The Vibrant Channeled Creator

caricatures of my family by Jeanne Poland

i carry your heart with me
by E. E. Cummings

I carry your heart with me (I carry it in

my heart)i am never without it(anywhere

i go you go, my dear;and whatever is done

by only me is your doing,my darling)                                                              

 i fear no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want

no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)

and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you
here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows

higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that’s keeping the stars apart
i carry your heart with me(i carry it in my heart)

“i carry your heart with me” by E.E. Cummings from Complete Poems: 1904-1962. © Liveright Publishing Corporation, 1991. Reprinted with permission.  

“Writing is a performance, like singing an aria or dancing a jig” —Stephen Greenblatt

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2022
“For only the Lord can give us confirmation of what we are worth. He tells us this every day from the cross: he died for us, to show us how precious we are in his eyes. There is no obstacle or failure that can prevent his tender embrace. The examination of conscience helps a great deal, because in this way we see that our heart is not a road where everything passes without us knowing about it. No. To see: what passed by today? What happened? What made me react? What made me sad? What made me joyful? What was bad, and did I harm others? Seeing the route our feelings took, the attractions in my heart during the day.” 
Pope Francis

 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2022

“Living in the age of information technology, we know how important it is to know the password in order to get into the programmes where the most personal and valuable information is stored. But spiritual life, too, has its “passwords”: there are words that touch the heart because they refer to what we are most sensitive to. The tempter, that is, the devil, knows these passwords well, and its important that we know them too, so as not to find ourselves where we do not want to be. Temptation does not necessarily suggest bad things, but often haphazard things, presented with excessive importance. In this way it hypnotizes us with the attraction that these things stir in us, things that are beautiful but illusory, that cannot deliver what they promise, and therefore leave us in the end with a sense of emptiness and sadness.”

 Pope Francis

 

Changing Genres
by Dean Young
I was satisfied with haiku until I met you,

jar of octopus, cuckoo’s cry, 5-7-5,

but now I want a Russian novel,

a 50-page description of you sleeping,

another 75 of what you think staring out

a window. I don’t care about the plot

although I suppose there will have to be one

,the usual separation of the lovers, turbulent

seas, danger of decommission in spite

of constant war, time in gulps and glitches

passing,squibs of threnody, a fallen nest,

speckled eggs somehow uncrushed, the sled

outracing the wolves on the steppes, the huge

glittering ball where all that matters

is a kiss at the end of a dark hall.

At dawn the officers ride back to the garrison,

one without a glove, the entire last chapter

about a necklace that couldn’t be worn

inherited by a great-niece

along with the love letters bound in silk.

“Changing Genres” by Dean Young,

from Fall Higher. © Copper Canyon Press, 2011. Reprinted with permission.

It’s the birthday of novelist Elmore Leonard (books by this author), born in New Orleans in 1925. He learned to write by reading, especially Hemingway and Steinbeck. He still keeps a portrait of Hemingway in his office. He said: “I feel that I learned to write Westerns by reading and rereading For Whom the Bells Tolls. […] But I was not influenced by his attitude, thank God. My attitude is much less serious. I see absurdities in serious situations, influenced in this regard by Vonnegut, Richard Bissell, and Mark Harris, and this shows in my writing. It’s your attitude that determines your sound, not style.”
Elmore Leonard has written more than 40 novels — as soon as he finishes one, he starts on another. He’s famous for his advice for writers. In 2001, he published a piece in The New York Times called “Easy on the Adverbs, Exclamation Points and Especially Hooptedoodle.” He gave 10 rules, things like “Never open a book with weather”; “Never use a verb other than ‘said’ to carry dialogue”; “Avoid detailed descriptions of characters”; and “Try to leave out the parts that readers tend to skip.” He wrote: “Think of what you skip reading a novel: thick paragraphs of prose you can see have too many words in them. What the writer is doing, he’s writing, perpetrating hooptedoodle, perhaps taking another shot at the weather, or has gone into the character’s head, and the reader either knows what the guy’s thinking or doesn’t care. I’ll bet you don’t skip dialogue. My most important rule is one that sums up the 10. If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it.”
Elmore Leonard’s newest novel, Raylan,is due out next year.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2022
“Knowing oneself is not difficult, but it is laborious: it implies patient soul-searching. It requires the capacity to stop, to “deactivate the autopilot”, to acquire awareness of our way of acting, of the feelings that dwell within us, of the recurrent thoughts that condition us, and often unconsciously. It also requires that we distinguish between emotions and spiritual faculties. “I feel” is not the same as “I am convinced”; “I feel like” is not the same as “I want”. Thus, we come to recognize that the view we have of ourselves and of reality is at times somewhat distorted. To realize this is a grace!” 
Pope Francis

October 10
by Wendell Berry

Now constantly there is the sound

quieter than rain

of the leaves falling

Under their loosening bright

gold, the sycamore limbs

bleach whiter.
Now the only flowers

are bees weed and aster, spray

of their white and lavender

over the brown leaves.
The calling of a crow sounds

Loud — landmark — now

that the life of summer falls

silent, and the nights grow.

