Welcome

Grab a cup of tea or coffee (oh what the heck, get a danish too!) and sit a spell. You might want to grab your notebook and pen because you never know when you will be inspired to write down a quote, or jot down a poem of your own. Words are like that, they take you on a journey and the next thing you know you are breathing life into your own magical world of words.

Saturday, September 29, 2012

Change and Transition

This site is in transition. I am currently moving to a new website/blog MorganDragonwillow.com and though it is still in a state of flux, you can visit me there. It should be fully functional by October 1st, 2012. Lots of wonderful changes are happening and I can't wait to share them with you!

Peace to you.

Monday, September 24, 2012

Motivation to Exercise - Get Moving Monday

As I was doing my morning pages I was thinking about this post, Get Moving Monday, and how I am not motivated to exercise. I really don’t like to even think about exercise; which led me to thinking about dancing, which led me to thinking about when I first started dancing. I thought about the ninth grade because that is when my dancing started to get noticed. It wasn’t like ballet or jazz it was more like boogying on the floor. I was all over the place.

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Beginnings and Endings - Round 3 Comes to a Close

Life has been interesting to say the least for me this round. My daughter and grandbabies moved out the first part of July and that sent me into a bit of a tailspin. Once I worked through that I began to be more productive again; rather like a dog with a bone as I can be sometimes.

Monday, September 17, 2012

Release and Let Go - Get Moving Monday

They say ranting and raving doesn't do anybody any good. I say it releases steam that has been building up. I just believe in doing it in a way that doesn't hurt anyone; do it in a way that you can release and let go of it. This is my rant about body issues and getting up off the couch to move your body.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

A Poem and a Row80 Check in

All of this work that I am doing in preparing for OctPoWriMo has me really chomping at the bit to write poetry. I have told myself that I should store it up for October because I don't want to burn myself out before it gets here but I just have to let loose at least one.

Monday, September 10, 2012

Confession of a Romantic Comedy Lover

I have a confession to make. My family says that if there is a B romantic comedy within one hundred feet of me I will find it. I love romantic comedies. Okay most would say, I'm a woman and maybe we are supposed to be known as liking romantic comedies but I am also a lesbian.

Saturday, September 8, 2012

How to Create Change - You Can Make a Difference

My grand daughters bright smiles.
A smile can make a difference; it can create change. I came across this video from a friend and it immediately made me smile. Smiling can make a change in how you feel. No matter what you believe in I think most people can agree that smiling is healthy for everybody. The person doing the smiling and those receiving the smile.

Friday, September 7, 2012

Tantalizing Poetry - Energy in Motion

I went in search of some of my old poetry this morning. As I prepare for OctPoWriMo it has me thinking about what I wrote when I was younger. Unfortunately I think in all the moves I have done over the years, I have lost my early poems. But I knew there was this one tantalizing piece that I wanted to share that I had written about nine or ten years ago. I found it. Not for young eyes.

Thursday, September 6, 2012

St. Augustine Ghost Adventures

Our four wheel drive jeep that can handle the powder white sand.

Christie and I love to travel especially to the beach. St. Augustine Florida is a favorite destination for getting away, whether relaxing on the beach (that is our favorite pastime) or if we want to fill our days and nights with fun (and ghost) adventures. 

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Enjoying My Writing Life - Row80 Check In

This has been a fun week for me exploring, creating, writing, blogging, and now getting ready to delve into my poetry once again. If you haven't heard I have created #OctPoWriMo for the month of October to write 31 poems in 31 days. I enjoyed exploring my poetry during NaPoWriMo in April but I allowed many things to prevent me from doing a poem a day. I am looking forward to seeing whether I can achieve 31 for 31.

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

TweetDeck for Writers 2

The next step in working with TweetDeck after loading all of the columns that you wish is in rearranging them. When you hover over the upper right corner of one of the columns you will see a little icon pop up. Click on the icon to pull down a box. 

Sunday, September 2, 2012

TweetDeck For Writers and a Row80 Check In

I love using TweetDeck. It has been a lifesaver for me in how I am able to communicate with other writers and receive encouragement and support while I am writing. This is for those writers that don't understand how to use TweetDeck and/or how to use it to chat with other writers in #wordmongering or #editmongering. Actually you can use it to chat with anyone but often writers want to participate in #wordmongering and they aren't sure how; this is for you.

