Cynthia A. Morgan's Blog, page 143

#ThankfulThursdayReblogs – We all shine on — Peace, Love and Patchouli

Stars glitter above hanging like ornaments on velvet skies, we reach within our minds to join the universe shining on. In dreams we float on silent seas ripples moving us forward to horizons beyond our reach but never so far that we cannot close our eyes and find ourselves everywhere. We all shine on sparkling […]

via We all shine on — Peace, Love and Patchouli

A Joy-filled reminder to SHINE, whenever, wherever

#ThankfulThursdayReblogs – Raspberry Leaves — Friendly Fairy Tales

tiny hydrangea flowers hide among raspberry leaves, like autumn-hued beacons Copyright 2017 Brenda Davis Harsham

via Raspberry Leaves — Friendly Fairy Tales

A Beautiful post on a Beautiful blog by a Beautiful Lady

Soft – #Love #Poetry

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Soft

In the Lush Shadows

As Twilight Falls

Whispers

Caress the Cerulean Nighttide

When You Draw Near

Subtle

Expressions Lingering

Like the Kiss of the Moon

Gentle

As Velvet Midnight

Falling like a swoon

Soft

In the Shadows

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~Morgan~

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Beautiful Photograph found on wallpaperswide.com.  Credit Gratefully Acknowledged to the Original Photographer. Thank You~

Filed under: Poetry Tagged: Beautiful Photographs, BnV, BooknVolume, Desire, Love, Love Poems, Nature, Night, Poem, poetry, Poetry Blog, relationships, Romance, ~Morgan~

Silence Sings – #MusicandMuse #Love #Poetry

(Please click to play while reading)

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Hush my Darling,

Draw Close

Without a word,

While all the Night Whispers

One Sweet Chord,

Spellbinding,

Enchanting,

In the Stillness with You,

My One,

My Only,

Forever

True.

Silence Sings her Intangible Song,

Yet my Heart Knows,

Unbeguiled,

This is where I Belong,

Beside You My Love,

In this Fair hour of Night,

Beneath the Gentle Heaven’s Glistening Light,

As Moonbeams Sing,

And Our Spirit’s Ring,

Together,

Harmonious,

Soft Serenades Begin

From the twilit shadows

Where Mystery Falls,

Yet I fear nothing,

Tremble not;

You Are

All in All.

Silence Sings

Her Sweet Melodious Rhyme,

Through Heartbeats,

Through Ages

Of Indistinct Time,

With You beside me,

As Midnight imbues,

Her shifting, hypnotic, velveteen hues;

Love Sings in this Silence,

A Timeless Sweet Song,

Never Hurried,

Everlasting,

Unbreakably Strong.

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~Morgan~

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.The Music and Muse category by Morgan shares Poetry and the Music which Inspired it.

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Beautiful Original Music Arvo Pärt Spiegel Im Spiegel performed by Daniel Hope and Simon Mulligan

Filed under: Music and Muse Tagged: BnV, BooknVolume, Love, Love Poetry, Night, Peace, Poem, poetry, relationships, Romance, Soul Mates, time, ~Morgan~

#DarkFey #BookTrailer #Video!

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What is a book trailer, you ask with that notably perplexed expression on your face?

If you aren’t an author, chances are you haven’t a clue and, even if you are an author, you still might not be at all certain. All I can really tell you is that a book trailer is like a movie preview, but for a book. Not entirely clarifying, to be sure.

Some are stellar and exploit all the latest special effects, making you OOOO and AAAHHH…and hopefully say OHHH I Must read that!  Some are more mediocre, leaving much to the imagination, but the intent is the same…to entice and tempt!

I’ve heard chatter around the proverbial water cooler for years now about the pros and cons of the book trailer, and have even had a look at a few now and again, but, in spite of the ooohs and aaahhs, I could never bring my frugal wallet sense to come to terms with the cost most incur.  After all, I’m reasonably computer savvy and it didn’t seem all that difficult to manufacture.

Seems like the trend is leaning more towards trailers lately, which made me consider more seriously.  Perhaps this is something I can do myself?

maybe…..

