Living with Volcanoes

So fellow travelers,  many of us feel we are living on shaky ground these days.  It’s unnerving because even if we have not yet been directly affected,  I expect the majority of my readers know someone who already has been.

For the past five days I have been working my way through waves of confusion, sadness, fear and anger.  I have pushed myself not to react from those frames of reference, even as I go through the important phases of processing those feelings. Denial only ensures our  feelings weigh us down  and now more than ever we need to travel Light as we navigate the tricky path ahead of us.

As is my way, I have sought the quiet wisdom of my favorite walking trails.  My dog Delilah has been thrilled at the additional opportunites to roust little critters from the leaf beds lining our paths. No worries,please, she is properly leashed and supervised so no woodland nymphs are injured in the course of our wanderings.


This morning I found this excellent piece by artist and writer Rachel Barlow. Her insight has pulled together some important pieces for me. (More on that in future posts) I hope my readers will find seeds for the future in her post as well.

http://rachelbarlow.com/2016/11/12/absence-of-fear/

Walk gently on the path my friends and may adventure find you ready

 

 

 

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by on November 13, 2016  •  Permalink
Posted in Creative Tribe, Guest Posts, Social activism, The quest for Inner Peace
Posted by Deborah H Rahalski on November 13, 2016

https://dhrahalski86.com/living-with-volcanoes/

… on ‘we’, the people

I’m with Dingle.

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by on November 11, 2016  •  Permalink
Posted in Creative Tribe, Guest Posts, Social activism
Posted by Deborah H Rahalski on November 11, 2016

https://dhrahalski86.com/on-we-the-people/

Aftermath

So fellow travelers, now is when we must reach out, stay strong and hold fast to all we value and believe.

I am heart broken but I will not be silent.

We are better than this outcome. We are stronger than anger, we are smarter than ignorance. We will not give in to darkness. We must commit ourselves to making the changes needed to move forward regardless of the flaws in leadership.

I will stand for acceptance and equality for all people.  I will share the voices of those who have a story  to tell. I will make inclusion and kindness my mission.

Come, walk this long road with me and shine your lights for others to find their way.


Walk gently on the path my friends and may adventure find you ready.

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by on November 9, 2016  •  Permalink
Posted in Making a difference, Social activism
Posted by Deborah H Rahalski on November 9, 2016

https://dhrahalski86.com/aftermath/

Mysts of Yesteryear

So fellow travelers, there’s a tree I drive past every morning on my way to work.

It stands full and strong, in a wide open field, steadfast in its solitary reign. I never tire of the image as it shifts subtly through the seasons. Some mornings this Tree is my reminder to stand quietly through the winds of constant change.

A few weeks ago early morning light and fog created a mysterious vision. There was something there seeking to be known. Sitting with the images I captured, I sensed words playing in the mist. More sounds than statements, more feelings than phrases, like distant echoes of joy from a playground.

This haiku emerged from an accidental prompt contained in some helpful comments from my creative friends. It fit in a baffling and amusing way.

Myst

O rem yesteryear

Mystery of the unknown

Thoughts rise from the myst


Sometimes when we listen, even when the words don’t seem to make sense, we can find wisdom in our mistakes.

Walk gently on the path my friends and may adventure find you ready.

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by on October 24, 2016  •  Permalink
Posted in Creative Tribe, Photography, Poems and Haiku
Posted by Deborah H Rahalski on October 24, 2016

https://dhrahalski86.com/mysts-of-yesteryear/

Six decades of love

So fellow travelers, a month ago life threw me a major side track which tipped the balance of my time towards adjustments at work. Writing had to take a backseat although I did amass a portfolio of images and notes which are keeping the creative embers alive in my heart.

The tectonic shifts at work seem to have settled and there is a visible Light at the end of the tunnel of this black hole of time constraints.

I’ve traveled out of town this weekend to celebrate my parents 60th wedding annivesary with most of my family  (we’re missing my daughters and son-in-law who live in Portland Oregon.)

