These are alternative renderings of the Psalms. I have chosen to employ Chaucer's spelling for Godde because it creates a bridge between 'God' and 'Goddess' and reminds us that the One who created and sustains us is beyond human understanding and human limitation.

This is not a true work of translation as I can neither speak nor read Hebrew; I am working from various translations, and at times search out the etymology of a particular word, in order to engage in a poetic conversation with the ancient poet. 

My desire is to 'remediate' the "us vs them" language of these works. I have taken to heart the words of Pogo's  creator, Walt Kelly: "we have met the enemy and it is us."  I am also mindful of Carl Jung's observation: "Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves." What happens, then, when I stop directing my anger toward an exterior enemy and contemplate my own failures in love, my own faithlessness? 

In recognizing how we are like our enemies we will, by Godde's grace, find compassion for them. And there will be times when one, able to have compassion for another, will finally discover compassion for one's self.

Until we love our enemies and love our selves, as Godde has loved us, we will be fragmented and uneasy – our wounds will continue to make us vulnerable and emotionally volatile and in our fear we will be less joyous and whole than Godde intends us to be. 

In the Psalms, whether the tone is angry or sorrowful or frightened (to name only a few among a vast array of emotions) there is that moment when the poet acknowledges the faithfulness of Godde. The knowledge of being loved makes it possible to speak honestly; makes it possible to release/surrender negative emotion.

Divine faithfulness and love make it possible for us to contemplate our woundedness; possible to contemplate and acknowledge our need to be transformed by this love.

The title of this blog comes from a phrase addressed to the Holy One in Psalm 5.