Rumi's Little Book of the Heart

There are no signposts in the desert, caravans are guided by the stars. In the darkness of despair hope is the only light. But in the garden of your life, my dear, never hope that a weeping willow will give you dates.

Be honest dear heart, broken and abashed, how can you still chase love? Without a drop of water how dare you enter the raging fire of love? Tell me foolish heart, what can I do with you?

heart is like a candle longing to be lit. Torn from The Beloved it yearns to be whole again, but you have to bear the pain. You cannot learn about love. Love appears on the wings of grace.

My heart is so small it's almost invisible. How can You place such big sorrows in it? “Look,” He answered, “your eyes are even smaller, yet they behold the world.”

mistakes

Heat is not brought by fire only. When you suddenly walk through my door, I feel warm. When you promise to come but do not I feel desolate and cold. Frost does not appear in winter only.

inside and discovered I only knew my name. When I stepped outside I found my real Self.

Beyond a hundred steps of wisdom, I will be free from good and bad. Behind the veils I will find such Splendor, such Beauty that I will fall in love with Myself.

Dear heart, where do you find the courage to seek the Beloved when you know He has annihilated so many like you before? I do not care, said my heart, my only wish is to become one with the Beloved.