Cynthia A. Morgan's Blog, page 262

Shifting Tide – #DailyHaikuChallenge – #Poetry of the #NaturalWorld

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Shifting Amber tide

Change Ripening on the breeze

November Beckons

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To take part in the Daily Haiku Challenge see The Original Post from Day One

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Day 13

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~Morgan~

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

 

Filed under: Daily Haiku Challenge Tagged: Beautiful Photographs, BnV, BooknVolume, Daily Haiku Challenge, Nature, Poem, poetry, Poetry Blog, Poetry Prompt, Shifting Shadows, Writing Prompt, ~Morgan~

In The Lime Light – Ashley Barnes – #Interview and #Inspiration

Ashley Barnes stopped to talk with me about her blog, her writing and A Spirit Led Life.org as well as her blog A Spirit Led Life here on WordPress where she supports and inspires women to heal body, mind, and spirit, develop a connection to their inner guidance, and lead a more Spirit Led Life.

Ashley is an Author, Poet, Energist, Coach, and Practical Mystic.  Her programs include: Healing from Transition, Simple Self Healing, The Angel Inside (based on her book The Angel Inside:  Inspiration to Connect to your Inner Guidance),  The Mind, Body, and Spirit Cleanse, and more! She is a certified Integrative Nutrition Coach and Usui and Kundalini Reiki Master.

LEARN MORE About Ashley

Please Introduce us to your Blog.  What is it all about?   What sorts of posts do you lean towards?

My blog started in 2012 as a “secret public journal” to house my poetry. I was participating in a virtual program called “Writing for the Health of It” with Jan Lundy.  During the class, I pulled out my old poetry journal and realized it had been over 15 years since I had written anything. I hadn’t even noticed the huge creative gap in my life.  I started writing again as a result of that class, and now I write 1-3 poems a week.

When I first started writing again, it was an outlet for the healing process I was going through at the time, as well as an opportunity to practice and play with creativity and inspiration again after so many years.   As my personal and professional focus has shifted to spirituality, my poetry has shifted with me.  Today, my poems are nearly always infused with spiritual messages, inspired by asking the question, “What does the world need to hear today?”  Sometimes I have particular people in mind when I write.  Sometimes it’s a world event that inspires me.  Yet the end result is nearly always a universal message for anyone who needs to hear it (including myself).

What Inspires and stirs your creativity?

Nature is my greatest muse, especially the ocean.   Being in nature connects me to the intimate and unseen energy of this world and opens all of my senses in a way that I can’t accomplish in the rush and noise of my everyday life.

How has your blog helped you as a writer/Indie Author? What things have you learned along the way that you never anticipated? 

My blog has increased my confidence tremendously as a writer, and unknowingly served as my practice arena to work up to publishing my book.   I’m not formally trained in creative writing or poetry.  This used to weigh heavily on me.  I continuously felt I needed more credentials to be considered a “real” writer.  Even when I was strongly feeling called to publish a book, I still couldn’t shake the feeling that  I wasn’t talented or educated enough to put myself out there in that way.  However, comments and emails from readers letting me know that my words touched them, and the continual practice of opening myself to write, finally helped me to realize that there is more going on with the blog than simply a hobby or an online journal.   Of course, there’s always room for improvement with any craft.  Yet my epiphany was that writing is less about how polished or trained I am and more about how authentic and open to inspiration I am.  I believe readers pick up on this and are moved by the energy of vulnerability in the words, which then inspires and empowers me to keep going.

One of my earliest writing influences:

The book, Women, Writing, and Soul-Making:  Creativity and the Sacred Feminine by Peggy Tabor Millin, was mentioned in the “Writing for the Health of It” program and upon starting it, I couldn’t put it down.  I connected instantly with the author and her depiction of spiritual growth through writing, as this had been the same process I’d experienced since I’d been writing again.  In an interview, Millin remarked, “It does not matter what we write about or whether we are conscious of our process; writing heals and changes lives. “ And when the life of the writer is changed through the process of writing, the life of those she touches is changed a well. 

Tell us about your book(s): 

We all have personal angels as spiritual guides and they want to interact with us in a meaningful way.  Through original poetry, inspired writings, and opportunities to reflect, The Angel Inside:  Inspiration to Connect with Your Inner Guidance is a guide accessible to seekers of all faith traditions who wish to understand and embrace the many advantages of connecting with our angels.

What Inspired you to write your book?   

