Why tragedy happens

We each process life, love, and tragedy in our own way.  For me, the only way to understand the world is to continually ask the question: "Why?"

So when tragedy like 9/11, the Sandy Hook shootings, or the recent Orlando shooting happens, I spend much time in solitude trying to figure out why.

The Sandy Hook shootings marked a poignant moment in my life. At that time, my daughter was a half year away from entering kindergarten… something I wasn't ready for, and was uncertain about as it was. Then an entire school of young children underwent a horror that I still can't even imagine. This rocked me for months.

And the question of why never left my mind.  The answer arrived the following April.

During opening day in Yankee Stadium, there was a moment of silence for the lives lost at Sandy Hook. I could feel the emotion in the stadium.  It was palpable. All that energy and love being sent in silence to those souls who died, and to those still suffering from the loss.

In that moment of silence I realized why.  Why tragedy strikes.  Why bad things happen to good people, to innocent people.  Those who are gone no longer suffer.  We suffer.  And in our suffering we do good. 

Never is the inherent strength and goodness of humanity as apparent as when tragedy strikes.  The more severe the tragedy, the more powerfully communities band together to support one another and do good in the world.  Anyone in New York during the final months of 2001 can attest to that.  Only when tragedy strikes does the entire globe come together in ways it never would otherwise to give back and do good so selflessly.

There is never the same kind of goodwill toward others in happy moments.  A wedding will never generate as much love between friends and family as a funeral. When we see goodness, our instinct is to bask in it, to take some of it for our own.  But when we see suffering... we instinctually give of ourselves to ease it.





I believe that one day we will learn to bring that goodness and strength and love into our daily lives.  To give to and love each other the way we do so selflessly when we see suffering.  Then humanity will no longer have a need for tragic events. 

Then we can stop asking why.







*************************

 

 

Danielle Rose, The Alchemist - Making magic from the mundane



Yin and Yang is kind of like Left and Right brain thinking

In talking about balance and Yin and Yang, I can’t help but think about right and left brains.  I took one of those stupid Facebook quizzes recently and it told me that I'm 76% Left brained (focusing on Symbolism) and 24% Right brained.  I am a very linear thinker.  Things are orderly.  Numbers don’t lie.  I am not flowery, I am squarely in “the box” so when someone says to think outside the box, I'm at a loss.  Make up something on the spot without parameters, I don’t think so.  So 876% left sounds about right (or correct as the case may be.)

“So, if you’re so left brained and non-creative how can you be a poet and so successful at Charlapalooza?” you might ask. 

If you don’t remember or weren’t subscribed at the time of Charlapalooza, the quick and dirty description is me against another poet writing quick poems about suggested topics.

In response, I would say, “Because you all told me what to write about!”

There was a large and glaring difference between the poems that Danielle Rose (my last competitor) wrote and those that I wrote.  Mine were shorter, condensed and more literal translations of the suggestions.  Danielle’s were more creative, more outside the box.  Here’s an example.

 Kim Hartnett’s suggestion was “Seashell Secrets” and she said it needed to be an alliteration

My poem read:

Seashells have sensual secrets

Tickling temptations and tonal tendencies

Undertones of the undersea

Vestiges of the voluptuousness

Wanton and willful

X-rated and exhilarating

Yummy

Zing

Danielle’s poem read:

The cool touch of it against my ear

Screamed with the sound of the

Waves crashing high over my head.

Instantly brought back to the summer,

Those moments with my feet in sand

Like snow, sun like charcoal on my hair.

What I wouldn’t give to be there again,

Listening to the water racing on the shore

And racing back again. The unending cycle.

What I wouldn’t give to be back there,

Lost in the sound of that seashell.

Softly slipping water, sliding over

Shells and sounds of the seashore.

What I wouldn’t give to see him once more

On the softly sliding slopes of the dunes.

The secret slippery slope of a seashell.

 See what I mean?  Here’s another.

