Dry Tears*

Oh my heart cries 

but dry tears cannot comfort me 

61-18

Opportunity*

I love the elderly

for in their presence they give me 

the opportunity to become 

a more compassionate person

81813

Prayer of Hope*

May all faiths join hands

May all hearts beat as one

May all find that piece of g-d within us today

and share it with another

The Leaf*

The leaf that refuses 

to part from the tree in autumn

No matter what 

will never hold on long enough to

become part 

of its branch come spring

33199

Today I Found Love

Today I found love 

She was always there 

above my head below my feet 

You my earth, my planet, my seeds, my weeds, my trees, all living things

May they nurture us become of our hard work

We must cultivate 

for in the harvest we will reap years of joy, laughter, love and peace

Peace with our brothers  

Peace with our sisters

Most of all peace with the earth

Hallelujah

With clarity through proven sustainability and accountability 

for all of our actions 

from this moment on 

What Defines Us*

What defines us is not 

how many times we fail 

but 

how many times 

we get up

111619

Standing Still*

I do not look for inspiration

I just stand 

still 

long enough 

so it may find me

3500

Oneness

Feeling “oneness” with myself and earth around me 

enables me to reach into the beautiful, 

amazing galaxy 

within

71198

Inspiration from Princeton Alliance Church

When you 

open yourself to the world 

the world 

opens 

to you

62698

Political Unrest*

Now is the moment 

I stand here amongst the autumn leaves 

Is this our autumn or our winter  

As I watch each tree lose it leaves 

nothing seems right 

The darkness has come while the sun still shines strong

Our country is divided

My spirit longs for 

a moment of clarity 

a moment of light 

Political Climate

joanseashell.blogspot.com

Flexibility*

The one that 

bends 

does not break

22799 /3511

Olive Branch*

The olive branch of peace must be planted in soft soil

When the ground is frozen

it cannot grow

It needs to be nurtured by the warmth of sun 

and the kindness of people 

who surround it

32599/3411

Mother's Womb*

Sitting here 

against skies of endless blue and 

cherry trees ripe with earth's bounties 

I am in my beloved 

and my beloved cradles me within her womb 

91919

A Mother's Love*

There are some things in this world which are greater than life

A mother’s love transcends

122599

Turmoil*

For when there is turmoil, I go to you

When I gaze upon your warm, gentle waters…I see peace

When I hear your soft rustling breezes whispering through the trees…I hear peace

When I stand up on your resilient ground… I feel the support of peace

Your air 

Yes, your air

She fills my lungs

Your sunlight from above raises me out of my darkness and into your warm golden arms

To you, I walk

I step forward

I am overjoyed

Loved, comforted, cradled in your bosom

Honoring, rocking, joyful

My soul dances
Because she knows…she is home

22807

Smile*

I’ll never forget the day I taught an old woman to smile. She would walk around all day with a frown. One day I asked her if she was happy and she said “Yes” 

I said that I couldn’t tell.

She asked, “Why?”

“I’ve never seen you smile”

“How do you smile?” 

I said to just bring your corners up. I pointed to the corners of her mouth. Well, she did! She had such a beautiful smile and every time I looked at her from that day on she would share this radiant smile. 

Can you remember a time in which you had taught someone something special no matter how small or large?  

4399/22411

Oh Mother

Oh mother 

what warm blanket 

doeth thou hold for me

111301

364 Days*

We live 364 days in each year 

Maybe it’s 364 times we are given to try to get our age right

Just one day 

One day to just grow a little wiser 

One day to grow just a little kinder

May we feel a little more 

peace, fulfillment and love 

with each passing year

42899

Before My Bloom*

No mother should ever go before her child’s bloom

I am yet only a blossom 

32899 

Great Ideas*

great ideas are feathers in the wind

we must reach out to catch them before they drift away

122700

Pot of Gold*

Each family should work together as one

Even though we may not complete the task at hand

It is the striving that is the accomplishment

The striving gets us one step closer to a perfect love

In my meditation I saw many, many souls within a rainbow which lead to me. 

I was the pot of gold. 

When we work together as one we become the pot of gold at the end of each rainbow

33199

Strength*

                                

There are times 

when the bend in growth 

is stronger 

than the straight and narrow

                          32099

Healing*

To love is to feel 

To understand is to heal 

33199

The Healing Service at Temple B'nai Shalom-2

Rabbi Eric Eisenkramer of Temple B'nai Shalom.

In love, hope, and faith 
I am grateful for my ability to make a change for a better tomorrow

Celebrate today 

Treasure today  

Rejoice today

Love today

For in this moment of peace after our Healing Service at Temple B'nai Shalom  

all the world is calm and I am its nucleus 

102318

Gratitude Prayer*

Thank you for my feet so I may walk and stand

Thank you for the earth which my feet stand upon

May my feet and the earth be strong and healthy?

Thank you for my hands so I may touch and be touched

Thank you for my nose so I may breathe this air and sustain life

Thank you for the air around me 

May I help keep it clean so it may sustain all living things?

