Magical clouds burst
Aquamarine and pastel
Beautiful sky shades.
Ronovan Writes #Weekly #Haiku #Poetry Prompt #Challenge 465 POP and Blue.
Tag: magic
K.L.Caley’s #writephoto: Chandelier.
Entering the dining room Gail and Morgarna caused quite a stir ! Both in their flapper dresses and their bobbed hair, Morgarna was delighted she could smoke and squealed with delight when Merlin handed her a beautiful black and silver cigarette holder… “Here babes complete the part!” He smiled. They were greeted by the head waiter, a very tall and handsome man who lead them to a beautiful table over by the far wall. Above the table there was large crystal laden chandelier with a rather creepy portrait below it.
Gail was delighted by the whole affair, the high tea with champagne was a whole new world to her ! As were the beautifully dressed people on the dance floor.
“What is this” she asked wide-eyed ” Everyone, even the orchestra look so posh”
“It’s a tea dance Gail” replied Morgarna, sitting back and enjoying a smoke.
A young man made his way up to the table and asked Gail to dance , she was so excited and readily agreed.
Once the young couple were on the dance floor Morgarna lent across to Merlin and asked “Okay Merlin why are we here and it’s not by chance, so what’s the story?”
“Really babes I just wanted to treat you to a little luxury and I couldn’t have left Gail out could I?” Merlin ended with a smile and a shrug of the shoulders.
Morgarna nearly choked on her scone… “Last time we had a cream tea you lumbered me royally why would I trust you now….Babes? “
Merlin smiled, “Another glass of bubbly, and I will come clean when Gail gets back .”
“So is it the painting?” Asked Gail looking at it…. “It’s rather dark isn’t it?”
“It is indeed dark but no it’s not the painting the problem is the chandelier.”
Morgarna lit a cigarette and pushed back her chair “yes she said I can feel it ….there is something really not quite right about it Merlin and you sir know exactly what the problem is! “
Gail stopped pouring herself another cup of tea and shivered. ” I feel it too every one of those crystals is a trapped soul, I can hear them screaming for help.”
Merlin said “Yes ladies we really have got a job on here.”
“Well” said Morgarna “I guess we just need to set them free, some of these have been trapped for hundreds of years! “
Merlin smiled and nodded as he added, “And I knew this is just the job you’ve always longed for mil-lady” he finished with a grin and a bow, offering Morgarna his hand.
Morgarna stubbed out her cigarette, gave a squeal of delight, lifted her skirt and pushing Merlin’s hand aside she climbed up on to the chair!
The entire dinning room was suddenly stunned into a shocked silence as Morgarna champagne bottle in one hand and chandelier in the other swung around from the chandelier her skirts revealing silk stockings and suspenders and thankfully for all present a pair of satin knickers… luckily not one of Morgarna’s commando days!
After a few minutes as Gail jumped up and down excitedly there was a creaking from the ceiling, as the rose cracked and the chandelier fell to the floor and smashed into a thousand pieces. Morgarna had leaped clear! Then Merlin waived his hand and a white light filled the room, all the tea dance guest were frozen in time as thousands of souls and spirits escaped from the crystal shards on floor. They all looked so grateful to finally be free. Morgarna chanted a spell and a door in the far corner of the room opened and Gail ushered all the souls towards the door.
After an hour all the souls had gone through the door and Merlin had swept the room with the E.R. to make sure no soul or spirit had been overlooked. The dinning room was completely restored to its glory! Merlin had magically repaired the chandelier and it was back in situe, Morgarna had wiped all the guests memories, some would say gratefully, of her antics.
The anomaly arrived and Merlin, Morgarna and Gail jumped!
As they left Morgarna clicked her fingers and everyone woke up and carried on where they had left off. All where left wondering why the tea was so cold?
Later that evening when all the guests were either in their rooms or gone home, there was a quiet thud as the painting beneath the chandelier slide down the wall and hit the floor.
In the morning the maids were confounded by the dark black goo running down the wall onto the carpet. ……
Yule Blessings Book Tour for Fairies, Myths, & Magic II – A Winter Celebration. 7/12/2022.
My dear friend and mentor Colleen Chesebro has a new book called Fairies, Myths, & Magic II-A Winter Celebration which was released on 1st December.