Secret desire – By Danielle Rose

  ~suggested by Dahlia Ramone

There’s a door in the forest

Covered by trees.

If you look carefully you’ll find

Photo by Kely Luzio-Cardona

A mound of sweet purple blooms

That have no business in that shaded 

Grove, basking in rays of sunlight 

Covering an oak slab door. 

What I wouldn’t give to give up

The meatloaf for dinner, the emails

For work, the laundry needing folding.

I’d run to that grove, sneaking into that

Streamer of sunlight, breathing in the 

Blossoms, escaping forever into the

Unknown of that oaken secret door.

And mine:

1:23 AM

The dogs are barking again

Nudge Jon without hope

Swing legs over the side

Toss on a robe and slippers

As the dogs dance in excitement

Glad I’ve acknowledged their need

To bark at stuff probably

Trudge downstairs

Dogs leading the way

Open the sliding glass door

Rush to talk to their imaginary mid-night friends

Open the pantry and look for chips

Try and get them down quietly

As if

Nothing’s quiet in the sleepy silence

Sit on the couch

And gently crunch a handful

Let the dogs in and

Grab just one more – handful that is

Share the last couple chips

Begrudgingly with the dogs

              One to each

Creep back to bed

See what I mean?  We think differently.  And that’s what makes the world awesome.  Our differences.  If we didn’t have differences, the world would be monochromatic, monotonous and boring.

 Do you think you’re right or left brained?  If you'd like to check out the other poems that were written for Charlapalooza (and there were other great poems including one about a mouse living in a tennis ball!) click the links above to check them out.

2015 in Review

Charla Dury

2015 has brought me many challenges and opportunities for growth in my professional life (taking on editing for Mind Key and a promotion at work) and health struggles personally revolving around depression and kidney issues.  I am looking forward to rising above and beyond both professionally and personally in 2016
, taking on the daunting task of finding myself in this sea of life as well as finding my passion and living it to the fullest.  Mind Key is a large part of my life and I'd love for it to rise with me!

Barbara Steingas

2015 is the year I finally got over my fears and hesitations about sharing the strategies I used to heal myself from what is considered to be an incurable disease.  I started my coaching business and started doing workshops to help inspire and show people how to optimize their health & vitality.

Jane Kamala Morba

The new year is a coming to a close and it's time to focus on our own intentions and rejuvenation for the Solstice. In 2015 I have focused on creating my essence, on new holistic businesses and coaching, both receiving and giving support.

At the end of the year, I celebrate my achievements. I find it's important to do that with some ritual and art. I have done a lot in creating my structures/style and shifts in my consciousness and body, obviously this takes energy.

Developing my offerings on Mind Key to support women and men to achieve their best in the new paradigm through, oils, photography, branding and feminine coaching. I intend to accomplish all that I set up to do and bring in more wealth and abundance in 2016.

  

Danielle Rose

2015 saw the relaunch of Mind Key as a community of healers, artists and spiritualists looking to find their place in the world and help others. Building this unique resource was infinitely more work than I imagined, but the outpouring of support I've received has kept me from throwing in the towel time and time again. Mind Key has published two beautiful anthologies, thrown two fantastic parties, and resurrected and maintained a blog. I wouldn't have been able to do it without the help of each member, prospective members, and you, our readers and supporters (particularly Charla Dury, who invests almost as much time as I do each week to keep things running smoothly!).  We look forward to improving the Mind Key resource so that our members' work can exponentially touch others seeking their path, their healing, and their passion and happiness in 2016.



 Perhaps the most beautiful aspect of the accomplishments Mind Key has made this past year come despite (or perhaps in spite of) the incredible personal shifts I've undergone in 2015.  I've completed my first novel, pitched it to an agent, publisher and publicist, traveled to Mexico, and am beginning to manifest personal life changes that I am only just beginning to share with the world.  Here's to having the courage to follow through in 2016!!

Follow your dreams with Mind Key!

Mind Key is all about finding inspiration to follow your dreams, to live your healthiest, happiest and most passionate life.  For many of us, that includes the creative pursuit of writing and being involved in the writing process.