The book was divinely guided.  Demanded, to be more accurate.  I had no desire to write a book and I struggled for over a year, feeling inadequate to write anything of value.  I’m a poet;  yet as much as I like poetry, I knew this book needed to be more, and I didn’t know how to produce that.  So I kept writing poetry and avoiding the call until finally the message was clear and direct, “You are enough, you are enough, you are enough. Your life doesn’t need to be exceptional to inspire someone else. We will help you.”

From what Point of View do you prefer to write? Is there a reason? 

I write primarily in second person for two reasons:  1) Writing “I” poems feels exceptionally vulnerable at times; and 2) My writing is most often a message or inspiration from Spirit, and therefore direct to “you”

When finishing the book, I kept the poems in second person as most were written, but changed all the prose sections to first person (“we”) to incorporate a more inclusive feel.

How would you describe your “Voice” or Style of writing? 

I primarily write poetry that is inspired by Spirit.   Some might call it “channeled.”   I feel more like it’s a blend of my own unique voice and style with words placed on my heart.

Share an insight or secret about your book(s). 

The entire book was written by hand.  I write with pencil in a notebook and then type what I’ve written.  For me, there hand writing is a visceral experience (though it’s often complete scribble) which allows the inspiration to flow more easily than typing.

The book was also written in a discontinuous flow.  After struggling for over a year about what to write, I finally gave it up to Spirit and said, “I’m open, just give me the words.”  I replaced my morning poetry writing with a focus on the book.  Each morning I would sit down and ask, “What do you want me to write?”  As words started to form, I would write for 10-15 minutes and then wrap up.  I followed this routine 3-4 days a week for several months, until I felt finished, or at least at a place of evaluation.  Then I typed up everything I had written so far and printed out each section to look for themes.

Even as themes became obvious, I still had multiple disparate chunks of written material with no obvious way to tie them into a flow.  And they were short.  Then, just as the words came to me each morning, I had the notion to pair the themed chunks with existing poems from my blog.  Of course, there was a poem that perfectly fit each theme.

From there, I decided to leave each chunk as a “devotional-style” section that could easily be consumed in one reading, rather than try to force transitions from one section to the next.  I added reflection questions at the end of each section, and the manuscript was born!

What do you feel is your best advice to share with other aspiring authors?

Don’t get tripped up worrying that you don’t have the knowledge or education to be a writer, or that you don’t have an extraordinary life story to share.  Those misguided ideas held me back for so long.  Spirit can and does work with whoever answers the call to take up a pen (or pencil) and follow their inner guidance.

Would you like to share an excerpt from the book or a poem or two to give readers an idea what you offer?

From the Introduction:

We invite you to look deeper inside,

where silence overrides the noise,

where a gentle whisper overrides the silence.

That is your soul.

Go deeper. Leave this world behind.

Find us. We are here and we love you.

Who invites us to go deeper within? Who is it that whispers to our soul? They are our angels, our guides, our heavenly assistants. Our angels are messengers, helpers, tasked with guiding us through our human lives. They are loving and want only the highest good for all beings. They are a gift from the Creator, the Source of all existence, to enhance our faith, give us hope, ease our suffering, and remind us that we are not lost or alone, even in our darkest moments. They are the voice of the Divine, translated through love to us.

The angels asked for this book in order to make us aware of the many advantages of accepting their existence and opening ourselves to their constant love and guidance. The stakes are high for our own sense of peace and abundance, the manifestation of what we need and want, and for realizing our path in this life. The stakes are high for the world as well. Connection has a higher purpose for all beings, not only us as individuals. As we begin to accept and understand our spiritual nature, we come to understand our connection to the Creator as well as to all beings. This is our angels’ goal. This is our purpose.

Afterword:

The angel inside

Wishes to tell you a secret:

 

That yours is a life worth living

A dream worth having

That your very existence

Brightens the earth

In a way no other can

That the light inside your soul

Is not meant to be hidden

Or denied

It is your gift to the world

 

This life that you live now

Is your impact on humankind

A model for generations to come

Death will not absolve you

But rather, lift you into the night

A shining beacon for all who wish to follow

Live this life well

Find your peace within

Do minimal harm

Right your wrongs whenever possible

Shine your beacon for those who struggle

Those who wrong you

Those who are difficult to understand

 

And most importantly

Shine for yourself

Illuminate your own path

Don’t wait for someone to do it for you

All that you will ever need

Is within you

About YOU:

If you had to describe yourself to someone who has never met you, what might you say?

