Jeanne Poland's Poetry Blog
18 Feb 2024 1 Comment
in Poetry
God made a covenant with every animal.
The rainbow is the symbol of the promise.
Die in Christ and resurrect like Jesus. Surrender to formative change.
Have a receptivity to the closeness of the Holy!
Remember your transformation. Be teachable.
Show discipline and patience.
Leave go of lies, distraction, despair, temptations, trials and suffering.
Give birth to the the growth of your soul.
A good beginning is more than half the trip.
Maintain strength and meaning!
17 Feb 2024 Leave a comment
in Poetry Tags: at the very core of our person, convert to the God Jesus presents to us in the Gospel, Go to your room, not an outward show, our deepest desires, return to the heart, the Father of compassion, your father sees in secret
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2024
“When you give alms, or pray or fast, take care to do these things in secret, for your Father sees in secret (cf. Mt 6:4). “Go to your room”: this is the invitation that Jesus addresses to each of us at the beginning of the Lenten journey. Going to your room means returning to the heart, as the prophet Joel admonishes (cf. Joel 2:12). It means journeying from without to within, so that our whole life, including our relationship with God, is not reduced to mere outward show, a frame without a picture, a draping of the soul, but is born from within and reflects the movements of our heart, our deepest desires, our thoughts, our feelings, the very core of our person.”
16 Feb 2024 Leave a comment
in Poetry Tags: alzheimers, alzheimers-disease, dementia, health, mental-health
There are nine things elders with dementia want you to know…
Arguing
Insisting you are right because, well, you know better. You don’t have dementia. People living with dementia (PLWD) have an increasingly limited ability to understand the world as we see it. Therefore, we need to learn to see the world from their view. When we do this, we don’t argue if they say that they haven’t eaten all day even though lunch was an hour ago. We just say, “Really? Then we’d better get you a snack.”
Expecting everyone with dementia – or even everyone with dementia of the Alzheimer’s type – to be the same
Your uncle’s trajectory with the disease will be different than your dad’s or your friend’s husband. Everyone with dementia is as much an individual as everyone who doesn’t have dementia. Yes, there are guidelines and behaviors to watch for, but each person will respond differently. Remember, too, that each day will be different. Some days are easier than others. That’s the nature of the dementia care-giving.
Shaming
Although it’s tempting to point your finger at the person with dementia, I have never seen shaming to achieve positive results. They can’t help their behavior. Shaming is rarely a good reaction toward anyone, but it’s especially egregious when the person cannot help their behavior. Redirect. Distract. Lovingly find out what’s wrong. Just don’t shame.
Treating people living with dementia like children
This type of behavior can be sneaky because our care partner needs us to speak more slowly. More simply. More carefully. That does not mean that we should talk down to them. Remember that their intelligence has not deteriorated. What has changed is their ability to understand the complexity of the world as others see it, as well as their ability to verbally express themselves.
Stripping people living with dementia of their dignity by doing everything for them
Honor what they can do rather than stress what they can’t do. Work with them. Allow as much autonomy as reasonable. There are times when dignity comes before safety. This is something to discuss early in the process. Try to find a balance between reasonable safety and preservation of choice and dignity
.
Assuming that they are wrong when they tell you someone is stealing from them or physically or emotionally abusing them
It’s appalling, but abuse can happen in any care setting. Listen carefully and with respect. Then investigate to the best of your ability. Look for signs of physical abuse, emotional abuse, and financial abuse if the person’s complaints seem to warrant that.
Assuming that they are right when they tell you someone is stealing from them or abusing them
Caregivers can be routinely accused of taking things, such as hearing aids or clothing, because the person living with dementia can’t find what is needed. This is a human reaction, if a bit paranoid, even for those of us without dementia. However, paranoia can be a symptom of dementia. Listen to the story with respect and love. Try to find the missing object without making a fuss. With accusations of physical abuse, don’t jump to conclusions, but do listen and consider all options because, yes, abuse happens
Reaching for drugs to settle difficult behaviors
Try first to understand the reason behind this behavior. What we need to do is go through a mental check list. Do they seem warm enough? Could they be thirsty? Could they be in pain? Try to find out why they are upset. Determining the underlying cause can often take care of what is viewed as problem behavior.