Following on the heels of Danielle’s awesome Chimera novel pitch and a wildly successful 2015 NaNoWriMo, we here at Mind Key would like to offer our lovingly crafted writing and editing services.  These services would be a perfect gift for yourself or a loved one this holiday season and come in many forms.

Charla Dury

The Mind Key writing team can provide story editing services, pointing out your writing strengths as well as possibly needed story edits.  Your novel, story or writing project doesn’t even need to be complete for this step!

I (Charla Dury), Mind Key editor, can provide overall editing services to include a more detailed review of the entire novel, editing for grammar and readability as well as offering suggestions for any inconsistency and plot holes.

Audrey Solarino, a professional copy editor, will proof-read your novel for content, readability, grammar, spelling, style and more.

Danielle Rose offers a novel coaching service to help you prepare your novel in the final stages.  This can include query letters to publishing houses, staging a marketing plan and even presenting yourself and your novel!

Danielle Rose

All of these services are even offered as a package!  The Great American Novel Package is available at a deep discount (based on services purchased individually!)

All of these services can be purchased with Mind Key Gift certificates, too, which is really the best part.  Mind Key gift certificates are available through Danielle Rose and can be used to purchase anything on the Mind Key Store!  The Mind Key store offers products and services from many of the Mind Key members:

Mind Key Anthologies old and new

Body, Heart & Soul - Healing services

Help with Creativity and Enlightenment

Writing and editing services can be found in the Follow Your Dream section

Inspiration section provides many ways to discover your heart and soul

And even Professional and Business Services!

Visit the Mind Key Store today and get inspired!!!

In a Nutshell: Fiction and Life Parallels

Last week on Mind Key, the blog, your Mind Key writers explored fiction and life parallels. 

In Meet the Community: Danielle Rose on Tuesday, Charla introduced you to Mind Key's creator, Danielle Rose. 

"I've been talking to trees and faeries ever since I could remember," Danielle says. Her connection to the fae and to nature has taken her down life's path less traveled.

As a mom of two girls, Danielle is perpetually on the go, but she’s always focused on what she has found most important, homemade family dinners, playing outside and reading.  “I've been reading my favorite chapter books aloud since my youngest was about six months old," she said.  "Today, both of my girls adore all of my favorites and that means the world to me.”

*** 

In the blog Spirituality Based on Film on Wednesday, Charla explored the Jedi Way, a way of life that has sprung up based on the tenets of the Star Wars movies.  

"The films have actually spawned many discussions in my household.  Being surrounded by boys (including my husband) who love the series, we’ve talked a lot about the story lines and the duality of the characters (Anakin and Luke Skywalker) and their struggles between the dark and the light side."  

The differences between "Jediism" and "Sithism" seem to show the dichotomy in human thoughts and desires.

***

Danielle gave us more insight into her writing and thought processes on Thursday in How Fiction Changes Everything.  

"Whether in myself, or with my children, I can feel how stories weave new unimaginable thought patterns.  There’s something special in the way fiction opens the brain to draw its own conclusions and make new connections."

"Although my work in the nonfiction realm of health is essential in many ways, it’s my work writing Mind Key the Novel that is more powerful and profound.  Perhaps it is more accurate to say that fiction is life."

***

In keeping with the Fiction and Life Parallel theme, Tamara reviewed Danielle's book in Friday's Mind Key the Novel: A Review.  

"While trying to unwrap her heart from the strings of confusion, Noelle is soon surrounded  by unsettling events.  From a quirky palm reader predicting a strange future, to Arden suddenly disappearing from existence only to show up in an unsettling dream, she finds comfort in the lulling rhythm of the ocean and the infinite horizon sparkling with sharp, colorful light." 

Mind Key is the novel that promises to stay true to the name.  Will the key open our minds and help us discover our own magical journey?

Learn more about how Mind Key the Novel is being considered for publication and how you can help make it happen!