I am… passionate & sensitive, reserved & introspective, empathic, deliberate, a quiet observer of human nature, often fearful, impatient, loving, kind, heart-centered, open-minded, spiritual, awakening to my gifts as a writer, a beautiful being of light!

If you could meet one person from the past, who might it be and why?  

Perhaps this is cliché, but I would choose my mother.  She died when I was 27 (I’m 41 now) and never met my children, my current husband, my brother-in-law, or my nieces.  I know she’s with me now, but I’d love to meet her in person again, and especially to share her with my family.

When you are NOT writing, what is your favourite pastime? 

I’m a continual learner.  There is not enough time in the day for all the development classes and books that interest me!  In addition, I play a lot of Uno and Clue these days with my 12-year-old daughter.  I practice being mom to a nearly 14-year-old daughter (read:  lots of patience).  And I like to relax with my husband and watch our current favorite fun movie, “Guardians of the Galaxy”.

Describe Your Dream Getaway Destination.  Have you ever been there?  What makes this place Irresistible to you?

For almost 10 years, our summer vacation spot has been Siesta Key, Florida.  It’s a small barrier island off the cost of Sarasota in the Gulf of Mexico.  The water is clear, green, and warm, contrasted against the beach, which is comprised of incredibly soft and healing crystal quartz sand.  In the mornings, I mediate and write by the ocean, then spend the rest of the day sunbathing, sightseeing, relaxing, and enjoying live music in The Village.  It was the first place my husband and I vacationed together, we were married there on the beach, and now we take our kids as well.  In 2017, we’ll return to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary!

Do you have a Mantra? 

“Be the change you want to see in the world.” (Ghandi)  I try to keep this front of mind when I feel confused about where to go or what to do next.

What “Charity” or “Cause” do you feel passionately about & Why? 

I’ve always been drawn to animals and specifically causes that support their rights and welfare.  For several years in my early adult life, I worked for animal shelters and volunteered with animal rescue groups, both locally and regionally.  I genuinely believe our animal friends have pure souls which have a specific purpose to guide and support us in our journey through life.   Currently, in our house we have six pets:  two cats (Alice B. Toe-Claws and Colonel Steve Austin, who has only three legs), two dogs (Maddie and Max), a hamster (Jimmy Neutron), and a bearded dragon (Peaches, aka Spike).  The most pets we’ve ever had at one time, counting all the critters in cages, was 12!

Bio:

Ashley Barnes is a spiritual author, energist, and coach. She combines over a decade of leadership development expertise with Integrative Nutrition Coaching, Usui and Kundalini Reiki, and her down-to-earth style to support and inspire women to heal body, mind, and spirit, develop a connection to their inner guidance, and lead a more Spirit Led Life. Her first book, The Angel Inside: Inspiration to Connect with Your Inner Guidance, is now available on Amazon. You can contact her and learn more about her work at www.aspiritledlife.org.

I would like to Thank Ashley for stopping by and sharing her wealth of Insight with me as well as the readers and followers of Booknvolume.  A Perfect Sunday meditation and Lime Light.

Many Blessings Ashley…and all my Friends

~Morgan~

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Filed under: Authors Books Reviews & Interviews Tagged: Author spotlight, Authors, BnV, BooknVolume, Indie Authors, Inspiration, Interviews, Readers, spirituality, Support Indie Authors, ~Morgan~

Those We Do Not Speak Of – Shades of Gray- #Spirituality and #Afterlife

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Where does the Essence go once it departs our physical body? Does it consciously decide whether to go towards the Light or remain in the earthly plane? Are we in control of what happens to our Essence or does energy return to Energy, from which it sprung?

Many Believe our last breath is simply the beginning of the next step on our journey. That we depart the Earth Plane and return to the Source of all Life and I for one also Believe this is so. Coming from a Christian perspective, I Believe the Essence is created by the Creator just as the physical body is and, upon completion of our life, we return to that Source to give an accounting of what we achieved, what we did not, and if we have fulfilled our Purpose. Yes, I do also Believe that each of us enters the Earth Plane with a specific Purpose; a goal to achieve or a lesson to learn or impart. Thus, it only makes sense that we would also need to review our life, take stock in those things we may have done that were a Blessing to others or served some useful Purpose before, perhaps, continuing on or returning for another go.