Categorically refusing drugs
People living with dementia can have pain just as you or I can have pain. If you hurt that badly you’d complain, too. You’d also, most likely, accept appropriate medication. There are people living with dementia who have mental illnesses that don’t go away once dementia sets in. While dosages of any medication must be very carefully controlled when someone has dementia, often a low dose of the proper medication for their pain or mental illness is not only appropriate, but humane.
15 Feb 2024 1 Comment
in Poetry Tags: and tenderness, benevolence, closeness, compassion, died and rose, fruits of the Holy Spirit, God's own way, Jesus Christ, joy, magnanimity, missionary, no coercing, No Pressure, proselytizing, saving love of God
“In proclaiming to the world “the beauty of the saving love of God made manifest in Jesus Christ who died and rose from the dead” (Evangelii Gaudium, 36), missionary disciples should do so with joy, magnanimity and benevolence that are the fruits of the Holy Spirit within them (cf. Gal 5:22). Not by pressuring, coercing or proselytizing, but with closeness, compassion and tenderness, and in this way reflecting God’s own way of being and acting.”
Pope Francis
14 Feb 2024 Leave a comment
in Poetry Tags: spirituality, tarot, tarot-cards, tarot-reading, wands
Five young men battle each other with five wands on this card. When you put effort into a task, it may grow quickly in the beginning but not so much afterward. The lack of real competition may make success seem simple. However, as you progress, the victory gets more difficult. You’re dealing with more and more rivalry.
The Five of Wands represents the moment you realize you’re up against individuals with the same clout and aspirations as you. It conjures up images of conflicts and ferocious fights, as well as interior concerns and causes for concern. Faced with good opponents for the first time, your energy and desire to win maybe sapped, as well as your pride.
The Five of Wands is never a good sign, as it indicates that you’ll be in for a lot of difficulty and irritation. Pay careful attention to the other cards in your spread to get a sense of which aspects of your life will be in conflict. Expect it to be tense but prepare yourself for the potential that success may come at a personal cost.
On a broad, sandy beach, the men have congregated. They’re all holding their wands/staffs high in the air, and they’re all tangled up in each other. Some individuals seem to be actively fighting, while others appear perplexed that anything is impeding their progress. One or two of the men seem surprised that anybody else is eager for a fight at all! This dispute does not seem to be going away anytime soon.
This card is all about feeling as though you’re working in two different directions at the same time. If you’ve drawn this card in your reading, you’ve likely been having trouble persuading other forces in your life to cooperate with you. Things just don’t always want to go as planned. At work, a coworker chooses to tell a falsehood about you. Your husband opposes everything you want to do today. Every time you go into the room, the corner on the edge of your furniture appears to try to trip you. These annoyances are exactly that: annoyances. Thankfully, this card indicates that they will not continue indefinitely. These kinds of little squabbles can’t last forever.
Sometimes It’s Better To Be Happy than To Be Right
This card also suggests that you and others may be at odds. Things may quickly become nasty when you feel like you’re in a race with others. In a competitive environment, individuals may be nice, but competitiveness tends to bring out the worst in people. If you feel like you’re in competition with others (physically or psychologically), consider how much it’s worth to you before continuing to battle. Is there anything meaningful in this fight for you? Is it worthwhile to pursue, or are you just competing for the sake of competing?
Finally, this card may allude to problems arising from well-laid intentions. It may be exasperating to iron out all the kinks in a plan just to run into a new, unanticipated issue. This is, once again, the card of fleeting battles. Keep your chin up and push through the problems.
When drawing the Five of Wands, consider the following questions. What challenges are you currently dealing with? Is there a clear end in sight? Can you concentrate on the light at the end of the tunnel rather than getting discouraged by the difficulties? Do you feel like you’re in competition with others right now? What is the significance of that competition? Are you just attempting to outdo someone to outdo them, or are you hoping to gain anything in the end? Is it worth it to fight?