“October 10” by Wendell Berry from New Collected Poems. © Counterpoint, 2012. Reprinted with permission. 

MONDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2022
“It is written in the Bible: “Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls” (Jer 6:16).

I assure you of my prayers for the victims of the mad act of violence that took place three days ago in Thailand. With deep emotion, I entrust their lives to the Father, especially the little children and their families.

And now let us turn to the Virgin Mary that she might help us be witnesses of the Gospel, enlivened by the example of the Saints.” 
Pope Francis

Your life is about to change in a bittersweet mix of good and bad fortune.

The tarot card of the day is The Wheel of Fortune.
The tarot’s Wheel of Fortune symbolizes how everything is continuously evolving. It’s been said that whatever goes up must come down, and whatever goes around comes back.

The orange wheel in the background of this card represents the ever-changing cycles of life. The outer circle of the wheel is decorated with symbols of the zodiac, and the inner circle contains the Hebrew letters that spell out TARO, or “journey.”
In addition, each corner features the emblems of one of the four Evangelists: a human figure (Matthew), a lion (Mark), an ox (Luke), and an eagle (John).
Surrounding the wheel is a snake, representing the duality of good and evil, life and death.
A sphinx, a hybrid animal with humanoid proportions and a lion’s physique, sits atop the wheel. The sphinx represents knowledge, mystery, and power. Under the wheel is a devil, representing temptation, addiction, and lust.
You are about to go through a major change in your life. Meeting a new person or starting a new job can both be significant in their ways. You must always be ready for the ups and downs that accompany any kind of transition.
Always be prepared for the unexpected, and don’t be scared to try something new.
Despite the ups and downs, the only constant in life is that things will change. So embrace the uncertainty, and enjoy the ride. Who knows where it might take you?

Let Go of the Need to Control Everything
You feel you need to take control of a situation, but try to let go. Sometimes you just have to let the cards fall where they may.
The need for authority may stem from an underlying sense of insecurity. Maybe you’re afraid of change, or perhaps you’re afraid of making the wrong choice. So relax and have faith that you can deal with whatever comes your way.
The time is right to experiment with new approaches. Perhaps it’s a new career or a romantic partner. Whatever it is, go into it with an open mind and heart. Be prepared for the good and the bad, but don’t let your fear hold you back.
Change is always scary, but remember that it’s also exciting. So just go with the flow and see where it takes you.
Be Patient
It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day grind and forget that life is always moving forward. Things are progressing as they should, though not as rapidly as you’d like. So trust the universe’s timing and be patient. Good things come to those who wait.
Reflect on your past choices. If you’re not happy with where you are, it may be because of your decisions. Life has a way of mirroring our choices back to us. If you want to see change, start with your attitude and behavior.

What Goes Around Comes Around
If you’ve been putting out negative energy, don’t be surprised when you start attracting negative experiences. But, on the flip side, good things will come your way if you’ve been radiating positivity.
Life is like a wheel, always moving and constantly changing. There’s no use in resisting the current; we might as well go with the flow.
Whatever we do, we will eventually reap what we’ve sown. Hence, watch what you think, say, and do. Treat others how you want to be treated, and don’t forget to show yourself some love.
Your life is transforming dramatically. What was previously on top may suddenly be on the bottom, but that doesn’t mean you should give up hope.
After all, this occurs naturally as part of the cycle of life. Because of this, it’s best to just go with the flow and see where it takes you. Life changes are out of our control but rest assured; they will eventually lead to something better.
Today’s Suggested Action
Remember, what goes around comes around. So be kind to others and yourself, and good things will come your way.
Treat yourself to something special or just take some alone time to refresh your mind and spirit. Smile at a stranger, buy a coffee for the person behind you at the coffee shop, or call an old friend you haven’t talked to in a while. Soon you’ll feel positivity radiating from you and the universe will give back to you tenfold.

