the guest house ~ recommended

a few days ago Katie Kendrick mentioned this poem to me. reading it, she said, helped her get through those days when she was feeling, well, not ok.

* it was one of MY days of feeling 'slightly mental'

never hearing of it nor the author, I looked it up on the net ~ and gee - this could have been written for me! You see, I am usually a joyful soul, but sometimes I feel melancholy, sad, anger & intolerance. And I have been fighting these feelings, feeling guilty for having the not so nice emotions. I am also a person who puts their full self out there, who wears their heart on their sleeve & often I am misunderstood. but when I read and re-read this poem - I realized that I am ok, it is alright to feel all of these emotions as they make me who I am - and even better - by accepting all of these emotions - I am being healed and helped 'from beyond'

thankyou Katie xo


This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,

some momentary awareness comes

As an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

~Mewlana Jalaluddin Rumi~