What Five of Wands Means for You Today
The Five of Wands has appeared today to show you that the conflicts you may be engaged in are likely to be petty and unnecessary. This is also sometimes a warning that you may become frustrated with something today, but this frustration is not likely to get you anywhere. The people in the cards are fighting with sticks rather than swords, indicating that things may not be as bad or dangerous as they may seem. Try to keep your cool today and do not engage in unnecessary arguments
12 Feb 2024 Leave a comment
in Poetry
The Storm is one of the most intriguing Moon Cards, offering both hope and challenge. Depicting a man and woman back-to-back on a ship amidst a tempest, they’re caught in a struggle of surviving the wilderness of the sea. However, their perseverance is embodied in their looking back at each other, a testament to their shared struggle. Their partnership, their need for each other’s strength, their silent communication underpin the surge of powerful energy amidst chaos. In the distance, a break in the clouds reveal the sun shining down onto a coastal castle — a lovely metaphor that reminds you even during the roughest storms, the sun is always shining above.
This Moon Card often signifies a tumultuous phase in your life where you’re confronted with trials and tribulations. It underlines the necessity of braving through the storm and emerging victorious. At heart, this card seeks to provoke your inner strength, resilience, and ambition to overcome the adversity; it showcases not just the battleground but also the victory that awaits beyond.
The man and woman on the ship represent a partnership struggling to navigate the choppy waters. They could be business partners, working through challenges to reach their shared goals. Or they could be life companions, facing the harsh reality of a relationship while also discovering their love for each other. They could also be friends or siblings. Their condition signifies that internal or external forces may test relationships and partnerships. However, such situations also become an opportunity to strengthen them, as it’s under duress that true unity is revealed.
The castle seem in the distance exemplifies the peace and fulfillment one can find after the storm has passed. The fortress may represent a position of power, financial stability, or a sense of home, solidifying the essence of hope amid turbulence. It’s the promise of calm after a storm, the fruits of perseverance and patience, an assurance of safety after a desolate voyage.
When you draw this card, it could indicate a challenge between two rivals or a competition you are seeking to win. Pay attention to the people in your life with power and think about what key steps you need to take to come out ahead. If you can weather these challenges you will be rewarded.
Face the Storm Head-On
The Storm nudges you to brace yourself for life’s roller coaster ride, perhaps urging you for a courageous approach in the face of adversity. It advocates for patience and persistence even in turbulent times, acting as a call to remember your hidden strength. It could encourage you to uphold your relationships or partnerships despite the disagreements or conflicts.
When you encounter this card, consider these questions: Is there any challenge you’re trying not to face? Are you on the verge of making a crucial decision in your life? Have you been dealing with a struggle or trial that is testing your limits? Does the castle in the distance resonate with your heart’s desire, a long sought-after dream, perhaps?
What the Storm Means for You Today
Unfurling the Storm card today signifies your readiness to face challenges ahead. You are equipped to brave the storm that life might hurl your way. It points to a time of transition or transformation, ushering in a newfound comprehension of life and relationships. The struggle you’re currently facing or are about to face is only a step towards achieving your cherished goals. This card stands as a reminder and a reassurance that no storm lasts forever, and a bright, promising day awaits afterward. So, steer your ship with hope and courage, because the sun will rise again. The Storm card is a call and a promise—it’s time for your inner strength to come to life and illuminate your path towards success.
When you love something
You take time with it. You
want to be present for every
second of the rapture.
Geneen Roth.com
10 Feb 2024 Leave a comment
in Poetry Tags: archery, hunting, short story, sports, writing
The Bow and Arrow card represents the calculated and focused individual you are becoming. Whether it is a business goal, a relationship objective, or a lifestyle change, this card comes into your life when you have clear targets in your sight. As you draw this card, remember that the Archer, unwavering and poised, is a symbol of your own self. You carry within yourself a force of focus and commitment that is ready to manifest and launch you towards your goals.
The archer depicted on the card is perched on a hill, ready to release her arrow. She has meticulously measured the range, taken the external conditions into account, and has heightened her internal alignment. She draws from her wisdom and knowledge to ensure that her arrow hits the mark. Her meditative stance signifies patience and determination. It is a stark reminder that success is a well-crafted blend of strategy and self-belief.
A person – The Focused One – with a Bow and Arrow, understands the essence of trial and error and is not afraid of failure. They remain committed to their goals, ready to recalibrate and relaunch if necessary. They know that true success comes from unflinching persistence and learning from past experiences. Their ability to transform dreams into reality becomes their strongest virtue. This resonates with the message that the card offers today – Persistence is key.
