Running Waves

 

In this busy season and unbalanced world, a Celtic blessing of peace for you:

 

Deep peace of the running wave to you.

Deep peace of the flowing air to you.

Deep peace of the quiet earth to you.

Deep peace of the shining stars to you.

 

Nurture peace, cultivate kindness, and carry the calm.

 

Nature of the week:

Shadow of the week:

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Text and photos © 2023 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.

Something About the Night

 

There is something soft and friendly

about the night,

a slowing,

settling,

deep drift

that creeps silently over the world

as the light folds her brightly colored fan

and fades.

Evening shadows gently wash over

grasses and gardens,

chipmunks and squirrels,

bugs and birds.

Darkness rises to the rooftops,

shoulders over the treetops

until all rests under a dome of darkness

where stars sail and the moon smiles

and the night breeze dances.

When I was young,

I was taught about heaven.

“There is no night there,” we sang,

which saddened me for years.

No night?

No beautiful, calming, restful night?

No chirp of crickets?

No whirr of night bugs?

No lovely call of a lone owl?

I am not convinced about heaven,

but I know the night.

I love the night.

There is something soft and friendly

about the night.

-kh-

 

Nurture peace, cultivate kindness, and carry the calm.

 

Nature of the week:

Shadow of the Week:

If you want me to send these thoughts to your email each Sunday, simply sign up on the right.

Text and photos © 2023 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.

For the Love of Stars

 

“I have loved the stars too fondly

to be fearful of the night.”

– Sarah Williams –

“The Old Astronomer” (1868)

 

Nurture peace, cultivate kindness, and carry the calm.

 

Nature of the week—The stars (image credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScl).

You can see more at space.com .

 

Shadow of the Week—shadow of water droplets on a glass table:

 

If you want me to send these thoughts to your email each Sunday, simply sign up on the right.

Text and shadow photo © 2022 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.

Star photo from NASA, ESA, CSA, STScl.

Deep Peace

 

Deep peace of the running wave to you.

Deep peace of the flowing air to you.

Deep peace of the quiet earth to you.

Deep peace of the shining stars to you.

 

– based on writings of poet William Sharp

 

Nurture peace, cultivate kindness, and carry the calm.

 

Nature of the week – poinsettia reaching for the sunlight:

. . . and its shadow:

If you want me to send these thoughts to your email each Sunday, simply sign up on the right.

Text and photos © 2021 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.

Feel the Stars

 

“. . . feel the stars and the infinite

high and clear above you.

Then life seems

Almost enchanted after all.”

– Vincent Van Gogh –

 

In this busy holiday season, take time to feel the stars, sense the infinite, and rediscover the enchantment of life. Wishing you joy and peace!

Nurture peace, cultivate kindness, and carry the calm.

Nature of the week:

Shadow of the Week:

If you want me to send these thoughts to your email each Sunday, simply sign up on the right.

Text and photos © 2018 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.

In Nature’s Cathedral

“The blue sky is the temple’s arch,

Its transept earth and air,

The music of its starry march

The chorus of a prayer.”

– John Greenleaf Whittier –

 

Pause for a moment whenever you step outdoors this week. Look up and take in the cathedral of nature. Join the chorus of its prayer.

And as always, nourish peace, cultivate loving kindness, and carry the calm.

Nature of the week:

mooncrapemyrtle

Shadow of the Week:

ptonshdw1

If you want to receive these thoughts by email each week, simply sign up on the right.

For my posts on coming of age in a community of faith, link here.

Text and photos © 2016 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.

 

I Have Loved the Stars

 

 

I Have Loved the Stars

“I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night.”

– Sarah Williams –

Even when stars are not visible – in daylight or under cloud cover at night – they are still there. And when life around us seems cloudy and dark, love is still there. Love holds steady. Grace holds. Kindness holds. These are our stars in the darkness. If we locate them, we can trust them to guide us on our journey; out of trust, hope is born. Step toward love. Step toward grace. Step toward kindness. And carry the calm.

Nature of the week:

jpmaplefall

Shadow of the Week:

shdwbtls

Text and photos © 2016 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.

For my posts on coming of age in a community of faith, link here.

 

The Essential Invisible