participate is welcome to do so, either post your own response to the prompt below or post a link to your response in the comments.

underground heart/

Posted on by Michael Raven

©2022 Michael Raven

rhythm heart underground
earth song mother
seeking too hard
i could not see
nonsense mouth
babble on babble on
but i heard the
raindrops drumming
on my head and
tasted a song tapping
on my skin
flickered light in
the clouds to be

runepoem | 15 may 2022

Posted on by Michael Raven

©2022 Michael Raven

kenaz (ᚲ)

laguz (ᛚ)

fehu (ᚠ)

her spirit journeys
on wing & prayer
over water, full of flame

Note: For the purposes of these runepoems, I randomly select three runes and consider the meanings of each rune as I interpret and understand them based on a number of different resources, which may or may not be in alignment with accepted interpretations. I am a rune enthusiast, not an expert or scholar. These “runecasts” are not intended to be treated as divinatory, although there are elements of personal alchemy and shamanic practice in the crafting of each poem.