In that first hardly noticed moment in which you wake,
coming back to this life from the other
more secret, moveable and frighteningly honest world
where everything began,
there is a small opening into the new day
which closes the moment you begin your plans.
What you can plan is too small for you to live.
What you can live wholeheartedly will make plans enough
for the vitality hidden in your sleep.
To be human is to become visible
while carrying what is hidden as a gift to others.
To remember the other world in this world
is to live in your true inheritance.
You are not a troubled guest on this earth,
you are not an accident amidst other accidents
you were invited from another and greater night
than the one from which you have just emerged.
Now, looking through the slanting light of the morning window
toward the mountain presence of everything that can be
what urgency calls you to your one love?
What shape waits in the seed of you
to grow and spread its branches
against a future sky?
Is it waiting in the fertile sea?
In the trees beyond the house?
In the life you can imagine for yourself?
In the open and lovely white page on the writing desk?
-- David Whyte
Seed Questions for Reflection
What are you carrying that is hidden, and a gift to others? How do you experience the urgency of your hidden gift? Can you share a personal story that illustrates a remembrance of your hidden gift?
Seeing/feeling underneath the words. Catching the dance. Reflecting it back.
LE
Leslie
Oct 1, 2025
My hidden gift is respecting people for who they are. I learned I was capable of this while listening and supporting callers on a hotline. I try to remember this intention daily. Sometimes I forget.
AH
A Hill
Oct 1, 2025
When I am with one or many people I am present in a way that is beyond physical; I pay attention to the slight gestures, deep sighs, and expressions of their eyes. I hear with all of my senses and strive to meet people where they are.
AN
Ann
Sep 30, 2025
Hidden gift? Well, it’s not exactly hidden, but more like responding to a situation in a way that is slightly unusual. When I’m walking down the street and I see someone (a stranger) wearing a sweater I like, I’ll say, “Nice sweater.” I only do this if I really like what they’re wearing; I never fake it.
It’s just something I like to do.
NS
Nikki Simos
Sep 27, 2025
A smile that is visible to others and offers so much warmth, love, compassion, empathy yet what's hiding behind the smile. For many years I learnt how to hide behind a smile from my teenage years when a film director once said " well if you have nothing else going for you at least you have a winning smile and no one can take that away from your face", so I guess for years life was about faking it until I made it and that applied in many areas of my life. Recently, in my early 50's my heart truly is aligned with my smile and I can be my authentic self. My hidden gift is that I've fallen in love with who I am inwardly and completely wholeheartedly which has allowed me to see others from a different lens with or without smiles on their faces.
FG
Frayda Glass
Sep 23, 2025
Hidden Secrets - I didn't know how to show my love when I was young. I hadn't been shown love when "I was young." I am 85 now, and I DO know how to show my love, and how to receive it, too!
ML
Mary Lee
Sep 21, 2025
There's a quiet, hidden current of loving care and tenderness I often feel for others that I've gradually learned to let inform my responses. When I open to its wisdom, the stories I carry about them vanish like a whiff of wind. I've found this hidden current of care can grow into a deeper current of communication when interacting with our challenging son; then the ruminating stories that I carry about him vanish. And there he is as he really can be--a sweet fellow, and we connect.
EV
Elizabeth van Herwaarden
Sep 15, 2025
I can see how people can be suffering but able to hide it. I see through their elaborate shields to the suffering within. I also love and am passionate about making with natural materials. I love the process but I get distracted with shoulds and don’t often give myself the time. I tend to give my time to others too freely. I am trying to remember my dreams but I am stuck somehow.
PA
Pat
Sep 12, 2025
Seeing into the radiant splendour of raw naked truth in another soul
MA
Mary
Apr 30, 2025
A hidden is a natural deep empathy for others. It can also be a curse for me yet I am grateful for the gift of caring deeply.
Is it possible (legal) to copy/paste the poem under your Poetic Pause? I am a reader rather than a listener. I love to listen to the poem, but need the words in front of me to really get the benefit. Many poems are published freely on the Internet (yes, I know I can source and download them for myself, and do so at present or purchase yet another book.........) I would appreciate, if possible, easy and not too time consuming (and legal) if the words were made available to read too. Thank you.
CH
ChrisNib
Aug 19, 2024
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NC
Norie clarke
Jun 19, 2024
A bevy of clouds hung framed
over the street
as I walked down the hill.
But Whyte’s "mountain presence
of everything that can be”
still floats in my horizon
as I bushwhack my way past
weeds of social shoulds
and exterior appearances
defined by others,
too enthralled by life’s wonders
that motivate a loving response and
leave me little time
for unnecessary chores.
So I practice letting go
of annoyance rendered by
what I can’t successfully effect,
to nurture the the seed of me
”to grow and spread my branches
against a future sky”.
