Tag Archives: soul

Carpe Diem

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There Are Moments

There are these moments
that will haunt me forever,
distant, but distinct,

the same lessons learned
again, they won’t be denied,
important imprints,

but the regrets are
indelible too, embedded
in bittersweet light,

born out of moments
that will haunt me forever,
distant, but distinct.

Eternally

We don’t remember
our other soul lives spent here,
alien Earth plane.

Swaths of sand smooth and
soften hard edges of lost
civilizations.

We visit, then with
infinite impermanence,
return to dust too.

Meaning

Life rushes by us,
at eighty we look back and
we ask ourselves “Why?”

Moment

Shafts of golden light
shine softly through crimson leaves.
My soul steeps in now.

All poems are from Soul Journey: The Poetry of Life. Download it free here.

© Susan L Hart 2024

My Sanctuary is Nature

Our Essence is Freedom

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There was a time in Hawaii – I will never forget it – when the ocean spoke to me of freedom. A storm was blowing in from Japan, and word in the community was that within a couple of days the surfing would be stellar. That same night, my partner and I awoke at midnight to the thunderous sound of pounding waves. We headed out immediately to check it out at Makena Beach (also known as Big Beach) somewhat nearby.

This was one of the calmer beaches, not a surfer hangout. The waves were already spectacular! There were no man-made lights, save for several small dots twinkling way off in the far distance. When we arrived, the scene that lay before us took my breath away. Makena beach and the water were lit brilliantly by a magnificent full moon. Light clouds flitted in and out in the strong breeze. The rolling huge waves frothed white in the blazing moonlight, crashing wildly on the shore.

We took our shoes off and walked. The beauty and power of the scene were intoxicating, and my soul was unleashed in a way I had never experienced before.

I felt what it means to be just a human being on the Earth, and the inherent freedom of my soul. For just a little while, the pulse of nature ran through me like a jolt of electricity. I felt the wildness and joy of my essence. I was completely alive, and I did not want that feeling to end.

The wild, untamed places discovered in my travels without fail have this affect; they speak to my soul. And I have come to understand this: Our essence is freedom, and we must never let that go.

A brief quote about freedom from Shawshank Redemption:

“Sometimes it makes me sad, though… Andy being gone. I have to remind myself that some birds aren’t meant to be caged. Their feathers are just too bright.

Too many people don’t realize that their feathers are too bright to be caged. When that changes, the world also will change. It’s time to claim your bright feathers, if you have not done so already.

This is a repost from Sept. 2022 in response to “Danger and Wonder at Peggy’s Cove”, a recent post by my good friend Alegria at Life With Alegria. Her expression of intoxication surrounding her Atlantic Ocean experience reminded me so much of my own experience on a Hawaiian beach (with another ocean) many years ago. I highly recommend that you check out Alegria’s blog, where she explores the many facets of finding your joy in life.

My novelette The Turquoise Heart is currently being offered as a free download. Help yourself to a copy today.

Remember What’s Real

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In indigenous cultures the elders of the community are highly respected for their life-long accumulated knowledge. They are teachers in the community and particularly of the children, so that the ways and tradition of reverence for the land will not be forgotten. Perhaps if we were to acknowledge indigenous wisdom more, we would be better able to solve our problems related to Earth and our natural environment.

After all, how can we solve these problems when we are feeling so separated from the land itself? I do not believe that corporations (or governments) largely have the sort of caring that would lead towards a healing of Earth, or us, for that matter. At a grassroots level, we must take personal responsibility for ourselves and our Earth.

“In order for the land to take care of us, we must take care of the land.” There are many interesting videos to watch on this site: Wisdom of the Elders, Inc.

Inspirational Quote:

“Not just beautiful, though – the stars are like the trees in the forest, alive and breathing. And they’re watching me.” ~ Haruki Murakami

An excerpt from The Turquoise Heart, where Elsu (the elder in this case) speaks to Anna, who is the same age as his granddaughter Suki:

…Elsu gave her a wink. “This has all been quite intense, has it not? I see why you would be exhausted. We will start walking over to the creek, and soon it will be time to say goodbye for now.”

“For now? You told me that I came through some kind of time portal. How would I know how to come back, even if I wanted to?”

“I’m thinking you may want to some time in future, Anna. After all, there is still the problem of the trees.“

“The trees have a problem?”

“Are there not rumors in your town right now that the trees will be cut down? You came to realize during your time here that they are part of your Earth family. You already sense you will miss them. What are you going to do about it? It was not just me who called you. It was also the forest.”

“What could I ever do about that? I’m just a teenager. No one cares what I think or say about anything.”

“I guess this could be a challenge to take home with you, or maybe it really does not matter at all. That is for you to decide.”

“Okay, Elsu, but why am I suddenly responsible for the trees?”

Elsu replied softly, “Anna, if not you, then who? That huge tree that gave you shelter is over one thousand years old and a grandparent.”

His rebuttal disarmed her.“I do care about the forest. I promise I’ll think more about it.” It had never before occurred to Anna that she might have the power to change anything important in the world…

I invite you to take a few moments today to download your free copy of The Turquoise Heart. Although the protagonist Anna is “just” going on fifteen, she has a strong sense that the world is not quite right, and that what is expected of her in the “formula for life” already does not feel like enough. The Turquoise Heart is a 1-hour read, and the prequel to a coming longer novel (or two?). Download it here.

Your Spark

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It’s YOUR life, no one else’s. You choose how to live it. If you don’t choose, someone else will choose for you. The life you are focused on right now is just one of infinite threads that all exist simultaneously. Reach into the future with your mind and claim the possibility that you want. Intend to make it real.

And this is not just “all about you”. You help to create the world around you when you choose, because you are part of the All. What you choose ripples outward to the rest of humanity. It begins with you, in your thoughts, beliefs, and choices.

I invite you to help yourself today to a free copy of The Turquoise Heart. The download page is here. Life is a journey, and for Anna the journey becomes a surreal exploration of some of her own fears and limitations. She begins to ask herself, “Where does the dream end, and reality begin?” You will too, I promise! This is a novelette length read (a little more than 1 hour), and is a prequel to a future longer novel. I hope you will take the time to read it, and send me your feedback. Thanks!