Colleen said to me. “Willow you and I both love myths and legends. One legend that remains to this day is the burning of the Yule log during the winter solstice. I found it interesting how this ancient tradition is still part of our celebrations. Many people light bonfires to celebrate the longest night of the year. If you live somewhere where you can’t have a bonfire, candles burning indoors is always a nice substitute.
So here’s a bit of history behind the tradition. During the Winter Solstice, Pagans burned huge logs to honor the return of the sunlight. The end of the darkness was at hand with spring not far off.
The Yule Log often comprised an entire tree specifically chosen for the occasion. It was cut and brought indoors, with the end piece of the trunk placed inside the fireplace, while the rest of the tree stuck out into the middle of the room.
Wow! Just imagine that , it would take up a great deal of room and be a real fire hazard by today’s standards.
Anyway, the people rubbed the log with a mixture of oil, salt, and mulled wine. Often, the new log was mixed with the remains of the previous year’s log, which was kept in a box under the bed. It was believed these ashes brought the family good luck, saving the household from lightning strikes, and even forest fires!
Learn about more Yule traditions in Fairies, Myths, & Magic II—A Winter Celebration. This is book two in the series, with the first book dedicated to summer and the summer solstice.
About the Book:
In this second book in the Fairies, Myths, & Magic series, step into a world where dark fairies, and other magical beings converge in a collection of poetry and short stories inspired by winter and the celebration of the winter solstice.
From Autumn’s scary fairies to the forgotten female characters of Yule, prepare to embrace the magical winter solstice myths from around the world. Meet Frau Holle in the Wild Hunt, Befana—the Christmas Witch of Italy, and the Japanese goddess Ameratasu who controls the springtime. Prepare to embrace the Scottish trows, The Irish Goddess of Winter—the Cailleach Béara, and Snegurochka—the Snow Girl.
Learn how to make Yuletide rituals part of your celebration by embracing the symbols of Yule by decorating with evergreens and crystals.
Fairies, Myths, & Magic II Links:
Colleen’s Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Colleen-M-Chesebro/e/B01N9MV2RX
Amazon Universal Link: https://mybook.to/FairiesMythsMagicII
About the Author:
An avid reader, Colleen M. Chesebro rekindled her love of writing poetry after years spent working in the accounting industry. These days, she loves crafting syllabic poetry, flash fiction, and creative fiction and nonfiction.
In addition to poetry books, Chesebro’s publishing career includes participation in various anthologies featuring short stories, flash fiction, and poetry. She’s an avid supporter of her writing community on Word Craft Poetry.com by organizing and sponsoring a weekly syllabic poetry challenge, called #TankaTuesday, where participants experiment with traditional and current forms of Japanese and American syllabic poetry.
Colleen Chesebro is an assistant editor of The Congress of the Rough Writers Flash Fiction Anthology & Gitty Up Press, a micro-press founded by Charli Mills and Carrot Ranch.
In January 2022, Colleen founded Unicorn Cats Publishing Services to assist poets and authors in creating eBooks and print books for publication. In addition, she creates affordable book covers for Kindle and print books.
Chesebro lives in the house of her dreams in mid-Michigan surrounded by the Great Lakes with her husband and two (unicorn) cats, Chloe & Sophie.
Find Colleen here:
Word Craft Poetry: https://wordcraftpoetry.com
Colleen M. Chesebro, Author, Poet & Unicorn Cats Publishing Services: https://colleenmchesebro.com
Facebook Page: Colleen M. Chesebro, Poet & Author: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085941528913
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/colleen-m-chesebro-6b856b237
Here is some information I learnt in Canada about how trees can raise from fires like the phoenix,which supports the Yule logs story/ legend/ Myths and Magic Book.
Jack pine and lodgepole pine have serotinous cones (protected by a waxy coating) that require the heat of fire to release their seeds. Fire also produces favourable conditions for the seeds of these pines to germinate. Information here.
Giant sequoias are the largest trees on Earth. They can grow for more than 3,000 years. But without fire, they cannot reproduce. The giant sequoias really are born of fire. Information here
A review of Marjorie Mallon’s new book. Do What You Love .