The Bow and Arrow card is far more than just aiming high; it is a nudge towards drafting a well-thought-out plan and sticking to it. It pertains to strategizing, overcoming obstacles, and staying committed until the desired goal is achieved. Reflecting on its essence compels you to ponder upon questions like: What are my short-term and long-term goals? How am I planning to accomplish them? What steps have I taken to overcome potential challenges? Am I acknowledging and learning from my mistakes?
This Moon Card embodies the spirit of a relentless warrior. The Archer, unafraid and resolute, serves as a beacon of inspiration. Her unwavering focus invokes within you a sense of determination and resilience, reminding you that giving up is never an option. With time, you’ll start noticing these traits becoming an integral part of you.
Discovering The Focused One within You
When you draw the Bow and Arrow card, carry its message forward. Spend time to understand your capabilities and shortcomings. Recognize your dreams and unleash your full potential. Remember, every effort you put in today is a step taken in the direction of your success. The more you align with the Archer’s spirit, the more you’ll find your journey corresponding with hers.
What Bow and Arrow Means for You Today
Today, the Bow and Arrow wants to guide you towards the art of precision. It compels you to set your targets, make your plans, and bend the bow of your efforts to release the arrow of your actions. Remember, you have the potential to shoot ahead and hit your goals if you stay focused. Let your efforts penetrate the heart of your objectives, and be prepared to see rapid transformations. Today is the day to embrace becoming ‘The Focused One,’ with clear objective and impeccable precision. It is your day to unleash the Archer within, and take pride in the person you are becoming.
09 Feb 2024 Leave a comment
in Poetry Tags: a challenge you must conquer, break free from inflexible mindset, face the rigidity of your own mins, internal belief systems need to evolve, mental-health, mindset, obelisk, personal-growth, self-improvement, travel
The Obelisk card symbolizes a firm, immovable state of mind that you might currently find yourself in, it also signifies a challenge you must conquer. The representation is twofold – while on one hand it speaks of rigid thinking, the other it also gives a ray of hope towards overcoming it. You could be stuck in a belief system or mindset that no longer serves you and this card serves as a reminder to break free and be open to new ways of thinking and living, to build the courage to face the rigidity of your own mind.Your conscious or unconscious adherence to inflexible ways of thinking may be blocking your spiritual and emotional growth as symbolized by the obelisk. The floating golden obelisk brings forth the need to break away from stagnancy and the man at the top of the mountain gazing at it is symbolic of you, standing at the precipice of change. The current narrative you have built for yourself is capable of change, but only if you’re willing to step out of your comfort zone.
Now, there’s a lot to learn from the Obelisk card. Breaking free from an inflexible mindset can be intimidating, but it is known that change is the only constant, and we are built to adapt. The cracks on the obelisk are showing signs of wear and tear which may be an indicator that it’s time for your internal belief systems to evolve. This powerful symbol encourages you to break these mental barriers, to question, explore, and open up to fresh perspectives and ideas.
The center pieces of the obelisk forming a gateway suggest a breakthrough that’s within your reach. It represents your potential to overcome obstacles and build bridges over gaps in your understanding and knowledge. It challenges you to strive for this breakthrough, to transform, and embrace the concept of impermanence.
Crack Open Your Cage
This card is urging you towards mental flexibility, to see situations not as problems but as possibilities for growth. To learn to adapt to change rather than fight it. This ideological metamorphosis is your gateway to new beginnings and your key to unlock the shackles of rigid thinking.
Ask yourself these questions when you draw the Obelisk: Are there any rigid ideas or judgments that are holding you back? How can you break free from these limiting beliefs? Are you willing to reshape your rigid beliefs and adapt to new perspectives? Can you identify a way to begin this change in mindset? What challenges do you foresee in your way, and how can you prepare to overcome these obstacles?
What Obelisk Means for You Today
The Obelisk card today urges you to step out of your rigid mindset and explore new ideas. It signals that you are on the brink of a breakthrough in your understanding or perception of a situation or person that has been bothering you. It encourages you to break free from these mental constraints, be open to new ideas, broaden your horizons, and see the potential for change in your life. It’s a gentle reminder that overcoming rigid thinking is the first step towards achieving personal growth and attaining fulfillment. Embrace this challenge and relish the freedom that emerges from flexibility of the mind.
