The Guest House

When we reduce emotions down to energies — as efforts to anchor or expand — we won't be afraid of their intensity. We won't deflect our pain. Instead we will see that each big emotion, as Rumi describes in his poem The Guest House, has been sent as a guide from beyond. They are directing us towards places inside of us where our energy is dispersed or fragmented — cluing us in to an aspect of our Soulful Self that we've not yet awakened to.

Share This Post

The Guest House

by Rumi
Translated by Coleman Barks

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

Learn how to welcome and embody ALL of you in our Feeling Code and Shadow Alchemy course bundles in our life-transforming and empowering Inner Space Academy online. Or dive into the full Project Awakening collection for the most impact.