 

Calligraphy by Jeanne

It’s the birthday of journalist, nonfiction author, and writing teacher William Zinsser (books by this author), born in New York City in 1922. He’s written several books, including a couple of memoirs and books about travel, jazz, and baseball. His best-known work is On Writing Well (1976). In it he advocates a clean, spare style: “Clutter is the disease of American writing. We are a society strangling in unnecessary words, circular constructions, pompous frills, and meaningless jargon.”
He has a bit of advice for would-be authors of memoir: “Be yourself and your readers will follow you anywhere. Try to commit an act of writing and they will jump overboard to get away.”
Mambo Cadillac
by Barbara Hamby
Drive me to the edge in your Mambo Cadillac,      turn left at the graveyard and gas that baby, the blacknight ringing with its holy roller scream. I’ll clock

 you on the highway at three a.m., brother, amen, smack

the road as hard as we can, because I’m gonna crack 

     the world in two, make a hoodoo soup with chicken necks,

a gumbo with plutonium roux, a little snack 

     before the dirt-and-jalapeño stew that will shuckt

he skin right off your slinky hips, Mr. I’m-not-stuck

      in-a-middle-class-prison-with-someone-I-hate sack

of blues. Put on your high-wire shoes, Mr. Right, and stick

      with me. I’m going nowhere fast, the burlesque

queen of this dim scene, I want to feel the wind, the Glock 

     in my mouth, going south, down-by-the-riverside shock

of the view. Take me to Shingles Fried Chicken Shack

      in your Mambo Cadillac. I was gone, but I’m back

for good this time. I’ve taken a shine to daylight. Crank 

     up that radio, baby, put on some dance music

and shake your moneymaker, doll, rev it up to Mach

2, I’m talking to you, Mr. Magoo. Sit up, check

out that blonde with the leopard print tattoo. O she’ll lick 

     the sugar right off your doughnut and bill you, too, speak

French while she do the do. Parlez-vous français? So, pick 

     me up tonight at ten in your Mambo Cadillac

Chile, Argentina, Peru. Take some time off work;

we’re gonna be a lot longer than a week

or two. Is this D-day or Waterloo? White or black—

it’s up to you. We’ll be in Mexico tonight. Pack

a razor, pack some glue. Things fall apart off the track,

      cause you’re looking for love, but I’m looking for a wreck.

“Mambo Cadillac” by Barbara Hamby, from All-Night Lingo Tango. © University of Pittsburg Press, 2009.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2022
“The Gospel calls us to “repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near!” (Mt 3:2) It summons us to a new relationship with God and also entails a different relationship with others and with creation. Safeguarding God’s work is an essential part of the Christian life.” 
Pope Francis

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2022
“I knew an old religious brother who was the doorman of a boarding school, and every time he could he would approach the chapel, look at the altar, and say, “Hello,” because he was close to Jesus… This is the relationship we must have in prayer: closeness, affective closeness, as brothers and sisters, closeness with Jesus. A smile, a simple gesture, and not reciting words that do not reach the heart… It is a grace we must ask for one another: to see Jesus as our friend, as our greatest friend, our faithful friend, who does not blackmail, above all who never abandons us, even when we turn away from Him.” 
Pope Francis

Money makes the world go around. And, when money is a problem, it weighs very heavily on your mind. Money problems can break up relationships as well as causing you no end of sleepless nights.If you’ve been laid off from work, had your position terminated, or are having trouble paying your bills, it’s natural for you to experience negative emotions such as depression and anxiety. Unfortunately, worries about finances are never far from the minds of many.It’s true that fretting won’t get you very far. Instead, working on developing a strategy to address your money issues might help alleviate some of the associated stress. In addition, the rewards that come with addressing financial concerns, such as clearing off debts, saving more money, and lowering borrowing, can also enhance your view on life as a whole.Today we are using the Angels of Abundance Oracle Cards by Doreen Virtue and Radleigh Valentine to tune into the energy of your angels.How Can I Sleep at Night When All I Do is Worry About Money?

What the angels wish you to know today is that things can only get better. There WILL be improvements on their way to you if you ask for their help. They understand just how difficult your life is now. You seem to be performing a never-ending balancing act in terms of your finances which is really getting you down.

It is also a good idea to ask others for help. Remember that a problem shared is a problem halved. Additionally, when you lighten your load by telling someone about your financial problems, you will feel better prepared to deal with everything you need to.Have a think to yourself to figure out who best to open up to. Bear in mind that you can always ask a professional for their help either now or in the future. When you begin working on your problems, you will then be able to sleep far better at night.