Marjorie sent me her wonderful new book to read. When I say wonderful I mean it is a book full of wonder. Marjorie takes us on a journey through her life from when she was a small child up to now where she is on verge of yet another life adventure.
In this little book of delights Marjorie introduces us to the three sisters of fate who basically are in charge of spinning out life, measuring the length of life and the ending of life. I won’t tell you anymore about them Marjorie will introduce them to you and then you can eavesdrop on their conversation and their jokes.
I really enjoyed this very personal book by Marjorie, her past, present and her future, her family and her friends . The magic she finds in the every day, her love of insects, creatures and trees her love of life. Don’t be put off by the word personal, this book is so welcoming. I strongly recommend it to you all.
Blurb
Do What You Love Fragility of Your Flame Poems, Photography & Flash Fiction is a personal poetry collection celebrating how the fates may have a part in all that we do.
With special poems and short reflective moments inspired by family, flowers and nature, love, scrumptious morsels, places I’ve visited, lived and intend to live in, the friendships and hopes I have for the future.
The overarching theme is to live a life well lived… And to do what you love.
float along with me
create clouds of sweetest joy
to do what you love
hold fate’s hand as we venture
near and far on life’s journey.
🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁
You can preorder the kindle via the following link:
Release Date: 25th November 2022, able to preorder via the following links.
Buy Links Do What You Love:
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0BKLC9DYY/
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/What-You-love-Fragility-Photography-ebook/dp/B0BKLC9DYY/
Amazon Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/What-You-love-Fragility-Photography-ebook/dp/B0BKLC9DYY/.
Exciting news from Marjorie.
“I am thrilled to say that two of my poetry collections, (Mr. Sagittarius and Lockdown Innit,) have been requested by prestigious libraries in the UK: The British Library, The Bodleian Library Oxford University, the Cambridge University Library, National Library of Scotland, National Library of Wales and Trinity College Dublin for Legal Deposit.
Woohoo!! Marjorie great news.
Add the book to your TBR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63114445-do-what-you-love
The cover of the paperback and kindle have been designed by Colleen Chesebro who has a new service for authors which I can highly recommend. Colleen also designed the interior and cover of The Hedge Witch And The Musical Poet.
https://unicorncatspubservices.wordpress.com/my-services
Portfolio:
https://unicorncatspubservices.wordpress.com/portfolio
https://wordcraftpoetry.com/unicorn-cats-publishing-services/
Other poetry/flash fiction collections:
Kyrosmagica Publishing
The Hedge Witch And The Musical Poet
https://books2read.com/u/mv1OeV
Mr. Sagittarius Poetry and Prose
http://mybook.to/MrSagittarius
Anthology – This Is Lockdown, (poetry, diaries and flash fiction – kindle)
http://mybook.to/Thisislockdown
Poetry during Lockdown – Lockdown Innit
http://mybook.to/Lockdowninnit
Poetry also features in my highly acclaimed YA Fantasy series. Each chapter begins with a short poem. The Curse of Time Book 1 Bloodstone and Book 2 Golden Healer are published by Next Chapter Publishing.
https://www.nextchapter.pub/books/bloodstone
https://www.nextchapter.pub/books/golden-healer
https://www.nextchapter.pub/authors/mj-mallon.
Author Bio
M J Mallon was born in Lion city Singapore, a passionate Scorpio with the Chinese Zodiac sign of a lucky rabbit. She spent her early childhood in Hong Kong. During her teen years, she returned to her father’s childhood home, Edinburgh where she spent many happy years, entertained and enthralled by her parents’ vivid stories of living and working abroad. Perhaps it was during these formative years that her love of storytelling began bolstered by these vivid raconteurs. She counts herself lucky to have travelled to many far-flung destinations and this early wanderlust has fuelled her present desire to emigrate abroad. Until that wondrous moment, it’s rumoured that she lives sometimes in the UK, and often times in Portugal.. Her two enchanting daughters have flown the nest but often return with a cheery smile to greet her.
Her motto is to always do what you love, stay true to your heart’s desires, and inspire others to do so too.
Ronovan Writes #Weekly #Haiku #Poetry Prompt #Challenge 430 HOCUS and Pocus.
