Reflections on Equanimity

I. Establishing equanimity as ease and relaxation, orienting to pleasure, and lingering with experience
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red maple leaf in close up by Atle Mo

blood red Japanese maple 
shocks the heart
back to life
your delicate leaves
won't last forever
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II. Equanimity as earth element, stability, or solidity
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marble toy by Louis Maniquet

the Earth pulls
you close to her
why lean forward
or turn back
when her love
can hold you here
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III. Equanimity as wind element, movement, change, letting go to let in.
Everywhere the wind carries me is my home. (Yu Xuanji)
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white dandelion by Saad Chaudhry

the wind unravels
your perfect grooming
all your hidden secrets
it's best to come undone
shelter in breath and silence
making space
to understand

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IV. Equanimity as space or silence, widening the attention.
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aurora northern sky by Luke Stackpoole

primordial womb
the birth of
space and silence
if you don't like
what you see
return to the womb
if you don't like 
what you hear
return to the womb 
and begin again
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***Equanimity weekend retreat inspired by Robin Craig, led by Brian Lesage