The Vibrant Channeled Creator

SUNDAY, JULY 10, 2022
“There is a common ground on which all young people can meet, and that is the desire for an authentic, beautiful and profound love. Please, do not be afraid of that kind of love! It is the love that Jesus reveals to us and that Saint Paul describes as “patient and kind”, that does not insist on its own way but rejoices in the truth. I encourage you to discover for yourselves the witness to that love given by the saints in every age, even in our own day. It shows – more than any words – that Christianity consists not in a series of prohibitions that stifle the desire for happiness, but in a life project capable of bringing fulfilment to every human heart. Don’t be afraid to rebel against the growing tendency to reduce love to something banal, without beauty or genuine sharing, lacking in fidelity and responsibility. Whenever we use others as objects for our own selfish purposes, hearts end up being broken and leave only sadness and emptiness in their wake.”
Pope Francis

Felice Casorati – Dreaming of Pomegranates 1913

Do you ever experience days when you go to bed exhausted and wake up exhausted, even after a reasonable amount of sleep? Sometimes there is not enough time to complete all the tasks at hand. I’ve had quite a few of those days recently. Juggling work with numerous varied and stressful family commitments together with everything else means there’s often no ‘me’ time. 
 
I try to remember this mantra: “Things will be easier, everything will work out in the end, persevere; the best is yet to come.”
 
Stay strong, stay well and give yourself a big hug!
 
Love and light, 
Ravenous Butterflies XXX

SATURDAY, JULY 9, 2022
“Peace is indivisible, and to be truly just and lasting, it has to be universal. It is deceptive and self-defeating reasoning to think that the security and peace of some is disconnected from the collective security and peace of others. This is also one of the lessons that the Covid-19 pandemic has tragically demonstrated. The security of our own future depends on guaranteeing the peaceful security of others, for if peace, security and stability are not established globally, they will not be enjoyed at all. Individually and collectively, we are responsible for the present and future well-being of our brothers and sisters.”
Pope Francis
 

Daily Guidance From Your Angels by Doreen Virtue
Today’s message is about having the perfect chance to let bygones be bygones. Your angel is sending you this card because you may have been in pain lately. Your heart may be aching because of what other people have done to you, but you shouldn’t dwell on being unappeasable.

Don’t let the negative thoughts dwell in your mind because they’ll be like termites who eat on the very structure of many homes. Little by little, without you noticing, it can create huge damages which will be hard to restore.
Termites may be hard to shoo away, and the safety of your homes depends on their extermination.
Whenever you’re exposed to negative or low vibratory energy, you’ll experience tremendous blockages in your life—and you don’t want that to happen. There may be some hard feelings you’ve been keeping inside you for some time now. Those things can hinder the flow of good energy in your life.
For one thing, you may be having a tough time moving on from your past choices which led to disagreements. This may lead you to have feelings of regret. Remember, it’s not only other people that you have to forgive. The first thing you must free from guilt is your own self.

You may also have misunderstandings with other people which could lead to some strain in your relationship. That’s why your angel is letting you know about the perfect opportunity to mend the crack while it’s not yet fully fractured.
Just like how people would deal with termites in their homes, remove the useless things that are trying to weaken your positive foundation. If you won’t deal with them as soon as you can, you may be devastated to find one day that the most important things in your life are already crumbling down.
Keep in mind, forgiving is far different from forgetting. It’s not the deed you’ll be forgiving, but the person who did the action. You must be willing to allow the Angels to assist you in cleansing your heart and mind from the toxicity of resentment. Your angels are more than ready to help you break the barriers that block the things you desire.

The process might be tough, but termite-free homes are undeniably cozy.
Each person will have their own interpretation of the story. We have the tendency to cling to something that didn’t exist for someone else. And, although it once did exist for us, you now have the option of facing it straight on and accepting that it is a thing of the past.
Unless you allow it, the pain from misunderstanding no longer has power over you. It no longer dictates your path. The complete control is now in your hands. However, in order to start again, you must really be ready to forgive. By choosing to be the bigger person, you’ll be exchanging anguish for serenity.

One of the many benefits of forgiveness is an increase in mental clarity, renewed energy, and the ability to focus. If termites remain in people’s homes, the owners of the house will definitely do anything to remove them. They know that as long as those pests are there, they’ll have no peace of mind.
The same thing goes with those who hold on to ill feelings are things of yesterday. As long as the bitterness is staying in your heart, the positive energy will have no space to flow through.
At this very moment, inhale and exhale several times. It can help you release your emotions. As you do so, make sure you’re completely giving your anger, your worries, and your painful past to the angels. Let go of all the hurt and bitterness. Make use of this opportunity to forgive. Then, breathe in the freedom of a healed heart.

