The Heart of Rumi

Did you know that Sufi mystical poet Rumi (born in 1207) has been the best-selling poet in the U.S. for the last ten years? Born in the area now known as Afghanistan, he is well known for founding the Mevlevi Order, better known as the Whirling Dervishes of Sufism. His poetry remains extraordinarily relevant, communicating [...]

Diary of a Seekster: Where The Daily Show meets Daily Om

Since my earliest memories I always struggled with the idea that I had to be all things to all people.  We work so hard to keep various elements of our lives separate and distinct to the point that many of us have panic attacks about whether or not to “friend” a colleague or a family [...]

Random Word Generator: Next Step

When you stay back at the house as the storm comes low and near, picture harmonies running through your living room laced in thunder and pride. Feel the hums of nature crawling through your closets and cupboards and loose tiles ready to burst into clouds of color and light when you realize there is nothing [...]

Austin Poetry Slam Off April 24

Whether you know it or not, Soul Lab is based in Austin, TX and I would be remiss if I didn’t let everyone know about a great event happening Friday, April 24– the Austin Poetry Slam Finals. Full of soul, spirit, humor, reality, inspiration and pure talent, Austin has always proven to be a breeding [...]

Random Word Generator: The Purpose is Joy

stubborn
chic
creative
laughing
compulsion
If I listen closely… just quiet the thoughts that can shamelessly slice up the best words I can use this day, there is a shallow laughing that bursts curiously into my chest. The compulsion to notice this, draw it close to a memory: I can barely breathe when I fling myself daringly high from an [...]

Random Word Generator: When I am Eighty

Recall
Sleepy
Hazy
Pale
Ballerina
 
When I am eighty– if I get to eighty– the moments of truth, beauty and heart-stirring reality I will recall with powerful ease. The head lines up a manner of crafty collusions pouring through memories and mistakes made in a hazy fight to be right. Where is wisdom in years anymore? How can the sunlight produce such reds [...]

Random Word Generator: Meditation on Ice Cream

Pensive
Crust
Dandelion
Tug
Clouds
I sit still for five minutes fixating on the tinny sound of a rusty ice cream van willing itself down the street. There are banana bombers and nutty buddies in their protective ice crusts waiting to be freed from the sad, humiliating parade. But I can not move. I am sitting zazen, watching my thoughts [...]

Random Word Generator: New Age

 
Happiness
New Age
Luke Skywalker
Jungle
Chess game
*** 
The trail has been lifted off the page; it was tape and old and I did not know this when I signed the letter marked “urgent” on the day that we met. How could I have missed this? We blame so much on youth and stupidity when our parents are to blame [...]

Random Word Generator: Theory on Old Love

colorful
railroad
fester
penguin
pillow
***
You have written a story on my body which can never be erased. Perhaps this is the day to test the theory on love that was too long waiting in the recesses of the mind, skipping wildly into important plot points in dreams filled with penguins marching cruel circles around us.
We do not belong here. [...]

Random Word Generator: My Muse

 
Several years ago, I think it was in college, I got into an exercise where I would ask someone to give me five random words. I would say “location” or “song title” or “emotion” or whatever seemed to pop into my head at the time. Sometimes I was suprised by the words my friends would [...]