This is a post about how dogs help us through hard times. It is about understanding that true love comes from a place of freedom, not attachment. And that life remains, simple easy and good, especially when you let go.
I am reposting a blog post from a long time friend on WordPress. Abby is a wonderful writer, and she shares this really poignant piece about her connection with a special dog, named Pirate, who passes away. It includes live footage from when he was alive. There’s so much more in the post, which she weaves together beautifully, sharing about her collection of recent years; and her courage in getting through it is evident. In her own words, “true love comes from a place of freedom, not attachment.”
One of the musical pieces Abby includes in her article is music from Aurora. I’ve been a long time fan of Aurora, but I had not heard this song or the version of it before, that she included. Read the article because its good, and also to find the beautiful song that Aurora sings feat Pomme, that I am writing about. Aurora is a true artist. You can feel it from her singing, her movements, and the way she carries herself. I’ve attached an interview with her below, where she talks about the true meaning of success. She’s sweet and I think a lot of us can relate to her; when asked if she listens to her own music, she says “No, I don’t like to hear my own voice.” She also says that music is her best friend. When asked what she would say to her 12 year old self that wrote the song, “Runaway,” she said “[I]f you share your music with other people, one day that music might even become other peoples’ best friends, too.” Lately I’ve been sharing my favorite music with my best friends offline; so I included this part in this post today to share with you. Aurora is sweet, and I hope you can appreciate her music. The interviewer came to the conclusion about Aurora: “I think you are one of those people who can appreciate the small stuff.”
Aurora says that she feels the most successful when she’s spent her time right. Listen for the rest, to feel her energy.
Hello Friends! I don’t know what happened to the original post, but I was so so so happy to be interviewed by those snarky little dudes at Shehanne Moore’s Smexy historical romance domain. Honestly, I can’t think of a better honor. I didn’t really have any time to promote my 2017 debut poetry book, Art for Art, at the time when I wrote it. In fact, I don’t think I ever really did get around to promoting it. Promotion is something that a person has to learn to do. It’s an art in and of itself. You know who is an incredible authoress and human, though?! Shehanne Moore
Her dudes have been making me laugh since about 2016-2017 when I started reading her blog. She hosts very interesting authors and artists. She hosts a perfect variety of intriguing and talented authors, and she always supports her clan. Sheyis top-notch for supporting her clan. Reading about her adventures in Dundee has been really fun over the years. There’s always a lot to learn from her because she’s very knowledgeable. She and her husband, Mr. Shey ;), have put on some spectacular plays which she has also shared and written about on her blog throughout the years. She even helped me try out a new genre called historical romance (which she writes well, I might add). For one, I never really read romance, nor history.. but The Unraveling of Lady Fury had me pleasantly surprised. Her heroines aren’t typical–that’s why they are definitely worth the read. Did you hear that Lady Fury went Manga!? My, my my that was all the way back in 2019!!! How cool is that?! Who writes a historical romance and has it go Manga? Shey. The post includes holiday pictures (and it’s almost that time of year again!).
Anyways, thank you for visiting my reBLOGathon celebration month’sdaily post. Half-way there! At the end, I will link them all up in one post so that you don’t miss anything–then I will be running around December visiting everyone’s blog like a quick & focused ghost, phantoming my comments upon your page. I will be the ghost of Christmas past, present and future… LOL–and I’ll write in real letters and not just “haunt” you nicely… but comment nicely 😉 Because I love reading your blogs! ❤ I love blogging, and I am celebrating so much, so much, my friends ❤ Until we meet again, tomorrow, I bid thee, good day ::tips hat::
Each year (for a while, maybe since 2019?) I have teamed up with the Cheer Peppers to blog every day of the month in November. Click the link below for their posts. I chose the theme of ReBLOGathon, but they might be posting their own themes or randoms 🙂 Enjoy
I have zero advice to offer you on this. Still reading? Maybe you can comment in the comment section on what qualities you think good writing has? I’m talking about, asking about, what speaks to your soul, your mind, and your heart?
Do you only read on a certain topic of set of topics?
Do you like to be inspired, motivated?
What motivates you?
Must the author have qualifications and expertise?
Do you only read from writers who already have a big following?
Do you wish to work on your own self-expression?
Is it important to you that the author be relatable?
Do you want to be able to interact with the author?
Poetry: do you respond more to subject matter or voice? Do you expect to be the same or changed by the poem, in some way? What if the poem makes you think? Do you like that or does the challenge feel too uncomfortable for you?
What are your own writing goals? Do you have quarterly writing goals?
Where do you see yourself going with your audience? How important is your audience to you?
