Childhood is a fleeting state
where joy, and permission to
pretend, and be anyone we choose
becomes our whole world
The real takes a back seat to the imaginary
And this is a gift bestowed to the human race
The world is our oyster and our playground
We try on new personas like a new hat
and we can imagine grandiose lives
and change course on a whim
We suspend reality and just become
the superhero, the villain,
the dancer, the performer
Magic is real and all around us
Pure love and joy can reside there;
sadness and angry outbursts
feel just as powerful.
We are consumed and carefree
To be a child in this world
is a gift to behold
Author: Healing Insights with Jen
I share my stories honestly as an attempt to find meaning and connection. My intention is that by sharing our stories we ultimately heal ourselves and the world. I want to be a beacon of light to show that it is possible to find your footing and inner strength even when the world seems to be in chaos.
a season in my heart
The heart-shaped clouds of sunset
orange, deep blue and cotton candy pink
pepper and patchwork the sky.
I am in awe
anchored in the here and now
The seasons capture my attention.
some are lighter and brighter
with growth and opportunity;
others in darkness, quiet
a stillness blankets the earth
Like marble that follows its track
towards light or dark,
it doesn’t matter the trajectory.
They are both sides of the same coin;
You can’t have one without the other
A seed can only sprout under pure darkness.
and like the ocean tide,
like the phases of the moon,
we must not forget our periods of
rest, renewal, of turning inward
So that our wells become stocked
with fresh ideas and inspiration come spring
Devoured
Warm chocolate pastries
all night they rested in the cold oven
frozen rectangles on the verge of freezer burn
lay quietly on parchment paper
over the course of the required nine hours
while I slept
they defrosted, rose and grew
to almost 4 times their frozen size!
In that early morning wakefulness,
I stumble into the kitchen to turn the oven on
memory served me and I wanted to get a head start
The oven light clicked on and they began
the final leg of their journey
into fullness, their greatest potential
becoming a reality in my toasty oven
the white pastry dough
became golden like the rising sun
and their baked delight
swam into the air and nestled
into every nook and corner of our walls
If I closed my eyes tight enough,
I could imagine being in my very own bakery
The timer dinged and the baked chocolatey,
ooey-gooey goodness rested on the stove
until it was safe enough to handle
and then they were promptly devoured
by my daughter as she read her fiction book,
crunching the flaky crust
The smell lingered on
long after the chocolate croissants
were devoured and gone
Point of Perception
Reaching into the cosmos
It is a two-way communication.
I am open and receptively aligned
So I receive with breath, with insight
The inspiring words come to me and
I am thankful
Allow my pen and my voice to be
that conduit
that bridge of connection.
There is power here
and there is safety
Breath, mind and heart aligned to receive:
The gift of words
The gift of inspiration
what connects us to share our story
We gather around that fire
our tribe of elders and youth,
parents and mending bones
Broken hearts can be healed
with a heartfelt story
The seeker in me sees the seeker in you
And in this moment we are one
No longer separated by boundary,
flesh and bone
Hearts and minds one
with bated breath we see
and believe that we can be free
to soar, to sing, to create,
to love and to grieve
all parts are welcomed here
in our circle by the fire
Join me
there is a seat waiting
just for you
you are seen and heard,
held and loved,
just by being you
what a marvelous thing you are
to be just one of you in all eternity
your eyes, your hair
perhaps inherited by someone
you never met
- the expression that makes you you -
one of a kind
smile and believe
You are free to be
The Garden
I walk upon the earth
and seek the hidden jewels
planted in the rich soil
not so long ago
The garden of my heart seeks
solace, comfort and belonging
The wildflowers dance in the breeze
a uniform wave of colorful heads and stalks
swaying to and fro
They greet me and the days to come
Companions on this wild-at-times journey
to seek that jewel in my chest
When it’s not really a hidden treasure to be found;
where you need maps and intricate paths,
booby traps, and X marks the spots
It’s a seed of intention that opens the heart
the light that shines was always there
a part of me has always been aglow
The Autumn Breeze
The autumn breeze
loosens the maple’s leaves
- shake and sway -
a unison wave
Then the letting go
Scurry scurry
The squirl hops along
the underbrush
looking for buried treasure
The old, stubbon pinwheels
that didn’t take root
become a tasty afternoon treat
Nature always provides
The breeze rustles the leaves
a bluejay and starling make their calls
gathering their flock for a good night’s rest
sheltered and abundant
Nature always provides
A warm November
The soft breeze
kissed our skin
the sun’s rays
made our hearts swell
The ocean was beckoning us
to take one last visit
to the beach
The golden sun's rays hung
lower and lower
edging down towards the horizon
An orange blaze
reflected on the gentle waves
where the sky melded into sea
We sat on the bench
taking in this fleeting,
panoramic view
wanting to hold the image,
the color, the glorious blaze
just a moment longer
As is autumn’s nature,
the warm rays rapidly changed.
There was a sudden coolness to the breeze
We soon donned on our sweaters and headed back
This was a day to remember
The light, the warmth,
just enough memory to last us
all winter through
Practice Joy
Joy brings peace and connection
It is not for the select few,
But it is a choice and
I want to be an active participant
Joy is in birdsong,
the wildflower reaching
toward the sun
Joy is within
Joy is without
Even when there is challenge,
some hardship or pain,
The current of joy runs underneath
It is in the airwaves
The rainbow knows this
The prism, the light, the dark
Joy is not the opposite
of sadness
Happiness is not required here
Joy is in a smile, in a tear
Joy is in memory and reverie
Joy is music, Joy is song
Joy is my birthright and my purpose
How soon I learn this
then I seem to forget
That is why I choose to practice joy
It all starts with an intention
My attention waters
and tends
creating fertile ground
for sprouts to take root
the care needed in the beginning
is great and takes effort
once its foundation is firm,
supple and lush,
it can soar
up and up into the cosmos
to become what it was always
intended to be
My strength and connection take root
My strength and connection take root
My body is the seed
My feet the foundation
I sprout down, then up
up, up towards the blue
into the ether and beyond
There is no limitation
here, imagination reigns
So what will I dream today?
The seed from my hand
placed lovingly to my heart
and planted with intention
The harvest is bountiful,
beautiful, and so am I
Healing Insights 