If it is prerequisite that we are drawn back into the Light upon completion of this life cycle, how then does it seem so many remain in “limbo”? If we accept that we are given the gift of free choice, are these who remain consciously choosing to avoid that final accounting of their life for some reason? Do they linger in this place rather than crossing over out of fear or maybe disrespect? If they are not anxious to rejoin that Perfected, Positive Energy, might we then assume they are a more negative form of energy, one of the many shades of gray as it were, and; if they are, how might they, then, interact with us? How does our Essence perceive negative energy?

I have had several experiences with positive energy throughout my years, most recently shortly after the passing of my mother. I had moved and, while settling in to my new home, there was more than one occasion when my cat stopped in his tracks to stare fixedly at something I could not see. For those of you who have pets, I am sure you may agree that there is a distinct difference between a blissful stare off into oblivion by our fuzzy friend and the repeated shifting of their head and gaze in the attempt to focus on something. Sitting in a dimly lighted, new house and seeing my cat do this should have unnerved me, or at least made those tiny hairs on the nape of my neck stand up, but I merely smiled. I am convinced the energy my cat was perceiving was that of my mother, or perhaps my Guardian, just checking on me. There was no fear, dread or threat of any kind involved and this is why I Believe it was Positive energy.

Many situations are equally pleasant or reassuring, but there are just as many, perhaps more, that are not. What happens when we encounter negative or imperfect energy? How does our Essence perceive or interact with those myriad shades of gray in the shadows of the Light? Is this when we experience fear? Does our Essence warn us by instilling in us an inherent dread of a certain place or situation because it is aware of that which we are not? If we choose to disregard this warning and persist in returning to this place of fear and dread, whether out of necessity or curiosity, how does the repeated interaction with negative energy affect us? In the physical form, when we are confronted by a bully, our anxiety increases, our confidence fails, we become withdrawn, inhibited. As the oppression of our Essence increases, do we similarly become defensive, angry, resentful, even violent?

There are many places in this world that have a reputation for being haunted or evil. Native Americans, as well as other ancient cultures throughout the world, name many places as cursed or avoid them because they understand how dangerous they are, but why? Is it perhaps because these places are inhabited by negative energy; by demons for lack of a better name? If we Believe there is Positive Perfected Energy, then the opposite must also be true, but what happens to these places infested by shadows and what happens to us when we choose to live there?

These are the questions we shall explore next time.

Now, Please share your experiences with positive or negative energy and how those interaction affected you.

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~Morgan~

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Beautiful Photograph found on:  commons.wikimedia.org

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Filed under: Just Me Musing Tagged: Afterlife, BnV, BooknVolume, Darkness, Demons, Fear, ghosts, Haunted Places, Life After Death, Paranormal, Spirits, spirituality, Supernatural, ~Morgan~

Tranquility Sighs – #DailyHaikuChallenge

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Warming Golden Hues

Autumnal Slanting Sunlight

Tranquility Sighs

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To take part in the Daily Haiku Challenge see The Original Post from Day One

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Day 12

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~Morgan~

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

Filed under: Daily Haiku Challenge Tagged: Beautiful Photographs, BnV, BooknVolume, Daily Haiku Challenge, Harmony, Nature, Peace, Poem, poetry, Poetry Blog, Poetry Challenge, Writing Challenge, ~Morgan~

Those We Do Not Speak Of – Communication – #Spirituality and #Clairvoyance

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Communication.  What is it exactly?  How does communication happen and in what ways do we understand each other.   Oxford tells us it is:  The imparting or exchanging of information or news; a letter or message containing information; and/or the successful conveying or sharing of ideas and feelings.  So, according to this, communication depends upon two or more parties being involved; accepting a transference of information, ideas or emotions; and the success of that conveyance.

Language is an extraordinary thing.  The differences in our languages are seemingly boundless and with all the intricacies, dialects, regional connotations and interpretations, not to mention slang and hyper-text abbreviations, it is a miracle we understand each other at all.  Is this, perhaps, one of the reasons why Those We Do Not Speak Of often choose to Communicate on a non-verbal level?  If a connection is desired or required, what other methods might a person, or the Essence, utilize?  Our senses are often easily beguiled and fear of what we do not understand invariably taints our perception; so how might one who has traversed the Great Divide reach out to us successfully?

