152 the rice diet renewal
through emotion and feeling. It is quite possible, even likely,
that the right brain, immersed in and responsive to emotion,
responds more effectively to the emotion - charged speech of
poetry than to the dry discourse of logic and rational argument.
If the stumbling blocks to doing what we “ know ” we should lie
in the right brain, then by repeating poetic words again and
again, we have the chance that they will become embedded,
that their message will become habit, that the right brain will
become our ally in the task of doing what we ought.
It is not by mere chance that Plato said, twenty - fi ve hun-
dred years ago, that the cure of disease was “ to be effected by
the use of certain charms, and these charms are fair words
by which temperance is implanted in the soul. ” Words have
the power to move us, to make us move, to keep us on track,
to give life to our deeds, especially if those words are burned
into our brains through the enchanting power of poetry.Dr. Neelon ’ s love of poetry and his ability to recite it, laced
with Rice dieta wisdom and soulful ponderings, really transcend
description. When he weaves Mary Oliver ’ s poem “ The Journey ”
into Ricer testimonials and collective wisdom from a community
that is sharing a common dieta for healing, it is a sacred experience.
We all understand in the moment and in the many moments
when we are held captive by his perfectly timed pauses and in the
other moments when we ’ ll recall this magic memory that we have
received a profound invitation to save the only life we really can,
which is our own!
Day 19: Feed Your Soul and Nurture Your Spirit
through Poetry
You know that when you kindle your positive feelings, you inspire
improvement in your physical health, as well as enhance and
increase your neuronal connections and your power to change, so
why not treat yourself to some new experiences with bibliotherapy?
Whether you check out Mary Oliver ’ s poetry books from the library
(be sure to read her poem “ Rice ” ) or enjoy some of the works of