SF
Susie FoxOct 30, 2024
That says everything I think. Thank you.
SA
Sara
Feb 15, 2024
Beyond beautiful!
PW
Paula Washow
Apr 28, 2023
I'm not sure if my gift is hidden. Having reflected on this seed question for the entire morning (clearly, not a spontaneous response), I have an ability to read people through nonverbal communication with a deep insight to who they want to become, but, stay stuck based on old tapes in their minds. The urgency I experience is to share my insights with them with their permission, to change the trajectory of their lives.
Personal Story
I met a 40 year old, well kempt woman and her 10 year old frail, shy son in an impoverished rural community. We were discussing possible methods to support her son's need for improving his social circle as well as boost his self-esteem. After agreeing on a couple methodologies for her son, I sensed the mother had low self esteem as well as a hidden desire to further her formal education. She shared the "dream" of going to college to become a nurse. Her husband was an u... View full comment
I'm not sure if my gift is hidden. Having reflected on this seed question for the entire morning (clearly, not a spontaneous response), I have an ability to read people through nonverbal communication with a deep insight to who they want to become, but, stay stuck based on old tapes in their minds. The urgency I experience is to share my insights with them with their permission, to change the trajectory of their lives.
Personal Story
I met a 40 year old, well kempt woman and her 10 year old frail, shy son in an impoverished rural community. We were discussing possible methods to support her son's need for improving his social circle as well as boost his self-esteem. After agreeing on a couple methodologies for her son, I sensed the mother had low self esteem as well as a hidden desire to further her formal education. She shared the "dream" of going to college to become a nurse. Her husband was an unemployed ,over the road truck driver and part time farm hand. She had dismissed her desire to go to college for the needs of her family, the cost of higher education, the fears of being rejected at any accredited college, the need to work her low paying job in food service and quit if she went to college. All of these realities and fears overwhelmed her to the point of dismissing any possibility of attaining her hidden goals and dreams. She felt stuck. I felt her sense of being stuck without the hopes of a better future.
I provided her with several resources to discuss potential solutions for her dream. We met 1 week later. Her eyes were bright rays of hope. Her energy was ecstatic vs. static. She had viable solutions to attend an accredited college for nursing. She met her fears by taking the entrance exam, passed and enrolled the next semester. Her son's social circle grew, he achieved honor roll in under 1 year, his physical health improved, and loved to share stories about his day at school and doing homework at home together with his mother while she did hers.
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EB
Eduardo Birkbeck
Feb 9, 2023
To the awakin.org admin, Your posts are always well thought out.
CE
celticmaz
Feb 4, 2023
What a wonderful beckoning into intentional, mindful, stewardship of our lives as we let go and step into curiosity & childlike wonder! Thankyou David
LI
Linacalk
Nov 19, 2022
GG
Gary Gruber
Sep 19, 2022
Rediscovered on my bookshelf, a signed copy of "David Whyte: Essentials" Thank you for sharing your gifts and talents with all of us,
SH
Shelly
Jun 29, 2022
Such a lovely poem which I learned about from Gabby Lancaster today in her 28 Day Moon Cycle, Art of Flow from home. I'm looking forward to reading more of your poetry David Whyte.
I understand and know of these hidden gifts though I haven’t known why till now. I wake with the sense of a guest in my house. I sense I’m pleased my guest is here and I want to be sure he is taken care of.
to touch hearts and be touched. To invite space for growth and co-creation. To dance together and make this big dream of a vibrant, loving world become true. We are all connected.
BE
Beverly
Nov 8, 2020
The creative honest child within is the gift 💠I am carrying within.
RG
Rupali Guha
Aug 26, 2020
A prayer,. a kind act, a kind idea can link man's strength to a transcendent force.
This is how I feel we can live in our "true inheritance " .
"Even when we fail to look into our souls
Or lie embedded in earthly
consciousness
Still have we parts that grows to wards the light"(Sri Aurobindo)
Reading the poem I couldn't help quoting Sri Aurobindo b'coz the first reading of the poem brought his vision in my inner self.
Thank you for gifting us with a poem that reminds us that our entire life is a yoga.
KL
Kathleen Lane
Nov 22, 2019
The memory of being in touch with an angel when I was before school age. I remember once instance and I want to bring my self back to that angel and my openess and joy at that time.
SJ
Shant Joti
May 10, 2017
Looking for the gift I thought I had lost... a joy so pure, such a happy child.. some 50 years passed, glimpses of it passed through my heart as thee most part was what we. All fun. I started looking for it... a lot of writing. Early every morning, many white pages and a lot of deep breathing... which were where I found my joy.
I did start writing and published but my writing is not polished. Even more joy when I realized that this 40 day coaching is excellent to get all the procrastination out and then get a good laugh at yourself and gratefully breathe . You see, English is not my first language. So I understood that one needs to get the joy out of each breath... from the first one of the day. Thank you David Whyte.