FRIDAY, JULY 8, 2022
“Adoring the Body and Blood of Christ, let us ask him with our heart: “Lord, give me that daily bread to go forward, Lord, satisfy me with your presence!” May the Virgin Mary teach us how to adore Jesus, living in the Eucharist and to share him with our brothers and sisters.”
Pope Francis

It’s a great country and it’s been divided ever since it was founded. My Crandall relatives were loyal to the king and had to high-tail it to Canada, taking only their silverware and the good china, and the men who signed the Declaration that July suffered too, nine of them died in the war, others were bankrupted and left penniless.
Meanwhile, we appreciate perfection in the radish or the limerick: Hooray for Henry Thoreau who lived in the woods long ago and wrote lovely prose while his mom washed his clothes and fixed him hot lunches to go. It’s perfect. So is the stolen base, the double play, the outfielder’s long gallop to deep left center to snatch the fly before it becomes a triple and he turns and tosses the ball over his shoulder into the stands and trots to the dugout having killed the rally and broken the hearts of a quarter-million Yankee fans.
But maybe New York will experience perfection that night in the form of an explosive thunderstorm, bombs bursting in air, lightning strikes, a downpour, sheets of rain, cars stopped in the street. Sunsets are vastly overrated and only make me think of dreadful greeting cards: a thunderstorm is the real thing.
Sometimes sitting in a chair, I feel my wife put her hands on my shoulders and whisper an endearment into my hair, and this small perfect gesture, though you won’t find it in The Joy of Sex, is very moving to me. It’s perfection. When she puts her hands on my shoulder, now that we’re getting older, this gentle affection is a perfect connection in the eyes of me, the beholder. Not perfect but you get the point.
Garrison Keillor and Friends July 7, 2022

THURSDAY, JULY 7, 2022
“We certainly need to nourish ourselves, but we also need to be satisfied, to know that the nourishment is given to us out of love. In the Body and Blood of Christ, we find his presence, his life given for each of us. He not only gives us help to go forward, but he gives us himself – he makes himself our traveling companion, he enters into our affairs, he visits us when we are lonely, giving us back a sense of enthusiasm. This satisfies us, when the Lord gives meaning to our life, our obscurities, our doubts; he sees the meaning, and this meaning that the Lord gives satisfies us. This gives us that “more” that everyone is looking for – namely, the presence of the Lord! For in the warmth of his presence, our lives change. Without him, everything would truly be grey.”
Pope Francis

Long live the Declaration of Independence

Preface to Leaves of Grass
by Walt Whitman
This is what you shall do: Love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to every one that asks, stand up for the stupid and crazy, devote your income and labor to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning God, have patience and indulgence toward the people, take off your hat to nothing known or unknown or to any man or number of men, go freely with powerful uneducated persons and with the young and with the mothers of families, read these leaves in the open air every season of every year of your life, re-examine all you have been told at school or church or in any book, dismiss whatever insults your own soul; and your very flesh shall be a great poem and have the richest fluency not only in its words but in the silent lines of its lips and face and between the lashes of your eyes and in every motion and joint of your body.
Preface to Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman. Public Domain.

MONDAY, JULY 4, 2022
“Every man and every woman are like tesserae in an immense mosaic; they are already beautiful in their own right, but only together with other tesserae do they compose an image, in the conviviality of differences. Being convivial with someone also means imagining and building a happy future with the other. Indeed, conviviality echoes the desire for communion that resides in the heart of every human being, thanks to which all people can speak to each other, exchange projects and outline a future together. Conviviality unites socially, but without colonizing the other and preserving his or her identity… Let us remember that the Lord Jesus fraternized with all; he associated with people considered to be sinners and impure, and shared without prejudice the table of the publicans. And it was again during a convivial meal that he showed himself to be a faithful servant and friend to the end, and then as the Risen One, the Living one who gives us the grace of universal conviviality. This is the word I would like to leave with you: conviviality.”
Pope Francis

Adult amphibians breath through their skin
humans through their lungs
fish through their gills
inhale
exhale
respire
draw breath
puff
pant,
exchange gases
diffuse
process
breathe…
………..
………..

breath animates all of us

to dance the dance
sing the song
of Spirit Soul
forever…

jp

7/2/22

Jefferson carefully penned the document in 17 days on a portable desk that he’d designed. On July 2, Congress formally adopted the resolution to break with Great Britain and declare independence, becoming the United States of America.

