Chapter 16: On Pain ~ Gibran’s The Prophet with Journaling Prompts
And a woman spoke, saying, Tell us
of Pain.
And he said:
Your pain is the breaking of the shell
that encloses your understanding.
Even as the stone of the fruit must
break, that its heart may stand in the
sun, so must you know pain.
And could you keep your heart in wonder
at the daily miracles of your life, your
pain would not seem less wondrous than
your joy;
And you would accept the seasons of your
heart, even as you have always accepted
the seasons that pass over your fields.
And you would watch with serenity
through the winters of your grief.
Much of your pain is self-chosen.
It is the bitter potion by which the
physician within you heals your sick
self.
Therefore trust the physician, and drink
his remedy in silence and tranquillity:
For his hand, though heavy and hard, is
guided by the tender hand of the Unseen,
And the cup he brings, though it burn
your lips, has been fashioned of the
clay which the Potter has moistened with
His own sacred tears.
***** *****
~ Chapter 16 “On Pain” from The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran
Spirit Nourished Earth created the image in this post in collaboration with DALL·E 3
Journaling Prompts for Self-Reflection
The Gift of Pain
Gibran describes pain as breaking the shell that encloses understanding. How have your most painful experiences served to deepen your knowledge of life or yourself?
Seasons of the Heart
Just as we accept the changing seasons in nature, Gibran suggests we should accept the seasons of our hearts. How do you respond to the emotional seasons in your life, particularly the painful ones?
The Physician Within
Gibran says pain is a remedy brought by the physician within. In what ways have you experienced personal growth or healing through pain, even when it felt unbearable?
Trusting the Unseen
The physician’s hand, though heavy, is guided by the tender hand of the Unseen. How do you cultivate trust in the unseen forces that shape your life, especially in moments of difficulty?
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