pulling, greeting, healing
037 • 9/30/2024
This is a very nice time of the year, here in Albuquerque. October is tomorrow and the mornings are cool and the afternoons are warm. The weather is perfect for my morning bike ride.
For the video, this morning, I chose a video that is about healing old wounds that continue to plague us, year after year. As we grow from children into adulthood, certain actions may manifest that could have you wondering, “Where did that come from?” I hope this video serves to lighten your old beliefs. It may be time to let go…
Please pass this along to others of like mind. We do need to spread the positivity around! Know that I will be working hard to make the starter better with each issue. It will come into your inbox at 8am, each Monday morning. Comments are always welcomed! Enjoy! Psst: Welcome to new subscribers: Rob, Beth, Doug, Jeff… Thanks!
“Your knowledge defines your approach to life. If you want a different outcome, improve your mindset. No man’s knowledge here can go beyond his experience.” John Locke
“I work at a company where there are about a gazillion employees. I can’t say that I know them all by name, but I know my fair share of them. I think that almost all of them know me. I’d say that’s the reason I’ve been able to go wherever it is I’ve made it to in this world. It’s all based on one simple principle: I believe that every single person deserves to be acknowledged, however small or simple the greeting.” — Howard White, this I believe. (-ed. This is another essay that hit the mark for me. Every day, if I am either walking or riding my bike I say, “Hello or Good Morning,” to each person I pass. It is heart-warming to see a placid face turn into a happy face!)
Forgive Yourself: Forgiving yourself for the pain you didn't cause is one of the hardest but most powerful acts of self-love. This video dives deep into the journey of letting go, healing from the wounds others have left behind, and finding peace in your own worth. It's not about forgetting or excusing, but reclaiming your life and moving forward with strength and compassion. Watch this if you're ready to release the weight of the past and embrace the freedom of self-forgiveness. (-ed. I find it interesting that sometimes, even without giving it any thought, a certain subject pops into my brain and cements itself as the “thought of the day.” It is that seed from which many of my poems are birthed. Certain recent events in my life have inserted a desire to question my family ties, and what that means or doesn’t mean.)
Shadow & Light Magazine Archives: Erika Masterson — “What is this mystery that we seek? This hidden knowing, pulling at our hearts. The sense of not belonging to this world, but another. And there in the tension of our struggles, we find a divine mingling of two worlds.
I create images for another glimpse into this mystery, where the tension of change and surrender of heart see the hidden and unknown.” ©Erika Masterson (-ed. I am surprised I waited this long to feature Erika in the Shadow & Light Magazine Archives section of “the starter.” It has been a great pleasure to have stood on the sidelines and watch this fantastic artist grow into what she has become.) Image—Ixora Flower. ©Erika Masterson
Poetics: Mary Oliver (of course!): “Mornings at Blackwater.” Thank you for visiting this site! I began this blog in January of 2010 and reflected on one poem of Mary's a day. This was a 15 month plus journey to discover the face of reality as expressed in the world of nature and human cultures on the face of this planet. This choice, a form of nature spirituality practice, relied on the help of Mary Oliver by reflecting upon her entire collection of poems over the period of a year. ©LoraKim Joyner (-ed. I have two poets who have significantly altered the way I write and think about poetry: Mary Oliver and David Whyte. The site this is linked to what looks like a good one if you are a Mary Oliver fan.)