SOOOOO, after about 15 hours of concerted effort (and no small measure of confusion!) I’ve put together what I hope is a trailer that falls somewhere in between the aforementioned Stellar and Mediocre models.  Unfortunately, I am not able to upload the full video without incurring even greater cost, by upgrading my blog to support large videos, BUT I’m happy to share the link and hope you might pop over to my Amazon Author Page for a peak

Tapestry – #Sonnet 34

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The Shape and Majesty of the Luminous Night,

Sings Splendid Vision to my Questing Sight,

Ever Calling to my Longing Gaze,

In Shifting Shadow and Spectral Haze,

While Diamonds Gleam from Distances Immense,

And my Fair Imagination is Drawn Hence,

To Tumble O’re Nebulae and Comet’s Tails,

To Float in Glimmering Silence as it Sails,

Throughout the Heaven’s Vast, Into my Mind,

Conspiring with Eloquence in Vivid Kind,

To Shake and Shimmer in Ebon Tapestry,

Where All Creation Dances in Glorious Soliloquy,

Until Time Itself Unravels, Until Eternity Unwinds,

Lifting from this Heathen Murk, Paradise, At Last, To Find.

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~Morgan~

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Beautiful Image found at: WallpaperVortex.com. Credit Gratefully Acknowledged to the Original Photographer. Thank you~

Filed under: Poetry, Sonnets Tagged: Beautiful Photographs, BnV, BooknVolume, Harmony, Nature, Poem, poetry, Poetry Blog, relationships, Space, spirituality, ~Morgan~

Abundance Rejoices – #Holiday #Inspiration

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“Christmas is a time of year when Want is keenly felt and Abundance Rejoices”. …Charles Dickens.

I’m not sure about you or what you think about when you hear the words Abundance, but to me I tend to see the Ghost of Christmas Present, lounging upon his throne of Abundance. “Heaped upon the floor, to form a kind of throne, were turkeys, geese, game, poultry, brawn, great joints of meat, sucking-pigs, long wreaths of sausages, mince-pies, plum-puddings, barrels of oysters, red-hot chestnuts, cherry-cheeked apples, juicy oranges, luscious pears, immense twelfth-cakes, and seething bowls of punch, that made the chamber dim with their delicious steam. In easy state upon this couch, there sat a jolly Giant, glorious to see, who bore a glowing torch, in shape not unlike Plenty’s horn.”

OH what a sight to see, Indeed, yet as I sat in the sparkling light of my Christmas tree on Christmas Eve night, surveying the wondrous Abundance that filled my own chamber, (minus the sucking-pigs and wreaths of sausages) I could not help thinking, somewhat, like Cindy Lou Who, who questioned “Doesn’t this seem a bit superfluous?” Please don’t misunderstand, I love spending the day opening presents with family, enjoying the sweet and savoury treats of the season, sipping steaming cups of mulled holiday wine and then, at last, sitting back with a great, contented sigh. I enjoy the hustle and bustle of wrapping and baking and cooking and rushing (well, almost) and I do confess to having said on more than one occasion that Quantity Counts! (In jest of course) (nearly), but how much quantity is enough?

How much is Abundance?

To some this word brings thoughts of expensive jewelry, racy sports cars, (one for each day of the week!), brand name clothing, fine perfumes, Dom Perignon, (Or if you are me, Veuve Clicquot), trips to Italy, Hawaii, or the Caribbean, Belgian chocolates, or anything else you fancy that you, ordinarily, cannot afford. Yet, the kings of old had all these things, (well, in one form or another), Rome was filled to bursting with Abundance and Jerusalem was rich with The Temple of David; still, the Herald of the Heavens, the Glory of the Lord, a vast Multitude of Angels sang in resplendent joy of the Birth of the Saviour not to the Kings, High Priests, Governors, and wealthiest of men, but to those few, poor shepherds who lived in the fields with their sheep.