Hocus Pocus
Leaves morph green to gold
And suddenly the leaves fall
Scritch, scratch can be heard
Hocus pocus magic spell
Russet Autumn is magic
Ronovan Writes #Weekly #Haiku #Poetry Prompt #Challenge 424 BLEW & Skies.
In dreams of clear skies
I am an omnipotent
I blew Earth away
#TankaTuesday #Poetry Challenge No. 273, 5/10/22, #SpecificForm
Last month, Colleen asked Sally Cronin to select a syllabic form for us to learn more about. Her choice was the Butterfly Cinquain.
We have been given a video to take inspiration from, either from the video or the music. Well both inspired me so it’s a combination of both.
Butterfly 🦋 blue.
In blue
Wings fluttering
Twirling she carries dreams.
Bewitched her prince sees only her
Cosmic
They take flight out into the blue
Wishes and dreams she grants
Happy ending
In blue
K.L..CALEY’S #WRITEPHOTO Distance.
Our picture prompt this week from K.L. Caley this for #writephoto is discribe here “visually challenged writers, the image shows an island across a stretch of water. Upon which you can see some ruins and a white lighthouse.” The photo is lower down.
Morgarna is still dealing with the shadows with the help of Tom and the fairies while Merlin is battling to save Morgause’s life …he needs the help of an old flame.
********
The Morning found Morgarna and Tom wrapped around eachother exhausted after a night of passion. Morgarna woke with a start, quietly she walked to the window and watched the forest coming to life. Looking at Tom she thought to herself it’s been six hundred years since Merlin had warned him off and yet it only seemed like yesterday. A shiver ran down her spine. No she thought I can’t start remembering we have to fix those shadows.
Later that day Morgarna dressed in her woodland dress headed back to the house, secreted about her dress and in her hair were all the woodland folk. “I know, now how a flea ridden dog feels! Will you guys quit tickling me ….Keep still!!” Morgarna ended on a shout, looking around she apologised to several visitors for making them jump. They just smiled blindly and carried on. Morgarna could see plenty of shadows milling around.
“Are you guys sure the shadows can’t see you?” she whispered, “Of course we are we’ve had plenty of dealings with these spirits we know exactly how to deal with them ! ” Tom sounded really confident, peeping out of her floral bodice, ” by the way” he grinned do you want me to stop “tickling” you too?” “Yes” replied Morgarna, “especially you it’s hard enough to concentrate without you making it harder” . Tom raised his eyebrows and said “I have no idea what you mean!”
Once inside the house and leading.a group of enslaved tourists around Morgarna took them up to the crown exhibition was… The buzzing was ringing in her ears giving her a headache. The tourist though we’re totally unaware of the sound. Morgarna dug her nails into her palms to help her concentrate and reeled off the speel she had learn off heart.
As she neared the crown Tom and three other male fairies jumped out of her dress and the lifted the crown. They all worked a spell which made the crown disappear, the cessation of the buzzing woke the humans up. They saw the shadows, outside every shadow from every part of the area was converging on the castle.
Things looked nasty , the shadows were getting very threatening and the humans looked confused and very frightened.
Several other fairies flew out of Morgarna dress and the surrounded every group of shadows in the area.
These fairies had sparkling swords with which they slit the thin barrier that keeps the living and the undead separated.
Immediately all the undead were sucked though the slits to the other side. Once in the undead souls on the other side , cut another rift into which the evil undead were also drawn!
Finally after what seemed like an eternity of weeping and wailing the rifts on both sides were sealed.
The fairies were busily sewing the rifts with magic thread.
Immediately all rifts were sealed the faires made off to the woods and their privacy. Morgarna had to act quickly, there was a whole town of traumatized and hysterical humans. Searching in her bag she found the parchment Merlin had given her. Clearing her throat she read out the spell. Slowly things returned to normal, people were calming down and being reunited with the young people and children who the shadows had previously killed and dvoured. As the spell worked Morgarna wove on a memory loss spell to erase all their memories of shadows and death from the the last week..
Later Morgarna and Tom stood in the fairy ring “Is that a seasonal dress Morgarna” Tom asked, “It is” Morgarna replied with a smile, just as Tom waived his hand to change the season the Anomaly appeared in front of them and try as as she might she could not resist it.
