The Neglected Garden

Once she flourished under their need. The more she gave, the more beautiful her life seemed. Now, what remains is a mother’s choked spirit - her love overgrown.

Sunday 160 is a creation of Monkey Man. If you’d like to participate or check out other 160s visit him here! This has also been a Magpie Tale. Interested in reading more? Click right here!

Instant Chemistry

A casual glance in the right direction captures another. Magnetically connected, as time stills and heartbeats hasten. The remembrance of souls divinely united.

Sunday 160 is a creation of Monkey Man. If you’d like to participate or check out other 160s visit him here!

Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zone5photos/2602797010/

Laid to Rest

"Come back to bed," she whispered

Softly to the wind,

"My heart grows cool without you,

As the light between us dims.”

“Come soon, my love, remember

How I burned for your caress?

Before the flames expire

And our passion’s repossessed.”

“The time grows late,” she pleaded

Though resigned now to the chill,

She sunk beneath the covers

Where he found her cold and still.

This has been a Magpie Tale. Interested in reading others? Click here… http://magpietales.blogspot.com

Keeping the Peace

I’m off from work today… but being the typical multi-tasking mom that I am it’s not much of a holiday. My older son, Noah, is starting high school in the fall and needs a uniform. So in an effort to avoid the line-ups in August or on any given weekend, we went today – and yes, it was a good idea and he really does look sharp in his new blazer, dress shirt and khakis. On top of that, we dropped the dog off at the groomer and were planning to hit Chapters for some summer reading material and maybe, I thought, I’d even get the chance to sit down to a nice lunch with my two sweet boys before swinging back to pick up the pampered pooch on our way home… but this was not to be as the cost of my sanity just seemed like too steep a price to pay.

Instead, as I’m sure anyone with kids has also experienced at least a thousand times, this is how it actually went down: A wee bit of boredom at the uniform shop led to finding amusement in torturing one another which after what seemed like a ridiculous amount of time dangerously threatened to ignite parental fireworks.

So, after rushing out of the shop with our purchases, and then urgently breaking all speed limits in an attempt to get the monsters kids home before completely losing my cool, I saw hovering above us a white dove with outstretched wings and tail feathers. This was very odd: First, because of how it was flying and second, because we don’t often see white doves in our neck of the woods. So this has to mean something, right?

According to spiritual psychotherapist and shamanic practitioner Steven D. Farmer who has written extensively on the subject of connecting with animal spirit guides, when we encounter animals in unusual ways it may be a sign to pay attention to what that animal represents. In this case, doves signify bringing peace, harmony and love into the world. As I was far more focused on the opposite feelings at that exact moment, I’m taking this to have been both a warning of not allowing my anger to get the better of me, and also a pat on the back for generally being a good peacekeeper.

While I know I can’t absolutely control my teens’ behaviour except through threats of extreme punishment such as taking away the Xbox, I do recognize that by consistently modeling a harmonious and loving demeanor, I can have a powerful and positive impact on them... even if they don’t immediately follow suit. So little dove, thank you for your timely message, and I will continue to do my best.

Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/21644167@N04/3116922475/

Meet Us at the Water

Motherhood

14 years ago today, I became a mother… forever transformed, by my new but complete understanding of what it truly means to love another human being selflessly.

Sunday 160 is a creation of Monkey Man.

If you’d like to participate or check-out other 160s

visit him here! 

I Shall Not Hate

We are different

You and I:

Our distinct

And separate worlds,

The way we live…

These tell us so,

Mandate it,

Perhaps.

And so you think,

Naturally,

I am not apart of you,

But the opposite,

So it seems.

Why does this

Make you hate me,

When it only

Makes me curious?

We are different.

This poem was inspired by Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish’s new book: I Shall Not Hate. He is known as ”the Gaza doctor” who tragically lost three of his daughters and a niece on January 16, 2009 when his home was bombed by Israelis.

Rather than seek revenge, he is looking to resolve the Palestinian situation in the Gaza Strip through peaceful means. He is a true hero, from whom we all have something to learn.

Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/book-keeper/2910969639/

55 Flash Fiction Friday: Compose a story in 55 words and report back
to the G-Man at http://g-man-mrknowitall.blogspot.com/ …every Friday.