Friday, August 31, 2012

Remembering the Joy of 750words - Row80 Check In

Sacred Transformation 8/5/09
I decided to do wordmongering this morning because someone asked if I would meet them early to write before work.  I have been mostly editmongering this month and this morning I opened up 750words.com for the session. I discovered the last time I had been in there was the first of August. How dreadful that the only time I was in 750words.com was the first day and the last day of August. Part of the reason I had stopped using it was that it kept having problems. Hopefully things have evened out for them and it will continue to work fine.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Possible Book Cover and a Row80 Check In


Prudence has inspired me to play around with my book cover for Writing to the Finish line and so far this is what I have. It looks like I need to fix some alignment issues but I would love to hear your feedback on this book cover sample. I am wondering about the print at the bottom. It seems like it would be too hard to read online but I guess that may be the case with most book covers.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Journey to Me and a Row80 Check In

My Shadow
Once again I am looking at my life and wondering, "Who the heck am I?" I am looking at my websites and Facebook pages and it all feels like so much but they are all pieces of me. I want to bring them all together. I want to have less that I have to keep track of and more of me on one page. Does that make sense?

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

A View of My Writing Sanctuary and a Row80 Check In

My Work Station
Today I am grateful for my writing room and work station. It is my sanctuary where I enjoy coming to every morning, drinking my tea, checking Facebook and Twitter, and then getting to work on my current projects.

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Writing - Being Present on the Page - Row80 Check In


Letting go of all the extraneous stuff so that you can be present on the page can be really hard. I woke up in a bad place this morning. I woke up obsessing about a relationship in my life that no matter what I do it doesn't feel good.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

My Writing Experiment - Row80 Check In & Goals


Last month I began JuNoWriMo fast out of the gate. It felt good to be writing and having my words flow onto the page. It was great until I hit somewhere between 17,000 to 19,000 in the first week. Suddenly the flow stopped. I felt confused. I liked the story I was writing. It seems that happens with most of my stories (except for my collection of stories for my memoir). I start out strong then suddenly it dries up.

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Rite of Passage - The Contest Winner


Conn’s sixteenth birthday came too soon for his liking. The entire village had gathered to celebrate his coming of age. They encircled him now; the men in front of him wearing ceremonial pelts and headdresses representative of the animals they could become at will, their wives beside them chosen for them based on their stature, the rest of the women and children forming a circle around him. He stood in the center of people he had known his whole life and felt none of the excitement his friends before him had felt. Andro had been thrilled before his quest, and he had turned into a mighty cheetah. Of course, that made sense. He had always been the fastest boy in the camp. And upon his return, he had been betrothed to Ree, which suited him just fine. Nofu had become a massive bear, but Nofu was also the biggest of the three of them. Nofu was the biggest of all of the boys in the tribe. That was a great source of embarrassment to Conn’s father, as Conn was the son of the Chieftain and should have been biggest, or fastest. But he was neither. And Nofu was now promised to Shae. Conn knew his father worried, and that made him worry.
No, Conn was not the biggest or the fastest, but he was the son of the Chieftain. That counted for something. His father had transformed into a massive wolf. The tribe expected the same from him. If he managed that, or anything even remotely as respectable, he would become the next Chieftain, and he would be able to claim Khandari as his bride. He prayed to the stars that he didn’t change into something lame, like a mouse or a lemur. He didn’t care about leading the tribe, but he loved Khandari and couldn’t bear to see her with someone else. Of course, if he became a warthog, they would likely ostracize him and he would never see her again. He willed his legs not to give out and his stomach not to void itself. Vomiting and collapsing in front of the entire village was not the way to start his journey.
His father stood and everyone fell silent.
“Conn. Today you turn sixteen and it is time to take your quest. Do you go willingly to the Circle of Destiny?”
“I do, sir.”
“You go forth alone, with no weapon but your transformation for protection. Know that whatever enemy you face; you must be able to defeat it on your own. Whatever you become is what you are in your heart, and that is how you shall be forever known by your village. Do you accept these terms?”
As if he had a choice. To deny the Circle of Destiny meant leaving the village. And, as the Chieftain’s son, it meant humiliation for his father and the end of his father’s rule; possibly the end of his life.
“I do, sir.”
“Then be on your way. Your village wishes you a safe and swift journey, and eagerly awaits your triumphant return.”
The men all stood and thumped their right fists to their hearts. The women rose and applauded. Conn looked around and caught the eyes of just a few people before he left the circle. Andro and Nofu stood together at the end of the male line. They had huge smiles on their faces and excitement gleamed in their eyes. They had been forbidden to tell Conn anything about what he was going to face, but they did say it was a rush. That wasn’t helpful. Conn’s mother had tears in her eyes, but she too was smiling. It wasn’t an excited smile, but it was full of love. His father’s face could have been carved of stone, but his eyes looked worried. Conn wasn’t sure if he was worried about his position or worried about his son, but neither gave Conn much confidence. Conn stopped and bowed before him, and could have sworn he heard him whisper.
“I love you.”
He only thought so for a moment, because when he looked up, his father wasn’t even making eye contact, and that was nothing his father would say in front of people. He almost never said it in the privacy of our home. Conn was sure he was mistaken. He continued scanning the crowd, needing to see one last face before he left, needing one last look in case he didn’t return.
There she was.
And it was as if everyone else had disappeared. As he broke the circle to leave on his journey, she grabbed his hand and squeezed it.
“Come back to me. Come back soon.”
Conn only smiled. Something was stuck in his throat and he had no words to answer her.

