Leaves change to brilliant shades of crimson, scarlet, canary, and tangerine before they fall from branches bearing buds which hibernate until the following renewal of spring.

This month also elicits bittersweet emotions for me personally.

As I am in the autumn of my life, and literally born under the sign of Libra, I am conscious of how quickly time can slip away.

I have experienced sudden losses of life throughout my own, which raises my awareness of the precious gift each day with loved ones brings.

My journey has had numerous twists and turns, a wide variety of adventures; some of the most significant being inward.

Introspection is a blessing and a curse.

Living in the present moment is most fulfilling for me as a conscious choice, being aware of consequential actions.

I remind myself to ‘be still and smile’, as the mystery of my future unfolds before me while my past falls away . .  .

Such an invaluable resource requires nurturing to not only maintain health, but also to grow and blossom, thereby benefiting all.

When treated with dignity and respect a woman’s heart thrives, enabling love to multiply.

When ignored or neglected this same heart closes, shrivels or dies, resulting in suffering.

Since ‘love makes the world go round’ it is crucial for everyone in the circle to handle a woman’s heart with care . . .

While I was viewing a blizzard of snow from my ‘sunroom’, the unspeakable horror of unstoppable gunfire, along with heroism, was unfolding in Arizona.

I am told that America is in mourning today.  Anyone in the world who values the sanctity of life is grieving as well.

We are all connected in this universe.  The actions of one or two influence the world in unseen ways.

Negative actions are publicized more than positive thoughts.

When inexplicable acts are perpetrated by ‘seemingly normal-looking’ people, we can only look inward to find the ‘peace’ that these individuals were obviously lacking.

It is inside our spiritual core that we will find the ‘light’ of love and the strength of hope and faith to carry on when ’worldly’ craziness surrounds us .

My past is rich with memories warming my heart, delighting my soul.

My present includes gifts of sadness and joy, grief and hope, balancing my life.

My future unfolds mysteriously, one day at a time, embracing my dreams.

My heart feels as though it will break. 

Teardrops fall among sunny moments.

Music provides momentary relief, while solemn notes match my mood.

Grief surfaces as I recall and silently thank those veterans, past and present, who served us all.

These waves touch each and every one  . . .

Guess that is the reason it feels like the ‘end of the world’ when love is lost or unrequited.

How does one ’heal a broken heart’?

Guess it depends on how strong the love that broke the heart.

Someone once told me that within 24 hours of his father dying, his mother followed, although she had no illness as did her spouse.

As much as it hurt her adult children and grandchildren to lose her, it would appear that she could not live on earth without the ‘love of her life’, and nothing could heal her broken heart.

“Love hurts’ as well when that love is not returned.

‘Time heals all wounds’ would hopefully apply in this case.

I believe that in spite of the pain that the search for love can cause, it is the ‘pleasure principle’ that keeps us engaged in our longing for that ‘once in a lifetime’ kind of  reciprocal, romantic, passionate love with one’s soul mate.

When these two have found each other, the poet would advise to ‘never let it go’ as ‘love conquers all’ in this life and the next . . .

Halloween was always a flurry of activity in my household, first as a child myself, and then later as a mother.

Homemade costumes were the order of the day in both scenarios; I being the recipient in the former and creator in the latter. 

As a parent, I recall ’dressing up’ while dishing out goodies as the greeter of  ’trick or treaters’.

One year I might be ‘fiercely frightening’ and the next ‘creatively colourful’. 

Those were ‘fun’ and tender times. 

My inner child easily surfaced with young children of my own to show me the way.

Now it takes a little more work to engineer the journey inward to find her.

Memories conjure moments lost, while feelings of anticipation linger . . .

Once again my life seems to mirror the state of the planetary changes.

Just when I decide to move forward in one direction, life has other plans, and I find myself spinning off my axis.

My drifting this time is not only without my anchor but also without my rudder. 

I feel lost and it hurts to be in this place.  

The earth that grounds me as I walk in nature, now conjures memories of  hope.

I need to take to the sky; the heavens far above the sea beckon me. 

The earth will always have its place as I am of ‘clay’.

It is my ethereal spirit that leads me on my way.