Tag: writing community

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Poetry Monday: The Touch of Another

It’s a strange desire
            Not often mentioned
It’s not a sensation
            That first comes to mind
To be held by someone
            Just held – nothing more

It’s the one thing I want
            Most out of this world
But I fear being touched
            And vulnerable
I don’t trust anyone
            I don’t trust myself

It’s been several years
            Without being close
To another person – 
            To another soul – 
            I’ve forgotten how
To connect with others
            To let them inside

I fear placing my faith
            With the wrong person
I don’t fear commitment – 
I don’t fear growing close – 
            I fear working hard
Developing something
            To be abandoned

I’d rather be alone

From the poetry collection Cats, Coffee, Catharsis.

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Coffee and Contemplation: Yule/Yuletide

December 21 is the first day of Winter or the Winter Solstice. This is also celebrated as Yule. Yule is the final celebration for the Wheel of the Year and the cycle ends and begins again. This is also when the Holly King is celebrated during the peak of his power and reign over half the year. He will lose the battle to the Oak King who reigns over the other half of the year in the Spring. Yule celebrations involve bonfires, decorating with holly, mistletoe and the boughs of evergreen trees, ritual sacrifices, feasts, and gift-giving. I don’t recommend you participate in the sacrifices because I don’t recommend killing anything.

Many of the traditions of Yule were carried over into Christmas celebrations. The midwinter feast usually lasted 12 days (the 12 days of Christmas). Vikings decorated evergreen trees with gifts, food, and carvings (Christmas tree). In Norse tradition, Old Man Winter visited homes to join the festivities. Odin was described as a wanderer with a long white beard and is considered the first Father Christmas. These are a few examples and chances are many of you already celebrate Yule believing it’s Christmas. I think it’s time for the world to admit that Christmas has never been about Jesus. Also, let’s just call it Yule from now on.

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National Human Rights Month

December is National Human Rights Month. The goal is for everyone in the United States, and the world, to stand up for equality, justice, and the dignity of all humans. I would argue we do this for all living creatures too. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is an international document which states the rights and freedoms entitled to all human beings of any race, age, gender, sex, creed, religion, or ethnicity. It features a preamble and 30 articles of rights and freedoms. It was proclaimed on December 10, 1948 by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris.

This is a reminded to stand up against white supremacy and other organizations like them. This is a reminder to stop dehumanizing people. If you can’t care for others, at least don’t hurt them. This is a reminder to follow the golden rule. Treat others the way you want to be treated. This is also the main guideline for the Charter for Compassion. I recommend everyone read through these documents, the charter and the declaration. It’s the first step in changing the way most humans treat each other and other living things.