"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."
My 2023 Blog Theme was inspired by the famous serenity prayer which seems extra poignant now as our world grows increasingly violent and unstable, and there are so many things we are powerless to change. I often consider the juxtaposition of the beauty of the natural world and the human suffering due to our failures as a society to love and care for each other, especially the most vulnerable among us. I like the adjective "brutiful" to describe it all A combination of brutal and beautiful.. I first heard this adjective on the podcast "We Can Do Hard Things" with Glennon Doyle and Abby Wambach. I think Glenn0n was the one who invented it. All I can focus on is small creative acts of love and resistance and continue to bask in the beauty of nature which is on full display in fall. I pray continually for the wisdom to know what changes I am capable of making.
The photos above were taken during a fall foliage trip to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Tahquamenon Falls were spectacular framed by gorgeous fall leaf color! Other highlights of our trip were visiting Green Bay Wisconsin, Mackinac Island, Grand Rapids, Charlevoix, Petoskey, St. Ignace, the Pictured Rocks National Park on Lake Superior, and Lansing where we have family and friends. While in St. Ignace, we went for a walk down by the water where a lighthouse is located. We watched an owl land on the lighthouse and a lovely moon rise. It was one of many magical moments.
Happy Birthday to everyone born in the sign of Scorpio which happens to be Wild Honey's moon sign! Scorpio rules the entire reproductive system and the blood system, along with the hips. Yoga poses designed to open the hips would be especially beneficial while the sun is moving through Scorpio. Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, cancer screening and mammograms are recommended. Reproductive freedom also continues to be a big concern as abortion bans exist in many states and in Ohio, voters will have the chance to vote on an amendment to protect abortion rights in the general election in early November when the sun will still be in Scorpio.
October is National Book Month and I am celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the publication of my first poetry chapbook, "Timbrel." If you would like to receive a signed copy, please post a comment indicating so to this post. Depending on how many comments there are, I will draw a name for the giveaway and contact the winner for a mailing address. While in Lansing, Michigan, we visited the Michigan State University Museum which had a special exhibit titled, "The Sounds of Religion" with displays that "examine what religious sound is, how it can define a community, and where it can be found." I love the inclusion of a tambourine (timbrel) in one of the display cases, and of course thought of my book and the integral role that tambourines have played in religious sound through the centuries, from Miriam in the Old Testament story to modern day worship settings.
In other exciting writing news, two of my poems, "Orchids on Okinawa" and "Le Conte Glacier" have advanced to the finalist stage of judging in a contest for writers who are age 50 and up! Keep your fingers crossed for me! A winner is supposed to be announced in early November, so I will keep you updated. Even if they don't win, I am very pleased that they are being considered! The poems are part of a new manuscript I'm working on that consists of poems inspired by my travels.
In these troubled times, I am wishing you peace and serenity,
~Marianne (aka Wild Honey)