The Role of Poetry on the Spiritual Path

Poetry has long had a spiritual aspect. It helps us to be more deeply aware right where we are, contemplate our experiences, and return to what matters most. It has the ability to touch our hearts and speak directly to our souls. Through words, poetry can move us beyond words and thoughts to the indescribable essence of being. In the vast reaches of yoga philosophy and practice, poetry is most often seen as a part of Bhakti Yoga—a devotional path, which uses our love for God as a means to realize our own divinity. However, it can also instigate the sudden awareness signifying Jnana Yoga, the way of wisdom. Poet, storyteller, and teacher Mark Nepo joins Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian for a poetry reading and conversation focusing on how poetry can move us from our heads to our hearts and allow us to access deeper truths about ourselves and life.