*** Before continuing on, I believe it is important to say that there are “good” and “bad” forms of the Essence; positives and negatives, as it were.  You may find yourself questioning this statement, but when we consider that in nature “for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction”, you may pause to reexamine it.  It is also, perhaps, important to consider that there are “good” and “not so good” people all around us, so why should we be confounded by the notion that there are also spirits with less than charitable or harmonious motives and purposes?   I shall delve deeper into this subject next time, but when talking about any form of Communication, I think it is imperative to understand that caution is always advised. ***

Most often people seem to experience an impression, an awareness, of something inexplicable being present; whether or not they choose to accept or heed this perception as fact.  The feeling of hairs standing up on the back of your neck or a sensation similar to static electricity is commonly reported; so regularly, in fact, that one might wonder if this is our body’s way of telling us something we have learned or chosen to ignore or discount?  Is our own Essence aware of the presence of another, regardless of whether that presence is corporeal or not, and does our Essence/ can our Essence translate this awareness on a level we are able to comprehend?

There are many ways our physical bodies interpret the signs of a Spirit’s presence.  Light anomalies.  Sounds in an empty room.  Shifting shadows in the darkness.  Doors slamming.  Lights going on and off mysteriously.  Whispers emanating from of the silence.  The ways in which Those We Do Not Speak Of choose to Communicate are as varied as the names by which we call them and, if truth be told, we have all, at one time or another, experienced something we could not easily explain or dismiss.

If, then, the ways in which the Essence now abiding on the other side chooses to alert us to their presence are recognizable by so many, perhaps the question to be asked is Why do they reach out to us?  Though the intent and purpose of those dwelling in shadows may be equally dark and steeped with the desire to instill fear or do harm; Why should those who love us choose to send shivers or impart dread by reaching through the void?  Equally curious is why any Spirit now dwelling in a place of Perfection should choose to return to this imperfect realm?  Do they simply long to see once more those places they once inhabited and loved, where special memories were created and, perhaps, where loved ones still abide?  Do they really have a need to tell us anything, or is it a simple reassurance that they are still close to us, if only in spirit; a reminder of the perpetuity of Love?

What if that returning consciousness is not a kindred spirit, one of family or of friendship?  Does it reach out to us simply because it longs to be remembered or validated?  When our limited perceptions perceive something seemingly imperceptible, does our own Essence respond in some manner, whether or not we may be aware of it; offering communication and communion on a sub-conscious level, which may be enough for the Perfected Energy interacting with it?  Does this communication allow it to leave this plane, confident that it will not be forgotten or are there darker purposes to the interaction?

If the spirit that crosses over does not have any religious or spiritual context on which to draw, how might it perceive in the spirit what it found to be inscrutable in the flesh?  Does that Essence really need to impart a message to us, or is it simply in need of understanding its own continuation?  Do Spirits really get “trapped” on this side of that proverbial tunnel of light, or are dark entities, intent upon doing harm and causing chaos, in residence in certain places here on this plane; lurking in shadows, waiting….

 

This is question we shall consider next time….

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~Morgan~

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Image found on Google.  Credit Gratefully Acknowledged to the Original Creator. Thank You!

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Filed under: Just Me Musing Tagged: Afterlife, BnV, BooknVolume, Clairvoyance, ghosts, Heaven, Life and Death, Paranormal, Spirits, spirituality, The Essence of Being, Transcendence, ~Morgan~

#FridayFantasy – When Weakness is Strength – #Fantasy #CharacterSketch

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Ayla is one of the lead characters of Dark Fey.  She was present in my thoughts from the initial dream that Inspired the story; yet she is very often misunderstood by readers.  Although the story could not progress without her, even I find myself frequently annoyed by her overly emotional volatility, so I decided to give my readers a bit of background about her, as well as, perhaps, an explanation.  

Born with extraordinary gifts, Ayla can easily distinguish truth from lies.  She can look into the eyes and see the soul, Discerning beyond all the complications of guise. Empathy runs so deeply within her that she can even take on the pain of another and she is able to hear thoughts through Telepathic connection. This rare combination of gifts first drew attention to her as a youngling; then isolated her when she was sent off to the Temple, dedicated to a life as a Guardian of Childfey.

There she was guided by scholars who filled her mind with images of good and evil.  While her friends sat in cheerful classrooms and played with other childfey, she learned about secret arts and magic.  She also learned that using her gifts drains her own energy by an equal proportion to that which she extends to heal or ease anothers suffering.  As a result, she tried to learn to protect herself from her own Empathic inclinations, but blocking the thoughts, emotions and pain of others remained a constant challenge for her and when she reached her eighteenth birthday and took her place amidst the communal life of the village of Hwyndarin, this difficulty compeled her to keep others at a distance.