08 Feb 2024 Leave a comment
in Poetry Tags: adventurist heroes, animals, birds, eats rats, nature, need each other, owl, owls, six foot wingspan
The great debate continues over Flaco the eagle-owl spotted recently flying around our home on New York’s Upper West Side, a year after he got loose from the Central Park Zoo: should he continue to roam the city freely, feeding on rats, or should he be put back in captivity for his own welfare?
He’s a big bird, six-foot wingspan, bright orange eyes, and he’s gained a considerable fan base, most of whom are rooting for him to be free. Some renowned owlologists, however, feel the bird is in danger, primarily from rat poison but also from vehicular birdicide, and needs to be rescued from his urban habit
Apparently Flaco is roaming the city widely, in search of a mate, which he is extremely unlikely to find in Manhattan, even if he turns out to be gay. There was a female eagle-owl, Gladys, at a zoo in Minnesota but she escaped and was run over by a truck. Eurasian eagle-owls (Bubo bubo) are found in Russia and Asia, not migratory to a great extent; Flaco was hatched at a bird center in North Carolina 14 years ago. Life expectancy is 20 years but eagle-owls can live much longer in captivity, 30, perhaps more, and there’s the question: a short life of adventure or a long, pleasant life in captivity.
I voted for captivity 30 years ago when I met my Gladys and I’m quite happy with it, so I vote for female eagle-owls, Flo, Mavis, Delores, Maureen, to be flown in from Asia and tethered in the Park where Flaco can spot them, and when he dives in to select a mate, the orni-cops can jump in and seize him in flagrante delicto.
The Times published a video of Flaco, the day after his escape, huddled by Fifth Avenue, freaked out by the P.D. lights flashing and the zoo people hovering, looking at a small cage set on the sidewalk with a dead rat inside it, door open, beckoning, but Flaco declined to be trapped. He took off, figured out how to hunt, found good perches and safe corners to sleep in, and became a New York celebrity. New Yorkers have a romantic streak that admires the vagabond adventurer and the rebel. I got over that romantic streak when I saw dozens of adventurous heroes die in middle age from drugs and alcohol, bad habits, and invincible stupidity.
I’ve now been free of my Gladys for several weeks and I admit that freedom has its benefits. Nobody has said to me, “You’re spilling that coffee” or “You missed the toilet again” or “Turn down the flame, you’re spattering grease all over the kitchen” or “Don’t put so much detergent in the washer, you’ll have soap flowing all over the floor” but on the other hand, had she been here, she’d have told me, “Wear a mask when you’re in a crowd of people, there’s a terrible bug going around” and I might’ve done it but instead I went out, a free man, and freely inhaled viral droplets, and caught influenza B and spent the next ten days as a man of 98, a prisoner in a gulag of self-inflicted misery.
I miss her. I miss her casual hand on my shoulder in passing that says so much. I can put my hand on my shoulder but not in passing and it isn’t the same. We need to take care of each other. I need my editors and my colleagues to do the heavy lifting so I can have fun at work. My Gladys loves her family and her fellow string players in the orchestra and especially her Estonian stand partner. In a few days I’ll go to Florida and sing Van Morrison and Greg Brown and Iris DeMent in duet with Aoife and Christine. An old friend of mine is recovering from spinal fusion surgery at a hospital in Minnesota, in the ICU under the watchful care of truly dedicated doctors and nurses. My daughter lives in a tangle of friends and chums and BFFs who all look after each other. Knowing this helps me sleep at night.
We can get along without Wi-Fi and cellphones and streaming video, but we can’t get along without each other. Come back to the zoo, Flaco. You’re a celebrity, people want to look at you, accept your role in the world. You’ll enjoy a long, pleasant life there along with the penguins and the primates. You lunch on one sick rat and you’re a goner and the whole city will go into mourning. Come home.
written by Garrison Keillor Feb 7th and posted here because I collect owls, love and know NYC and have a huge love for Don Smith, my partner!
The Vibrant Channeled Creator 