We are managing through the heat wave but the internet is down. My cellular service is providing this little bit of connection. I have really, truly missed WordPress in the last several months while I was less present and more in my “local” life and goings ons… The community we’ve created is so beautiful. I love how we are all living our own lives, working on our own art, writing, hobbies, freedom and voice. Thank you for being here! 😃
There are so many of you who I miss, who have not been writing. You are never forgotten.
I have been an admirer of this blog for a while now. Louise has a very no nonsense clarity with the depth of imagination and reflection that really penetrates into the human and feminine condition. I’m at a loss for words to describe how her prolific blog posts are sources of inspiration.
Blogging is one of the best activities I ever decided to do. Meeting other talented writers, artists and authors has been enriching and enlightening.
We are so very connected, all of us.
Thank you to so many of you who have been readers and participants in my life journey through my blog. I’ve been taking a time out right now because it feels right. Too much going on behind the scenes to really put any new writing or musings forward.
My wishes are for you all to be well and thriving. Life is so dynamic and quick. One moment things are one way and the next we have a whole new set of circumstances. I’m learning to find faith in the chaos. I’m learning to dial into my present moment with the some true grace and acceptance, even if for a moment…
I rest in gratitude for all we have here, and all we will walk through. Keep your heads up! You are amazing and marvelous and I am so grateful for you all!
Here’s my 5-minute meditation that I’ve provided on my blog, where you can listen and also find it under the meditation drop down box -> mindfulness meditation tracks -> 5 minute guided meditation. I’d like to give this to you, as my gift to you: where you can listen and get in touch with all your senses as I guide you.
All of them, as they are the ones that connect me beyond the earth plane! (best explained by Sue Dreamwalker, here.)
How do they help you live a meaningful life?
My senses help me relate and integrate. My senses help me to connect with others, with nature, and help me to be a part of something bigger than myself. My earthy senses: sounds, sights, feels, tastes, and smells, help me to ‘ground’ and to meditate. 5-minute meditation.
Today’s post is dedicated to the two challenges I’ve participated in for November, it’s also dedicated to me, for completing the NanoPoblano challenge when I didn’t think I would/could. At all. I still wanted to give it a try. I wanted to use this challenge to get through an ‘already’ challenging time. NanoPoblano, is a month-long posting challenge to post daily with no restrictions originated by Ra Avis. She is an incredibly inspiring blogger and human, and she came up with the idea for NanoPoblano. She’s also been a great friend and support to me in completing my book, She would always appear at precisely the right moments.
Here’s Ra’s words about the NanoPoblano challenge. It’s about Poblanos/Cheerspeppers and the team:
The thing about the Poblanos is that it adds a family dimension to the entire project. You will be constantly looking at a list of people who are going through the same struggle as you. Some will be better writers. Some will be funnier. Some will have bigger audiences.
It won’t matter, though, because we’ll all be feeling the burn.
After walking through the fire together, it’s hard not to love each other. We’re a team. My Poblanos are my first point of contact for any activity I undertake– because I know they are committed to what they want, and to what they do. No matter what they want, or why they do.
These are people I am proud to blog alongside.
I am proud to blog alongside her and others; most of all my readers!!!!!
This month, on the 23rd, my blogger galpal Linda from Litebeing.com invited me to participate in her month-long Sense-sational Blogging Challenge, and she suggested that I could use one of my NanoPoblano posts for her Sense-sational Challenge. So, at this point I was thinking, maybe I could pull this off, and use Linda’s challenge to be sure I get to the end. Thank you, Linda! Check out her blog for astrological musings, synchronicity, numerology, and more!
Of course, I have to also mention another dear blogging friend & wizard, Dewin, who participated in this challenge on the 29th, since I can’t link to anyone afterward – as I am taking up the caboose – here’s a link to Dewin’s written submission. You can also follow his amazingly well-written, witty, passionate, and truly epic poetry by following the links on his blog. If you haven’t already. 🙂
About my book: Art for Art, in my opinion it’s the best first and potentially only book I could/would have written. Included in it is a wonderfully well-written foreword by my dear friend and writer, Michael, from Embracing Forever. He’s really been a huge support to my writing, as another writer, and a marvelous writer at that! He’s blown me away with his talent, and I am anticipating his continued success!!
Finally, here’s a link to my posts for NanoPoblano, where you will see a lot of photography and writings, poetry, and musings mixed together with the astrology that underlies it all. I’ve put the posts all here in one nice, tidy, accessible place – including my “lead in” posts where I prepared for November’s challenge.
