The Invitation

Iwrotetheprosepoem,TheInvitationonenightafterreturninghomefromaparty.Idontusually attendpartiesbutonthisoccasion,beratingmyselfforbeingantisocial,Imadeanefforttogoandbe friendly.Ireturnedhomefeelingfrustrated,dissatisfiedwiththesuperficiallevelofthesocialinteraction attheparty.Ilongedforsomethingelse. YearsbeforeIhadattendedawritingworkshopwherepoetDavidWhytehadgivenusawriting exercise,basedonapoemofhisown,wherewebeganalternatelineswiththephrases,Itdoesnt interestme...andWhatIreallywanttoknowis...UsingthisformIsatdownandwroteThe InvitationasanexpressionofallthethingsIreallydidwanttoknowaboutandsharewithothers. SeveraldayslaterIincludedthepoeminanewsletterIwassendingtomenandwomenwhohadcome todoretreatsandworkshopswithme.Andfromthere,thepoemtookonalifeofitsown.People copiedandshareditwithfriendsandcolleaguesaroundtheworld,postingitontheinternet,workplace bulletinboardsandkitchenrefrigerators.Theyreaditatweddingsandfunerals,atconferencesand gatheringsinchurchesandboardroomsanduniversities.Ibegantohearfromfolksfromalloverthe worldfromRomania,Iceland,SouthAfrica,NewZealand,RussiaandfromallovertheUnitedStatesand Canada.Icouldntbelievehowmanypeoplefelttouchedbythelongingfordeeperintimacyexpressed inthepoem. Asthepoemchangedhandsafewindividualstookituponthemselvestoaddorchangesomewords. Faithlesswaschangedbysometofaithful,beautytoGodandasIlaterfoundoutamanin Chicago,surethatIwasanagedordeceasedNativeAmericanman,putIndianelderaftermyname. WherepossibleImaderequestsforfolkstosharethepoemasitwaswrittenandtriedtocorrectthe misrepresentationofmyselfasanIndianelder.AlthoughtherearestoriesofNativeAmerican ancestorsinmyfamilyhistory(alongwithstoriesofGermanandScottishdescent)Iamneitherold enoughnorwiseenoughtoclaimtobeanelderofanypeople. In1998,afterbeingapproachedbyJoeDurepos,aliteraryagentseekingpermissiontousethepoemin abookbyJeanHouston,Ibegantowritethebook,TheInvitation,usingeachstanzaasastructuretogo moredeeplyintoeachofthedesiresexpressedinthepoemandofferingmeditationsIhadusedto exploremyownlonging.AsIwriteinthebeginningofthebookTheInvitationis...adeclarationof intent,amapintothelongingofthesoul,thedesiretolivepassionately,facetofacewithourselvesand skintoskinwiththeworld.Itisthestoryofaveryhumanwomanwholongstolivefullyawake.Itis thestoryofthehumanheartscapacityandlongingtoliveintimatelywithallofitthejoyandthe sorrow,thehopeandthefear. TheInvitationwaspublishedbyHarperONE,SanFranciscointhespringof1999.Itbecameabestseller andhasbeentranslatedintooverfifteenlanguagesaroundtheworld.