This small cluster of followers had little Abundance, in the worldly view; they had only what they needed to survive each day: food, clothing, a tent to cover their heads, perhaps, and maybe a musical instrument carved from wood, which they might use to serenade the quiet evenings in humble praise. Nevertheless, what they lacked in material wealth, they made up for in spiritual Abundance. They were rich in their love and kinship; they were wealthy in their appreciation of simple pleasures, of goats milk, perhaps, and wild honey; they were prosperous in sharing their faith and traditions. They were Abundant in all those things that, we too, value above all else: Hope, Faith, Joy and Love.

So whether The Ghost of Christmas Present poured out the light of his shimmering torch upon you and yours this holiday, or whether you celebrated in quiet, homespun holiday tradition, without all the froof, jing-tinglers, and hulabaloo, Perchance, this simple notion might settle softly amoung the gifts under your tree, as it did mine this year: That All the Abundance in the World cannot Shine more Brightly, Please more Completely, or Linger as Enduringly as the Gift the Herald of Heaven brought that quiet night so long ago.

~Morgan~

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Ghost of Christmas Present found at: pjlynchgallery.blogspot.com

Heavenly Herald found at: blogs.nd.edu

Filed under: Just Me Musing Tagged: Abundance, BnV, BooknVolume, Charles Dickens, Christmas, Holiday Traditions, Hope, Inspiration, Joy, Love, spirituality, ~Morgan~

A Gentle Message – #Epic #YA #Fantasy

 

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Best Seller! Must Read! Page-turner!

Wait? How does one define precisely what these are when, to coin the over-utilized phrase, “Beauty is in the eye of the Beholder”?  What makes a book something you cannot put down? What compels readers to forego sleep in order to delve deeper into the tale?  The answers might be as varied as the stories themselves and as opposing as the increasing influx of dichotic material available to read.  So when I ask myself if my own writing is Page-turning or a Must Read Best Seller, I often end up more muddled than before I began musing.

Sure, you and I and every other author vying for public attention dreams of giving J.K. Rowling a run for her money and I think we would all agree that finding our book listed as #1 on the New York Best Sellers list would be cause for celebration; yet, for myself, I often end up shaking my head. No, I find myself saying.  I am not honestly sure I want Dark Fey to be mixed in with the hoopla that makes the big bucks.  Yes, awards are an honour. Yes 5-Star reviews make my head spin, my heart hammer and often are cause for a good (happy) cry, but at the end of the day I am not worried so much about the golden glory of the spotlight, the red carpet hullabaloo, or crowds shouting for autographs….no really. Honest, I’m not.

I just want to tell a story that will linger in the thoughts of a reader, perhaps even take up residence in their hearts, and share a gentle message of Hope that might, just possibly, maybe, brighten someone’s darkness.  I long to share the power of acceptance and forgiveness that can alter our reality for the better in a quiet, memorable way that might, maybe possibly, make someone smile, or, even better, change someone’s perception of that guy across the street or that lady down the hall or that kid on the bus; because, at the end of the day, as Evondair in Breaking Into The Light so eloquently asks: “How else might we achieve peace if we do not become peace?”

At this festive season of the year, this simple, yet powerful mantra seems to be even more poignant, as so many find the holiday season less than joyful or peaceful. And Although Peace warms the Spirit like the caress of sunshine through a misty haze, the shadows of sorrow and loneliness often block those radiant beams. Dark Fey shares the gentle message that we carry the Light with us, within us, and it we ourselves who can alter another’s reality through the simple act of becoming what we want to see in the world.

Perhaps this short excerpt from Breaking Into The Light, where the Healer Evondair shares the Light he carries within him, may better illustrate just what I’m blathering on about.

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The slurking emptiness of the portal spiraled in confounding directions, blackness folding upon darkness, disorientating and robbing him of every sense. Silence filled his hearing, emptiness touched his hands, and piercing blackness robbed his sight as he forced himself to step through the numbing cold nothingness.  Three steps, Gairynzvl had told him; three steps and he would be through the portal, but in the darkness where he lost all perception, including that of his own body, he could not be sure how many steps he had taken and the slowly turning abyss offered no perspective.  Wholly uncertain, Evondair took another step.