Love Between Souls

“But let there be spaces in your togetherness and let the winds of the heavens dance between you. Love one another but make not a bond of love: let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.” 
Khalil Gibran

Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/visbeek/2047546809/

Battle Cry

The chance to love and laugh,

To truly learn and grow,

Watch our children’s children

Run and play and know

Human expectations

Surpassed because we dared,

United in the glory

Of this planet we all shared.

Before another moment

Slips away into the night

Hold up the torch of wisdom

And project it into light.

Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/raggioblu/2357815947/

55 Flash Fiction Friday: Compose a story in 55 words and report back
to the G-Man at http://g-man-mrknowitall.blogspot.com/ …every Friday.


And now, just for a little inspirational fun (because being hero should occasionally be fun):

Hope Renewed

Winter winds

So carelessly blown:

A harsh and

Penetrating assault

On a heart

Wide open and true.

Too long

Over-burdened,

By chilly disregard,

A presence left bare,

Vulnerable

To the elements,

Becomes

Tightly cloaked.

Then hope,

In another form,

Alights with Spring.

An alluring warmth

Procuring promises

Of tender days,

And love is

Welcome, again.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevenhouse/3493797678/

55 Flash Fiction Friday: Compose a story in 55 words and report back
to the G-Man at http://g-man-mrknowitall.blogspot.com/ …every Friday.

Forever Valentine

I have loved you

Since the very moment

I first learned

Of your existence.

Upon your arrival,

So eagerly anticipated,

An instant connection

Of body and soul.

Once in my arms,

So strong and steady

Your precious heart

Beat with mine.

My child, my love,

On this and every day,

You are my 

Forever Valentine.

55 Flash Fiction Friday: Compose a story in 55 words and report back

to the G-Man at http://g-man-mrknowitall.blogspot.com/ …every Friday.

Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sesameellis/43824225/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/shutterblog/97802291/

Time for Change

Civilization can only revive when there shall come into being in a number of individuals a new tone of mind, independent of the prevalent one among the crowds, and in opposition to it -- a tone of mind, which will gradually win influence over the collective one, and in the end determine its character. Only an ethical movement can rescue us from barbarism, and the ethical comes into existence only in individuals. ~Albert Schweitzer

Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverclark/2789118594/

Soulmates

When the nights are coldest,

I feel for your presence.

At the loneliest of moments,

I breathe in your essence.

When the days are darkest,

I dream of your face.

Across the expanse of earth,

I reach for your embrace.

For we are connected,

By body and soul.

In coming together,

Our spirits are whole.

Join in the fun: Compose a short story in 55 words and report back

to the G-Man at http://g-man-mrknowitall.blogspot.com/ …every Friday.

Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fwillemburg/1885889524/

Joy to All

"Blessed is the season which engages 
the whole world in a conspiracy of love."

~ Hamilton Wright Mabie (1845-1916), 

American author, essayist and critic.

Love Rules

“Where love rules, there is no will to power, and where power predominates, love is lacking. The one is the shadow of the other.”   - C. G. Jung, "On the Psychology of the Unconsciousness", 1917

Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/loritingey/3669509113/

Dona Nobis Pacem

Is it realistic for us to hold out hope for eventual peace in a world that has been built upon so much senseless tragedy? As a society, have we grown too numb by all the violence around us to believe that this is even possible? I pray that there are enough of us who have not given up on this dream, because the first step in being able to change anything is embracing the belief that peace is possible.

It really isn’t that complicated an issue – or at least it shouldn’t be. When broken down into its simplest component, the choice for a peaceful existence begins with the individual.  If each one of us made it our personal mission to consistently act from a place of love, things such as fear, hate and war could simply not fit into the equation. But of course, this is not how it is on planet Earth… not yet.

So then, where do we go from here? We begin by taking personal responsibility on the home front: with ourselves, our families and friends, our communities and the world. We need to get involved whenever we see injustice. Write to our elected officials. Sign petitions - start petitions! Speak out. Write. Protest. Spread the Light. And BELIEVE!

Whenever we take the time to care, it has a ripple effect… and the LOVE expands exponentially. So where is the love? Right here, right now and radiating through me to you!

LOVE, PEACE and BLESSINGS to you all.

On Love

When you look at anything through the lens of love, it changes.

Find this image at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/qthomasbower/3470650293/