Light, turn up, feel, the flame of your humanity.

listen while you read

Our Humanity

What we belong to.

What we can point to

out there; around us.

And what a singular gift. 

Our innate sentience. 

Deeper humanness.

Shared with eight billion

other souls, and bodies.

What we can rise to,

in here; if and when 

we choose to, or,

are moved to.

Summon the truer

and fuller humanity

that ~ whether clearly

or obscurely ~ resides, 

so surely, within

each of us. Whether

it’s eager or reticent,

lost or longed for;

sleeping, or awakening.

I remember ceremonies 

that began in the dark

of a church or a country field.

A first candle being lit,

from a source.

And from that first lighting,

to the other 

held by the person beside. 

Then each holder in turn 

letting their flame light 

the next, and next, 

until all were aglow.

Until we soon 

cascadingly formed 

one immense body of light; 

a bonfire of human-kindled kind.

Reflecting spirits; reflected in eyes.

Beaconing a remembering out.

Sending a hope-filled illumination out

into the Unseen and Unknown.

The same way the flame of 

your humanity and mine, 

instead of flickering alone,

can be lit, fed, combined, 

and enlarged. Can join

the wicks, the rising spirits, 

of all those who,

from where we stand,

we cannot see or know

but can feel, in the center

of our chests.

Enough to create 

a great forest,

a great sea, family,

of uniting, igniting humanity.

A shared lightrise.

The greatest that people 

of any time in history 

or memory 

have ever known.

A conscious joining, 

generous emanating, 

of human light,

benevolent light.

That brings wanted, 

beyond-needed solace, 

strength, and wordless 

togetherness forth,

to soothe the heart

and smooth the future 

of the trembling world.

a thought

The world needs your light.

a QUESTION

When have you deeply seen, experienced, felt or honored the light of humanity? Your own or another's pure humanity. Where are you bringing needed light to the world around you? The friends, neighborhood, workplace, or community around you.

One member said

"I never thought of entering a greater place of shared light before."

a Call to experience

In the coming days and nights, explore being a larger source of solace and compassion. And how to better see and offer yours to those whose spirits are in need of more kind light; those longing for some rays of ease, understanding, or possibility.