tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81474323121202271722024-03-08T11:28:28.024+00:00Crow's FeetMichellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.comBlogger857125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-32602498837635023632023-11-04T12:14:00.001+00:002023-11-04T12:14:06.450+00:00Dona Nobis Pacem ~ Live in Truth This year, Queen Mimi's peace challenge was to "Change the Room":"How do you keep your peace when all around you is chaos? The planet
is groaning for peace and stability. We can change the atmosphere by
walking in daily calmness and joy, even during the darkest of days.
What fuels your inner peace? Tell us how you do it. We'll learn from
each other." Every story has to start from Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-43789971337192106472023-08-21T10:21:00.002+01:002023-08-21T10:21:38.228+01:00Blogblast for Peace is coming...Everyone jump up on the Peace Train!
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-42760087851558636522023-04-20T14:12:00.006+01:002023-05-27T12:59:51.492+01:00The Obvious isn't always Obvious I've spoken about having endometriosis and how that gave me nerve damage and fibromyalgia. What I very rarely talk about is the fact I have anxiety. "Have anxiety" sounded better than "I suffer from anxiety", which made me see martyred saint icons waving their hands and staring up in spiritual despair. Chronic illnesses are things you learn to live with. Suffering from them is an Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-18669176524356864032022-12-22T11:53:00.001+00:002022-12-22T11:53:12.738+00:00A Light for ChristmasAs much as I enjoy the giving and getting of presents and watching "feel good" Christmas movies, that's not at all what this season is about for me.As far back as I can remember, the true magic lies in stars and wise men willing to follow them, simple shepherds experiencing the unimaginable and the most humble birth of a child. The fact they are woven through with older religions gifting us Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-84752874491926693592022-11-04T01:01:00.002+00:002022-11-04T12:35:55.002+00:00Dona Nobis Pacem ~ Freedom is an IllusionThis year, the theme for Blog for Peace is No Freedom, No Peace"It's hard to remain unboundwhen the world wants to keep you in chains. Are you free? And if you're not, what is holding you back?
I am convinced that no amount of peace can spring from even a sliver of bondage.
Figure it out. What is keeping you bound? When you fight for your freedom you are fighting for Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-101775947182670792022-10-27T10:26:00.006+01:002022-11-04T12:37:00.769+00:00Rebranded: First Light Saga BooksIt's official! My books are rebranded on Amazon as a linked series. They have new covers and some new content. For old fans, do not despair! Nothing good was removed or taken out, and not much has been added. A few continuity issues between book 1 and 2 needed sorting, and otherwise the only difference is a "bit of polish", as in improved proofing and formatting. The old books covers had to Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-39486815906235973732022-07-06T10:18:00.004+01:002022-07-06T10:18:33.730+01:00In GratitudeThis week, I've realised something huge - the old South Africa and (some of) the USA are very much alike; which is why so much of the USA stuff triggers me. It brings back a lot of bad memories. Maybe I've just been exceptionally unlucky, or maybe I've just been more aware. Either way, it was often nothing huge, just constant small slap downs. Slap... slap... slap... until you either break and Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-37624506611700961812022-07-05T12:24:00.002+01:002022-07-05T12:24:51.532+01:00My Body is Mine - Your body is YoursThe recent news that the USA Supreme court has overturned Roe vs Wade is a dark day for women living there. For all women, really. To have 50 years of bodily autonomy declared irrelevant overnight impacts all of us. I'm tired now. I'm tired of having to explain why a foetus (no matter whether it is loved or wanted, or feared and not wanted) is not a person. A foetus may be the potential to Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-38850767418787434232022-03-20T18:18:00.004+00:002022-05-05T11:45:56.809+01:00Are You part of the Solution or part of the Problem? For this special edition of Blogblast for Peace, I'd like to focus on one question: Are you part of the solution or part of the problem? For me, the conflict in Ukraine is shining a huge spotlight on all the things that need to change before humans can ever hope to have world peace. It's impressive how many countries are offering homes to Ukrainian refugees, but also completely Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-90782647840603075382021-11-01T04:44:00.069+00:002022-05-05T11:45:56.813+01:00Dona Nobis Pacem ~ Turn, Turn, TurnFor two decades (how did the time go by so fast?) I've taken part in Blogblast for Peace, every November. I've watched it continue to grow, steadily spiralled outwards as we draw, write and create in the name of Peace. But this year I'm turning around and following the spiral back to the centre. It's time to turn. Because no matter how much of a difference we might make in fighting for Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-53273311739313973602021-10-20T19:54:00.007+01:002021-10-20T19:54:52.182+01:00Countdown to Blogblast - BRAVE!The theme for Blogblast for Peace this year (Nov 4-7 2021) is.. "Courageous Peace in a Time of Great Change" Please join us! I'm ready! :) And here's my inspiration... Brave!
You can be amazing
You can turn a phrase into a weapon or a drug
You can be the outcast
Or be the backlash of somebody's lack of love
Or you can start speaking up...
