When Told We Have To


When Told We Have To

‘Should’ or ‘Should Not’s’ in an Ever-Confusing World

Photo by Victor He on Unsplash

Author’s sharing wisdom — how they overcame
perilous countless bouts
of confusion brought on the finger-pointing thieves
robbing us from our thoughts transmuting.

Seeking answers — abounding with more doubt
self-inflicting shame brought on
by the neighboring sons
telling us what we ought to do.

Left in darkness — own self-judging
riddled disbelief — afraid to write our wrongs
because ‘they’ said it was the way
to freedoms ringing sounds.

Discourse — shambled wardrobes
of dishevelled rags falling
from the shouldered truths
terrorizing our inner phobias, false spatting reality.

Arrival — timely knowing
peaceful road walked — self-guided
journey before, after and unknown destination
defining the only fear is that of itself.

Marking the waters of change — no longer
clouded visions of the collective whole
worlds spinning timelessly, relentlessly
capturing attentive gaze.

Spreading wings — Uroboros devouring
beginning and ends of the cyclical belief
as to how one should be
in this world, but not of it.

For those who speak — of have to
and should do’s, we thank you for
opinions mattering not the path before us
but the Canvas is creating all around.

Stepping into time — undetailed existence
giving forth — new realities daily occurrence
unknown terminus departure
the arrival of one’s true home.

~Ani Po


Much gratitude to those who dare to travel alone, doing what is right for them and them alone. Listening not to the naysayers or all-knowing sorts telling us what we ought to do, instead writing their world into existence.

Thank you to the author’s who dare to come together in sacred fashion, as THE WATERPLACE depicts in this gem Mother’s Earth and David Rudder for his selfless sharing of wisdom Circumspect.


Often when writing, with noise canceling headphones, a song finds itself on loop. Here is today’s loop petal accompanying this piece. 

Written with pen name Ani Po, not limited to the author but an open invitation ‘to all’ in knowing ‘I am here.’


Much gratitude for those who take time to read, ponder, and allow the inner workings of self to come forward. Grateful for the feedback, love shared, and more importantly, the Dance with Inspiration. Deep Peace.

Joseph Lieungh

Photo by Javardh on Unsplash

Choosing Nothing


Choosing Nothing

The art of doing nothing

Photo by Michael Fousert on Unsplash

I close my eyes — shutting out the world
briefly, turning off the chatter
collective chaos is stirring our internal pot.

Having nothing more to stay — wishing
no longer to write — merely observing
holding space for the next to arrive.

It is lonely here — family and friends
following the guidance of missing out
the mentality has gone awry.

We remain in this space — non-existent
to those outside our writing expanse
unable to see how we view the world.

Terrible and misleading — warm and inviting
dependent on how open our arms remain
in the sanctity of our presence.

Accusations flying — across the room
with our thoughts of being something greater —
yesterday’s shit-storm of cyclical human behavior.

Rewriting the wrongs — of our past
future hopes that all will be as written
in the stars for centuries before and yet to come.

I, we, they — persistent are they
embracing nothingness
and everything in between.

~Ani Po


The art of doing nothing, does not imply laziness and actually doing nothing. It is an invite to get into sacred space, whenever possible, holding the lines for other seekers to find what they desire.

On the surface, it appears that we are doing nothing, but we are continuously holding sacred space for those trapped in the chaotic world of ‘should’ and ‘have tos.’

There is nothing, we have to do in this world but return to this place of knowing that all exists in a single thought, multiplied by the billions of others trying to sort through their understanding of what needs to be done.

Personally I have beaten myself up, for years, over having to have a purpose. Only to find that my purpose was already there. Accepting who I am and the path traveled, I have found everything led to this moment in time. My hopes, is that others come to this place of knowing and understanding.

We all have traumas to sort through, triggers to learn from, much work to be done. Or not! Do nothing, but accept that all things have led to this place in time.


Thank you Diana C., Spyder, jules, Ravyne Hawke, and Marcus aka Gregory Maidman for the continued wisdom you share, sacred space you hold and for keeping this family focused on our innate ability of healing Thyself.


Thank you to the writers who share personal experience, with taking the necessary steps to well-being. Like Rabih for sharing her scary moments, Mira Khatib for sharing her steps along the way and Frank Ontario for his continued work in sharing our own abilities to heal self and others around us.


Much gratitude for those who take time to read, ponder, and allow the inner workings of self to come forward. Grateful for the feedback, love shared, and more importantly, the Dance with Inspiration. Deep Peace.

Joseph Lieungh

Photo by Javardh on Unsplash