“I think writing is, by definition, an optimistic act.” —Michael Cunningham

FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2022
“We pray for the elderly, who represent the roots and memory of a people; may their experience and wisdom help young people to look towards the future with hope and responsibility.”
Pope Francis

We roller skated with our sparklers and did tricks in the dark. Spun, jumped, wiggled with the fireflies. It was a free fall through the stars and the most exhilarating ride of our lives. Of course, we’re not free of England. They remain our big brother allies…jp

THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 2022
“Old people lose some sight, but their inner gaze becomes more penetrating. They become capable of seeing things that previously escaped them. The Lord does not give his talents only to the young and the strong. He has talents for everyone, made to fit each person.”
Pope Francis

1. Reading lets you absorb craft.It’s a wonderful experience to get swept away in a great book, right? To be taken on a journey with believable characters, a vivid setting, a robust plot, and/or immersive voice. (Virtually every book we enjoy has at least one of those things!) But this doesn’t have to be a passive experience. As you read a compelling book, pay attention to what’s “behind the curtain.” You might gravitate toward a particular character, so ask yourself why exactly that is – is it their crisp dialogue, or the way the narrative seems to center around them, or the well-chosen details about their appearance? Take notes as you go along. Don’t worry–you don’t have to actually keep physical notes! Though, hey, if it helps you, you certainly can.
2. Reading lets you absorb ideas.Every writer has the experience of staring at a blank page and not knowing what to do with it. However, if you’re actively reading a book, you may be able to unlock some ideas for your own work. For example, I often struggle with plot in my own writing–it’s one of my biggest weaknesses. As a result, I constantly read through other books in an attempt to crib notes on plot.What good ideas are being used effectively? I’m currently reading Gabby Rivera’s Juliet Takes a Breath, which opens with an intense chapter of Juliet, the protagonist, coming out to her family at dinner. Since I always write LGBTQ protagonists, that gave me some ideas of how to approach the subject in my next work-in-progressI’m not saying it’s a good idea to copy ideas wholesale–that’s downright rude. But you could still take inspiration from other people’s work. In my example, Juliet Takes a Breath starts with Juliet taking charge of her own life, as represented by her coming out. I’m taking that inspiration and trying to put my own spin on it. Also, I write middle grade, and Juliet Takes a Breath is YA; despite this, I’m still learning a lot from reading the book. You can learn from any book, even adult books and nonfiction, no matter what age you write for.That said, it’s a good idea to focus primarily on books that are similar to your own. Which brings us to…

3. Reading lets you see what else is being written about your subject.
   I was once given the advice to not read books that are similar in subject or scope to what I’m currently working on so as not to be influenced by them. However, now I ask: what’s wrong with being influenced? If I read a book that came out last year that’s similar to my work-in-progress, I can see how the book approaches my subject. What does it do that’s similar, and what does it do that’s different? What are some pitfalls it falls into that I want to avoid? The kidlit publishing market is constantly changing, so it helps to be up on what’s actually being published, particularly about areas you plan to write about. (I have a whole big thing about especially needing to read modern kidlit, but you’ll need to take the Mini if you want to hear about that!)
   These are just a few of the reasons reading is so valuable. If you haven’t been reading a lot lately, it’s okay! Life gets in the way sometimes. Be kind to yourself. If you want to read more, or read more efficiently, or find more joy in reading, consider joining me for Reading Like a Writer for more nuggets of wisdom. As they like to say in school, reading is fundamental.
4. Eric Bell is the author of ALAN COLE IS NOT A COWARD (Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins, 2017) and ALAN COLE DOESN’T DANCE (Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins, 2018), two middle grade novels about a gay seventh grade boy dealing with bullies, crushes, the power of art, and coming out. The first book was nominated to the Rainbow Book List for GLBTQ Books for Children and Teens. The books have also been translated into multiple languages. Eric is also featured in the queer middle grade short story anthology THIS IS OUR RAINBOW: 16 STORIES OF HER, HIM, THEM, AND US (Knopf). Eric is a teacher of writing classes, a virtual workshop leader, a freelance editor and writing coach, and an employee at a library. He lives and writes in Pennsylvania.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2022
“Looking at the past with gratitude is a sign of good spiritual health; it is the “deuteronomic” attitude that God taught his people. Cultivating grateful remembrance of the journey the Lord has had us take. And this gratitude is what nurtures the flame of hope. Those who do not thank God for the gifts he has sown along the way – albeit tiring and at times painful – does not even have a hopeful heart, open to the surprises of God and trusting in his providence. In particular, this spiritual attitude is decisive to allow to mature the seedlings of the vocation that the Lord inspires with his Spirit and his Word… So, keep going in this way: gratitude and hope.”
Pope Francis
 

Marriage
by Jim Harrison
I just remembered a serious argument.

On my seventy-fifth birthday I had the firm sense

that I was a hundred seventy-five. She disagreed.

“Look at your driver’s license,” she said. I said you know

the state of Montana took my license from me. She

went to my briefcase and got out my passport.“

You’re a mere seventy-five,” she said.

I said, “How can you trust the governmenti\

In this important matter?” I went to bed

after a couple of drinks believing I was a hundred

seventy-five. In the morning I felt

only seventy-five and apologized at breakfast.

I’d lost a hundred years and felt light,

younger, more energetic. As a boy I saw in Life

magazine photos of the Civil War veterans. I don’t

think there are any left, are there?

They would have to be a hundred seventy-five.

Sometimes I remember aspects of that damnable war.

“Marriage” by Jim Harrison from Dead Man’s Float. © Copper Canyon Press, 2016. Reprinted with permission.