BLESSING OF BREATHING
That the first breath
will come without fear.
That the second breath
will come without pain.
The third breath:
that it will come without despair.
And the fourth,
without anxiety.
That the fifth breath
will come with no bitterness.
That the sixth breath
will come for joy.
Breath seven:
that it will come for love.
May the eighth breath
come for freedom.
And the ninth,
for delight.
When the tenth breath comes,
may it be for us
to breathe together,
and the next,
and the next,
until our breathing
is as one,
until our breathing
is no more.
– Jan Richardson –
The Cure for Sorrow: A Book of Blessings for Times of Grief
Last Saturday I skipped my weekly river valley camino to attend “Into a Sanctuary of Women,” an online retreat with Jan Richardson. Familiar with her work as a spiritually oriented author, artist and poet, whose words have a particular resonance for women, I welcomed the opportunity to experience her live. The gifts of her presence and her work are akin to another of my inspirational favourite women, Christine Valters Paintner, the online abbess of Abbey of the Arts, a space for, as she names us, contemplative, creative dancing monks.
Framed by the contents of her book of the same title, Jan used her art to underscore aspects of sanctuary – its components and meanings (refuge, hospitality, making welcome, safety, spaciousness, invitation for transformation), how to make and be sanctuary for ourselves and for others, and its personal gifts and challenges. Her poetry, by form of blessing, became pause and punctuation points. This one, seen earlier in the week on her social media page, was offered to help us settle into the sacred space being created by the hundred plus of us who gathered.
Transcribing it here, now, I imagine reading it quietly as I sit in the morning. I can feel it bringing a solid, soothing start to my day. I envision it reminding me of my life’s inevitable passage, through its eldering landscape to my own passing on. And I know again my kindredness with you, breathing as one, until no more.
Much love and kindest regards, dear friends.
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A Wabi Sabi Life 
I love Jan’s writing…thank you for bringing it to my attention. Your soulful site, which I have just found, will be a joy for me from here on in. As I read Jan’s poem, I was suddenly reminded of sitting with my friend in her last hours. I must have noticed a subtle change in her still form, because I started counting the spaces in seconds between her breaths. I started counting at 17 seconds, the next was 25, the next 50, and gradually the space between breaths got longer and longer, until her breathing ceased. It was the most peaceful and gradual moment, and my honour to witness.
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Thank you so much for your “soulful ” response. To witness and have been witnessed in this way…Welcome.
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