What Practical Steps Can I Take Today?Money worries have a way of making you feel so low that you perhaps feel that you don’t deserve to be happy. Perhaps you feel a sense of guilt about getting into the position you’re in. However, nothing can be further from the truth.

You are a wonderful child of God who deserves only good things and support. So, today, work on making the changes you need to. Yes, it’s hard but by working out payments and budgets, you’ll at least have a plan to begin with.Ensure that you’re staying on track with your usually daily routine. You need to be as healthy and fit as possible to ensure you can get through this time. Surround yourself with good people who make you feel needed and cared for so that they can raise your spirits when you need them too.Just be your wonderful self, knowing that you’ve had a blip in life but that you are recovering day by day.

Remember that nobody can take who you are and all your achievements away from you. By working with someone like a financial advisor or even a friend, you can sit down and decide on a strategy to get your finances in order. Good partnerships are crucial to your future success so get started on this as soon as you can.Time is of the essence so that you can learn to relax and to enjoy life again without having the specter of worry hanging over you all the time.Additionally, pay attention to how much you’re spending as part of your plan. It’s all too easy to get the credit card out when we see something we want. So, put those cards away if possible and look forward to your new life of financial freedom!

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2022

“Familiarity with God can melt doubts and fears in a gentle way… It is said that two spouses who have lived together for so long loving each other end up resembling each other. Something similar can be said about affective prayer: in a gradual but effective way it makes us more and more able to recognize what counts through connaturality, as something that springs from the depths of our being.” Pope Francis 

Stephen Greenblatt Tuesday, October 4, ’22. The Poetry Almanac

“We dance for laughter, we dance for tears, we dance for madness, we dance for fears, we dance for hopes, we dance for screams, we are the dancers, we create the dreams.”
Albert Einstein
Fernando Botero – The Dancers, 1987.

“Writing is a performance, like singing an aria or dancing a jig”

—Stephen Greenblatt

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2022
“When I encounter the Lord in prayer, I become joyful. Each one of us becomes joyful, a beautiful thing. Sadness, or fear, on the other hand, are signs of distance from God… Those who turn away from the Lord are never happy, even though they have an abundance of possessions and possibilities at their disposal.” 

Pope Francis

The tarot card of the day is the Four of Cups.
The Four of Cups card shows a man sitting under a tree, having his arms crossed. The expression indicates that he is deep in thought, meditating, or contemplation.

He is deep in thought, so he does not notice that there is an arm offering him a cup. Although there are three other cups at his feet, it seems he does not care or hasn’t noticed it.
The Four of Cups typically symbolizes a period of introspection or boredom. This can represent a time when someone is not feeling challenged or fulfilled in their current situation and may be considering making a change.
It can also indicate a need to take a break from the daily life’s hustle and bustle and spend some time alone in reflection.
Love Yourself
In love and relationships, the Four of Cups can sometimes represent a relationship that has become stagnant. If you find yourself in this situation, it may be time to evaluate what you really want out of the relationship.
What exactly are you missing out on? What things may you do to rekindle the romance in your relationship? It may be essential to take a step back at times to go forward.
The Four of Cups might also signify that you require some alone time. Is your present circumstance making you feel overwhelmed or weighed down? Taking a break and recharging your batteries might be the most beneficial thing you can do at times.
Spend some alone time doing activities that bring you joy. This will allow you to return energized and ready to meet any obstacles that may emerge. Also, you can only love someone if you take the time to love yourself.
Focus Your Energy on Productivity
The Four of Cups can mean a lack of motivation in your workplace. You may have trouble focusing when it is time for you to perform your duties. This might be due to your dissatisfaction with your current job.
You have to be thankful because you are employed. Try to stay positive and focus on the good things around you. It’s better to have a career you are not so crazy about rather than to be unemployed.
Transfer the loss of motivation energy into something that will help you perform your tasks better. For example, you can take classes that will give you extra expertise in your field.
You can even get a promotion or job offer from a place of interest if you do your job well. But, of course, all of this is only feasible if you focus on the good parts of every circumstance.
The Four of Cups is about realizing the opportunity that cannot be seen clearly. But, unfortunately, some opportunities present themselves without you noticing it.
Keep your eyes open because it might be right under your eyes. Stay positive along the way; you will not be caught lacking when the opportunity finally presents itself.

