From my dear blogging friend, Mary. If you want to do something to help, look no further. Pen, paper and genuine expression could make someone’s day! Thanks Mary for the links!
A month or so ago, I was lamenting to good friend and roommate Natasha about how I missed volunteering due to the pandemic. I missed the people contact and serving the local community. Soon after, Natasha sent me a link that would allow me to be a pen pal to an elderly woman in an assisted living or nursing facility.
I let that go at the time for reasons that required justification and laziness.
This past week, I thought about the writing project again, as the colder weather is setting in, so went in search of possible recipients and found the website Write-On. It is a place that anyone can go to and find links to letter-writing communities and organizations, such as:
Love for the Elderly – A group dedicated to providing love and appreciation to elderly people who may not have family to care for them. You are…
As we approach a turning point in our history, it is imperative to look ahead, to seize the opportunity for change, to turn the dark tide of disease, discontent and discord towards healing, connection and understanding. Humans will always find ways to be at odds; but when the very act of dissension becomes the driving force within our society we have surely doomed ourselves to destruction. Whether peace is possible within Existence remains a question, but the voice of reason and possibility towards that end must not be silenced. There is no way to a balance of darkness and light unless we put down our weapons and accept that Unity is the only way; and this can only be accomplished through communication, coalition, cohabitation, cohesion and cooperation. There is a ray of hope that seemed impossible just a few weeks ago. Let’s keep on looking for the Light…..
From a deep meditation in 2001, filed among the annals of my dream experiences and discovered in my current ‘purge’. It has been enlightening in a fresh way to revisit my dreams during those years of growth. I found this poem to be even more relevant today, almost prophetic in some way. It brought back the feelings I had when it came to me.
Transformation Revelation
(Thoughts from the edge of consciousness)
I saw the Earth spread vast before me
with all its pain and suffering.
I heard the cries and felt the sorrow,
the heaviness that life can bring.
Disease and death, despair and danger
thus covering the bloom of Life.
Deceit and hate, mistrust and anger-
the soul of man, beneath the knife.
I spread my arms and swept the land
and called to those of one achord.
We raised our voices to the skies
and called upon the ancient word.
“We lift our prayers to Spirit now,
release all souls in agony,
return our brothers to their lands,
shine bright the Light so we may see.”
Then did the heavens open up,
I saw the Morning Star within.
With outstretched arms he whispered sweet
for all in pain to enter in.
I witnessed famine and decay
depart from Earth as in a storm.
All forms of spirit, wounded fled-
within the Light my heart was warm.
The spire of darkness made its way
on through the gates to pierce the sun.
our song was joined by every soul-
a transformation had begun.
When the ashes dark blew out of sight
there rose a roaring o’er my head,
as the flutter of a thousand wings.
Within the thunder Spirit said,
“Petals from ashes, Life from Death.”
I felt release within Its breath.
Sweet fragrance wafted on every side-
‘twas all and nothing I could describe.
Showers of petals fell to the Earth
as signs of life began to show.
Blades of grass heralded rebirth,
from the mountain hearts, springs did flow.
We raised a new song through our humble tears,
and prayed for wisdom to guide our choice.
We would learn right ways to protect the Earth
as one last time we herd Spirit’s voice.
“It is not in the planning that Salvation comes,
not in the preservation of one’s soul.
It comes through remembering from whence you came-
I hope you are all managing during these most difficult times. We must remember we are never alone but we are solely responsible for what happens to this world that was the greatest gift humanity could have received. Please check out my new post over on Blogger and follow me there. I found some angels this week. Peace and Light to you all. Cheryl
Visit me on Blogger to see how a world in the throes of great sorrow is fighting back. Just a preview. I hope you’ll visit and share your thoughts. Many of you are familiar with the story and for you I hope you enjoy the teaser. We must not give up hope until the last Light Warrior has fought the good fight and Eternity calls the game.
I posted this on my other blog Dreaming Existence and wanted to share with you all here as well. We need to be introspective at this time in our Human history. We need to examine our own intent, accept the pain we try so hard to cast off and know that only together, through loving intent, our better future can be created.
Broken Butterflies
Every now and then I am inspired to share this song, written and sung by a talented lady from my home state. I have loved the melody, slow and melancholic, the words that wind and twist in ways only the individual listening can comprehend for themselves. It is a work of art and has meant something just a little bit different to me at various times in my life’s unfolding.
I was sifting through my endless photos this evening, determined to finally put together that pictorial book of poems that has been infecting my brain for some years now, encouraged by the kind words of my friends and followers. I filed through images of thoughtful monkeys, bright and brilliant birds, as well as so many bees, dipping their faces into stores of golden pollen. Then came the butterflies. As I chose a few treasured images, I came across this one in a series I took while at a lovely garden in Roswell, Georgia. I know a lot of people who would have just passed this one by, deleted the images, or cast it aside as defective. I am not one of those people. I often photograph the worn down, the damaged and dying within Nature’s fine tapestry of living things. I see the beauty in every stage of existence, so when I saw this image it struck me as poignantly appropriate for me-for so many-at this time.
I have felt pretty broken lately, the weight of the unknown pulling me to the ground when I long to soar with the freedom of the familiar taking me to the heights of joy. It has been heartbreaking to see the fabric of our lives slowly coming unraveled in spite of our best efforts to hold it together. It’s not about resistance to change. It’s not about adaptability or rigidity. It’s about feeling helpless in spite of putting forth my bravest face, rallying myself to count my blessings, focus on the positive and not get caught up in fear.
The simple truth is that we are faced with the total unknown at this most profound moment in modern history and the way our society is handling this challenge is the most troubling thing for me. So much anger, impatience, intolerance, insensitivity, arrogance, greed and denial has taken its toll on those who are
seeking a positive solution, taking comfort in what can still be counted on. For me, that is Nature. This is a most most frightening world where now, more than ever, people are afraid of other people. We don’t know who may be carrying a virus, who may hate us, or who is as fearful as we might be ourselves. If we are being responsible, we wear our masks in public or work places, but that leaves us almost faceless to others, unable to show expression and share smiles. The worst part for me is not being able to just give or receive a hug. I’m a hugger and value human touch. I can’t travel to other states to visit my family and old friends, fearing exposure due to those people who refuse to even try being safe.
I feel broken, often frozen emotionally by the need to not cry anymore, to not be ashamed of how my country is presenting itself to the rest of the world, and by the need to just breathe. Then I go outside, thankful that at least for now Nature is not the enemy. The air is no more toxic than usual, the water is no more contaminated, the animals are thriving and the sky hasn’t fallen. Like my tiny friend above, I feel the need for sweet rest on a soft blanket of love, waiting for healing.
More than anything else, the song speaks to the way we communicate, the words that spill from our mouths, often in careless ways, whether intentional or not. It speaks of the lies that break our spirits, our hearts and our faith in a better world.
In conclusion, I say we toss our fears into the bottomless pit of misery and stand together, heart to heart, as we help one another to heal. Our light must shine on even through the darkest of days. Our wings may be broken, but together we can reach the heights and color the skies with hope. The old tapestry may be unraveling but lets create a new work of art as we pick up the frayed ends and begin again…finally united
This post brought to you by .Linda Hill’s SoCS prompt Do visit her blog to read more great posts and meet some amazing writers.
I have a new post over at Dreaming Existence. I hope you can jump over and take a look. There are some lovely little creatures I want to introduce you to. 😉💕