The scrunch of gravel beneath his boots reoriented his senses as he took a final step and found himself standing on a dusty, barren track of greyish gravel surrounded by jagged outcroppings of bare rock.  A fetid stench hung upon the thin air and leaching downward from a colourless sky, sooty rain in the form of a heavy mist shrouded everything.   As the remaining Liberators crossed into the Uunglarda, Evondair moved away from the portal and gazed around curiously; yet even as he sought to familiarize himself with the empty wasteland stretching away before him in both directions and ignore the malodorous stench that made him snort in disgust more than once, he reached out through his exceptional gift of discernment.

The action was instinctual; a means of understanding his surroundings and those within it, but opening his mind to the darkness of the Uunglarda was not only an ill-conceived idea, but a thoroughly dangerous endeavor and he instantly regretted it.  With the force of a rushing tide, desperate loneliness and unremitting anguish poured into his being, overwhelming him so completely that he raised his hands to cover his eyes and doubled over with physical pain.  Memories as scathing as a lashing torment serrated through his thoughts; sadistic brutality and remorseless cruelty that drew a profound groan from behind his clenched teeth before the irrepressible tears of more souls than he could number pressed into him like a thousand blades.

He did not say a word, in truth he could not, but as the waves of despair and suffering sought to drag him into the colourless shadows and ensnare him, he fought to withdraw his discernment from the darkness even as it grasped and clawed at his mind like a ravaging monster.  He could have screamed; he could have cried bitter tears; he could have cursed repeatedly in fluent Dlalth as the comprehension of the dark language of the Reviled filled his mind as clearly as his own did, but he did none of these things. As the deluge of misery wrenched at his mind and heart and the dejectedness of the lost Fey of the Light tore at his sanity, he centered his thoughts on the only thing in all of existence that was capable of defeating the darkness.  Filling his mind’s eye with an image of bright, clear, sparkling Light, he focused his attention on the wails and screams shattering his thoughts and answered their cries for mercy with the strongest weapon at his disposal.

Unspoken, yet heard as clearly as thunder rolling across the scorched heavens, the compassionate love that filled his entire spirit reached outward benevolently, silencing the calamitous uproar as a breathless pause stretched across the gloom.

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~Morgan~

Discover more about the Dark Fey Trilogy at its website  

Dark Fey on Amazon 

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Beautiful photographs found via Pinterest.   Credit Gratefully Acknowledged to the Original Photographers.  Thank You~

Filed under: Dark Fey, Music and Muse Tagged: BnV, BooknVolume, compassion, Epic Fantasy, Harmony, Inspiration, Kindle Books, Love, Must Read Books, relationships, spirituality, ~Morgan~

You did it for the least of these…..

 

We have arrived at the end of Christ’s public ministry in the book of Matthew. Matthew’s gospel was written in the last half of the first century with an emphasis on the fulfillment of Christ as the Messiah.

This passage of scripture opens with the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy from the book of Daniel, “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, and then he will sit on the throne of his glory.”

Christ is in the last week of his life. He has spoken parable after parable of what it will be like upon his return and the work, we as Christians should be about until his return to this world. Christ gives fair and ample warning about what will happen come Judgment Day.

Today’s scripture is titled, ‘The Last Judgment.’ “All the nations will be gathered before him and he will separate one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.”

All nations means just that – all Jews, Gentiles, everyone from everywhere. Separating the sheep from the goats was a common practice for shepherds in biblical times.

Having mixed herds was common, at night sheep would be placed in an open pasture, while the goats needed to be protected from the cold. Sheep have more commercial value than goats do.

The bible oftentimes makes reference to the vocation of being a shepherd. God’s people are often times referred to as sheep, whether we like it or not. Have you ever wondered why………

Given the context and setting – 2,000 years ago in the Middle East, being a shepherd and tending to livestock was a common occupation – people could identify with it.

Sheep need protection, guidance and provision. It is also believed that sheep respond to the voice of their shepherd.

We share these things in common. We are also in need of guidance, provision and protection and if we take the time to listen we will also recognize the voice of our shepherd, of the one that provides, protects and guides.

