Hello, blog friends!

It's the last day of the year, and I suspect most of us stand uneasy on the shifting terrain. We're unsure what 2025 will bring. Whispers of hope abound, but thunderclouds mount. With this situation as a backdrop, I smiled when I read ​Colleen Chesebro's poetry prompt for today. 

Colleen has asked participants to focus on the Native American Zodiac and our particular sign. It turns out that I'm a Bear. Who knew? A couple of the characteristics, per www.spiritanimal.com, include the following:

The Bear birth totem is tied to the element of Earth and with an inner strength that's balanced with truthfulness, acceptance and sincerity. Your personal space is very important to you. Your cave is secure and welcoming. It is a place where you can safely explore all aspects of your inner world. You go to that sacred place for quiet revitalization. 

My simple tanka (syllables of 5-7-5-7-7) is about my bear. 😊

Have a wonderful week, dear friends. To you and all, my wishes for a happy New Year! ❤️

Hello, blog friends! 

I'm on the road, visiting family in Southern California. Most of my brothers, sisters, and cousins live in Imperial Valley, where we grew up. This desert area borders Mexico and Arizona and is known for its agriculture, extreme summer heat, and perfect winters. If you don't see me in the blogosphere, you know where to find me.😊Below are a couple of family photos. 

Because of travel, I've pre-posted my #TankaTuesday poem. Writer Melissa Lemay is the host this week, and she offers a beautiful prompt. She asks that interested poets write a Haiga - a "refined visual art of combining brush painting, haiku, and calligraphy." Since most of us are not skilled in calligraphy, she suggested we focus on a painting to write our haiku (5-7-5 syllables). Melissa describes the process and history of the Haiga on the TankaTuesday blog site. 

My selected image is a painting by Nellie Franz Edwards. It is called Mother of Life. This framed print rests in my office and keeps me company during the day. With my four grown children living in the greater New York City area, I sometimes worry for them. This image calms those concerns and gives me hope.

My haiku is from my heart to yours. May your holidays be filled with laughter - and treasures. And if you are traveling, may you and yours be safe. ❤️

​Hello, blog friends!

It's #TankaTuesday, and Colleen Chesebro has an interesting prompt of three Tarot cards. We are to use the cards as inspiration in finding our joy. 

​If you'd like to join in the writing adventure, just click on the above link and you will travel to the poetry site where you'll find instructions. Below are the three cards:

​I don't have any experience with Tarot, but looking at the cards, some thoughts surfaced about a recent encounter, which I've decided to share. 

Since the mid-1980s, I've followed the research on the Near Death Experience phenomena and read numerous personal accounts. So, when I learned last summer that the IANDS conference would be in Phoenix, I lept at the opportunity to attend. 

There were many physicians and nurses at the conference, along with a large group of folks who had had a Near Death Experience. At each of the presentations, speakers shared their NDE and talked about how it had changed their life. At one of the sessions, the speaker led us into a very relaxed state through a guided meditation, with the intention or hope that each of us would meet someone on the other side. 

As I moved into silence, I expected to see my mom and dad, because I often feel their presence. But, it was not they whom I met. In this meditative state, I saw a man with dark hair, his head lowered in sadness. This man did not look at me, but he said, "I wasn't there for him. I wasn't there for him." Then he left. I instantly knew who this mystery man was. And just as instantly, I felt compassion. 

Three weeks after the conference, a distant in-law visited. I had felt frustrated with this man because of his weak work ethic and stringent religious views. But this time was different. I decided to tell him about my experience, even though I expected a negative response. To my surprise, the man listened attentively, and then with hesitation, he explained that his father had dark hair. He added that his father had deserted the family when he was just a child and died in a tragic accident a couple years later. The in-law acknowledged that he had no fathering. I listened and realized I had just received confirmation of my experience.

I believe that life is eternal. And whether earthly or heavenly, a loving embrace can be transformative. In the experience above, two people were changed. I let go of frustration and welcomed compassion. And, the in-law felt his father's regret and unspoken love. 

What does any of this have to do with Tarot? Images are suggestive and often stir memories. In my case, seeing the house card and the fairy card brought to mind the IAND conference. My two tankas reflect on that enlightening experience. I hope you like them. 

Stay warm, dear friends, and have a wonderful week! ❤️

Hello, blog friends ~

Today is #TankaTuesday, and Lisa Smith Nelson provides a photo prompt for interested poets. We are to consider the image to the right when we compose our syllabic poem. 

Studying this battered black cat, I thought back to my childhood attic. Though mostly bare, the space had a few things worthy of a child's imagination. I especially loved an old rocking chair that sometimes would rock without anyone's assistance. Mom explained that it used to be my grandmother's chair. She passed away when my mom was only seven. I liked to sit in that old chair and imagine Grandma holding me. Wouldn't you have done the same? 

I've composed a two-stanza tanka and entitled it A Writer's Treasure. I hope you can relate to it. Have a great week! ❤️

I hope you have a wonderful week. There's so much to be grateful for, don't you agree? Let's forget politics for a while and let nature speak. ❤️