The path to the Circle of Destiny wasn’t long. Conn wished it was a two month hike. His thoughts were on overdrive. He had been trying to transform into something, anything, for weeks, but he had had no luck. His friends had laughed at him.
“You know no one’s ever been able to transform before sixteen. Quit trying,” Nofu said.
That didn’t stop him from closing his eyes, scrunching his face, squatting down, tightening all his muscles, holding his breath, and squeezing his body from the inside out.
Andro nearly fell over. “I don’t know what you’re doing, but that isn’t how it works.”
“Then how does it work?”
Andro thought for a second and said, “I don’t know. It just happens. I mean…” He took off at a jog and then he was a sprinting cheetah. Then he was Andro again, loping back to them. “I just think ‘run’ and I run. And somewhere along the way when I want a lot of speed, I get the cat.”
“That’s like me. I can be wrestling around and all of a sudden… bear.” Nofu stood there shifting back and forth between him and his bear shape until he got confused and ended up a weird mix of Nofu upper body on bear lower body.
Andro laughed and said, “I think you better concentrate a little harder, buddy. You don’t want to go home like that.”
Nofu grinned and glanced down. “Some people might like me this way.”
“Some people might like you better the other way around,” Andro answered. That way we wouldn’t have to listen to you!”
Nofu fixed himself and they continued the banter, but Conn had stayed quiet the rest of that afternoon. His friends had shifted so easily because they had always had those innate qualities in them. As Conn continued walking toward the Circle of Destiny, he couldn’t help wonder what internal qualities he had. He couldn’t think of any.
He wasn’t incredibly fast like Andro. He wasn’t ridiculously brawny like Nofu. His father was born to protect and teach – much like the wolf – but Conn didn’t feel that in him. He didn’t feel anything in him. He burned to feel something, anything, which was second nature to him. But he didn’t.
God help him, but all he felt, when he let himself feel things, was love. He loved his family, he loved his friends, he loved his tribe, and he loved, he loved, Khandari. He didn’t have any animalistic traits because he wasn’t interested in war and violence. He didn’t want to fight. He was going to fail this test because he cared too much for others.
If his tribe ever came under attack, he would fight to the death for anyone of them, because he loved them all, but he wasn’t a fighter. And because he was no warrior, he had no spirit animal to transform into. He would die in the Circle of Destiny, forever labeled a coward, a disgrace to his family.
He had walked as slowly as he could; a dying man didn’t often rush to his demise. But even small and sluggish steps make progress. He was at the Circle of Destiny. He had no supplies to unload, no weapons to get ready; as tradition mandated, he had made the journey with only the clothes on his back. He rubbed his palm where Khandari had squeezed it and thought about her last words to him. It broke his heart to know he wouldn’t be returning to her. His heart burned with love for her. His body stung with the knowledge that he’d lost his family and friends, that he was leaving his village behind.
The ground shook and the brush parted. The largest bear Conn had ever seen came into the clearing, snorting and pawing at the ground. It was followed by a lithe cheetah and a massive wolf. They were foaming at the mouth, rabid.
“Father? Nofu? Andro? It’s me. Conn.”
The bear continued pawing the ground, while the cheetah started circling to Conn’s left. The wolf shifted to Conn’s right. Conn couldn’t be sure if these were his loved ones, or if this was a trick that was part of his test, but if it was his father and his friends, he wanted to help them.
“You need to switch back now. You’ve been hurt. You need medicine. We have to get you home.”
The wolf turned into his father, still foaming at his mouth. “If you go home, you fail. Stay and finish this.”
The other two animals had flanked him now, and they were pouncing, readying for attack.
“Father, you can’t mean that. You need help. You all do.”
“Stay or lose, Conn,” his father said.
“But you’ll die!”
The animals were snarling.
Conn felt feverish. He took a step toward his father. “Let me help you.”
The cheetah crouched.
The bear raised a forearm.
The Chieftain shifted back into the wolf.
And in the center of the three animals, Conn transformed.
Where Conn once stood as a sixteen year old boy then stood a wall of fire. Flames shot toward each of the animals, beating each of them back away from where Conn had been standing. Then the cheetah, the bear, and the wolf disappeared, and Conn became his human self again.
“What have I done?” he cried. He dropped to his knees and hung his head.
“You have won,” a voice said.
“What?” He looked up and saw an old man in the center of the Circle of Destiny. It was the man from the cave drawings. “Are you the Elder Murdo?”
“I am a representation of him, yes. I am here to congratulate you, Warrior of Fire. You are the first.”
“The first what?”
He chuckled. “For someone so wise, you aren’t very smart. The first Warrior of Fire.”
“I’m sorry sir. I don’t understand.”
Elder Murdo pulled Conn to his feet and put his arm around him. “This place tests body, mind, and soul. The body becomes what the soul is and fights how the mind reacts. Most men here think like animals, react like animals… but that’s not to say they aren’t good people, wise people. That’s just how they are. You, however, are different. You are the Warrior of Fire. We’ve been waiting for you.”
“What’s different about me?”
“You are wise enough to know that you don’t always have to fight. Sometimes it’s best to have compassion.”
“But I still had to fight.”
“You didn’t strike to kill. You only protected, formed a barrier, pushed back. You are the first one to do that. You are the first one to become fire in the first place. You are the Warrior of Fire. Use your power well. Go in peace, my son.”
And he disappeared.
Conn hoped his father wasn’t going to be angry.

