Sorrow & Joy

This is what it feels like to open my heart when I'm tender and afraid.

“‘Conscious inner attention is an instrument that vibrates at its own frequency,’ writes William Segal in ‘The Force of Attention.’ ‘Cleared of all internal noise, it is set free to receive the signals at each moment from a creative universe in communication with all creatures.’” - Cynthia Bourgeault in Eye of the Heart

When the gut-punch of anguish hit me hard two years ago, I collaged some songs. Creating playlists is one of my favorite practices. I gift my future self anchors — reminders of what matters.

Last week I refreshed my Sorrow & Joy playlist. It’s easier for me to sing what’s hard to say. As others have articulated their experiences artfully, they’ve helped me connect to my inner experiences with granular specificity.

This collage of songs is what it feels like to open my heart when I’m tender and afraid.

When my heart is raw and exposed, I’m acutely aware of my connection to others. The permeable membrane of my being drinks in the sorrow and joy I sometimes lose touch with.

The songs on this playlist may not be the ones that call to you. Perhaps this practice will inspire you to attune to your heart’s perception and collage the songs you return to when you are tender and afraid.

Love,
Kirsten