Beautiful, yet socially awkward and frequently overwhelmed by those sentiments and passions of others that she was never able to fully master blocking, she has only one friend, but when this friend introduces her to a young malefey close to her age of eighteen summers Ayla discovers magic of another kind; the enchantment of first love. Even his love, however, cannot alter her feelings of peculiarity and isolation.

Only when she hears the whispers of one who comes in shadows and silence does she begin to understand her own strengths and her own desires.  When he steps from the darkness, he throws her world in chaos, requiring her to make decisions she never thought possible; asking her to face dangers she only ever read about, and altering the course of her life forever.  Yet, in the process, he helps her to understand the truth about her gifts, which have set her apart for so long.

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***A Snippet from Dark Fey The Reviled ***

“You are the only person who can help me, Ayla, because you are the only one who can know with absolute certainty what I say is the truth; that I am not deceiving you to serve my own evil purposes.” Gasping in fear, she shook her head, but Gairynzvl would not accept her refusal.

“It is your gift, Ayla, and your purpose.” She stared at him silently as tears slipped over her flushed cheeks, utterly overwhelmed by him.

“Read me, Ayla!” He growled impatiently, but she reached up and shoved him away from her with as much force as she could manage.

“I cannot!” His eyes narrowed suspiciously.

“You will not.”

“You are overpowering me!” She snapped back acerbically, “I cannot read through all that emotion.”

He fell silent, considering, but he did not move away and he did not release her from the intense stare he had fixed upon her that pierced into her very essence and made her shudder. After a prolonged moment, he closed his eyes and slowly drew a deep breath; visibly calming himself before he stepped closer and re-affixed her with his resolute gaze. She watched him hesitantly, released from the waves of despondency and resentment he had again opened to her, yet still fearful of what he might do next.

Unhurriedly, he reached out for her hand, patient in a way he had not been before when she started away from him to search his eyes nervously for any indication of reassurance she might find there before offering her small hand to him. Holding it lightly in his warm clasp, he reached out for the other hand, waiting just as patiently for her to understand that he would do nothing atrocious should she give it to him as well. When she did, he drew both to himself, laying her hands upon his chest, palms down over his heart, before releasing his grasp upon her. Spreading his wings wide then, he turned his face upward, closed his eyes, and opened himself to her fully.

Ayla gasped in surprised revelation. She had never done such a thing before; never physically touched someone to read them while they stood, silently surrendered to her, revealing themselves in a manner that was intensely stirring and intimate……

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~Morgan~

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Beautiful Original Fairy Artwork by:  Ruoxin Zhang

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Filed under: Dark Fey Tagged: Acceptance, BnV, BooknVolume, Character Sketch, Dark Fey, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Fantasy Books, Fear, relationships, Social Awkwardness, Trust, Understanding, ~Morgan~

Reach for the Light – #VisualPoetry

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May those Seeds we all sow Reach for the

Light and Blossom into a Beautiful Garden.

~Morgan~

Filed under: Visually Lyrical Tagged: Beautiful Photographs, BnV, BooknVolume, Harmony, Inspiration, Light, Poem, poetry, Poetry Blog, quotes, spirituality, ~Morgan~

Those We Do Not Speak Of – What is the Essence? – #Spirituality and #Afterlife

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Before continuing on, I should like to say that I am delighted you are as interested as I am about this subject and are willing to share this journey with me and others, who, like you, are also curious. As we travel along, I will ask many questions; any and all of which you are free to comment on (and I hope you will) or even take that particular question and write your own post or poem with your thoughts and ideas about it.  If you do, I would love if you might link back to the original post so we are all able to stay connected, but I feel this is a wonderful way to expand the conversation.  I am looking forward to our discussions and hope you will continue to find Those We Do Not Speak Of compelling.

Now, let’s take a moment to talk about What is The Essence….

When we establish what it is we are Able to Believe, we are free to move forward to explore the realm of Those We Do Not Speak Of more extensively.  Assuming we are Able to Believe that something happens after we pass through death; that another plane of existence does exist, it is equally as important to determine what it is that passes over into that new Life. Is it a Ghost? A Spirit? Our immortal Soul? Our Katra?  As before, I do not Believe it matters what name we choose to call that which passes over, although I will tend to use Essence because I Believe It embodies all we are, hope for, and dream of; but what matters is:  are we Able to Believe it leaves our physical body and moves onward, journeying to another place; perhaps another time?  Does our Essence find that place we call by other, less important names:  Elysium, Heaven, Nirvana; a place where the limitations of our physical manifestation are stripped away; where we are freed from those confines and are able to exist entirely as energy?  (If the Essence is unable to pass into that new realm, or chooses not to, will be explored in a future post.)