Say what you wanna say
And let the words Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-49573553959685112222021-09-23T11:07:00.004+01:002021-09-23T11:07:57.291+01:00Superb video - the Rage of WomenMichellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-24077413361295788562021-07-08T10:32:00.004+01:002021-08-05T07:45:44.047+01:00Growing Brighter I saw this picture on a friend's Facebook today...... it hit home for several reasons. The first being that this was something I failed badly at, when I was young; I regularly dimmed my light when I was a teen. It started after I moved countries, at age 10, and wanted to just "fit in" at my new schools in a strange new culture. Looking back, I can see that a lot of the "me" from those high Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-63615857146898997472021-01-10T19:30:00.002+00:002021-01-11T09:07:48.814+00:00Repeat Patterns I drew this picture a long time ago, in the 1990s, as an illustration for a book: "Die Dans van die Brein/The Brain Dance" by Shani Grove This drawing was for a chapter on how, and why, ordinary individuals lose their self-identity when they join group belief systems. The harmful systems, such as cults and extremist political groups, in particular. On January 6th 2021, I saw this Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-58745119190064030922020-10-28T10:10:00.005+00:002022-05-05T11:45:56.811+01:00Blog for Peace 2020 ~ Perfect VisionWhen I first sat down to write a post for this year's event... words left me. There was no room for them. All the space inside me was taken up with emotion. This has been an exceptionally emotional year on a global level. We started with devastating fires in Australia (how we worried for friends and family over there!) and went straight on into Covid19 with its assorted political chaos, worldwideMichellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-62578766697952049932020-10-26T10:44:00.002+00:002020-10-26T10:44:47.166+00:00Say it AnywayMichellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-34599200251383954752020-10-18T00:15:00.006+01:002020-11-04T12:18:33.502+00:00My PrayerDona Nobis Pacem - 2020 Vision In this year of 2020 vision, give us the clear sight needed to see through lies and illusions.Help us to heal our planet, our people, our families and our nations.Allow us to see how all is connected and everything sacred.No nation greater, no species of less value, no race above another.Give us the wisdom to understand that anger at injustice is as much a sacred Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-11959877094049893832020-10-15T14:05:00.005+01:002020-10-15T14:05:53.573+01:00When her Religion is a Problem... I saw this on a social media site yesterday...For non-Americans, these women are both American but of different religious faiths. Both hold offices that give them legal/political power.
In a way, I agree with this picture, because I think ALL religion in politics is dangerous.
Your religious beliefs are your personal moral compass. You thus have no right to ever think you know better whatMichellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-8470388065560622912020-09-29T14:12:00.002+01:002020-09-29T16:38:01.644+01:00A Brave New World I saw a great quote from Ruth Bader Ginsburg
today. She said: Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.
I needed the reminder, because quite often the things we care deeply about may be of no interest, or Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-73554859122684730762020-09-10T12:26:00.000+01:002022-12-30T19:44:05.259+00:00Just add LoveThis year has been hard on everyone, an extremely rare thing in the history of mankind. From politics to climate change disasters to a worldwide virus pandemic... no one has been able to avoid stress. And, not surprisingly, a lot of people are struggling.I was talking to a friend about the way high levels of aggression I'm seeing online lately. It got me thinking about something Gabriel said to Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-56347888659438325102020-09-03T13:00:00.000+01:002020-09-03T14:34:19.102+01:00Closure is not a Door you CloseLast weekend, my high school held their reunion online, since covid has made gathering anywhere impossible. I've never been to any school reunion, but I did end up staying for a while in the group chat related to this year's gathering. It was a strange feeling, seeing some names I remembered and a lot I did not.And depressing, when people started to list those students now dead from cancer and Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-84482703543610734822020-07-10T12:40:00.002+01:002022-12-30T19:44:29.481+00:00My Angel GuardianAs most of my friends and long-term blog readers know by now, I hang out with an angel named Gabriel in my head. He's always been my guardian angel, but it's only very recently (2013) that I've been able to hear and sometimes see him. The story behind that journey of discovery is scattered through this
blog. Look for labels: Angels, Archangel Gabriel, Psychic, Visionary and
Elephant Songs (my Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-76249322447077541972019-07-18T15:50:00.002+01:002020-08-23T10:20:22.214+01:00Note to Blog ReadersI haven't had time to blog regularly. You'll probably guess that I've been fading if you look at the dates of my last posts! lol
I'm keeping my blog up, as I know there are people who still return to read, especially my past Blog for Peace posts and information on my books. And I am posting now and then.
BUT... I am adding security to comments to keep the dire spammers at bay.
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-42125799414780547172019-02-07T09:44:00.001+00:002020-09-10T16:53:14.569+01:00Un-AmericanMichellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147432312120227172.post-1291360176392038452019-02-04T01:30:00.000+00:002020-09-10T15:45:03.761+01:00Musical Monday for the Chinese New Year - The Dog Days Are Over
The Chinese Dog year ends today. Tomorrow is the New year of the Pig. This seemed the perfect song to celebrate that fact.
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02284595314525240584noreply@blogger.com0