Haibun Thinking – Alchemy the Mysterious!

November 21, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 13 Comments

Alchemy, The Mysterious

The nature of alchemy is magical and mysterious, a seemingly miracle process of transformation, creation, or combination. I do admit to a fascination of the unknown and alchemy does seem to have been a mystical approach to science. Those who believe in alchemy, the philosophers stone, etc. also believe in magic, sorcery and witchcraft as part of the whole and who am I to say other.

Alchemy, a.k.a the pseudoscientific predecessor of chemistry, was a medieval philosophy. An early form of chemistry whose goals were transmutation of base metals into gold, discovery of a cure for diseases, and the illusive elixir that would give eternal youth.

What I find fascinating is we can now (rather expensively) change base metals into gold, have found cures for many diseases and are actively working towards extending (in a healthy way) our lives. All through scientific chemistry. So perhaps these early philosophers and imaginative scientists so ridiculed were really just ahead of their time and I think perhaps all magic coming from our imagination is simply, as yet, unproven science!

“I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.” ~ Albert Einstein

mystical musings

human curiosity

defines miracles

Haibun Thinking is a (weekly) opportunity for writers to stretch their writing skills. For more information click HERE. Alastair, host and guru, will get you started. Be sure and click on the blue link icon while you’re there to read the excellent entries! Thanks as always to Alastair for his time and effort in bringing this opportunity to us all.

Thank you for stopping by, hope you enjoyed,

have a great weekend, stay warm and take care of you,

~ Penny

Sowing/Growing Miracles

September 13, 2014September 13, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 9 Comments

A song, A reminder and a gift for you!

October 7, 2013October 7, 2013 / Penny L Howe / 24 Comments

A gift for you, please take and share as you like! Spread the love!

“When you’re worried and you can’t sleep, count your blessings … instead of sheep and you’ll fall asleep … counting your blessings!”

When all is said and done we’re just human beings. One of more than 7 billion populating our planet. We have many different beliefs, faiths, and backgrounds; where we come from, where we’re going, how we want to get there, what we want to change – but we’re still all people – every one us!

This week look for whats good inside each person you meet or hear about – try counting your blessings and then bless all those with whom you harbor ill feelings! When you open your heart, good things will happen!

May your week be filled with love. Bless you, one and all!

The Dancer – Līgo Haībun Challenge

April 29, 2013April 29, 2013 / Penny L Howe / 33 Comments

The topic or prompt for this week’s Līgo Haībun Challenge is FANTASY!

“If one is lucky, a solitary fantasy can totally transform one million realities.” Said Maya Angelou

The haībun format for the Līgo Haībun Challenge is a written paragraph ( more than one paragraph is fine, or just a few sentences in prose form), closing this piece with the haiku/collection of haiku related to the text. The haiku should be as authentic as possible. Ideally the entire haibun will total fewer than 220 words.

The Dancer

Flowing, sound and body moved as one. Twirling, twirling. The music played a hypnotic rhythm. Her performance, that of exquisite grace, each movement executed with elegance and precision. The audience was spellbound, captured by her performance. After the final pirouette she bowed to thundering applause from the audience.

Hers, a composed face, immobile as the legs encased in the stirrups of her wheelchair while she kept replaying the fantasy in her head, again and again. Alicia wheeled herself onto the open floor, fantasy firmly fixed in her mind. I am a great dancer, she thought, closing her eyes as she danced yet again. It seemed so real, she could feel the movement of her legs, she could feel …

Alicia opened her eyes and then held her breath. She was standing up, on her legs – without support. The music was still in her mind. She took one cautious step and then another away from the wheel chair. How was this even possible? Closing her eyes the music entered her body again. When she opened them she had moved across the room, on her own.

She could not imagine how, but Alicia knew her fantasy had become a first step to reality. She would be a great dancer. She closed her eyes, twirling to the music.

reality dreams

fantasy’s magical dance

dreams reality

Thank you. Have a great week!