What type of Energy we ultimately become we do not need to debate.  The specifics will only bog us down and create boundaries and, once we cross over into that new realm, I Believe boundaries are eliminated.  It should be sufficient to say that we become a form of Energy that is as close to perfect as possible.  In that place of Perfection, we are finally able to Be everything we now are not; all we presently long to be, strife for, and hope to achieve. How and Why are more interesting questions.  Is it because all those things for which we strive are driven from an internal desire to Be (to coin the phrase) All we Can Be.  Is it our Essence that Inspires us to strive for Perfection because It is perfect?  Does the Essence of who we are act as our guide, quietly whispering truth, whether or not we choose to listen?  And if it does, is it this inner voice; this inner understanding of everything we cannot presently comprehend in our present state of limitation, which compels us to Ask those questions to which there are no “rational” answers?

We, then, are beings of Energy. The physical existence is fleeting, yet who and what we are remains and, when we shuffle off this mortal coil, our Essence returns to that eternal realm, but do we remain there, abiding in endless joy and light or do we merely rest and renew; then return to this plane of existence once again?  This cycle has names, of course, because we, in our limited state of being, need to name things in order to define them.  Reincarnation. Rebirth. Bhava, but as we already understand, the name is not important or even If it actually occurs; what we shall consider is:  if our perfected Essence is, indeed, Immortal, does it remain in that place Beyond or is it able to return to this plane?  If it is Able, what are the manifestations it is Able to take?  Do we return to this life again in the physical form or are we able to cross the divide and return to the physical world as Perfected Energy?

My mind cannot comprehend what Perfected Energy might be, but I am Able to Believe it exists.  However, as I am incapable of understanding what Perfected Energy is or how my limited five senses might perceive it, how will I know when I experience it? How will my mind comprehend something I cannot conceive?  Will my eyes witness something inexplicable?  A light anomaly or a wisp of smoke where none should be?  Can my ears hear a sound in an otherwise silent room or, perhaps, a voice where no speaker is visibly present?  Am I able to feel the touch of Perfected Energy if it chooses to reach out to me or smell a familiar scent I had forgotten in its absence?  In a state of Perfection, how does the Essence of what made us who we are Communicate with we who are imperfect?

If we look beyond our fears; if we open our minds to the Possibility of something reaching out from Beyond, then perhaps we may begin to Experience those mysteries, which I Believe are all around us.  Perhaps, if we step past our limitations by choosing to Believe, we also step closer, if only infinitesimally, to Perfection, which, in turn, opens our perception and our understanding to those things we cannot comprehend when we are closed.  Once we take that small step forward by defining what we are Able to Believe and Able to Perceive; are we, then, Able to Experience? If we are, what shall we Experience?

Communication with Those We Do Not Speak Of, which we shall explore further next time.

 

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~Morgan~

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Beautiful Image found at  Can Stock Photo Inc. / Nejron and Adele Lorienne

Filed under: Just Me Musing Tagged: Afterlife, BnV, BooknVolume, ghosts, Heaven, Life and Death, Paranormal, Spirits, spirituality, Supernatural, The Essence of Being, Transcendence, ~Morgan~

#FridayFantasy – Twisting Shadows

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Silence Stifling

Shadows twisting in the mind

Echoes Whispering

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Today’s Haiku is also Friday Fantasy Dark Fey Insight into the mind of Ilys, a Fey of the Light who was abducted as a childfey by The Reviled and, as a result, lives with haunting memories every day.  A portrayal of PTSD.

Read More about Ilys 

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To take part in the Daily Haiku Challenge see The Original Post from Day One

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Day 11

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~Morgan~

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

 

Filed under: Daily Haiku Challenge, Dark Fey, Friday Fantasy Tagged: BnV, BooknVolume, Daily Haiku Challenge, Dark Fey, Darkness, depression, Fear, Poem, poetry, Poetry Blog, PTSD, ~Morgan~

Those We Do Not Speak Of – Believing – #Spirituality and #Death

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Seems the best time of the year for A Review of my Brief Series…

Let me begin by saying:  this post kicks off a new series.  One which I have felt lead to explore and one which will ask for YOUR input.  I have spoken with many of you over the past few years and have discovered a common ground among us.  A subject about which we all have questions, so I would like to open a conversation, but a conversation cannot take place with only one involved.  If you find yourself curious about the unknown; if you have had experiences that made you “say hmmmmm”; if you find yourself asking questions to which there are no “rational” answers, then this series may be of interest to you.  And although this initial post may be longer than most, I’d like to begin by setting a foundation.

