mermaidcamp

mermaidcamp

Keeping current in wellness, in and out of the water

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The Road to Truth is Paved by Politicians

May 10, 2016 — 4 Comments

vehicle

vehicle

“There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not sharing.”
The Buddha

The truth for a grade school student is not the same as the truth for a senior citizen. Perspective is the reason we believe one thing or another at any given time.  Now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face.  This means that we have more knowledge of the bigger picture as we mature and travel along the road to truth.  We should be acquiring sophistication and compassion for other living things as we become more visionary on this path.  Observation of the world political situation leads us to believe that we are failing at that mission. We have wandered off the route into unmapped territory.  Dark ignorance and evil intent appear to be taking ground in the battle against harmony and peace.

In all fairy tales and mythology the hero learns from tragic mistakes.  At the end of the story the moral is clear and the lesson is imprinted in the mind of the audience.  Once committed the hero has no choice.  Like Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita, the hero is taught mastery through trust in divine guidance in freaky circumstances.  He fights the symbolic battles he finds obstructing his way.  The hero is fated to go all the way. That is what distinguishes his character from others. He finishes the difficult job, then shares the wisdom he has found within his quest.  He saves the day and teaches an important social and political object lesson to the people.

Action without attachment was the lesson Krishna taught Arjuna during the heat of battle.  It is impossible to know the moral of a story until it ends, so it is imperative that the hero finish his job.  As I experience the presidential politics of 2016 I certainly hope there is a blue guy driving the chariot who will lead us into a surprise ending.  These are certainly freaky circumstances with strong catalytic tendencies.  How do you think this story will end, gentle reader?  Fill in the blank.

Insight

Insight

It Could Be Verse

May 1, 2016 — 3 Comments

NaPoWriMo2016

NaPoWriMo2016

I am a happy graduate of National Poetry Writing Month, 2016. This, my third time participating, taught me some good lessons. The best part of the month is always reading and discovering other poets.  Here are just a few wonderful poems I found written during April:

There are more poets than I can possibly mention that show great talent and unique perspective.  I hope you will investigate to find some poetry you like to read in this group or at the library.  People take this 30 poems in 30 days challenge for different reasons.  I find it stimulates my vocabulary as well as my visual sense because I always use an image with my poem. Sometimes I draw it.   Each year I tell myself how therapeutic it is to create poetry and that I will continue the craft on my tumblr, which is linked for #NaPoWriMo with my wordpress for poetry month.  This could be the year, gentle readers.  The consistent lesson I have learned from these three years of participation is that other people like the poems that are not my own favorites, and vice versa.  Later when I read some of my work I am kind of surprised it came from me, but there it is. These are a few of the reasons I urge you to write some verse:

  • The process reveals the subconscious
  • Words and dream images have powerful connections
  • Poems by others stimulate the muse
  • Once a poem has a concept the mind works on it in the background
  • Poetry clears the soul of repressed feelings and notions

You don’t have to show anyone what you write in order to benefit from trying your hand as a poet.  You might be one…and don’t know it.  Don’t wait until April 2017 to start.  If you start now you will be sufficiently warmed up for the next round.

 

Narrow Vision

April 29, 2016 — 1 Comment

the city

the city

Blind to either side, the galloping force chases the scoundrels with intent

Misses the ongoing story, producing poverty, lowering standards for life

Hunger, insecurity, pessimism, lack of healthy enviornment, to a growing extent

Contribute to a downward spiral for those already sinking in economic strife

Streams and creeks full of excuses mixed with social work are clogged

Water is evaporating above the ground while we sink the drills deeper for the prize

NaPoWriMo2016

NaPoWriMo2016

Join poets around the world for #NaPoWriMo this April.  Find new meaning in words.

Fluid Forrest 

April 28, 2016 — 1 Comment

Lazy floating clouds float over the roaring river in the canyon deep and steep

Rushing rapids, fishing birds, pine forrest covers the hillside where strangers sleep

Enveloped in dreamtime full of predictions, curses, spells, natural magic double

Sifting through remnants of vanishing memories found by picking in the rubble

Of abandoned relationships, casues, philosophy, belief, loyalty learned by rote

The current of memory is swift, rocking and shaking the flimsy leaking boat

Carrying karma back to the tributaries, evaporation lifts moisture toward the sky

The cycles are eternal never breaking the contract first to float and then to fly

NaPoWriMo2016

NaPoWriMo2016

Join the poets of the world at #NaPoWriMo in April to read, write, and indulge in poetry.