Always Be Grateful
You may be feeling depressed, tired, or have a sense of damage emotionally and spiritually. This is frustrating because sometimes you want to stop these emotions from consuming you, but you can’t.
Always showing gratitude might not change things physically, but it can make you feel better. Always bear in mind that there is someone who might be going through worse, but they still keep a smile on their face.
You can say that the Four of Cups represent damage control. You may have been emotionally harmed and are attempting to shield yourself from more harm. Someone may have damaged you, but this should not be a reason for concern.
Instead of closing yourself completely, allow yourself to heal, and eventually, you will be able to open up again. Also, pay attention to your intuition and see what changes you may need to make to find more happiness and satisfaction.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2022
“Discernment does not claim absolute certainty, it is not a chemically pure method, it does not claim absolute certainty, because it is about life, and life is not always logical, it has many aspects that cannot be enclosed in one category of thought. We would like to know precisely what should be done, yet even when it happens, we do not always act accordingly. How many times have we, too, had the experience described by the apostle Paul, who says: “For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want” (Rom. 7:19).” 
Pope Francis

The tarot card is the card of the day: The Moon in reverse.

The tarot card of the day is The Moon in reverse.
The reversed Moon often indicates confusion, illusion, or fear. You want to advance in life but don’t know where to start. You have to start defining your fears and anxiety instead of allowing them to define you.

This is a kind reminder from the universe to check in with yourself. The Moon can represent our fears or even illusions of fear, and that means it’s time to recognize where we may be projecting and instead need to take action.
Cherish Yourself
It may be that you are not in touch with your true feelings about your work, which can lead to frustration.
To get back on track, try to spend some time each day exploring your inner thoughts and feelings about your work. This can be through journaling, meditation, or simply taking some time to sit with your feelings and try to understand them.
Once you have a better understanding of your true feelings, you can start making changes to your work life that will help you feel more fulfilled.
Use Your Feelings to Produce Something Great
You may be feeling insecure or doubtful in your current relationship. This might be the result of unresolved conflicts from the past reappearing. If you’re not careful, these negative feelings can spiral out of control and damage your relationship.
Fortunately, there are things you can do to work through these issues and get your relationship back on track. Donate your time to pinpoint the root of your insecurity.
If it’s something from the past, see if you can talk to your partner about it and resolve the issue. If it’s something that happened recently, try to be honest with your partner about how you’re feeling.

Don’t Give in to Fear
Your fears may manifest as money troubles, unexpected expenses, or difficulty managing your finances. However, all is not lost! There are ways to get through this transit and improve your financial situation.
Examine your spending patterns carefully. Do you have a habit of overspending? Do you have any unnecessary expenses or loans that you can cut out or pay off? If that’s the case,now is the time to make some adjustments. You may also need to reevaluate your financial situation and ensure that you are living within your means.
Also, consider ways to boost your income. Any extra money you can bring in will help ease your financial burden. It can also help you reduce the amount of your loans.
Things will eventually improve, so don’t let your finances get you down. Keep going and strive for a brighter future.
Time to Change Things for Good
In your professional life, you may be undergoing a moment of turbulence or transition. This could be due to a recent job loss, change in management, or simply a general feeling of dissatisfaction with your current situation.
The good news is that this period of transition can be used to your advantage if you are willing to take some risks and make some changes.
The first step is to take a close look at your career goals and decide what it is you really want to do with your life.

Now is the moment to make a change if you are unsatisfied with your existing circumstances. It may be scary, but it is also an exciting opportunity to start fresh and create the career you have always dreamed of.
Once you have a clear idea of your goals, the next step is to start taking action. This may mean updating your resume, networking with new people, or exploring different job opportunities.
Use this period of transition or treatment as an opportunity to reassess your goals and take steps towards creating the career you truly want. Do you want to volunteer and donate your time?
It may also be time to transfer your focus and energies elsewhere. This could mean seeking treatment for something that has caused damage to your health or well-being, or simply moving on from a situation that’s no longer working for you. Trust your intuition and take whatever action feels right.
Allocate some of your time for treatment and recovery. This may include damage control if necessary. Remember to stay positive and focus on your goals. With a little effort, you can turn this situation around.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2022
“Prayer is an indispensable aid for spiritual discernment, especially when it involves the affective dimension, enabling us to address God with simplicity and familiarity, as one would speak to a friend… True prayer is familiarity with and confidence in God… This familiarity overcomes fear or doubt that His will is not for our good, a temptation that sometimes runs through our thoughts and makes our heart restless and uncertain, or even bitter.” 
Pope Francis