Tag Archives: poetry

Late Bloomers and Broken Trees

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On most mornings I get in three rituals, so when I lay my head down at night I feel I have done well in self care. These three rituals attend to mind, body and soul. First, I meditate and hold a conversation with my Great Friend, then I write a bit,… and before morning gets too late I am on my (power) walk to the broken tree. If the morning doesn’t afford me time for all three, I find a way to do my walk before the sun sets.   The broken tree is my “turn around” point on my walk. … Continue reading →

The Survival of Art and The Tailor from Aleppo by guest blogger Caroline Oldershaw

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Despite the fact that a current candidate for President of the United States asked “what’s Aleppo?” when asked about his Middle East policies – I will assume that most of us know – if nothing else – that Syrian people are leaving their homeland to escape violence, destruction, privation, and death. According to the Migration Policy Centre, “an estimated 11 million Syrians have fled their homes since the outbreak of the civil war in March 2011. Now, in the sixth year of war, 13.5 million are in need of humanitarian assistance within the country. Among those escaping the conflict, the … Continue reading →

Coyote on the prowl by guest blogger, Kerstin Kuentzel

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  Soft conversation seeps through walls. Subtle chirps in front of the open window, sotto voce as if my feathered friends were afraid to scare this new day off with too much noise. Snake-like, a sliver of dim light has escaped the folds of the curtain and creeps along the floor. Time to get up, sleepy head! One more stretch in slow motion, embracing every inch of my reach. I swing both feet out of bed. Bare soles are caressed by carpet loops. I sit there for some seconds. My mind is already creating the daily checklist.   Watch out, … Continue reading →

How Not To Be Discouraged

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. . . it is important that awake people be awake, or a breaking line may discourage them back to sleep; the signals we give–yes or no, or maybe– should be clear; the darkness around us is deep.   –William Stafford, A Ritual To Read To Each Other For many of us these can be discouraging times. Then again, I doubt any of us get through our lives free of discouragement. Like me, you may be discouraged by the outpour of support for Trump. Or you may be in a job or relationship that undermines you. Or you have experienced a great … Continue reading →

A Writer’s Feast

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Dear Writers, Here’s my writerly menu. Join me for some great “meals” for the writer’s soul! Starting on Monday the 15th, I will be at the Write-By-The-Lake for a week. Attendees refer to this retreat as a “week at a writer’s spa.” My class is full but there’s still a chance to learn from some wonderful, fantastic instructors at this event including Kathy Steffen and Laurie Scheer. In June I begin my FREE series: Write Your Story Project. Come and attend three summer seminars on writing, held in the Spring Green area. The first one is Monday evening, June 22nd, from 6 till … Continue reading →

Voice of The World

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Poets voice the world. (Artists vision the world). I would not have made it through my teenage years without such favored poets as Carl Sandburg, Leonard Cohen, or Bob Dylan. I have relied on both known and unknown poets my entire life. My free writing retreat days at my home are in remembrance of William Stafford, poet and activist. In recent years many local poets have graced my life, helped me to hear the soul of the world. Everyone of my books features poets because they help me share my message with you, my readers. Today’s blog is written by one of … Continue reading →

Writing for the Reader

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Daiju visited the master Baso in China. Baso asked: What do you seek? “Enlightenment,” replied Daiju. “You have your own treasure house. Why do you search outside?” Baso asked. Daiju inquired: “Where is my treasure house?” Baso answered: “What you are asking is your treasure house.” Daiju was enlightened! Ever after he urged his friends: “Open your own treasure house and use those treasures.”          –Paul Reps and Nyogen Senzaki, Zen Flesh, Zen Bones   I begin my book, The Zero Point Agreement with the above story. In opening up to “your own treasure house and using those treasures,” … Continue reading →

The Best Poem Ever

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After I am done writing this blog, I am going to go write the best poem ever, turn a few frogs into princesses and finish my novel. You? Open writing day at my home and retreat center this coming Tuesday September 16th, (free and open) join us!  If you want instruction and guidance from me sign up for my retreat in January: World into Word: A full day Writing Retreat. Write that short story, blog, article or book based on your personal life experiences and knowledge. This is for the fiction and non-fiction writer. Write from where you are. Turn your world into … Continue reading →

Listen to Your Life

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Want to experience success? Are you butting up against some resistance in your creative pursuits? Do you want to transform your difficulties? Start by taking a conscious look around you. Do a conscious (compassionate) inventory of your life. How and where are you stuck? Where do you feel the most fulfillment and joy? What brings up the most resistance? Where does the difficulty arise? What do you want (in comparison to what you are getting)? Your life is your mirror. When we live the questions and consciously take a look at our life, solutions appear within the context of our … Continue reading →

Winter Writing

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 Freedom involves making decisions, and each decision is a destiny decision.- Joseph Campbell   What do a snowstorm, winter prairie, prayer flags, frozen seeds and enlightenment have in common?   Well, being a meaning-maker, I decide that. Oh how I love the writer’s life, I can take and make meaning of everything!  As the spiritual practitioner I am also the meaning maker but use sacred texts as a skillful means to make meaning of my encounters and experiences. After all, awakened Beings have gone before me and traversed the difficulties and distractions leaving behind many maps for me to use.   So my … Continue reading →