EFFERVESCENT

Image by Carolyn Marshall

HOW LOVELY…

“How sweet it is to love,

and to be dissolved,

and as it were to bathe myself in your love.”

Thomas A. Kempis

LIVELY

Rumi

HAIKU

FINDING MY DANCE FOR

WRITING, BECOMING ARTFUL

FOR MY AUDIENCE

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“Dance, when you’re broken open.

Dance, if you’ve torn the bandage off.

Dance in the middle of the fighting.

Dance in your blood.

Dance when you’re perfectly free.”

Rumi

THE BUDDHA

Artful Writing

The Buddha by French Artist Odilon Redon (1840-1916)

Isn’t this a fascinating rendition of The Buddha?

In studying this dense art form of Symbolism, Redon uses the effects of light and darkness to take the viewer on a journey according to his imagination.  Then he adds facets of nature to connect the senses with the outer world.  The Buddha and the tree are recognizable while all the other colors create a phantom-like fresco for the mind to interpret the painting.

In his words:

“My paintings inspire and are not to be defined.  They determine nothing.  They place us as does music in the ambiguous world of the undetermined.  They are a kind of metaphor.”  That’s the definition of Symbolism.

Redon had a definite fascination for eastern spirituality

“I have placed there a little door opening to the mysterious.  I have made stories.”

…like writers do with their words…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GIFT GIVING

HAIKU

WINTERY TRINKETS

PINE CONES, SCENTED WAX SWIRL IN SMOKE

WARMING HIGH SPIRITS

…so be creative…be generous…enjoy this wondrous season…

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A MAGICAL THING

“I heard a bird sing in the dark of December.  A magical thing.  And sweet to remember.  We are nearer to Spring than we were in September.  I heard a bird sing in the dark of December.”

QUOTE by Oliver Herford

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“December has the clarity, the simplicity, and the silence you need for the best FRESH START of your life.”

QUOTE BY Vivian Swift

 

WARDING OFF THE BLUES

AFFIRMATION

O WINTRY SIGNS

SHORTEN DAYLIGHT AND FROSTY GROUND

LIKE WHEN JESUS WITHDREW TO THE WILDERNESS

SACRIFICES EXCAVATING THE SENSES

PRIORITIZING THE TRIALS OF LIFE

ESPECIALLY LOSING LOVED ONES

IT STIFLES BREATHING

YET, WHEN OFFERING A PRAY

ONE RECEIVES A MERCIFUL LOOK

HOPE RENEWED FOR OTHERS NO MATTER WHAT

THEN JESUS BEACONS HIS WARM SAVING LIGHT

AND THE MIND WORKS A MIRACLE

IN THIS MANNER YEA! WARDING OFF HOLIDAY BLUES!

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“I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys” (Song of Solomon 2:1)

Flower by Joseph Stella

…may we all open up as harmonious flowers for paradise…

 

FESTIVE FLAVORS

Winter Coffee Drinks

One of the best trends these days is drinking plenty of coffee…since science shows java is good for the heart.  This popularity creates new specialty flavors every holiday season.  Here are some new flavors:

Peppermint dark mocha

Rose and pistachio

Christmas cookie

Dark chocolate mint

Vanilla nougat latte

Cranberry white chocolate mocha…

and of course, whatever is your favorite custom blend!

let’s not forget hot chocolate, mulled wine and umpteen coffee creamers…

all perfect to warm up your spirits on a crisp winter day

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“Love isn’t how you feel, it’s what you do.”

QUOTE by Madeleine L’Engle