healingwords: poetry for the soul

Dream time, back in bluebell woods, standing on a sea washed shore as dawn rises, holding hands in peace, love flowing, promising to witness the dream as we wake to a new day. 

  Never be afraid to say what you feel, how ever crazy it seems, whatever the fear of ridicule. Our story is our truth, our dream world reflects reality,  sharing brings healing and peace. 

The beauty of a quiet evening by the sea, night falling as a rosy glow spreads across the sky bringing a moment of tranquility. 

We came across this Madonna in a small cave off the side of a country road near Uña in the province of Cuenca. The cave was easy to miss, small steps led up the hillside, marked by a discreet, wooden side. Inside the grotto was adorned with rosaries and statuettes and the Madonna herself draped in rosaries. There was a feeling of serene peace in a place where the faithful of years had deposited their prayers and thanks. 

Forest bathing is now prescribed as a treatment for stress and anxiety and general good health. I find walking a path through trees has a meditative quality that brings me peace. Problems are paced out step by step and calm restored. 

This statue of Saint Brigid stands in the middle of a circular garden to the side of the Holy Well at Liscannor in County Clare, Ireland. It is a beautiful place, at the foot of a peaceful graveyard, looking out towards the Atlantic Ocean. Both the garden and the shrine of the Holy Well are a place of pilgrimage for people looking for the intercession of Saint Brigid, with a collective memory of the pagan Goddess who shared her name.  We were there alone in the afternoon sunshine and felt the ripple of the generations of prayer and hope gathered in the humble offerings and natural beauty. 

Walking in nature gives me time and space to reflect on life in these turbulent times. We need to build a better world, where equality, justice and respect is the normal way for society to function. We need to learn from the Covid 19 crisis to ensure public health care provision is there for all and is supported by government. We need to act now to protect the planet with robust policies and enactment. All this needs good government and decision making so the first step is to hold our politicians to account, make sure voting rights are enshrined in law and that every person actually votes for the very best people to take the decisions needed for all our futures. 

There are days when I am overcome with an overwhelming wish to walk out my door, out of the village and into the trees. For now, I can only dream and be thankful the majority are keeping me and others safe by staying home.  © 2020 Jacqueline Knight Cotterill.  All rights reserved.  

I have used a similar image of the Riu Bullent running through the Marjal near Pego for another poem, however on seeing it again different words came to me. During this crisis between the new routine of another day in this strange, isolated life and the trembling fear of ill health I am fortunate at times to find moments of stillness. The peace of being lost in writing, rediscovering music, reading poetry, listening to Shakespeare's sonnets, looking out over the hills when the clouds lift all bring me calm. I hope you can find a place of peace where for a time our minds can rest. 

This is one of my favourite trees,  a short walk from my home,  in the fields outside the village. It is one of the largest holm oaks in the area, they grow very slowly and many stay stunted as shrubs where they are shaded by the faster growing pine. This tree is native to our area, the hills overlooking the village are part of the 'Sierra Carrascal', named after the 'carrasca' , the holm oak tree. I hope I will soon be able to sit again under these branches, looking at blue sky through the leaves, playing with acorns and fallen leaves on the earthen floor.  © 2020 Jacqueline Knight Cotterill.  All rights reserved.  

The corona virus is becoming a worrying challenge for many of us. Even the young and strong face the fear of infecting their more vulnerable family and friends while anyone with a health condition, pregnant or over an age where we are now labelled 'elderly' have real fears for our own and others safety. This fear can become overwhelming adding stress and the effect of the bodies chemical response racing through our minds and bodies. I am hoping today to get out into nature, I am lucky the woods are only 5 minutes away and visible from my third floor window. When I can not walk far or need to stay indoors I can always close my eyes and in seconds be there, with the breeze whispering through the branches, birds singing their presence, the sun warming my face as my fears melt and the tightness aching my body starts to ease.  I wish everyone peace and good health. That we find the strength to support each other, stay as safe as possible and face our fears and reality with cal...

Wishing everyone who comes across my poetry in all corners of the world a happy day today. May my Christmas wish for peace on earth and goodwill to all be a breath on the wind of necessary change. 

Today my words seem pointless, only the trust that light and goodness will shine through from the many who value and care for humanity and our earth keeps me from despair. 

This year as I stirred the Christmas pudding, my wishes were for more than my family health and prosperity. With a world were suffering is normal for so many with worse to come if nothing is done about climate change my wishes are for humanity. That we may wake from the deep sleep and apathy, open our eyes and hearts to truth and work for justice.  © 2019 Jacqueline Knight Cotterill.  All rights reserved.  

As it is still too wet for me to walk in the trees near my Spanish home, here is a reminder of the beautiful woods in Ireland This is Cnoc Meadha Wood in County Galway, a peaceful and magical place.  © 2019 Jacqueline Knight Cotterill.  All rights reserved.  

I am re posting this European peace poem in solidarity with all those marching in London today for a vote on the final deal for leaving the EU. I had no vote in the first referendum, I will continue to fight for the right of all UK and EU citizens living in UK to have a vote in any future referendum.  I AM EUROPEAN The bomb site was our playground, greened over empty spaces scattered around Coventry where families once lived. Traces of bricks and wallpaper still littered the scrubby grass and leggy pink bomb weed, rubble that shattered down on top of shelters, like the one my dad and nana were buried in for three long days, until Grandad dug them out. When not being cowboys and Indians we played war games, buzzing with arms out wide like the planes that filled Coventry’s blacked out skies. The peace was recent, still being built in the Europe of treaties and good neighbours, like Coventry’s new Cathedral, City of reconciliation, ris...