My readers are soooo awesome and I cannot wait to catch up with you, especially these last few days, **WHEW**! This daily posting for the month was a challenge for me, but I’m glad I did it. I’m not sure if I will do it again.
Thank you all for your loving, supportive comments. You really made a difference!!!
So what’s next?
I’m not sure, but I definitely have a lot of “off the blog” work to focus on and so I’m going to completely enjoy my December (and that means working on what I have to do and read your blogs when I can) and prepare for 2018. This November’s end is sort of a wrap up for me for the whole year, 2017. I’m proud of myself for doing this posting challenge for me. I like the delicious choices that I get to make in my many moments! My dedication to my regular meditation practice has also benefitted from this month’s crazy activity!
What will you do in December? Did you have a good time in November? What was 2017 like?
Cover Art by Debbie Graul, Cover Design by Ka Malana
When you notice that I am posting even more frequently in November (hopefully). You’ll see that you, too, can join in. I will be participating in Nano Poblano, “the World’s Least Official Blog-Everyday-November Challenge.” Nothing gets me motivated like something that isn’t officially official-official, and really has the spirit of community, teamdom, and freedom. We all want to have fun. Here’s the official link. Especially if you are already a regular every day blogger, and want to reach more people, and participate more as well – go sign up!
Nothing says “potential over-commitment” like Jupiter conjunct Sun in Scorpio – so I thought it’d be a great time (or worst time) to take a deep dive. You get it, folks, I decided to go for the swim! Isn’t it exciting!? That said, considering my away-from-the-blog work/life/family balance, it should be an equally busy season off-blog. My throat already feels scratchy and my lymph nodes feel swollen, so why don’t we do it?! I’m gonna enjoy this, or at least enjoy trying! Oh, and the self-care… that’ll happen. 🙂
Blogging, for me, brings together my favorite things art, celebration, exploration, empowerment, and meditation, and growing together. I need the calm to balance the excitement. I need the bland to balance the spicy. I need the deep-discussions to balance the light-hearted whimsy. I need my own commitment to my writing/art/astro/photography space getting out there, and I need it to be okay when I don’t make it out the gate, or I just hide under the blankets.
This is my home beyond me. This is where I live, and I intend to keep decorating, or louse it up, whatever is my choice. If you stick around for my posts, I thank you all in advance for supporting me and my self-expression, as it ebbs and flows, changes and grows.
Cover Art by Debbie Graul, Cover Design by Ka Malana
Praise for Art for Art
Hello dear friends & welcome new followers!
I am delighted to share with you that my 1st book of poetry is published and available. It’s available immediately at the CreateSpace eStore. It’ll be able at Amazon.com in 3-5 business days (now available!), and to a wider audience in 6-8 weeks! The thing is, to me, this was everything: I finished!
May you all have a Happy New Year – Chinese Lunar New Year is coming up – let the festivities continue while we work! I hope. I can breathe now… well, sort of… I’ll sign and autograph as you request. I had one or two of those already. It may take some time as I am just adjusting to my new schedule, but we’ll work stuff out on a case by case basis. Please use my contact form, and just allow me 24-48 hours to get some thoughts together, and of course, to be in front of a computer again.
Ps. I have taken note that every time I write, there are crickets! Right now! Bright daylight, and I hear crickets near the screen door. So grateful!! Remembering this.
Ka Malana holding up April Elliot Kent’s book: Astrological Transits.
Some people are just so easy to converse with!
That’s how I feel about April Elliott Kent.
When she and I met, I didn’t realize that I’d be taking my astrology anywhere. As a solo practitioner of astrology, I didn’t really have any astrology friends. I was mostly closeted about it for a while. I was discovering it all on my own, with the help of books, while maintaining and editing my own constant reflections upon the transits. To me, it was my private scientific investigation.
Eventually, I had this blog, and I was meeting with the occasional client. I was still feeling out what exactly I wanted to do with my clients in the astro realm. I kept looking for the “WE,” the co-creating. How could I really be of service in a way that also worked within the flexible framework of my highest values and within my integrity? These were the types of questions that I began asking myself while healing from a major back injury, when I met April two years ago, in my new city.
I didn’t realize that April was such a popular and well-established astrologer!
She was just such a great friend to me from ‘go,’ and I noticed that we linked up nicely when comparing our charts, but I really only looked ‘after the fact’ for any astrological connection. Then, after a while, I started to read her blog posts on the New and Full moon (just like I had been writing about on my blog!) and I kept getting more and more of this sense about her as a WISE woman, with a delightful conveyance of the astrological archetypes. Truly her writings are highly accessible, and contribute to anyone’s monthly astrological undertakings.
