Dear Spirit,

Thriving in the Spirit of Rumi — Serenity Through Words of Wisdom

Written words to my young inner self and a reminder for each soul

This is love: to fly toward a secret sky, to cause a hundred veils to fall each moment. First to let go of life. Finally, to take a step without feet. — Rumi

Rumi was an exceptional spiritual master hailing from 13th century Persia. His teachings and poems softened hearts and resonated with many souls. Forgetting his written words should not happen. Rumi is timeless — he lives in many spirits.

Often empathy, humility and compassion is all one needs to mend a broken soul. Sounds simple, yet it was a distant wish when I was younger. My soul cried to be heard and understood. The fear of loneliness destroyed me.

How long do we ponder and contemplate on what it takes to heal? Long enough to get lost and dwell on what cannot be changed. It took trial and error to find the way to my inner self.

My mental health has become better over the years. I have learned that a healthy spirit contributes to the stability of mental health. To me it was the most vital element for healing from my abusive past.

Spirituality is up close and personal. It’s a unique connection only you can recognise and interpret. The beauty and fervency of this unique connection will be visible to those who surround you. This is your spirit. Be kind to it.

Your connection, your conversation. One, only you will understand.

Many of us can effortlessly relate our truths through Rumi’s words. I wonder what life would have been like if I had come across Rumi’s poems and wisdom early on in my life.

• Written words I longed to read in distressing times — as a young, abused and broken self.

Dear spirit,

Rumi — Don’t grieve. Anything you lose comes round in another form.

Grieving is all I do — how can I not? I will never be good enough for anyone. The ones I’m surrounded with say I’m beautiful but gullible and reckless. My personality is pushing the ones I love away.

Each time I believe I’m in love, they abandon me. I don’t believe I will ever find true love or friendship. It’s all my fault.

Rumi — You have to keep breaking your heart until it opens.

My heart is beyond repair. Men, friends and family have abused, misjudged and abandoned me, time and again.

Will the ones who confessed their love to me, come back? I believed them. I’m still waiting for them to come back. There must be some truth in what they told me.

Rumi — Goodbyes are only for those who love with their eyes. Because for those who love with heart and soul there is no such thing as separation.

This means I’ve never been genuinely loved by anyone. This hurt me deeply. Often times I think my addictions are my only comfort.

Someone once told me, I’m not suitable for true love. I’m only good for a fling. No one wants to be with an empath. They’re too genuine, they say.

Feeling loved is all I wished for. I fear loneliness — the void of not being with someone. There must be something wrong with me. They must sense I have been raped and molested. Does it show — do they know?

You know, in my heart I know I’m being used but I’m petrified of being alone. Please, I cannot be alone.

Rumi — Ignore those that make you fearful and sad, that degrade you back towards disease and death.

Even the ones who told me we will be friends forever? The ones who said they loved me every minute of the day, were they lying? I refuse to believe it. This means I will end up being alone. I need to fill this void.

But I must change. The problem lies in me, not them. Everyone tells me this. I still don’t understand what else I should do to appeal to others.

I can’t help that I’m an empath. I feel other people’s pain and suffering, so I try to help them. They say I am a freak of nature and scare them with my words.

I have to change.

Rumi — You were born with wings, why prefer to crawl through life?

Because that’s what people want — a crawler. No one wants an empath. My addictions help numb my emotions. It’s better this way. I need to be like everyone else.

I’m fatigued by the way I am. I’m unhappy.

Do you feel the same sometimes?

Rumi — Why should I be unhappy? Every parcel of my being is in full bloom.

How can you be so hopeful? What is it that you see and I don’t?

Rumi — It’s your road, and yours alone, others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you.

How…and alone? Please, tell me how I can possibly do this on my own. What if my past haunts me?

Rumi — As you start to walk on the way, the way appears.

I will try…

Thank you for staying around. Until next time, be kind.

Jay

Thank you Jeanne-Erin for your contribution to Art Tales and your patience with me! Big Hugs :D

Josh Balerite Acol much respect to you and all that you do

Carrie. A. Kelly, thank you for all those little chats, sweet compliments and continuous support

Maryam Ismail my real-life buddy

Dr Mehmet Yildiz thank you very much for your support and patience :)