By Shulamit Elson
Cries of yearning
Reach the Garden gates
As sweet music.
A Tiger in the Garden of Eden
indolently observes
the naked Adam and Eve
without hunger.
Hearing the notes,
The Tiger
Announces his post
As border guard–
checking visas
for purity of intent.
Stalking the perimeter,
Striking musculature
Awaits the hopeful.
Observing a fierce demeanor,
And fearful of being consumed,
The formerly eager will not approach
Choosing suffering
Over absorption.
The Braided Way is a framework to see every faith tradition as a strand, braided into a larger whole of spiritual awareness. In the Braided Way, combining spiritual practice from various faiths allow us to explore sacred experience and wonder in forms that resonate with our personal spiritual needs and sacred intuitions. In today’s culture, many people shun religious dogma, but yearn for spiritual connection. The Braided Way allows the ceremonies and practices of multiple faiths to be available without the confinements of cultural dogma.
