This is the second year I've started the year in retreat. It's been a hectic, intense year for me, and a huge struggle to stay on my path, or to even figure out what my path was among the enormous array of opportunities that arrived in my doorstep during 2007.

So having essentially not stopped all year, it took me until the fourth day of my retreat to finally find my centre, and reconnect with my deep knowing of my path.

My first poem of the year put me back on the path. I have called it Dawn Silence in honour of the year ahead.

know the truth
and do not be guided by fantasy or delusion
work with what is
not what might be, or might have been
stay in the now
all else is wasted effort

be in the moment
stay in tune with tao
awake
open
aware
move with tao in all things
feel it flow through you
all you have to do is
listen
feel
know