NA
Nautica
Apr 24, 2017
I love this poetry. This is very good poetry. Very unique. And different. Keep it up love it
LY
LynneJul 17, 2017
I find this particular poem to be very "Rumi-esque". Yes, I love it too!
VK
Vance Kennedy
Aug 3, 2015
This speaks straight to my heart. To have such a profound wisdom is a great life accomplishment. (Thank you David Whyte.) To be able to capture it so eloquently for sharing with others is both high art and great generosity. Thank you David Whyte.
JM
Jane Maureen Sheehan
Jul 1, 2015
Remember these reflections young one through your Life. Written from the heart by David Whyte. Radiance of Love, Your Grandmother Jane Maureen Sheehan
LI
Linda
Feb 11, 2014
In the deep mid winter, it is good to try to not wish for something,like spring, which is not what we have today. It will. It make it come sooner. We only have today, this sunny, cold, day, and what it holds is ours to discover through curiosity, patience, and wonder.
BL
blessingsFeb 11, 2014
I am with you, Linda! SO BEAUTIFUL! Thank you for your gift of 'thought in word' today. I seek it.
<3 this. I want to print it out and hang it up as a beautiful reminder to share what is hidden. I try to wake slowly and allow myself time to just BE and for the ideas in my head to slowly swirl around before getting out of bed. What I allow to be hidden is my sadness and loneliness. I've only recently started sharing my sadness publicly (as the "Bubble Hug Free Hug Fairy" people expect me to be upbeat all the time) so I hid my tears. As I started to show them it helped others to open up more too. The reaction of others was so kind and many said that when I allowed myself to be sad and show it, it helped them to release their feelings too. Let us all BE Fully who we are and be gentle enough to wake up slowly. HUG from my heart to yours!
AC
Amy Campion
Jan 1, 2014
Thank you for this. Would you mind if I re-blogged this on my site, thedreamwell.com?
Just for communication, I name this kind of experience and living as the fourth dimension- a dimension that transcends the other dimensions of seeing, perceiving, thinking and expressing. it is beyond conceptual, philosophical and other boundaries. It is like being in the moment and not thinking about the moment. It is where the dance, the dancer and the dancing become one. I experience this fourth dimension in many contexts when chanting comes to me and I become the chanting, when i see a mom with her child being fully present to each other and I deeply feel a part of them and I feel that when I am holding a sad child in my arms. it is not even I and Thou.It transcends the I- Thou, a child and an old man- dimensions of the relationship.This a gift is for both. It is cyclical experience and not a linear experience. The veil disappears and there blooms the beauty of the beloved, the Divine.
When I awaken each day I center myself in Light & decide that I will stay centered, choose to be happy, share my light with others, forgive myself if I get off-center & address any "difficulty" that may present, with light. By making this Conscious effort , I experience greater equanimity & joy. You can "choose". This has changed my existence.
"To be human is to become visible
While carrying what is hidden as a gift to others.
To remember the other world in this world
is to live in your true inheritance."
This stood out most for me. Here in lies the key.
Be Him Jesus, or just plain ole ordinary me (us), we carry God's Kingdom/plan and purpose (invisibly) within us. Sure, each day alive here, we wake up in "bodied form". . But we are not OF this place/this life. One day, free from the visible, we will soar! For this I celebrate. In remembering this, upon waking each morning, I am given adequate Light . . . Hope . . . And Direction for this day. While here, my spirit is elevated to a different world . . . (Not ours, but His). For these "glimpses" I wait.
What I carry that is hidden and is a gift to others is any of my perception, experience, and wisdom that I don't express and openly share with others. The urgency of expressing those hidden gifts is that my perception, experience, and wisdom don't last, they typically have a dream like quality to them in that they evaporate quickly, so it is important for me to express and share them when they are present. Another urgency of expressing those hidden gifts is that they are special in that I am the only one who has and ever had and ever will have my specific unique viewpoint, and my life is short, and the opportunity to express and share my viewpoint is brief. Coming to learn what I have just said results in my appreciating my unique gifts and realizing the urgency in expressing them rather than hiding them. I've hidden too much for too long and it is important that I express and share rather than hide my gifts. That is my responsibility and my privile... View full comment
What I carry that is hidden and is a gift to others is any of my perception, experience, and wisdom that I don't express and openly share with others. The urgency of expressing those hidden gifts is that my perception, experience, and wisdom don't last, they typically have a dream like quality to them in that they evaporate quickly, so it is important for me to express and share them when they are present. Another urgency of expressing those hidden gifts is that they are special in that I am the only one who has and ever had and ever will have my specific unique viewpoint, and my life is short, and the opportunity to express and share my viewpoint is brief. Coming to learn what I have just said results in my appreciating my unique gifts and realizing the urgency in expressing them rather than hiding them. I've hidden too much for too long and it is important that I express and share rather than hide my gifts. That is my responsibility and my privilege.
