Expansion within boundaries

I was struck by the giant thorns on this rosebush.  They are quite brazen and almost violent in their appearance.  It’s such an apt metaphor for the expression of beauty in the world: we must have garlands of thorns for protection.  The rose can only unfurl its splendor in a field of protection.

In the Yoga and spiritual communities- there can be this mistaken impulse to share too much with greater bodies of people within an organization.  And especially around an enlightened Master or Guru.  There’s a fallacy in thinking- which I have been guilty of - that all are trust-worthy around an enlightened Master as we all share a common cause, a common Guru, a common purpose of enlightenment. 

The truth is that we are all seeking love and acceptance even for the aspects of ourselves that we find ugly.  And any group of people - no matter how wise - are seeking the same thing but because of a general lack of inner Self-love in our current world - even the wisest conform to group structures, power trips, domination, competition and tribal warfare.

There is a way out of the above.  And that is to abide in the Self.  Bloom and express beauty within a garland of protection.  

Expand inwardly.  This inward expansion is a blessing that is most freely expressed in intimacy with the very few and the Beloved. 

And so I wield my garland of weapons, Durga with 10 hands and a weapon in each, shine like the sun and unfurl my thousands of petals like a rose towards the sun.

Om shantih om, 

Sumukhi