Tag Archives: beauty

Wear Red Shoes

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It’s Red Shoe Day Two at Breathing Space.  I would like to scratch off the bit of advice up there that says to wear more skirts, but other than that, this is a great list.

I had shiny red mary-jane buckle up shoes when I was a kid.  There was never a pair of shoes before or since that I loved so much.  My sister and I got matching red shoes at the same time, so mine were handed down to her and she got to wear red shoes for twice as long. Or maybe not, because she was very hard on shoes.  That’s what our mom told her to explain why she had to wear sturdy brown oxfords to school.  They were so ugly we both had a good cry over the unfairness of it all.

The beautiful red shoes made the most delightful racket when we walked.  I remember clomping around on the hardwood floor in the living room until mom told me to stop.  Then I clomped up and down the staircases instead.  I thought tap dancing shoes must be the most marvelous of footwear.  I had no desire to learn how to dance, but I might have professed an avid interest in it if I thought that would get me even noisier shoes.

Is this where my love of red began? And are little girls born with a thing for shoes?  I think the answer to both these questions is a big loud yes.

A List of Beautiful Broken Things

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Found on Facebook. On somebody’s Facebook Page. Shared by other Facebook Pages. My news feed is too long and crazy to search for it again.

A shopping list (noun) is a list of items needed to be purchased by a shopper, a grocery list is the most popular type of shopping list– including items that need to be procured on the next visit to the grocery store.

Kintsukuroi is a Japanese noun meaning “to repair with gold”; the art of repairing pottery with gold or silver lacquer and understanding that the piece is more beautiful for having been broken.

Hard to believe the queen of lists missed the shopping list prompt for the promptless.  It certainly wasn’t for lack of lists floating around in my life.  Just maybe it was all those other things floating around with them that I’m too lazy to grab hold of and run with.

So, two prompts in one – Voila! – a list-y poem about breaks.  No, I can’t explain how I came up with that exactly.  But that’s the beauty of poetry – the inspiration for it rarely makes sense. And I’m going with the part of the prompt that said to make up my own.

I have plagiarized and hopefully improved upon my own work from a previous poem.  I won’t link to it, because it sucked even worse than this one.  But I’m having fun!  And that’s all that really matters, right?  Don’t be critical, you could break my heart.

broken vase

broken vase (Photo credit: Leonard John Matthews)

Things That Break

When dawn breaks,

Morning has broken.

Night falls, but it never breaks.

Give a guy a break and break it to him gently.

Then take a coffee break.

Go ahead and break a leg, break a horse,

Break the connection, break a code.

Break away and break bad habits.

But don’t step on a crack and break your mothers back.

Don’t break in and don’t break out.

Don’t break mirrors, don’t break your neck.

I’ve broken up, I’ve broken down.

Broken hearts, broken promises,

And the silences that must be broken

Before we break apart .

Break a record, break a rule,

But never break a spirit or anybody’s bones.

Precious things get broken.

When you add up all the shattered bits of china

What are the broken pieces worth?

It’s impossible to say.

Might as well try to break it down

For every sorry fragment

Of a broken dream.

Broken Dreams

Broken Dreams (Photo credit: jumpinjimmyjava)

Related links:

the matticus kingdom – and what a story it is

Mahabore’s Mumblings – A real hero

The D / A Dialogues – Broken

August Post For Peace

love & peace
This month the Bloggers for Peace challenge from Kozo at everyday gurus is to invoke the power of music, and to post something about the intersection of music and peace.

After my husband got satellite radio and set it up in our house to blat away 24/7, our son, here on a weekend visit, wondered aloud why we kept it tuned to a station playing such bizarre and eclectic random stuff.  Those weren’t his exact words, but close enough. W told him “because that’s the only station your mother doesn’t turn off.” 

That was rather enlightening for all of us, illustrating, among other things, what a joy I am to live with.

I used to wonder why my dad seemed to be so sensitive to what he called “a bunch of damned noise” when it came to our teenage tastes in music, but now I get it.  There is music I like a lot and will listen to selectively when the rare mood for it hits me, but over all I prefer the sounds of silence.  Listening to nothing greatly reduces the chances of getting a song stuck in my head for hours on end.  Or maybe my longing for quiet is a throwback to the days when we all took music lessons and hammered away on the piano giving the entire household pounding headaches.  It was a great relief to walk away and escape outside for some peace and quiet.  I’m pretty sure that’s how I got a beautiful heart out of the whole piano lesson experience.

So what kind of music do I find peaceful?  Lullabies are lovely.  Anything soft and slow and barely audible.  Deep wind chimes in a summer breeze.  Something with beautiful lyrics, or no lyrics at all.  There are some classical pieces (like Chopins Nocturnes for instance) with the power to soothe the soul.  I like R&B and Jazz.  I especially love instrumental mood music with background water falls and thunder storms.  Yep, I’m one of those people.

I also like Gregorian chant, and its immitators.  And the pure, clear, incredibly beautiful and haunting Celtic solo voice.  Put these two together and it’s hard for me to imagine music any more easy listening and peace inspiring than this.

I hope this video gives you a few moments of blissful peace and relaxation.  And then, I promise, you can go back to your polkas or hip hop or hard rock or whatever it is that works for you.

 

Come now, come by our side
A place where you can hide
We are the sunshine
Rest your soul here and you’ll find
We are the energy
We give the world to thee
Hold up your heart now
We will ease pain from your brow

In a world without dangers,
Where destruction is near
You can come with us here.
Where the people are strangers
You will rest here with me
In a moment of peace.
In a world without dangers,
Where destruction is near
You can come with us here.
Where the people are strangers
You will rest here with me
In a moment of peace.