So imagine when you wake. Instead of relying on the alarm clock to frighten the more secret honest world away, begin to wake naturally by connecting to the biological circadian rhythm, especially in the first few moments of the very grey light of the northern hemispheric winter day off. There is this glorious sense of gratefulness upon waking. After a night of sleep, for most of us, we can wake slowly and become aware, albeit fleetingly, in that suspended state of wonder and thrill, hopefully within a cozy safe now physical space.
Dr. Deepak Chopra has been quoted “Either you're a person wondering if you have a soul, or you're a soul who knows that being a person isn't real.” In the honest secret world the soul knows, the universe expands, the intuitive creates and reveals, all while the carbon unit rejuvenates. Most of our glimpses of enlightenment poof into the atmosphere, though, as soon as we enter into this dream of experience, here... View full comment
So imagine when you wake. Instead of relying on the alarm clock to frighten the more secret honest world away, begin to wake naturally by connecting to the biological circadian rhythm, especially in the first few moments of the very grey light of the northern hemispheric winter day off. There is this glorious sense of gratefulness upon waking. After a night of sleep, for most of us, we can wake slowly and become aware, albeit fleetingly, in that suspended state of wonder and thrill, hopefully within a cozy safe now physical space.
Dr. Deepak Chopra has been quoted “Either you're a person wondering if you have a soul, or you're a soul who knows that being a person isn't real.” In the honest secret world the soul knows, the universe expands, the intuitive creates and reveals, all while the carbon unit rejuvenates. Most of our glimpses of enlightenment poof into the atmosphere, though, as soon as we enter into this dream of experience, here.
The moments of waking are the mind, body, spirit connection that can be accessed in an extraordinary Savasana experience (the pose of rest after a yoga practice). Occasionally my students (ages 14-19) will arise from Savasana and ask me if it’s okay to be joyful and feel light. Of course, is my response, and when pressed to use words to describe what they mean, they have none. The brilliant radiance from their true essence, however, reveals all. Ah, bliss. What a wonderful journey for them.
I appreciate the phrase “To be human is to become visible while carrying what is hidden as a gift to others.” While more elderly humans seem to know this, young people peek into this opportunity at times as well, and the wisdom that comes from connecting to what is hidden is not age dependent. Young people hunger for connection with what they experienced when they were little ones, and open. They want to talk about this. They delight in remembering, and crave validation of their intuition. Many times they comment I haven't felt like this since I was five. They require silent quiet moments to connect again which can be hard to find in the world that is increasingly technologically distracting, and in many parts of the world, dangerous. But, they need us to be there for them when they do ‘wake’. Thank you for sharing the writing. I look forward to waking in the morning…one more time.
I forgot to add that Somik Raha recently found a Gandhi quote which stated:: "My notion of democracy is that under it the weakest should have the same opportunity as the strongest. No country in the world today shows any but patronizing regard for the weak. Western democracy, as it functions today, is diluted to fascism. True democracy cannot be worked by 20 men sitting at the center. It has to be worked from below by the people of every village."
I have not had felt it deeply even though I strongly think I am a part of the universe that needs to be expressed..
I have recently written about: skin color: the shame of silence. I am white. My parents were born in Germany and I have strong anti-fascist feelings. The Nazis killed 6 million Jews. I believe my relatives in Germany at the time could do little about it because of the coercive troops of Hitler. I also have not felt it deeply but I have strong thoughts about a threat to justice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, as Martin Luther King has said. I believe the 1% is now enslaving 90% of our US citizens. I also believe our country is moving closer to fascism. I am now writing about that injustice and how schooling and university courses may be transformed to include students noticing their noticing while they are noticing. Our schools and universities have become so enmeshed and specialized in training for jobs that we often graduate with many blind... View full comment
I have not had felt it deeply even though I strongly think I am a part of the universe that needs to be expressed..
I have recently written about: skin color: the shame of silence. I am white. My parents were born in Germany and I have strong anti-fascist feelings. The Nazis killed 6 million Jews. I believe my relatives in Germany at the time could do little about it because of the coercive troops of Hitler. I also have not felt it deeply but I have strong thoughts about a threat to justice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, as Martin Luther King has said. I believe the 1% is now enslaving 90% of our US citizens. I also believe our country is moving closer to fascism. I am now writing about that injustice and how schooling and university courses may be transformed to include students noticing their noticing while they are noticing. Our schools and universities have become so enmeshed and specialized in training for jobs that we often graduate with many blind spots to our growing fascism. racism and sexism. Thank you for the opportunity to respond to this excellent work. Warm and kind regards to everyone..