When he returned to the village, the whole tribe was still assembled and waiting for him. He walked immediately to the center of the circle and waited for the Chieftain to address him.
“So you return safely from your journey. I trust it was a success.”
“I completed my mission.”
That was not the typical response. It raised a few eyebrows, but the Chieftain didn’t question him.
“And what animal are you. Please demonstrate.”
“Permission to speak to you privately, sir?”
The Chieftain’s brows furrowed. “Nothing you have to say regarding this matter should be kept from the village. Either speak, or transform.”
Conn sighed. He knew saying that he didn’t transform into an animal would cause chaos and likely not give him a chance to explain before he was thrown out of the village. The people were starting to murmur. He shrugged and said, “Okay.”
He became fire.
Shrieks and gasps filled the circle. Everyone was on their feet applauding. Then, one by one, the men dropped to their knees and clasped their fists to their hearts. When even his father did so, Conn switched back to human and approached him.
“Father, what’s going on?”
“Warrior of Fire,” he said, standing and grasping Conn by the shoulders. “I’m so proud.”
“I didn’t know this was such a big deal.”
“You should read your lessons more. I didn’t think I’d live to see it.” He kissed Conn on the forehead. “I’ve always loved you, but I’ve never loved you more, my son.”
To the tribe, he said, “A tribute to my son. Instead of my choosing his bride, he gets his choice of any girl he wishes.” He pulled Conn aside and said, “I had planned on giving you Nimbala. She’ll make you an excellent bride.”
“Forget that, Dad,” Conn told him. To the tribe, Conn announced, “I choose Khandari!”
And they ran to each other and kissed, sealing their betrothal pact.

