Even though our sorrows may seem eternal they shall pass; as I’ve grown older the statement “Life moves faster as you get older”, said by my uncle at every birthday party, graduation, or funeral has gone from a burden, reminding me of how little time we have on the planet, and transformed into a blessing. I’ve learned that the bad days will end and the good days must be let go; through this recognition knowing that life changes, shifts, and ends has develop a deep security within my soul. Every aspect of life becomes a opportunity for reflection; every fear, heartbreak, love, and friendship becomes a contributor to our evolution, and moments that seemed insufferable become a season that will end. We cannot see beyond our troubles, but we can reflect on the events we have overcome; our sorrows change us into the people necessary for handling the life that is coming.

Letters 8 of Letters to a Young Poet, Rilke says, “It seems to me that almost all our sadnesses are moments of tension, which we feel as paralysis because we no longer hear our astonished emotions living. Because we are alone with the unfamiliar presence that has entered us; because everything we trust and are used to is for a moment taken away from us; because we stand in the midst of a transition where we cannot remain standing.” As we change often letting go is how we fight; as we embrace the entirety of our existence and move into a world of original experience our paths can only be carved through listening internally to the directions along our unique path. We meet our future through living a life of conscious attention, and carving life from the infinite chaos of our existence. Our lives depend on how we bear the knowledge that time will pass, the days will end, we will age, and one day we will be buried into the ground along with our ancestors. As we learn to accept our reality we open ourselves to life’s fullest possibilities’; our sorrows are necessary for our development, and our dragons becomes wisdom once we have touched every section of the jungle.

A beautiful collection of letters that is a great companion for every artist; each letter provides wisdom on the obstacles we all face, and provides insight into overcoming the inhibitors to our success. Letters to a young poet should be read by every artist; whether you are a healer, yogi, astrologist, reiki initiate, or poet this collection should be kept on your hip.