Thanks Kaitlin for these prompts. Your poems this week have been deep and thought provoking. I have enjoyed writing from them and reading what others have shared. As for the today's prompt of "Onward", I am sharing a poem I wrote for Mabon, this autumnal equinox. As I move forward and ONWARD crossing the threshold of this time...
.
Standing before the portal
I reside in shrinking light.
Once the threshold is crossed
I enter the dark of night.
For a moment it’s an equal balance.
Where liminality blurs and blends.
A sacred union of opposites
that has no beginning or end
.
The underworld’s doorway is open.
An increasing darkness calls.
Summoning me with familiar echo’s
reverberating through the walls.
An invocation not of fear.
But a soft and recognizable whisper.
Into this sacred womb of being,
I ultimately surrender.
.
I posted this poem on my Mabon post, though edited a bit here:
Happy birthday! Thank you for this week. I am not writing as much as I was able to this spring, but it was really nice to be able to check in here every day either way.
Happy Birthday! I hope you have a wonderful day! Thank you for the lovely poetry and prompts this past week, and for the pdf! I look forward to contemplating each prompt and thinking about what comes next during the autumn season!
Thank you so much for this pocket- size writing community this week, and also the pdf to extend the practice. I haven't written poetry regularly in years, and it was the invitation I needed to re-engage my creativity gently after an overwhelming summer season. It has been such a gift reading everyone's heart-thoughts and examining my own, so again, thank you thank you. I love your image of the blank canvas that isn't blank, I have this gorgeous image in my head of your life unscrolling before you, being painted as it goes. I'll think on this prompt and hopefully share something later, but wanted to thank you while I had a minute of quiet.
I'm so glad this space has helped you lean back into your writing practice--it means the world to me that I can help connect people back with their own sacred words.
Happy Birthday Kaitlin. Thank you for all you share and guide us with, this week, in the past and beyond, Onward. (Written with the tune of the Water is Wide playing in the room.)
Happy Birthday and Equinox! And thanks once again for creating this space. I think I'm gonna make a little zine and write all my poems in it, as a keepsake so I can remember this week of writing. Happy autumn!
~~~
I can't see the future
It's still shadows on a wall
golden-lit (by sunset or sunrise?)
silhouettes of leaves
-
But I am here, breathing
Resting in the unknown
and drifting forward,
like a leaf on the water
not knowing if this stream leads me to a pool or a lake
And Happy Birthday! What a great day to have a birthday, at the equinox. Sending you many blessings. (I meant to put this with my prior comment, its that liminal foggy brain at times)
Happy Birthday, Kaitlin, and Happy Equinox to all.
Thank you for this past week of beautiful, tender poems and questions and prompts, and now this gift of poetry prompts for the next 10 days. "In a complex and overwhelming time, we need words to ground and guide us." Your writing in all its forms does this -- and more: it nourishes, comforts, heals, inspires, and delights us, your readers.
Thanks Kaitlin for these prompts. Your poems this week have been deep and thought provoking. I have enjoyed writing from them and reading what others have shared. As for the today's prompt of "Onward", I am sharing a poem I wrote for Mabon, this autumnal equinox. As I move forward and ONWARD crossing the threshold of this time...
.
Standing before the portal
I reside in shrinking light.
Once the threshold is crossed
I enter the dark of night.
For a moment it’s an equal balance.
Where liminality blurs and blends.
A sacred union of opposites
that has no beginning or end
.
The underworld’s doorway is open.
An increasing darkness calls.
Summoning me with familiar echo’s
reverberating through the walls.
An invocation not of fear.
But a soft and recognizable whisper.
Into this sacred womb of being,
I ultimately surrender.
.
I posted this poem on my Mabon post, though edited a bit here:
https://open.substack.com/pub/liminalwalker/p/mabon-autumnal-equinox?r=2eiv95&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
This so so lovely! I'm so glad you were here with us this week.
"Sacred union of opposites." ❤️
This is lovely Julie. A perfect poem for the first day of autumn, Thank you!
To kaitlin,
As you move onward to embrace the unfamiliar with courage and anticipation,
behave like a raven & observe every movement
with care
and adventure.
Happy birthday.
Long may you run.
Chuck! This was so sweet. Thank you!
Happy birthday! Thank you for this week. I am not writing as much as I was able to this spring, but it was really nice to be able to check in here every day either way.
Happy birthday! We share a birthday 🥳 how fun!! and your peace-filled newsletter is such a gift this morning. I hope you have a wonderful day 💛
Oh happy birthday to you Julia! I hope you had some sacred space for yourself as Autumn showed up.
Years ago, I became enamored with the Italian word Avanti!, which figuratively translates as Onward!
Happy Birthday! I hope you have a wonderful day! Thank you for the lovely poetry and prompts this past week, and for the pdf! I look forward to contemplating each prompt and thinking about what comes next during the autumn season!
Thank you so much for this pocket- size writing community this week, and also the pdf to extend the practice. I haven't written poetry regularly in years, and it was the invitation I needed to re-engage my creativity gently after an overwhelming summer season. It has been such a gift reading everyone's heart-thoughts and examining my own, so again, thank you thank you. I love your image of the blank canvas that isn't blank, I have this gorgeous image in my head of your life unscrolling before you, being painted as it goes. I'll think on this prompt and hopefully share something later, but wanted to thank you while I had a minute of quiet.
I'm so glad this space has helped you lean back into your writing practice--it means the world to me that I can help connect people back with their own sacred words.
Onward together!
Happy birthday and thank you so much for the gift of this week of writing.
Onward
As I look up
and look forward
I am filled
with hope
and expectation
with the strength
to leave behind
what has held me back
or weighed me down
I take a step
then another
and find my way
with the courage
to discover
what lies ahead
Onward....
Happy Birthday Kaitlin. Thank you for all you share and guide us with, this week, in the past and beyond, Onward. (Written with the tune of the Water is Wide playing in the room.)
Onward, the brave wisdom keeper whispers.
There are many rivers to cross,
Hearts to heal,
Songs to sing
and loves to hold.
The spark of your words
Lighting me home.
Happy birthday Kaitlin!! This week has been an absolute gift. Thank you for being our guide through this thoughtful and beautiful seaon of transition.
...
Onward
a word that acknowledges
that you have come from somewhere,
to something, as part of
a larger journey.
an invitation to pause;
a deep breath of accomplishment,
a gaze around the current surrounds,
and, finally,
another step forward.
Thank you! So glad you were here with us!
Happy Birthday and Equinox! And thanks once again for creating this space. I think I'm gonna make a little zine and write all my poems in it, as a keepsake so I can remember this week of writing. Happy autumn!
~~~
I can't see the future
It's still shadows on a wall
golden-lit (by sunset or sunrise?)
silhouettes of leaves
-
But I am here, breathing
Resting in the unknown
and drifting forward,
like a leaf on the water
not knowing if this stream leads me to a pool or a lake
or the ocean itself.
-
I can't wait to find out.
And Happy Birthday! What a great day to have a birthday, at the equinox. Sending you many blessings. (I meant to put this with my prior comment, its that liminal foggy brain at times)
Happy Birthday, Kaitlin, and Happy Equinox to all.
Thank you for this past week of beautiful, tender poems and questions and prompts, and now this gift of poetry prompts for the next 10 days. "In a complex and overwhelming time, we need words to ground and guide us." Your writing in all its forms does this -- and more: it nourishes, comforts, heals, inspires, and delights us, your readers.
THank you so much Elaine! I'm so grateful for you.