Lucidesse - Inspiring Strokes of Genius

This is a story about the Seven Deadly Sins, and the Eighth who rules them. We have Wrath, Greed, Pride, Envy, Sloth, Gluttony, and Lust. But don't forget the Eighth Temptation, Sorrow. Perhaps she is the most powerful. After the Mother's of course, Destiny and Desire. But they are shadowed by their own Mother, Darkness. And she too is shadowed by her parents, Time and Space. Yet, who are their Masters? And who is giving the reader advice? What oracle knows more than this realm reveals?

We all say we want to love full and deeply, but do we? I have found the eye of the needle to be quite small! Not love itself, but the eye! Every time I am threaded through, it burns away another part of me -- and can be painful! So... ask. Are you ready?

I have a voice It speaks my story, my experience, my life. It doesn’t sound like anyone else’s voice. It doesn’t speak anyone else’s words. It speaks my voice. My voice, my words. My life. I once thought it was supposed to sound like everyone else's, But it isn’t. It’s supposed to sound like mine, because it is...

I wrote this little ditty for a writer's party on St. Patrick's Day, and I challenged myself by using every prompt given! Best of the Irish to you!

When we face challenges, or even better, when we choose to challenge ourselves, when is friction enough? Or is it always enough? Or are there times when fight is needed? I don't know! But explore these questions.

This is a story about the Seven Deadly Sins, and the Eighth who rules them. We have Wrath, Greed, Pride, Envy, Sloth, Gluttony, and Lust. But don't forget the Eighth Temptation, Sorrow. Perhaps she is the most powerful. After the Mother's of course, Destiny and Desire. But they are shadowed by their own Mother, Darkness. And she too is shadowed by her parents, Time and Space. Yet, who are their Masters? And who is giving the reader advice? What oracle knows more than this realm reveals?

These are my final thoughts about offering advice to someone who is going through a rape trial. And I hope that, although my experience may not be directly relevant, perhaps the energies needed for such an endeavor are transferred and all can be just a little more well than it is now.

I have often told myself, during difficult times, that I hope to help others who may find themselves in such difficulty. Today I had a direct request for advice on how to navigate a rape trial. Not that I know the answer, nor that there is one, but since I tried, in my own way, perhaps sharing what I learned can help another.

My initial doorway of learning was pain. Just the one. It was the only way to get my attention. I’ve since learned there are many other doorways available, if I pay attention. And yet, sometimes pan is still the way to deepest learning. So how do I learn from pain?

GREED! We finally get to meet Greed! This is a story about the Seven Deadly Sins, and the Eighth who rules them. We have Wrath, Greed, Pride, Envy, Sloth, Gluttony, and Lust. But don't forget the Eighth Temptation, Sorrow. Perhaps she is the most powerful. After the Mother's of course, Destiny and Desire. But they are shadowed by their own Mother, Darkness. And she too is shadowed by her parents, Time and Space. Yet, who are their Masters? And who is giving the reader advice? What oracle knows more than this realm reveals?

Two, 12-minute-timed, impromptu, short stories from a dinner party -- and what they taught me. Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou. A quote by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, which I can't quite recall. The two writings are very distinct, one is the joyful part of my soul, the other is a deeper, contemplative part of my soul, shining light on things I haven't yet seen or understood.

Do I take how others feel personally? Do I let their opinions define me? Especially when they all feel so differently about me! Who is correct about me? Anyone? Maybe not even me 😆 And when I take it personally, how does that affect my ability to care. Truly care. 💛 Is there a way for me to care without getting involved with their opinions?

A story about the Seven Deadly Sins, and the Eighth who rules them. We have Wrath, Greed, Pride, Envy, Sloth, Gluttony, and Lust. But don't forget the Eighth Temptation, Sorrow. Perhaps she is the most powerful. After the Mother's of course, Destiny and Desire. But they are shadowed by their own Mother, Darkness. And she too is shadowed by her parents, Time and Space. Yet, who are their Masters? And who is giving the reader advice? What oracle knows more than this realm reveals?

A story about the Seven Deadly Sins, and the Eighth who rules them. We have Wrath, Greed, Pride, Envy, Sloth, Gluttony, and Lust. But don't forget the Eighth Temptation, Sorrow. Perhaps she is the most powerful. After the Mother's of course, Destiny and Desire. But they are shadowed by their own Mother, Darkness. And she too is shadowed by her parents, Time and Space. Yet, who are their Masters? And who is giving the reader advice? What oracle knows more than this realm reveals?

I share an oracle I did through yi jing (i-ching) and how it showed me that the decision I made was correct. This is helpful for me in remembering my definition of community, connection, communication, is not the same as others. And that when true resonance--for me--is not found though proximity, but through the strength of integrity and authenticity. I also touch upon the sacredness of our inner circle, our inner garden, our sanctuary.

I bumble through my change in therapy styles, therapists, un-armor-ing myself, and the impossible task of understanding oneself AND another person! I also share the beloved quote: I walk slowly into myself, through a forest of empty suits of armor. ~ Tomas Transtromer

Long ago, I began to say the words heard, held, honored. I liked the way they sounded, and they felt good, but I wasn’t sure what they were all about. Recently, as I’ve been having conversations centered around conflict, I began to understand that what I wanted most is to be heard, held, honored. I don’t care about being right. I have no need to convince anyone of anything. So, the next time you have a conversation centered around some kind of conflict, consider how important it is for you to be right, then consider how important it is for you to be heard, held, honored. This difference could take a lot of pressure off the conversation. And give everyone space to breathe.

I realize I can no longer fix myself for anyone else. Issues other people have with me are beyond my ability to fix. Or at least I no longer have the desire or the energy or the interest in trying to fix those issues for other people. So I’m now relying on my desire to fix things for myself. Just for me. So that things inside this house I call me are as pleasant as they can be.

A story about being human, and all the temptations, all the ways we succeed, all the ways we fail, all the ways we learn, and don't. It's about a world within a world, and realms beyond our imagination, except they exist. So, why not take a look and see what there is to see.

This is the second chapter in my novel about The Eight Temptations, which evolved into what we now call The Seven Deadly Sins. But this is so much more than these powerful characters, in fact, they are not even the major players!