The Guest House

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.

​by Rumi

​Taken from SELECTED POEMS by Rumi, Translated by Coleman Barks (Penguin Classics, 2004).

Rumi

This poem is such a relief to me. It reminds me that our emotional landscape is in constant flux - with no right or wrong feelings, just guests appearing at our door to greet, to welcome in, to learn from.

It made me think about the threshold of the door to that guest house: there is choice and agency in opening it and inviting the visitors to come in.

It also made me think about what goes on inside a personal ‘boundary’. Our own emotions and personality have a chance to explore and develop - but when we let others in too, we mingle with all the visitors other people have invited in to their guest house too!