As she disappeared she could hear Tom shout “Until next time …”
Morgarna came down with a bump, wet and cold and very annoyed at not having more time with Tom.
Taking in her surroundings she was on a island a short distance from the mainland, there was a lighthouse at one end and the ruins of a castle at the other.
Morgarna looked down and saw the scrivelled remains of her dress laying at her feet. …Tom’s spell had worked and there was no mistaking what his plans had been.
She heaved a longing sigh, then shivered she was freezing standing there in only her Doc Martin’s.
Delving into her bag she pulled out her black dress and cloak. Thanking goodness for the presence of mind that had made her pack it.
Entering the castle ruins she suddenly knew exactly where she was… Avalon. Someone was approaching, she held her breath until she saw it was Merlin.
“You bastard Merlin I ..” The look on Merlin’s face silenced her.
“Not now Morgarna, it’s Morgause I need your help and we need the the help of Vivianne. …… The words died on Morgarna’s lips.
Ronovan Writes Sijo Wednesday Poetry Challenge #4. Use PASSION as your inspiration this week.
Cooking was his whole life, his one and only forte
By rustling up a storm on the stove he knew he could ignite passion
Nature gave him the raw goods, he poured in magic, and aye voila.
K.L.Caley’s #WRITEPHOTO – Descend
Today is Thursday and it’s time for K.L.s #writephoto. Last week we left Morgarna and Morgause in danger….and somehow I don’t think that they are out of it yet!
Morgarna’s breath caught in her throat, she felt a cold hand on her shoulder. To her horror Morgause was surrounded by six shadows all of them with their hands deep inside her body.
“Explain who you are or this being dies” The voice was coming from inside her head rather than through her ears. Telepathic she thought to herself. “Yes” replied the voice, “and only the truth will do.”
Searching the faces of the shadows Morgarna made contact with the owner of the thoughts.
“I am Morgan Le Fay , and you hold my kinswoman Morgause we are sourceresses , immortals and we travel time”
The shadow looked shocked and signaled to its kind to release Morgause, which they did. Morgause let out a scream and fell to the floor.
“You have magic powers?” The leader spoke. “Indeed I do” replied Morgarna, “and so does my sister there but I hold more powers than she “
Morgarna crossed the floor and retrieved the crown from the prone Morgause and put it back on the window ledge.
The buzzing began again and all the humans went back into their dreamy happy trance.
The shadows looked at Morgarna they were unsure as to how strong her powers were. Then all at once they rushed towards her screaming! Taking a half step back Morgarna held her hand up and said a stopping spell…..her other hand, hid behind her back had all her fingers firmly crossed.
The shadows were held mid air silent, eyes staring and mouths wide open. Sensing there were more shadows approaching Morgarna, pulled a bottle of water out of her bag and poured it unceremonially over Morgause’s face.
“What ? Argh! What are you doing …” Morgause complained bitterly but Morgarna had no time for this, she grabbed her sister and dragged her towards the doors and stairs towards the nearest exit. Not an easy job now that deleriously happy humans were all just milling around.
Outside in the gardens Morgause started to shiver “Hang on Morgs I don’t feel too good. ” She moaned and to be fair Morgarna could see that she looked even paler and colder that normal. ” Those shadows, they had their hands inside me and now I am cold and so weak , I don’t think I can move far.”
For visually challenged writers, the image shows some stone steps spiralling down into a dark opening.
Looking around Morgarna felt her cool slipping into panic … something she was definitely not used to! Then she spotted some stone steps spiralling down into a dark opening. “Oh! Come on she said let’s get down there perhaps we can rest up for a bit and maybe get hold of Merls.
Slowly and carefully Morgarna helped Morgause down the steps and into a rather chilly , damp passage . The two of them followed the passage to what looked like a room of sorts , digging in her bag again she found her cloak and wrapped Morgause up in it. Then as Morgause drifted off Morgarna lit a cigarette and got her mobile out. She pressed the red button on the side and crossed her fingers that Merlin would answer her distress call soon. As she took a second drag on her cigarette she heard the woosh of shadows in the passage! ……
willowdot21 