Light up the dark below
See through the stars
Reach to the earth’s flow
Drift in the joy of our hearts
Unleash the energy
Taste of the wine
Drink as a soul that knows now
The power divine

In a world without dangers,
Where destruction is near
You can come with us here.
Where the people are strangers
You will rest here with me
In a moment of peace.
In a world without dangers,
Where destruction is near
You can come with us here.
Where the people are strangers
You will rest here with me
In a moment of peace.

bloggers for peace

Some Taurean Bull

Taurus as depicted in Urania's Mirror, a set o...

Taurus as depicted in Urania’s Mirror, a set of constellation cards published in London c.1825. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Maybe I’ve been brainwashed into thinking that I am a Taurean through and through because I started reading this stuff decades ago and took it all too seriously.  Perhaps I decided that if it was my fate to be born a Taurus I might as well go ahead and act like one.

How ever it happened, it’s no big surprise to me when I read my astrological forecast and come across something like this:

Someone is pushing hard for you to do something you don’t want to do, but your resistance is legendary.  You will stick to your principles like glue, and refuse to budge an inch.  If you must, you must, but you won’t go down without a fight.

Sigh.  My resistance is legendary.  I laughed when I first read that, and then I thought – hey,  it’s not that funny.  I don’t really want to be the cranky old lady waving her cane in the air, shouting obscenities at the world.

These next random Taurus truths will be interesting to other Taurean people, or to those of you who know and love a Taurus well.  There is a lot to love here of course.  Although I may be biased saying that.  And if you aren’t a Taurus, and you don’t know one, you could still  read on just to see what you’re missing.

1.   Possessions and Material things

Taureans don’t feel emotionally secure unless they can see and touch the objects they own. Possessions and material things are of great significance to them and the intense need to possess and enjoy with the senses can drive them to be extremely productive.  (Yes, I have a lot of stuff.  I keep saying I’m going to de-clutter my house, but it hasn’t happened yet. I have been very productive moving things around though.)

2.  Taurus’ Love for Gardens

Taurean’s home and gardens are important to them. They reflect their love of harmony and beauty.  Many enjoy gardening and find emotional release in ‘turning” the soil..  If not, they’ll make sure someone else keeps-up their yard!  (Big check mark on that last part where I get somebody else to do it.)

3.  The Taurus Star Constellation

The Taurus constellation is a prominent constellation in the northern hemisphere’s winter sky, and one of the oldest dating back to the Early Bronze Age.  Taurus is symbolized by the bull and is mythologized in ancient Greece, Egypt and Babylon.  (The only constellations I’ve ever been able to make out in the night sky are the big and little dippers.  There may be smarter Taurean astronomers out there somewhere.  Well, let’s hope so, anyway.)

4.  Taurean Children

The Taurean child is charming and enjoys rules and regularity.  They usually do well in school, because they like the routine.  Their mind works at a slower pace than other signs, so more time on ‘homework’ is needed,  However, once a concept is grasped, it’s never forgotten.   (Did you notice the part where they said “charming”?)

5.  The Taurean Parent

Set routines are the norm and they feel their children should also practice discipline as a guidance.  All is well if it’s not too strict! Tarueans are concerned about their child’s education and will make sure they have the best possible chance to learn.  (Well there you go – you can give them every chance, but ultimately what they do with it is up to them.)

6.  Taurus’ Healing Gem: Emerald

Emeralds are great for Taureans as they encourage self-expression. They help to articulate thoughts and feelings and have the added benefit of relieving jealous tendencies and attract domestic bliss and loyalty.  (Too bad they’re green.)  (If anyone would like to give me one or two of them, I’ll overlook the color.)  (And what the hell is domestic bliss?)

7.  Taurus’ Healing flower: Narcissus

Narcissus brings Taureans self-love and increases self-confidence by enhancing their inner beauty and radiance. It relieves coughs and colds and is a natural sedative, calming panic attacks and preventing insomnia.  (Really?  This is all news to me. Am I supposed to be eating them?)

8.  The Taurean Anger

It takes a lot to really anger a Taurean, but when in a rage they have a strong desire to throw things and to storm around the house.  They remain angry for a long time.  If you arise a Taurean, let them cool down before talking again.  Don’t push them!  (This is excellent advice.)

9.  Partners in Love and Friendships

They have a talent for giving others a feeling of security. In times of crises, they’re of great comfort with advice which is practical, realistic and to the point.  Their calm approach to crises soothes even the most frayed nerves.  (This is AFTER the temper tantrum.)

10.  The Taurean Work Ethic

Taureans work slower than other signs but always finish whatever projects they start.  They are trustworthy, reliable, careful and steadfast.  If you want a job done and done well, give it to a Taurus!  (Unless it involves de-cluttering, and then they’re hopeless.)

Taurus, the Bull

Taurus, the Bull (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

11.  Planet Venus rules Taurus and Libra

Venus is called the goddess of beauty and love.   With her influence, Taurus works to obtain qualities of harmony, devotion, refinement and affection. Although the tendency towards self-indulgence, laziness and indifference must be avoided.  (Why?  Why do we have to avoid these things?  I like all of them.)

12.   Taurean’s Sensual Lust for Life

Taurus is governed by the goddess of love Venus, her influence gives Taureans an appetite for love, desire, creativity and all things considered “The Good Life”.

This list was shamelessly copied from a site called Likes.com which I found via Facebook.  This particular article said to read the twelve points to see if I (as an expert on being a Taurus by accident of birth) agree that these are indeed Taurean traits. So I did.  And I guess I do.

If I didn’t I’m sure I’d be stomping about stating my objections in some sort of legendary way.