I found the poetry, above, in some old files.
I wrote it almost a decade ago, and I am amazed at how far I've traveled just to realize where I am. WHO I am.
As I continue to realize that all archetypes–all God Image AND all shadow reside within me,
I discover a whole new level of "free."
I decide, every moment, HOW I want to be who I want to be.
In the words of Joni Mitchell, "I've looked at Love from both sides now,"
​–and no matter how the story goes, Love ultimately wins. ​

ONE LOVE,
R.R. Shakti, PhD

What would it look like to release all my fears?
...because that's what was happening. That's what I felt. 
But the moment was greedy for my full attention
—no projection, just tears
tears, and rocking, and shaking, and heart melt 
like heat and cold mixing and swirling around--
alchemy in the half-light of a medicine more profound than I had even imagined. 

And was I imagining freedom?
...Come back to the breath, to the completion of
"in it right now!" 
Imagining the moon's face over the sun. 
Imagining shadows like tendrils of smoke, ribbons of silk
dancing their way to the inner circle of darkness 
while a radiant ring promised emergence of fearlessness
—of light. 

...And all along returning and returning and returning 
to my body and the breath and the images of Marley's dream--
where, there, the mermaid of white
points to a sunken ship and gravely proclaims: 
"It mustn't be stopped." 

Oh! What treasures must hide inside.