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I am standing on the beach With waves washing my feet This luminous threshold place Where worlds mingle and meet In a mystical magic of three The earth the sky and the sea Iona Jenkins, Midsummer, 2022 Now the wheel of the year has turned towards summer, I am spending more time outside, visiting parkland and green spaces on my way to the beach. The Celtic Ancestors, Druids and Shamans believe the shores and lakes of oceans to be thresholds, magical liminal places, where it was possible to glimpse the Otherworld and to receive messages. I can certainly see why, because after moving into an apartment overlooking the sea, my enthusiasm and inspiration to create through writing, has increased considerably. And it is true to say, that in this environment, I can experience spontaneous meditative states where pictures and words flood my imagination like the incoming tide, to be turned into poetry, philosophical meanderings, stories, or even simple life enhancing ideas, and truths I need to understand in my everyday reality. We are influenced by the landscapes we live in as well as the landscapes we visit, but to really become aware of this, we may need to slow down a little and take the time to connect. My landscape gives me words, images and colours, inspiration that enables me to create vivid images with words rather than paint. People are creative in different ways. I paint word pictures, descriptive prose, which I hope may speak to the reader's own imagination and in turn help to awaken their personal creativity.
Summer Solstice Haiku Sing in the sunrise On Summer solstice Morning The world glitters gold Blessings of Midsummer to all,
Iona The Spring Equinox passed in warmer days of glorious sunshine, a promise of growing green and bright blossoms. After midnight on the 31st March, the air was colder and the sky an indigo velvet cloth strewn with stars as bright as jewels. And as I stood there facing the sea, breathing salt breezes blowing over the cliff, my heart filled with an impression of distant choral music that seemed to emanate from the stars themselves and the ocean reflecting their light. And then, I remembered the 'Oran Mor,’ which I included in my book 'To Sing with Bards and Angels'. It is a Gaelic expression which means The Great Song, The Melody of Life, The Song of Being, the Creative Spirit that sings everything into existence. The Celts opened their imaginations to this Song of Life, in resonance with the changing seasons, planting, growing, harvesting, birthing, living, dying. All of this was symbolised in the curve and flow of intricate knot-work patterns present in their art and spirituality Their awareness of this harmonic Creative Spirit, connecting everything in the world’s fabric, made nature sacred to them. Slowing down and really listening, my mind becomes still and I am aware of the sound of the wind in the trees, the individual songs of birds, the calm lapping melody of waves washing over the shore, the roar of the tide when the weather is stormy, the buzz of insects, human voice tones, my own heartbeat. Humankind does not own nature, we are a part of her eco-system. Becoming harmonic with nature we are more likely to create with an intent to enhance life on our planet, which in turn enhances our own lives. The “Oran Mor' is everything - a language of Angels, the Awen, a song of love and life, a heartfelt prayer which exists in us all. Feel free to substitute any words that ring true for you from your own faith or experience like the ethos of Chalice Well in Glastonbury which is “Many Paths One Source." To understand life as an art is to create your own possibilityTo understand life as an art is to create your own possibility Your world shimmers with soul, bringing you close to nature. Those who are close to nature celebrate colour and diversity Those who are close to nature see wonder not weapons Those who are close to nature walk lightly creating beauty. Iona Jenkins Spring Equinox, 2022
Out now in print and and Kindle editions. The perfect Christmas gift for 12 to 16 year olds. Amazon Reviews The author has created a magical and mysterious world full of colour and natural beauty... ...The descriptive language makes this book a delight for any lover of fantasy. The atmospheric nature of the writing gives the reader the chance to escape through the pages of the book to a world where anything is possible... The Garden of Possibility is the third and final book in the Legends of Lumenor trilogy of teen and tween fiction. "Merlin's path is not quite plant power ... but then you have always known that Gabriel. If we are successful, then the next part of your boy's destiny will unfold as it should. The island that was lost will again be a special place for the Order of Lumen and he will have a major part to play in achieving that. I will teach him to walk between worlds and he will learn easily, for Nard's blood flows strong in his veins. The Sisters of Arian taught me, though I had to work hard to create a good portal... but then, you know my story."
I've had a great little birthday break in Snowdonia. Here is a landscape oozing myth and magic from every green vista, ancient woodland, dense pine forest, deep lake and sparkling waterfall. It's easy to see how the Welsh Bards of old might have been beguiled and inspired to tell stories and recite poetry. By Bala Lake (Llyn Tegid) I walked into the legend of Taliesin and the Cauldron of Ceridwen. In the beautiful village of Beddgelert (grave of Gelert) with its bubbling river and old grey stone, I did in fact find the grave of the faithful dog Gelert, mistakenly killed by his master Prince Llewellyn. On the summit of Mount Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) I read an evocative sign displayed on a wall suggesting I might be nearer to heaven in that place. Even though there was a substantial number of tourists and serious walkers, sitting on steps, taking photos or climbing up to the cairn at the very top, I felt a silence so all-encompassing that it seemed to have a tangible presence that neither human voice, footstep nor emotion could ever disturb. The lower peaks, deep valleys and lakes fell away below me and I had a sense of the Universe stretching out into infinity, beyond the vast skyscape above my head. One of Snowdon's legends tells of a cave, well-hidden somewhere on the slopes, where Arthur's knights lie sleeping, awaiting the return of their king who will lead them out to save the land. I get a feeling of security. Tales old and new, speak to us in the symbolic language of the subconscious – they may impart wisdom, increase understanding, heal the heart, pass on knowledge, or simply entertain. They arise from landscapes like bright flames, lighting up the imagination of storytellers and poets whose craft helps to keep the souls of lands and people alive. 'The Garden of Possibility', the final instalment in the Legends Lumenor trilogy is due out soon.
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