Written by Staci Troila  for the Teen Fantasy Fiction Writing Contest. You can also find her on FacebookStaci has two short stories being published in an anthology, and a book with an editor that she is hopeful will be published. 

About Staci from her blog: 
"I’m Staci Troilo, and I’ve been writing stories ever since I can remember. Granted, the ones I wrote in grade school aren't really of publishing quality, but I enjoyed writing them at the time nonetheless. I have a Master’s Degree in writing from Carnegie Mellon University, and I’ve been working as a writer and/or an English professor since 1994. Now that my two wonderful children are older (and presumably self-sufficient), I’ve decided to take the time for myself and write a book. Notice I didn’t say try to write a book. My husband always tells our kids not to try to do something but to actually do it, so that’s what I’m doing. It’s great having a supporting and loving family. Now if I can just get the puppies to leave me alone long enough to string two coherent sentences together, I’ll be in good shape. But they’re so darn cute!"

Congratulations Staci for winning the Teen Fantasy Fiction Writing Contest! Thank you for contributing such a wonderful story!

Fantasy Fiction Writing Contest Winners

I held a writing contest between February 21, 2012 through to March 20, 2012 and never posted the results. I think I was a bit embarrassed that I didn't have more entries and was unable to complete the Anthology that was to be created from it. These wonderful writers are long overdue their accolades.

There can be only one winner within a contest but I feel like I have two. The first because I felt her story had all the elements of the contest and weaved a story that thrilled me to my marrow.


The author's name is Staci Troilo and you can find her on Facebook as well. She confessed to me that Young Adult stories weren't her thing after the first or second submission but on her fourth submission I think we were both surprised. I actually discussed it in a previous post, Finish or Quit, because it was so incredibly well timed and such an outstanding story. Read the winning story, Rite of Passage.
It is a coming of age story of a young boy with all the fears and insecurities wonderfully expressed with a twist that, with each word I read, brought hope and excitement. Staci has two short stories being published in an anthology, and a book with an editor that she is hopeful will be published. 



The second winner is the lovely L.S. Engler. She actually submitted more stories than anyone else and has published her very own anthology using many of the stories she was inspired to create from the contest's prompts. The story that I loved most from her is, Dragon Rising, the first story in her Anthology, Bowlful of Bunnies, now out from Amazon that just came out today! I love this story's charming characters that you begin to love and wish there is more of at the end of the story. This is a book I would definitely like to read to my grand daughters.



Thank you both for sharing your wonderful stories with me and I wish you Much Success now and in the future!

Writing Love Affair Continues - Row80 End of Round Two

This is the end of my second round of A Round of Words in 80 days and it has been the best thing for my love affair with writing.

When this round of eighty days began I hadn't gone up to the Lake House yet until a couple of weeks into it and I began writing up a storm. I wrote most of my first draft for Opening to Miracles, finished the first draft of my memoir, and at the beginning of this month I began a new novel for my shapeshifters that I am hoping to have finished by the end of June. It has been a busy writing time.

Unfortunately I haven't done much of anything else. My blogs have certainly suffered. I have kept up mostly with Twitter and Facebook, probably more than I should, and my house is a wreck.

I have been on an emotional roller coaster that hasn't stopped yet. Major changes within the family that still have me turned upside down and inside out. I am doing a lot of breathing and taking care of myself the best that I can. Writing has become my safe haven. When I am in the flow of writing the whole world goes away and I don't have to think about what is going on around me. I don't know if that is good or not but it certainly feels like a break to me.

The last week or so has been particularly stressful and I haven't been able to get back into that flow of writing. I did seem to break into it a little tonight though and that has me feeling better.

I am hoping to attend the next round of 80 days and hopefully actually finish one of my books (final edit). Then of course I will have to find a beta reader then an editor. That terrifies me a little. Okay maybe a lot. First things first though, I have to finish editing my creations. That will be my top priority.

I look forward to seeing all of you in the next round. I know I don't get to many of your blogs but I do my best to support your writing on Twitter and Facebook as I have felt supported by many of you in my writing.

