What Inspires You? For me, it's Dragonflies and Fall...

Don't you just love fall?  With the smell of fallen leaves, the bright colors of red, orange and yellow littering the forest floors tantalizing your senses?  Getting the chance to harvest apples and pumpkins for yummy pies?  Mmmm...this is my favorite time of year...it's also when we have an influx of dragonflies visiting Ridgeview.  These little jewels fly around our heads and rest on a bush, ledge or even the walkway.  It's no wonder I chose the dragonfly as the symbol for Ridgeview and for Ridgeview Designs - they're so present here.  They've inspired me both in life and in writing - as can be seen in this month's issue of Sibyl Magazine, where you'll find my poem "Dragonfly" on page 27, along with photo credits for my sweetie pie, Steve Di Monte (Change Your Life Photography) for taking the cover shot of this issue - of a very beautiful model who has inspired me as a single mom and friend...my cousin, Patti.

This month's issue would have been my last, had it not been for Sibyl deciding to add a special issue for December, for which I will be submitting my final poem for Sibyl Magazine.  I am grateful to my Sibyl audience of the last three years for their readership and support, and I look forward to having future issues come in my in-box every month thereafter (especially when I get to see my sweetheart's work on the cover!).

Besides Nature and Dragonflies, the beauty of the changing seasons inspire me greatly - in writing, in photography, in decorating and creating new jewelry.  I look forward to seeing where this season's inspiration takes me (besides Italy, where I am right now, for the next two weeks, gathering all kinds of inspiration!).  I wonder, what inspires you?

Dragonfly

(©Linda J. Spencer)

Here, on the grounds of Ridgeview

The dragonfly hovers close to me

And finds his seat upon a post.

This jewel-red, warrior of water and sky,

Watching, curious, tilting his head

Breaking down the illusion of control

Seeing the truth that is – 

There is no control – only flow.

It is here that he plays the light

Through his translucent wings – 

Wings of flight – power to fly forward,

To carry him high in every direction he goes

Mastering the life in flight – 

Freedom!

Strength, courage,

Change, transcendence,

Perseverance, completion.

He turns his head toward me

Tossing a smile with his eyes, nodding

He sees the dreams that play in my head

Observing, never judging

I reach out to graze his wing,

Hoping to capture the essence of his plight

Smiling, communing

He nods to me, and once again takes flight.

It's My Turn! (so, the email said :))

I'm so thrilled and honoured to be featured on the cover of the Aug/Sept 2014 issue of Sibyl Magazine that was released early this morning!  What a surprise and honour when I received an email from Sibyl English about the cover, and "It's Your Turn" in the comments box.  It was the same day they previewed the cover to the featured writers, along with a message of some great changes they've made to the magazine, including merging Sibella Poetry Magazine into Sibyl Magazine (the flagship publication that was released 5 years prior to Sibella).  I am honoured that my poems have been featured in Sibella Poetry Magazine for the last 3 years, and now in the newly merged Sibyl Magazine (an on-line publication with over 24,000 subscribers internationally).  I have watched this publication grow and get better and better, and enjoy reading the articles and poems in each and every issue - cover to cover.  Thanks you Sibyl for your continued love and support.  I cherish the work that you are doing and am eternally grateful for the platform you have given me to share my words.

Check out the new issue of Sibyl Magazine with my poem "SUN-SETS AND SUN-RISES" on page 6...along with photo credits to my sweetie Steve Di Monte of Change Your Life Photography....the "or better" of being featured on the cover of a magazine - having that photo shot by your sweetie <3

This poem reminds us that as life changes and has its ups and downs, a new day always dawns new possibilities - as it certainly has for me.  Enjoy!

River Dance

My second poem of the 2014 season published in the Winter (Feb/Mar2014) issue of Sibella Poetry Magazine...inspired by a creative writing exercise with my Georgetown Wordsmiths, focused on a water theme.  A few days before this exercise, I saw an image of the Earth's water ways, comparing it to the human brain and to a tree's root system.  Always from the heart, I thought of these images as the words poured out.  This one makes my heart dance <3

River Dance
© Linda J. Spencer

Like the arterial system of the human body
Earth’s rivers flow endless like veins across its surface,
Pulsing and breathing life into itself.

Rain falls down from the heavens
And fills the rivers of life,
To continue their journey through eternity.

Like the tears we shed to release our pain
And cleanse our souls,
Rain is Mother Nature’s cleansing of the Earth.

And in the rain we dance,
Letting Mother Nature’s tears fall upon us -
Kissing our face, releasing our fears and sorrows.

As we dance along these rivers,
Our hearts pulse, filled with life;
Our bodies flow and our minds let go of control.

In this dance, we are witness to Earth’s miracles
And fall in love with Nature’s gifts -
The endless flow of life.

As we still our minds and feel with our hearts,
Through this dance we see the truth -
That we are one with all that is.

It is here, as we dance,
That we discover our own journey is endless –
Flowing freely to the end of time.



Our lives are like the rivers of the earth - ever flowing, ever changing - the journey is truly endless and is ours to enjoy fully in the moment.  Love and blessings <3

Cherish LIFE

Cherish LIFE, and ALL that it gives you...

Yesterday, I received very sad news of the passing of a dear colleague at the very young age of 53.  I was shocked, in disbelief.  But, I had said to a friend that everything happens for a reason, and life sends us lessons...this lesson?  Cherish LIFE, and ALL that it gives you.

So, here I am, sitting at my computer, in the wee hours of the morning of February 1st - a brand new day, a whole new month.  LIFE is giving me the opportunity of TIME.  Time for what?  It's not often that I am fully awake at 4am, with several hours to go before I have to leave for work.  There are so many things I COULD be doing with this time -
I could read one of the many books that I'm partially through;
I could go through the months of paperwork I have sitting on my desk;
I could work, or make some new jewellery;
I could do some yoga, take the dog for a walk, do the dishes, do some laundry.....
or, I could go back to sleep. 

I could do any of those things, or all of those things.  I've already checked my mail, caught up with my family and friends on FaceBook (easy to do...no much has happened in the last 6 hours), read the just-released Feb/Mar issue of Sibella (which is a welcomed delight at 4am - it lifted my spirits to read all the beautiful poems by so many talented women - including my own, entitled "Today"). 

I think I'll use this gift of time, right now, to remember, to reflect, to love, and to write. 

What has LIFE given you?  How do you cherish IT?

Took the opportunity to capture the brilliant sunrise over the city as I approached work yesterday morning.