Lay them right down,
all those lies you’ve believed about yourself
all you’ve desired to see lapped up like kindling,
watch the flames swallow them.
Look at those ashes at your feet,
reach down, cup them in your palms,
you can hardly believe how soft it is now,
that ancient pile of jagged fears and accusation reduced to
this.
Watch now, see how that cupped handful, that pile at your toes
is being remade,
a swirling cloud
taking form into letters, many words
a single word.
What is yours?
Complete,
the Ancient One whispers.
You lack for nothing.
And that is how I received my One Word for 2016, COMPLETE, on a Monday evening in February. Glory.

This is so beautiful and so wise. “That ancient pile of jagged fears accusations reduced to this.” I am being made new!
Whenever I read something you created, I am awed by your
unique ability to visualize your concepts, and bring forth their under-
lying meaning. Indeed, ‘our jagged fears’ can be made manageable. What
are those lies that we are burning? Each of us will have to seek
that answer in our own lives, then hold, and cup, our own ‘ashes’.
Woah, Ash. That is powerful, in imagery and revelation. I love how your word came to you. How you waited. How you’re coming into your complete skin. Love you, dear heart.
Oh, glory is right. Your poetry sings, Ashley.
Like Amber, I love how patiently you waited for this word to arrive, Ash. Who would have guessed that “complete” would have been the one given to you, or to Any of us? What?? Rest in the one you are, enough, complete?! “Woah!” And Yes! I SEE how perfectly chosen this word was for you. How perfect that it has nothing to do with trying harder, doing more, or adding anything. I so love this for you! So love it.
(and too…this poem you’ve written to express it, Ash, and the image that so beautifully mirrors it!) ?
Beautiful!
Yes, Yes, Yes……
makes me take a deep, long awaited breath…..