May you have a wonderfully restful time off from Row80 and I will see you next month.

Please do support the other Rowers by visiting and leaving your word love in the comments.

Sunday, June 17, 2012

VaginaBlog - My Vagina Solidarity For Michigan Women



My Vagina should not be an issue that Government debates or dictates. There are much more serious issues such as what is being done to our food that no longer nourishes but instead makes people sick.


I am appalled that there are politicians that think it is more important to meddle in women's lives, silencing their voices and dictating what we can do with our own bodies, than work to save our economy and our environment.


Enough is enough. I will not be silent. I will not be told what I can and cannot do with my body. My Vagina is none of your business. My Vagina is sacred. My Vagina is life giving to wondrous creations. Vagina is not a bad word or a negative thing to say. Stand tall and tell these politicians that your Vagina isn't public property to be regulated and dictated to.


Men, if you love your mothers, sisters, wives, daughters, aunts, female cousins and friends, tell the politicians to quit trying to take their power away and to stop trying to regulate women's bodies. Remind the politicians that it is your mother's, sister's, daughter's sacred body and no one should be able to dictate what they can or can't do with it. Remind them that Vagina isn't a bad word. Tell them that the Vagina is for women to decide what is best for it.




Vagina Vagina Vagina. It isn't my favorite word for that part of my body (yoni is) but it isn't a bad word and shouldn't be treated as such. It is the most sacred, life giving, and birthing place to creation. Politicians honor women as the life givers they are and stop trying to take their power away.


What you can do


  • Write a VaginaBlog post on your blog then email your post to the Michigan House Speaker: JamesBolger@house.mi.gov  
  • You can also email it to your representatives telling them you are't going to stand for such nonsense anymore. Tell them to stay out of your Vagina and deal with the more important issues at hand
  • Post your #VaginaBlog to Twitter and Facebook
  • Reclaim the word Vagina and stand tall

You can find out more about how you can help by going to these sites


It is past time for our government to leave our rights alone and work on the issues at hand., figure out how to save our economy, the environment, and stop those that are making our food toxic. Or we will find someone who will.

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Writing, Life and Checking in With Row80


The beginning of June I began JuNoWriMo which is writing a novel within a month for those that don't know what it is. I began the first week like gang busters. I wrote from 733 to 5344 a day and was feeling pretty good about my story and where it was going. I was typically thousands ahead of the 1667 a day that was required to complete 50,000 by the end of the month. I am currently at 19,876 total words for my novel.

I of course hit a wall. Now I am several thousand behind and trying not to allow it to worry me. I just need to do whatever it takes to get around that wall. I did do some problem solving trying to figure out what exactly the block is, whether it was fear or something else. I decided it was a little of both. I think it was also a pinch of depression that sneaks in on me when I am not diligent at keeping it at bay. Of course life has been interesting and stressful on the home front as well.

It is interesting that writing and working on my novel have completely side tracked me from writing in my blogs. I can't believe it has been almost a month since returning from staying at the lake and writing a post for A Writer's Universe. I never meant for so much time to go by. I watch other writer's participating in the JuNoWriMo that regularly post on their blogs and I am amazed because most of my focus is on my novel.

I am determined to get back on track with writing regularly for my blogs as well as getting back on track with my novel for the month. Those are my primary goals at this time. Ah and spending time out of doors exploring the world of photography that I can add to my blog posts. Okay and I am really missing my art that I used to create with my Shadow Rhythms' posts. 

I guess I have been really focused on writing and letting everything else fall to the way side. Hopefully I can find a better balance.

You can find and support other Rowers here.

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Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Mother of Destruction



Once upon a little while she wanted to make a difference.  She pulled and tugged at her hair for crazy was she indeed. Tearing down tearing out she lives another day. Her eyes burning dry, wishing she had another route.  Her madness seeping through her pores, contaminating near and far.

She doesn't wish to ruin lives; it’s just her taint that spreads, like glass on a river sinking that waits with sharp edge.

It is of no use, she is of no use. She would upset the balance if only she could.  She doesn't want to be what spurs you to make a difference.  She wants to be the light that shines in your eyes. She wants to be the streams flowing and nourishing every river and ocean that brings the rains of life.

