Soul Rhythms

drum your way back to your soul

follow its rhythms 

like foot trails in the soil

let your blood pump, 

claim your aliveness

dance your longing 

until you’re gasping for breath

gasping at the sight of the full moon, 

shrouded in her pink haze,

framed by silhouettes of loyal trees

and stars ornamenting her purple sky.

feel how she stirs you, 

pulling tides of ecstasy and grief 

and let yourself be a little afraid.

bow to her presence,

for she will never leave you.

she will never stop seducing you.

call on the power of the cosmos,

with every expansion and contraction 

of your earth-covered flesh. 

play! play! play!

shout because it is your birthright

to declare your place in the mystery.

scuttle like a little squirrel

and chase your ego around

like the sacred fool you are.

contort and shake and wobble

like an infant with new legs

and laugh and sigh,

and laugh some more.

let your soul’s heartbeat

hold your brothers

as they soften, 

prancing and swaying

their way to delight.

let your soul’s heartbeat

hold your sisters

as they scream their righteous rage

howling in the dirt and 

twirling like princesses

hold your sisters

as they remember, 

as they release

and when you’re ready,

become the horn-tailed lizard

gasping its last breaths

lying on the ground

surrender to the earth

all that you were

surrender to the stillness

and go to sleep silent,

your cells soaking up the hot honey

of their belonging

enter the underworld

and declare yourself Queen Persephone,

wedded to her enchantment