Sixty years of love, dedication and good measure of humor. My parents are an inspiration to all of us.


Yesterday was a joyous afternoon of laughter, stories, lots of family snapshots and great food. My brother and sister-in-law are awesome, gracious hosts.

This morning I woke feeling some stretch of the heartstrings, knowing our girls missed being there. Yet when I came downstairs to have breakfast with my parents I caught the glow of morning light on their stunning celebration bouquet. It’s surrounded by family photos and I could feel love’s Light connecting us through the miles. The thought brought peace to my spirit and these words of grace.

Celebrations light

Love glowing bright, true and strong

A family blessed

Walk gently on the path my friends and may adventure find you ready.

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by on October 10, 2016  •  Permalink
Posted in Family and relationships, Poems and Haiku
Posted by Deborah H Rahalski on October 10, 2016

https://dhrahalski86.com/six-decades-of-love/

Poem: Almost Equinox

Farewell Summer, for me means ( as least for a few more year ) good bye to daily writing and spontaneous photo shoots as I head back to work with the high school kids returning to school. Its a frustration I tolerate with decreasing patience each year. For now, this insight on the equinox (or not) from my friend Tom Atkins offers a reflection of the unending push within I often feel myself. Dance in the leaves my friends.

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by on September 22, 2016  •  Permalink
Posted in Guest Posts
Posted by Deborah H Rahalski on September 22, 2016

https://dhrahalski86.com/poem-almost-equinox/

Zen moment LilyBud

So fellow travelers, a zen moment from the pond this morning

Beauty tightly bound

To bloom one must trust let go 

and open to Light

Walk gently on the path my friends and may adventure find you ready. 

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by on September 8, 2016  •  Permalink
Posted in Poems and Haiku, The quest for Inner Peace, Zen Moments
Posted by Deborah H Rahalski on September 8, 2016

https://dhrahalski86.com/zen-moment-lilybud/

Cotton Candy Promises

So fellow travelers, a haiku in honor of making it through the first day of school.

Cotton candy clouds 

Morning sky pink with promise

A new year begins 

Walk gently on the path my friends and may adventure find you ready. 

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by on September 7, 2016  •  Permalink
Posted in Photography, Poems and Haiku
Posted by Deborah H Rahalski on September 7, 2016

https://dhrahalski86.com/cotton-candy-promises/

Zen moment The Mahjong Tree

So fellow travelers, I have arrived at a quiet retreat center for a weekend of creative adventures with several friends.

Early morning bird calls had me out walking a dew laden trail where I came around a corner and startled a small flock of goldfinches.

They swooped up to the shelter of a large tree at the edge of the field  where they twittered loudly at my intrusion. It reminded me of a phrase used in Mahjong to describe the sound of the tiles being mixed before stacking “the twittering of sparrows”.

Twittering tree song

Yellow dots dash branch to branch

Sweet morning greeting


Giving thanks for this zen moment I left the little feathered chorus to resume their morning routine and walked on along the path for further adventures.

Walk gently on the path my friends and may adventure find you ready. 

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by on September 3, 2016  •  Permalink
Posted in Birdacious tales, Creative Tribe, Gratitude, Nature, Poems and Haiku
Posted by Deborah H Rahalski on September 3, 2016

https://dhrahalski86.com/zen-moment-the-mahjong-tree/

Zen moment Morning Light

So fellow travelers,  it is the last weekend of summer break.

A solar light by my pond captured the rays of early morning sunlight and sang a haiku in rhyme

Day dawns golden bright 

Hope and promise of first Light

Adventure takes flight

One more adventure calls.
Stay tuned.

Walk gently on the path my friends and may adventure find you ready. 

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by on September 2, 2016  •  Permalink
Posted in Photography, Poems and Haiku
Posted by Deborah H Rahalski on September 2, 2016

https://dhrahalski86.com/zen-moment-morning-light/

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