What must happen? What can she do to change the tides of chaos when she is the chaos?

To be the love that emits from being to being, to be the fodder that nourishes you that floats out connecting each essence as one, that is what she craves deep in her folds.

What is this she speaks of when madness is within her? She looks out eyes so dry not knowing she is doomed before she begins. She tears and shreds, destruction what she does best, for the new to push through. She is not the flower she is the lightening that crashes down through a forest to cleanse it of debris.

She screams of things that cannot be changed, her fate sealed the day she was born from the darkness. She lets her sorrow beat down upon the earth as she does the only thing she knows how, destroy what has been created making way for others to be creators. She screams at the ache deep within that will never abate and then fades away until her madness is torn from her once again.

Destruction must happen to bring new life and she is the destruction.

What if she was to embrace the madness that she always tries to contain? What if she unleashes the madness that dwells within her house; this house that holds her soul? 

You will clear the way from all that stands to allow light in.  Allow the light to shine into your being; your being willed grows to its new heights of love.  She will stand by and watch from a place deep in the darkness wanting to but not being able to stop your ascendance to heaven within the Divine. You, who shine so bright, are so bright, you are the light within everything that is. 

She stands by unable to be that light. She screams and rages. You take pity but know there isn’t anything you can do because she lives in a prison of her own making. She chose to be that which can destroy but cannot bring life. She moves back into the dark, allowing the light to reign once again. A tear falls down and a flower grows.

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Growing Pains - Row80 Check In


April has been a month of a mixture of madness and blessings. There was so much chaos going on at home I had to get away or lose my mind. The blessing came from a dear friend that has this Lake house up in North Georgia and allowed me to stay for 41 days to clear my head, transform my energy, and write. 






As you can see it has a beautifully serene energy to help me do just that. 









I sit and meditate, dance out my frustrations, take long walks, open to inspiration, and write my heart onto the page. Sometimes I just sit and breath. 









I brought with me wonderfully healthy foods and a few treats such as my Chai Tea, Greek Honey yogurt (which by the way if you haven't tried it, it is Divine!), red and white wine, and my dark chocolate chips.





You would think in such a beautiful place I would rise above the madness and feel energized, peace of mind, and joy. Well I have moments and then I feel myself plummeting down again into the depths of sorrow. 








So many things are changing in my life. There are family changes that are breaking my heart. 









I know that everything changes and it is probably time for these changes as well; try telling that to my heart. They don't call it growing pains for nothing.








Flowers blooming in the spring, bring color into our lives and remind me that there is always beauty waiting around the corner.










Until it is time to head back up this road, I am going to take advantage of every minute I have here. I am working on letting go of outcome, taking things one at a time, and remembering to be in the present moment; that this too shall pass, nothing ever stays the same.

Row80 Check In:
  • I am writing every day working on my memoir, which is difficult in and of itself.
  • I do my morning pages by writing most days in 750words.com but sometimes I don't get to it.
  • I am taking care of my Story Dam responsibilities.
  • I do wordmongering most mornings with my writing partner Tui at Mental Mosaic.

If you found this interesting, helpful, or moving please share with your friends.  

You can visit other Row80 participants here and show them support by leaving them a comment.


Remember I so enjoy reading your words of support, encouragement, questions, and whatever else you would like to share with me. So bring a little cheer to my day and leave your words below. You can also tell me what changes are going on in your life, would love to read them.


Peace,
Morgan

Friday, April 27, 2012

Unblocking the Inner Writer-Pushing Past the Fear

Whether it is an unblocking or pushing past the fear, there are many creative tools to move through it to be the writer you were meant to be. Your soul is waiting for your empowered, authentic, and creative self. Stop preventing your dreams from being your reality.

The sheer intensity that a creative person can prevent themselves from creating is astounding. I have found myself floating on the web from one site to another to prevent myself from writing, thinking myself blocked. I have also found myself completely wrapped up in trash television to avoid the blank page or the next project that I know I want to create.

I do not believe that it is a block. I believe it is the fear or not believing in yourself enough to know you have greatness in you. I believe it is more about pushing past the fear to your creative soul than it is to unblocking it.