Skeleton Prism

April 27, 2016 — 1 Comment

figure

figure

The key fits the opening of the light between the refracting colors swirling down
Slipping the skeleton into the rainbow takes precision, sophistication and heart
Careful with the riptides, the pirate crew left roaming the beach next to the town
The connection must be complete or the inertia of lazy innacuracy will start
To erode the memory and history of mankind leaving the core of the matter exposed
To elements corosive, destructive, mind numbing, passively aggresively confused
With foundations and structure built on mendacity that has been politically superimposed
The atmosphere, the liquids and all the thoughts, have been examined and excused

 

 

NaPoWriMo2016

NaPoWriMo2016

April is National Poetry Writing Month, aka #NaPoWriMo.  Join the fun reading, writing and living the poetic life.  Try something new!!

Charting the Way

April 26, 2016 — 1 Comment

sand mandala

sand mandala

We find our place by reading the stars, following the charts to the destination

How far must we travel to reach our destiny and our eventual demise?

We loose our way while we become distracted and consumed by hesitation

Does this road lead us home or to a different universe where questions arise

About the nature of this well worn system we have followed blindly into hell?

Escape will be a struggle without the navigation tools we used to get here

It will be impossible to see how we fit in, our belief has fallen under the spell

Of false prophet pretenders telling stories designed to make us shake in fear

NaPoWriMo2016

NaPoWriMo2016

This month of poetry writing is soon to end. This year it has gone quickly for me. Find poets to read and enjoy at #NaPoWriMo in April every year.  Consider writing some for submission.  Join the poetry party.

Gravity

April 22, 2016 — 3 Comments

red leafed tree

red leafed tree

rose

rose

grapefruit

grapefruit

Hanging from the tree to ripen, we fall when we are ready
Weight and pull toward the earth is constant and steady
Without orbit and centrifugal force we could not anchor to the ground
Our voices would float into space leaving no trace, vanishing without a sound
There would be no palpable difference between light and heavy
Our fate is to look up to find the place where divinity is dwelling
Religious orders, creation stories, iconic books are all-compelling
Yet earth itself holds us here with an understanding that we will return
To become dust when the time bell rings and we take our final turn
To bless this grave planet whose great wealth we have been selling

NaPoWriMo2016

NaPoWriMo2016

April is a month for poetry writing all over the world.  Tune in to #NaPoWriMo to find new poets to read or submit your own work.

Government Riddle

April 20, 2016 — 6 Comments

halls of justice

halls of justice

safe

safe

Where is the debate avoider

Controlling decider

Heavily armed, obscuring the truth

The invading, occupying force

Following orders that arrive

Trickling down from a wizard figure

Floating out of sight in a balloon

On a vector tangential to reality

Swirling in a vortex of candy coated spin?

The government is flying high on a cloud of delusion

NaPoWriMo2016

NaPoWriMo2016

Today’s prompt is to use kenning, a kind of riddle from Norse poetry.  Since the elections are upon us during #NaPoWriMo I was inspired to write about the government.  Join poets around the world this month reading and writing poetry.

 

 

How to Showcase Your Ignorance

April 19, 2016 — 1 Comment

Ignorance

Ignorance

Set your own priorities with no regard for reality or truth

Walk backwards into situations, the blind back of your head leading

Make sure you ignore the voices pleading, the garden in need of weeding

Blame poorly informed decisions and disruptive behaviors on the youth

Take no responsibility for the results of your actions, causes or effects

Turn your face in both directions speaking platitudes while thinking even worse

Ethical boundaries destroyed and forgotten by superstitious unconscious curse

Thoughts drift in the back door of imaginary enemies and fraudulent respects

NaPoWriMo2016

NaPoWriMo2016

Join the poetry fiesta all month in April at #NaPoWriMo .  Submit your own poems and read the work of other poets.

Title Wave

April 17, 2016 — 1 Comment

Waving

Waving

Stretching out the vocabulary in search of catchy rich phrases to use as bait

To entice the dear reader to click onward with interest and intellectual curiosity

Words that sound funny when spoken are at the top of my title writing lists

These are followed by ironic twists and puns on popular trending events of the day

Alliteration is always appreciated as it is displayed across the stream of options

Decide to read or not to read, the precious investment of attention and time is given

To the words that signal a meaningful moment, a change of perspective, perhaps new ideas

NaPoWriMo2016

NaPoWriMo2016

Find poets to follow at #NaPoWriMo in April.  Submit poems of your own and experience to joy of writing poetry.