Thank you for my hands and voice so I am able to touch and speak.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for the air within my body and air around this blue planet which keeps me and other living things alive 

Thank you for my brain so I am able to think and make decisions… right or wrong, but may they all end up wise 

Thank you most for my heart, so I may feel compassion for myself and others and may this compassion lead me to a greater love and understanding of life 

Thank you for the flame outside, the sun which keeps me warm and helps sustain life

Thank you for the flame within which is the combination of love, compassion and responsibility that feeds my very soul

Thank you for me-- may I feel that little bit of g-d within me grow and grow

Thank you for the almighty, you, someone to watch over me and guide me and love me till eternity. 

32799

Knighted*

Knighted by her grace the sun

Her ray has touched me 

A shadow is cast over the earth 

Oh heavenly body you have touched me 

Oh heavenly body you have mingled with my upright existence 

I am knighted

Together we cast this shadow at 7:10am 

The Calm*

Look into your own personal well to initiate the “calm”

Go to it 

Drink from it 

Feel it soothe 

Surrender to it

Offer others a sip

Breathe 

Find the calm in a situation and stand within it

Let it emanate from you

Let it revolve around you

Let others feel its flow 

12601, 21611

Guide Me

Guide me in the ways of love 

Let my roots grow freely

Let them intertwine with my loved one's

Let the breezes of love, flexibility and support flow thru my hair 

and sing loud and long your verses of love   

Steps*

                         

                     

Life is a series of steps 
In each moment it is my choice 
to take the initiative to go forward 

                                   

                          What would be your first step in making one of your goals a reality?

21205

Freedom

On my daily walks to my meditation pond, I often pass this sweet, innocent dog. He tugs and tugs at a rope wrapped around an old willow tree barking excessively.  The rope will not give. I could see it was securely tied to his collar, home of his gasping breath. He would pull at the rope so tightly that he could barely breathe or act sane. If he could only take two steps back, he would breathe freely, lay comfortably with wonderful feelings of peace and contentment.   

This incident echoes through my head often. If only we were to take two steps back and let ourselves live with freedom and fulfillment. Our supersonic lifestyle tugs at our neck. The rope of technology rules us. We can only think of our next step as we gasp.  Just take two steps back.  Peace is here. Listen…the barking has stopped. 

4899, The Story of the Akita

A New Chapter*

Everything in our life 

which has brought us to 

where we are today

I am thankful 

for it all 

the good 

and the bad 

This is what has defined us 

and we are surviving 

and thriving 

from all of these 

strengths 

which have gotten us this far 

It is the challenges that help 

mold 

define and 

strengthen us

Even though we may feel weak

 alone or empty at times 

We survive it 

with the skills we have 

created 

and developed 

Everyone of us has survived them 

This is monumental  

Today is the last of the carefree days with my daughter

Hannah

Nursery school is over

She’ll soon be 9 to 3:30

school

homework 

dinner 

bath

bedtime 

The grind 

She’ll be part of it  

I’ll miss her

I’ll be lonely 

My baby is growing up 

I feel happiness and sadness

A new chapter is ready to begin

61300

Joy Within

Oh yes, my joy is back 

I can feel a smile upon my face 

love in my heart

peace in my thoughts

an overall inner glow 

Hallelujah, peace is back

The firm ground is supporting me while 

the air is saying

Come with me and I will show you the way to

a greater peace, light and joy within

42019

Awakened *

Before I meditate a stone is just a stone

Cold yet at times may catch and reflect the sun

After meditation

I open my eyes and now it is surrounded by a special 
calmness

The air is soft like cotton balls and the stone not only 
catches and reflects light but twinkles with awe

It conveys a quiet joy and makes me smile with heartfelt 
warmth

Before I meditated all was winter yet afterward in that 
moment spring is awakened

12811, 121911 Awaken

Nothing to Write

Nothing to write 

but the endless honking geese have a lot to say

I smile and feel inquisitive and joyful 

I have come to you

The grass is still asleep so I can walk upon you without concerns of ticks 

Old friend of twenty years you have been my constant 

my anchor 

my special place of contemplation 

I stand and meditate listening to the serenades of spring

Yes, old friend we are together 

The sky may be grey and the trees barren today 

But in any season you are my constant 

For this moment I stand in awe and feel peace within

42-19

Second Spring

It is time to let my obstacles drop into the ground 

As they decompose into the soil… 

Let the roots of a resilient flower grow into this new space

Let the roots grow healthier and stronger each day

Enabling their flower to bloom

Let violins, flutes, and a harp welcome all 

Let the summer’s rain nourish 

Let the sun rise in a magnificent blue sky

Let myself feel its music

And sing its sweet melodies

As I draw in its intoxicating aroma 

Let myself grow

Spying a turkey vulture gliding effortlessly forming graceful circles in the sky today 

I let it evolve with a higher sense of freedom into an eagle 

I can now see it transforming into a dove sharing glorious feelings of peace everywhere 

At times my legs may be weary

My hands may grow tired

My head may feel tense

But my heart she is my only true path 

Our heavenly bodies illuminate my way

As I walk forward I am engulfed in…

A greater sense of love for myself as well as others

A higher feeling of peace within and throughout

Let all obstacles become opportunities for a greater growth within 

And I will shine bright and bloom my second bloom 

And it shall become our second spring  

123111