Today I have set a goal for myself to write as much as I can just to see what I am capable of. I feel the fear and anxiety creeping in. I know that if I let it, I won't achieve my goal. Here are some of the things I have done to push past it.

  • Create a list of twenty-six phrases, off the top of your head, to start paragraphs or pages with.
  • Make a list (at least 30) of your favorite words and keep it to the right of your screen to look at as you write.
  • Allow yourself to write nonsense; pages and pages of nonsense.
  • Write down every reason why you think you can not write then burn it.
  • Write what would happen if you wrote a best seller.
  • Create a story about your childhood with an imaginary friend, whether you had one or not.
  • Write a different ending to a story from your childhood that didn't turn out the way you wanted.
  • Write a story about a moment in your childhood that felt empowering.
  • Write a forgiveness piece forgiving everyone in your life that you feel hurt you and forgive yourself for any that you have hurt.
  • Set goals, if I write for this amount of time or this amount of words then I can (fill in the blank).
  • Use a different writing tool. If you always type, write with a pen. If you always use a pen use a pencil, use a crayon even. See how different you write with different tools. Do you tap into your inner child when you use the crayons?
  • Dance to your favorite music then write for at least an hour, repeat.
I know how hard it can be to push past the fear but if you are like me at all, you are always thinking about writing. If you think about it that much then stop thinking about it and write for goodness sakes. Even if it is only for you it is better than being miserable and always thinking what if or if only. Write because you love it. Write because you feel like you are going to die if you do not put your pen to paper. It has to feel better than not writing.

Your soul yearns for you to do what you love. If you are not doing it then you are sleep walking through life. Wake up and do what you love now. It is in remembering your authentic creativity that is a key element in your journey to wholeness. What are you waiting for, permission? Love yourself enough to do what is important to feed your soul today.

Monday, April 23, 2012

T is for Transformation


It doesn't matter where you've been 
or where you are going 
It doesn't matter who you are 
or who you want to be 

What matters most is how you love 
and how you allow it in 
What matters most is within your heart 
and how you let it open 

Who are you to be afraid 
are you ready to be enough 
Who are you within each breath 
are you willing for expansion  

Where are you ready to awaken 
to see the possibilities 
Where are you ready for transformation 
to be the one you're waiting for 

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From the Challenges:



When you share it shows you care. 


Friday, April 13, 2012

L is for Laughter


Purple Water Lily

L is for laughter

Maniacal or sweet

laughing from your head

right down to your feet

Doesn't matter how you laugh

Just make it good and deep

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Challenges from:

#30in30 #NaPoWriMo #AtoZChallenge

If you enjoyed this please share with others. 

More of my Poetry:

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Gentle With Your Heart - A Poem and Row80 Check In

Happy Spring!

Gentle 

always with your heart

flowing through

satisfied with your self

forgiving too

transforming with your words 

speaking true

expanding with your love

sharing anew

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~





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Hi Rowers! I know I haven't mentioned it but I have been busy this last week working on the transition for Story Dam. I and three other writing friends, Tui Snider @mentalmosaic at Mental Mosaic Susan Silver @cirquedumot at Cirque Du Mot and Nicole Rivera @riverand at Rivera Runs Through it are the new team and we are doing our ReLaunch tomorrow, Sunday. I am very excited. Hoping that once things get a little settled I will be able to participate more over here at Row80 because I have promised myself that I am going to spend quality time with my writer friends once it does!

I am excited about my memoir. This week I really turned a corner with it after worrying that once again I was stalling out. I am writing every morning and enjoying the flow of words.

I am keeping up with my morning pages, I so love to purge. (and it seems my poetic meanderings are flowing over into my other writings. It's either comical or may want to make you vomit.) :D

I am taking everything one step at a time and keeping my goals in mind. I did stumble a bit with this poetry challenge, skipped two days, but I plan on working to fill in the days that I missed.

I am reading more this round because I felt that last time I was so obsessed with the writing and social media that I didn't take the time to enjoy reading, which I love.

Looking forward to catching up with all of you and seeing what you are doing this round!

Hope you have a wonderful holiday!

Peace,
Morgan

Blessings come in many forms and I always feel blessed when you choose to share.

Some of my poetry from this week:

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