Time in a box

Prompt:

Janus is the god of beginnings, gates, transitions, time, duality, doorways, passages, frames, and endings. He is usually depicted as having two faces. The month of January is named for Janus. Source: Wikipedia

Time in a box

If I could secure Time in a box
I would keep it there,
Dormant 
Release it only when
I have time
I’m ready for it
I know myself
I wouldn't need to steal a few minutes here and there,
Day and night would bring me to light and surrender

If I could secure Time in a box
I would release it for 
The long summer days
Sitting under the canopy of a coconut tree
Looking at the sea

I would release it for
The fragrant spring days
Breathing the scent of the flowers and my feet on the lawn

I would release it for 
The cold winter days
Enjoying the warm hearth and a cup of hot chocolate

I would release it for 
The golden autumn days
Crushing leaves and all the pumpkin spice

If I could secure Time in a box
I would release it for ...

And you? Would you secure Time or let it be free?

Wishing you a lovely weekend!

The Shadow Woman

Have you listened to poems instead of reading them? Last night I listened to two poems, the reader had a calm voice, and she advised us to close our eyes. It was such a powerful experience, a burst of creativity. Before sleeping I wrote the poem below, I had in mind the prompt for the 99-word challenge, Lady Shadow, and also I thought it is perfect for the Moonwashed challenge, Evolve. 

You are not alone
Within you
There is a woman
The true version of yourself
The one that lurks in the dark
The one that steps side by side with you
The one that sees what you don’t see
But remains quiet
The one that talks to you through dreams and nightmares
The one that holds you when you need it most
You are not alone
Listen to her and evolve
The wise words of someone that sees the truth
The shadow woman
Carrying the experience of generations
The ones that were here before you
You are not alone

Foolish decision – fiction

Two little sisters were in need of a pet.

Papa, may we have a puppy? Too much barking! Papa, may we have a kitten? Too many claws. The girls were sad, and papa was worried. Which pet would be convenient for all? Bunnies! Two of them. The girls are happy and PomPom and Fluffy are growing each day, one black and the other white. The girls are all smiles as the months go by.

Suddenly one day: Papa, the TV isn’t working. Papa, the phone isn’t working. Papa, the refrigerator is warm…

Girls, what are the rabbits chewing on?

2023 journals

These are my new journals for the start of the year. The blue one is for morning pages and occasional writing. It has dotted pages, so I can write both ways, vertically or horizontally depending on my mood.

The small one is for art journaling, I love to create in tiny journals! I finished its cover this weekend and organized the first pages.

I had in mind my word and colour of the year when setting them up: Expansion and blue!

I added my own stickers on the cover to personalize it. I only kept the message on the bottom, it goes well with my journaling intention.

I still need to work on my gratitude journal. I have a few pages left in the one I’m using now, so I’ll keep going until I have time to set up the new one.

“Journal writing, when it becomes a ritual for transformation,
is not only life-changing but life-expanding.”
Jen Williamson

expansion

Hello and Happy New Year!

My word for 2023 is expansion, in the sense of claiming space for myself. My colour for this year is blue, immense as the sky and the oceans. What do I want? Not sure, but I want to breathe and be free.

Today, I saw the prompt for the story challenge in 99-words on the Carrot Ranch blog – Sabbatical. I was wondering how it would feel to have a sabbatical from me, the person I’m now.

Here it is in 99-words:

Sabbatical from me

One year not being me. Who would I be? A person carrying the weight of the past, or new thoughts would populate my mind. No attachment to society, no deadlines, of course, no blogging or Instagram. Total freedom of being. A cabin on a small island; a beach or a mountain; a fireplace and white lace curtains dancing with the soft breeze. No watch, no time, just flowing as the sun and the moon. Lots of journals and books. A garden with fresh vegetables and fruits. A cat as a companion, a golden one, to brighten up the cabin.   

Wishing a wonderful new year to you!

E.

if you see red, click

One of the rules I’ve learnt in a photography class is “if you see read, click”! I applied this rule a few days back during a walk on a trail close to my house. I had my Nikon camera with me and I wandered around looking for red. The day was cloudy and dry, but I was lucky enough to find ‘red’ on my way.

This week is the last work week before the holidays. I’m looking forward to a white Christmas, but not sure if it will happen, we had some snow, but it has melted already. The forecast says snow is on the way and it will stay for a long time.

 “I want a red to be sonorous, to sound like a bell.

If it doesn’t turn out that way, I add more reds and other colors until I get it.”

Pierre-Auguste Renoir

With or without snow it is pretty around here.

Enjoy your week!

Book review :: Fairies, Myths, & Magic II

I downloaded this book last night! I read it in one sitting. I couldn’t put it down!

Lots of wonderful short stories about winter magic. It contains explanations for many Celtic terms, such as Yule, Solstice …, and the meaning of winter decorations we add to our house. And it has recipes! I can’t wait to try some of them.

And of course, being Colleen’s book it has to have poetry. Many beautiful poems in there, and the illustrations are lovely.

The poem below is an example of all the goodness you will find in this book.

Colleen Chesebro

notebooks

My journaling notebook has a few blank pages left in it, probably it’ll end exactly in the last few days of the year.

I already have a new notebook, actually three new ones, I haven’t decided yet which one to use next. Since it’ll only be a few days before the new year, I better wait to start it in 2023. I’ll keep up with my writing using inserts for my travel and passport notebooks.

I buy a bunch of these tiny inserts, they have a plain cover so I decorate them the way I’m inspired to do at that moment, and they are always at hand to be filled up with words and dreams.

“Journal writing, when it becomes a ritual for transformation,

is not only life-changing but life-expanding.”


Jen Williamson

And you? Have you chosen a notebook for the new year?

E.