Indiegogo campaign dedicated to Danielle's success!

*****

This week, your Mind Key writers will be introducing more your community members!  Stay tuned!

Meet the Community: Danielle Rose

We each have the ability to 

change our life, 
create our future, 
heal ourselves,
and achieve our dreams.

Danielle Rose is many things, but conventional is not one of them.  She identifies herself as a writer, herbalist, intuitive reader and faerie healer, but she's so much more.

"I've been talking to trees and faeries ever since I could remember," Danielle says. Her connection to the fae and to nature has taken her down life's path less traveled.

Danielle grew up in a dark place.  "I don't really remember much about my childhood anymore, probably because I've blocked a lot of it out," Danielle says.  In a family plagued by emotional abuse, Danielle turned to her connection to nature and to her writing and journaling as a way to actually heal.

"This was a huge breakthrough for me.  I realized that journaling was more than a record of my day, but a way to work through issues...  "As a result of this emotional breakthrough, Danielle began to write Mind Key the novel.

"The intention of Mind Key [the novel]," says Danielle, "was to help young girls, those struggling the way I was as a kid (or not...) to discover that they have magic inside to overcome everything." The novel is very much a mirror of Danielle's life.  Her main character, Noelle Ricci "...relies on her creative talents, her ability to dream, and a healthy dose of belief to fight battles in both the physical and spiritual realms."

As she wrote, Danielle discovered that the faeries were with her.  "...they were making themselves known on the pages as I wrote."  The strong connection between the fae and nature led her to learn energy work alongside Dr. Jim, the Tree Whisperer and herbalism apprenticing Robin Rose Bennett.

"I used to think that I walked in two worlds - or maybe walked with one foot in each at the same time...  but in learning with Robin and Jim, I can clearly see that the world I imagine, is the REAL world, or at least half of it.

While giving faerie readings as an intuitive reader, Danielle focuses where the fae guide her and on the needs of those who come to her.  The person may need spiritual, emotional or even physical guidance, but Danielle firmly believes in the ability within each of us to heal ourselves with help from the energy and bountiful goodness of nature.

Danielle chose the life of a writer long ago, beginning her career as a journalist fill-in beat reporter in 2005 for the Suburban Trends.  After grinding it out, gaining some contacts and experience, she transitioned to the Living section where she was able to pitch her own ideas for stories.  Many story pitches revolved around family and health as a new mom at the time, and under the guidance of editor Gene Myers she ended up with a regular column called “The Health Nut”. 

“My favorite part of writing the Health Nut was the mini-series “Getting to know your Food” that ran as part of the column,” Danielle said.  She was able to delve into laws governing certain foods and share what she discovered. “The idea was to use it as a guideline for consumers who really want to know what’s in their food and where it’s coming from.”  Danielle also had a recipe column called "The Well StockedPantry” which focused on recipes that could be made on-the-run with items in your own pantry.

Today Danielle doesn't write as much for the paper, choosing instead to put most of her writing efforts into the novel, Trade Magazines and building the Mind Key Project, which sprang up as a direct result of her work on "Mind Key" the Novel.  

As a mom of two girls, Danielle is perpetually on the go, but she’s always focused on what she has found most important, homemade family dinners, playing outside and reading.  “I've been reading my favorite chapter books aloud since my youngest was about six months old," she said.  "Today, both of my girls adore all of my favorites and that means the world to me.”

Danielle has been chosen as a finalist for the “When Words Count” novel contest where she will pitch "Mind Key" the novel to an agent, publisher and publicist with a chance to earn a $150,000.00 traditional publishing contract.  To learn more about this adventure and donate to her success, click below.

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/mind-key-a-novel-about-magic-and-self-discovery/x/10734824#/story

Also, Danielle is currently working on a Mind Key Anthology.  A beautiful, full-color 8 ½ x 11” coffee table book, combining art and writing from your beloved Mind Key artists and writers.  Books are still available for pre-order by contacting Danielle today at danielle@mindkey.me.