Spirituality is one of those things we all tend to skirt around, wanting neither to tread upon another’s toes (so to speak), nor to put ourselves out on that proverbial limb through expressing what it is we Believe. Even in one of my favourite holiday movies “The Polar Express”, the train conductor is careful to stop his passenger from sharing what it is he Believes, saying:  “It’s nothing I need to know.” Somewhere along the way we became timid of spirit, where once we were unabashed and fearless. The crusades are a perfect example and, while it is fundamentally wrong to force anyone to convert their Beliefs to match our own, the fact that we once held our Beliefs so vitally important that we went to such extremes, where now we are often vigilant in concealing them, speaks volumes.

Life, Death, and the Beyond affect us all, every day; yet we do our utmost to avoid those subjects about which we know so little.  I Believe, however, that it is through the honest and open communication of what we Believe that we gain understanding.  I also Believe that it is not really a matter of who is right and who is wrong, but rather, it is a matter of who is Able to Believe and who is not.

I also Believe that being Able to Believe is an act of courage more than of faith, it always has been; particularly when expressing our Beliefs may have led (or may lead) us down the path of ostracism, cruelty and even death. Not so much has changed on that score (sadly), but this post is not about our hate and the unthinkable things we do to each other.  This post is about Believing.

Believing in what, you might ask?  Those We Do Not Speak Of, I answer.  Those who have lived this Life and passed through Death into the Beyond.  Where and what the Beyond is, I am also not here to debate.  Heaven, Paradise, Valhalla, Stovokor; it matters very little what you or I may choose to call it.  What matters is: are you Able to Believe it exists and that those who pass through to the other side of existence abide there or are you not?  If you are Able, an entire realm of possibility opens; as do a myriad other questions in which we may be Able to Believe, or not.

What happens to the Essence of who we are once we pass into that new realm?  Do we become pure energy; the perfection of everything we tried to attain in flesh?  The final expression of what our Spirits truly Are without the limitation of physical bodies, of fears, violence, doubt, and the calamity they create?  Do we move into a place that is Beyond perception or do we simply become a form of energy that our physical beings are not able to perceive, process or comprehend.  Taxing questions, to be sure and HEREIN lies the crux of my babbling.

Spirits.  Ghosts.  Apparitions.  Ringwraiths.  There are as many names for our Essence once it leaves our bodies as there are names for the realm into which we pass; yet, again, I say, the name itself is not important. What is important is: are we Able to Believe in them or not?  Does their existence depend upon our Belief or do they exist regardless of what we are Able to Believe or not?  I Believe there is far too much evidence of their Presence to say they do not exist.  The argument that we simply wink out and are gone forever seems far less possible than the notion that we do not.  There are stories that are passed down from ancient times, tales of ghosts and haunted places; legends of wisps; songs of lost lovers who return for one final touch and the newer, perhaps less intriguing manifestation: the popular televisions shows like Ghost Adventures, Ghost Hunters, and Most Haunted, which lead us to other taxing questions.

Do we find ourselves inescapably curious about “the paranormal” because we try so hard Not to Believe?  Do our own Spirits whisper truths to us about those same things that we try to deny?  Are we curious because, deep in our Essence, we already Understand, but because of the frailty of our physical being, we are not Able to Believe?

I Believe we must open a conversation about these things, not merely to hash out what we are Able to Believe or not, but so we can discuss other, equally important matters.  If Ghosts exist, how do we Perceive them?  Can we Communicate with them?  Are they Aware of us as well or do they perceive us on the same limited, peripheral basis as we do them?  Can we touch the Beyond through Belief alone?  Does Love/hate Abide even without physical being and  can they Cross the Divide?

These Questions are not meant to be answered, but simply asked; explored, so we might, possibly, broaden our Understanding.  I invite you to join me in this exploration and to Share those questions and experiences about which you wonder.  Lets Wonder together and explore the Wonder all around us!

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~Morgan~

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Beautiful Original Photography by: Nelleke Pieters at nelleke.deviantart.com

Filed under: Just Me Musing Tagged: Afterlife, Beliefs, BnV, BooknVolume, ghosts, Heaven, Life and Death, Paranormal, Spirits, spirituality, Supernatural, The Essence of Being, ~Morgan~