A shepherd had to be willing to lay down his or her life for who and what they were protecting. Christ, our shepherd, was willing to and did the same when he laid down his life for us.

On that Day of Judgment, when the Son of Man returns in all his glory, the herd will be separated, like the parables of the past two weeks – the wise and foolish bridesmaids and the servants who were charged with investing their owner’s estate.

“Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink.

I was a stranger and you welcomed me. I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.”

Our God is omnipotent and omnipresent. He has unlimited power, he knows everything and is always present. Everywhere all the time, to everyone. The God we serve is a God for everyone.

Our God champions the poor, the marginalized and disenfranchised. Our God is a god of the poor, downtrodden and forgotten. A god of the hungry, thirsty, sick, lame and the incarcerated.

A God of the homeless, those in care facilities, nursing homes, the homebound and all those that can’t do for themselves. We do not need to look any further than Christ’s life and who he spent time with during his ministry.

He spent time with those that needed him most. He eased their suffering through his own acts of mercy. He gave sight to the blind, provided living water and broke the shackles of sin that enslave us.

After they have been separated the righteous answered, “Lord when was it that we say you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? When was it that we say you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing?

When was it that we say you sick or in prison and visited you? The righteous seemed to be surprised and unsure how to answer God’s question. We don’t remember seeing you or we would have surely given you food, drink, clothing and visited you.

I am reminded of Mother Teresa’s life and example. Taking care of the dying, cleaning their wounds, teaching young children by writing the letters of the alphabet in the dirt with a stick.

She said that each person she interacted with was Jesus in a distressing disguise. Each person, every human being bears the image of the Creator and deserves to be treated with respect and dignity.

The king answered the righteous, “Truly, I tell you just as you did it to one of the least of these, you did it to me.” When you treated one of the least of these well, someone that could do nothing for you, you did it for the very God that we serve.

Then, Christ will say to those at his left hand, “You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels, for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink.

I was a stranger and you did not welcome me. The accursed when into panic mode, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry, thirsty, as a stranger, naked or imprisoned and did not take care of you?”

Pleading their case they are. If we only would have known we would have stepped up to the plate. If we hadn’t fallen in love with everything that the world has to offer we would have taken care of you.

If they had only not fallen into temptation, if they could have only gotten past themselves, if they would have only taken to know our God and his heart the accursed may have had a different outcome.

The challenge of being a Christian in a world of commercialism, advertising and temptation. The challenge of living a spiritual life in a body of flesh and blood.

It can be very difficult. I think it would be hard, almost impossible to know the heart of our God without spending time with him, without reading his word or spending time with others that believe in him.

This chapter from scripture, the 25th chapter of Matthew gives another window into the heart of our God.

There is no mention in today’s scripture of church affiliation, tradition, attendance or giving. It is about how we treat others. It is about having compassion and spending time with those that are suffering. It is about living merciful lives and easy the burden of others.

This scripture speaks to the heart of a God of compassion, a god of mercy, it speaks to a god of love. May we always be about God’s work.

Pastor Shawn LaRue, Seymour UMC

Author of Incomplete

 

 

 

Filed under: Poetry Tagged: blog, Blogger, Blogging, christianity, Faith, Family, Humanity, Inspiration, life, Literature, Reflections, relationships, Religion, Thoughts, Truth, WordPress, Writing

Gaping Wonder – #Poetry of the #NaturalWorld

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Gaping Wonder

To Express the Inexpressible

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By the Creator’s Hand

So Lovingly Presented,

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Standing Struck

Abashed in Glory’s Wisdom,

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A Marvel of Perfection

I Barely Comprehend.

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Gaping in Wonder

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~Morgan~

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Breathtaking Images found at: zeusbox.com, wallsave.com,

i.telegraph.co.uk,cdn.buzznet.com, .nation.com.pk and .ben.edu

Filed under: Poetry Tagged: Beautiful Photographs, Beauty, BnV, BooknVolume, Harmony, Nature, photography, Poem, poetry, Poetry Blog, spirituality, Wisdom, ~Morgan~