To say that I have developed a deep respect for this woman as a person far surpasses even my own understanding for what she knows about astrology! That being said, I want to move onto a review of her book. Yes, I will basically be doing that from the perspective of being a friend and a fan.
A Beginner’s Book is a beginner’s book; it is something that you can understand if you don’t have a lot of background knowledge. The full title of her book is Astrological Transits: The Beginner’s Guide to Using Planetary Cycles to Plan and Predict Your Day, Week, Year (or Destiny). Side note, I can admire a woman who uses parentheticals. It’s one of my favorite features for writing in TODAY’s complex world. I applaud her use of parentheses in the title of this book.
If you notice the way I photographed the book, it appears as though it is as big as my heart–no, even bigger. It takes up the entire space of my chest. Why did I photograph it that way? Although this book is a “beginner’s book,” I see the value in all things “beginner,” and recognize that this book is for me. ☺
I commend this text for its concise organization, while containing a lot of solid “How To” information. April writes to TODAY’s astrologer: Astrological Transits makes what is classic, accessible. I am also referring to her writings, here, where her style really shines.
For the non-astrologer: Other books like it (Beginner’s Guides: sure there are some exceptions but…) rarely do they include a tiny little box of helpful tips specifically like, “how long this transit lasts,” and the approximate age that you may experience a particular transit. You do not have to be an astrologer to learn from this book!!! Whether you are an astrologer or not, consulting with another astrologer can be very helpful, as it helps to guide your understanding of what you are learning, experiencing, and evaluating.
Here’s an excerpt: I like April’s advice here about the Sun transiting the 10th house of a natal chart; it’s good advice for anyone, at any time!
The trick to enjoying the Sun in the tenth house is to imagine not that you’re in an inferior position that must be escaped at all costs, but rather that you’re in the perfect position to get where you’re going. Part of that journey begins with a plan—for your career or even for your whole life. If you already have a plan, revisit and revise it. If you don’t know where you are going, you won’t recognize it when you arrive. Also, since you probably work plenty hard already, work smarter—and learn to delegate. Even if you can do anything, you don’t have to do everything. Partner with others who like to do things you don’t care for, and vice versa. You’ll go much further with help from others than you can alone.”
Please visit her here @ BigSkyAstrology.com, where she’s been publishing for 15 years! Astrological Transits: The Beginner’s Guide to Using Planetary Cycles to Plan and Predict your Day, Week, Year (OR DESTINY) is her newest book!
In Astrological Transits, astrologer April Elliott Kent teaches you:
How Today’s astrological weather affects your birth chart and what is going on in your life
Ways to make the most of good transits and harness and transform the energy of challenging ones
The roles recurring planetary cycles play in your life and how to anticipate important transits
Do you see that thin line on the book in the picture above, just to the right of the book’s spine, that’s a “reader’s crease” ? That’s a love mark.
A few words about where I met the author:
When I met Gina Medvedz at our Sangha in Bethlehem, PA, it was several years ago. This is the group where I also met my husband. It’s a place where I regularly meditated with our Sangha on Monday nights. There’s a part of my spirit that is still joining every Monday night and sharing in “Evening Aspirations,” as the group continues on. Meanwhile, it was there that I took my meditation practice to a deeper level. I cultivated a place of refuge within me; indeed, it was my first ‘true’ community in every way that I needed it to be. Sitting in silence, alone beside one another, is how I’ve felt the most connected spiritually. As my husband and I have since moved our residence 3 times, each group I’ve discovered along the way has been different, and so much to be appreciated about each. In Santa Cruz, CA is where I met a group that I also miss very much, but our live connections (via online or in person have not continued due to loss of contact information and “life happens,”) and so far my Bethlehem Sangha has lived in my heart and since widened to include a much larger online community. My new meditations have expanded in ways that I would have never expected.
About the Author: Gina Medvedz
“Rev. Gina Medvedz is a certified Akashic records reader, spiritual healer, and certified nutritional consultant with a MS degree in holistic nutrition. Ordained in the Order of Melchizedek, she uses divine guidance to clear the fear and self-doubt that prevent her clients from living an inspired life. Her passion lies in reconnecting people with their spirit guides and teaching them to bring all areas of their lives into alignment with their soul values and purpose. In this, her first novel, Gina continues spreading her message of healing through self-love. She currently resides in Lehigh Valley of Pennsylania with her husband and two children.”
About: Sarah Starts Living
“For eighteen years, Sarah has been a devoted wife and doting mother. When her only child leaves for college, Sarah wonders how she will spend her days. But when her husband announces that he is leaving too, Sarah is forced to reexamine everything that she holds to be true. On a dare from her best friend, Sarah agrees to listen to God and do what He suggests. Following signs that she interprets as divine, she winds up in a convent in Connecticut, on a mission in West Virgina, and in a metaphysical bookstore in Pennsylvania. Learning lessons along the way that shift her belief in the nature of God and her mindset about herself, for the first time in her forty-five years, Sarah Starts Living!”
What really struck me, what made the text so easy to read, was the way the dialogue between the characters directed the plot. The characters’ voices were audible in my own mind while reading. They basically started to live with me for the couple of days during my reading of the book. The main character, Sarah, had a lot of inner dialogue and guidance, and she was keen to follow her cues to integrate and make decisions about her guidance, regardless of any contradictory feedback from her family and friends. The book includes a series of questions at the end for further discussion and is helpful as a springboard to the readers’ intuitive development through inner responses and group discussion.
To read more about “Sarah Starts Living,” visit her at her website here.
This is in response to beautiful Ka, at Fiesta Estrellas. She is in the process of creating a very special tree painting, and has requested answers to these 3 questions:
If you were a tree, what would you feel like?
What kind would you be?
If you could choose to make artwork to honor a tree, what format/media/style would it be
I will speak as a ponderosa pine, as theirs is the habitat in which I live. I thought about willow or oak, as they are here too, and quite meaningful, but ponderosa has spoken to me the most this week, as I have pondered these questions. My style is photography with words.
For almost 300 years I have been standing amongst my friends. Ah, so many friends have I, who have come and gone over the course of my life. I have loved them all.
IAM an old and wise Willow tree
I love to live by the riverside
my roots deeply emerged in cool waters
My branches are flexible and hang low
creating shade for my Human friends
to sit and eat their delicious picnics
hide away and laze during school recess
and cover them from the rain…
IAM a vibrant and unique Art form
I observe with joy the ones who pass by
imagining for a moment
IAM a smiley boy expressing
a bright and jolly nature
with rainbow colours hanging all around me
receiving light and warmth from the sun
feeling free, limitless and able to give
the beautiful fruits of reflection…
Barbara Franken… Inspiring New Energy Consciousness
We are truly all unique Art forms but do we ever look at ourselves with eyes of passion and see our true strength, playfulness, wisdom, sensuality and authentic power… When I look at an old tree…
This year I was blessed to be reunited with another poet of the heart & viscera. She is Kai Coggin. From the beginning, when I read her words, it was confirmed for me that Spirit had put me on the path of meeting and connecting with soul family; and she is One. She’s one of those co-hearts that transcends space and time. Our connection was quick in understanding; and roots run deep. She’s given me permission to share with you now one of my first favorite poems from her new book. It’s called, ‘End in Light’ p.99 Thank you, Kai, for sharing the gift of your voice and with all your heart!
⌘ End in Light
A Ghazal
Every footstep on the ancient wise path is worth the fight.
There is no other true purpose in life than to end in light.
Deviation is normal – not every journey starts out right,
but there is an internal compass steering to end in light.
Truth blindness and deaf ears defeat your heart’s flying,
everything is open – the source begins and ends in light.
Your first heartbeat is a star being born in the blackness.
Each beat and breath brings you closer to ending in light.
I have lived through the chaos of becoming illumined,
shedding false skins and shells, screaming to end in light.
This can be a dancing of spirit if your heart can break through,
be the ever virgin song that aches to fulfill the ending in light.
Life is a burning ground, a filling of a chalice that you hold inside.
My dear, fledgling soul – death is not the only way to end in light.
Let go of what you have been forced to believe is your self,
become everything that you know you are, that bends in light
and is not broken, but transforms into prisms and eleven rainbows,
and knows “I AM” becomes everything you are that ends in light.
Kai sent me this beautiful peace crane pictured above. She’s an amazing person, author, and educator. She has touched my heart. The edges of the book’s pages are already dog-eared with love.
I’m not alone in celebrating her…
“I first met Kai Coggin as a blazing fire of energy, a supernova educator in the Houston high schools. Now she is on her light path, teaching through her own poetry. Her words are spells, chants, prayers, invocations. Thank you, Kai, for work of the spirit, for illuminations like desert thunder and a night sky of benedictions.
– Sandra Cisneros, Internationally Acclaimed Author of The House on Mango Street”
Please visit her at http://www.kaicoggin.com/ and explore her wonderful site where you can read more reviews like the one above, and purchase her book.
Photography by Ka Malana ©2017
Photography by Ka Malana ©2017
Photography by Ka Malana ©2017
Fiesta Estrellas 
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