It began, as so many days do these days, with dreaming my book-in-progress. And, it’s more than a bit possible that a whole lot of election results last night contributed to making my dreams more intense!

As is usually the case there was, in my opinion, good news and bad news. Or, as someone once said, “We don’t know if it’s good news or bad news. It’s all just news.” (It’s possible that I learned that watching The West Wing!)

I’m going to assume that you’ve done whatever you need to do with news in your world and not slog around in that more, in this moment, except to say that there are huge connections, for me, between the news and the need for this book!

The cuppa cacao beside my chair helps. I’m not an expert yet, especially on the ritual part, but it tastes delicious, feels comforting and, if it’s also good for my body, that’s a triple win!

One of the very cool things about writing – rather like preaching! – is that before I can explain things to someone else, I need to dig deep and figure out what those same things mean in me. And, since I’m writing for tweens and teens, I need to do all that in Fiercely Compassionate Grammy Voice!

I’m about 5000 words in at the moment, and it’s growing, as the old song goes, deep and wide!

I’ve added a new piece of Red Thread to my wrist, especially for this book adventure. I chose sparkly yarn because it reminds me of Glinda, my partner in magical wisdom.

Here’s the part which feels most crazy to me…

MS NOW is telling me, as I write, that the USA is starting a legal battle with Cuba that has to do with honoring the loss of Americans. With not forgetting innocents who lost their lives. Ironically, they’re doing this in Miami “because it’s close to Cuba.” It’s also quite close to Epstein Island, which somehow didn’t come up!!!

When are those same talking head politicians going to be concerned about the victims of those horrific crimes???

Frankly, dear heart, this is more ludicrous irony than I can manage right now. It’s prayer dot time. And, after my pulse slows down, back to the book. Back to my call and my promise to Just Tell The Story!

ps… the photo at the top insisted on being with us, today, for many reasons…

pps… if you’re still reading, I’m so delighted to share this! There are, literally, actual owls dancing in the air above my garden and, wow, did I feel the need for that! In addition to the legendary connection to wisdom, here’s a bit more of what I found when I pressed a few buttons… Their presence encourages us to look beyond the surface and trust our inner voices. Owls represent the end of an old phase and the beginning of a new one, guiding us through personal growth and spiritual evolution. In many traditions they are considered keepers of sacred knowledge and messengers from the spiritual world.

SO BE WE!!!

You know how, every now and then, there’s a surprise in your email? A surprise you didn’t even know you were longing for?? And, better yet, a surprise that’s way more about recognizing than it is about searching???

Well, I got such an email yesterday, from a dear Intentional Creativity® sister named Jena. She’s the wise woman behind the adventure known as storywalking. I love traveling with her, even when I fall behind and wander astray… like now!

Her question for this moment was What is changing in my story now?

My first internal response was succinct. EVERYTHING!!! And, it kind of feels like that’s true. And then I realized that it might just be the fact that I’m being more conscious about noticing and wondering. You see, the book I’m working on is all about new ways of hearing old rules and stories.

And, yes… the photo at the top is the table next to my magic hatching chair!

This whole adventure is feeling very scrap-quilty. A bit of this. A couple bits of that. You hear me. I’m just fascinated by the way new things materialize out of old things people label as too small or no longer cool.

Then, I fixed myself a cuppa and curled up with that question for a while.

Many things do feel like they’re changing and, frankly, a lot of them don’t feel welcome or helpful. Body things. News things. Deeply uncertain things.

Then, I went exploring a little deeper. Literally.

On Friday I printed some ancestry stuff, searching for a more orderly version of stories I’ve been collecting for a while. I now have 12 sheets of paper which document a straight line of connection – one generation at a time – from my 71st and 70th grandfathers to me, here and now. If you’re curious, that’s about 2 thousand and 50 years from Grampy Hezekiah to me. Really!

Then came Hezekiah, Jr. And the sad news that, while we know those two grandfathers’ names, their wives are listed as name unknown. (I haven’t given up on finding those names!)

I’m not sure anybody along the way would have guessed we’d make it from a couple of Jewish guys, all those years ago, whose next 5 generations of sons were kings of France (!) – to me – an ordained teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church, USA, sharing this story, now. Let’s just say there’s a whole lot that’s changed… and a fair amount more that needs to! Urgently!!!

For now, though, back to our original question. What is changing in my story now?

For me, the answer is simple. It’s not so much about the stories from times gone by – though I love many of them. It’s also about the stories I’m quilting together… and how I’m praying they’ll help witness what’s possible in this world, now, and into the futures our Littles will inherit.

ps… are YOU ready to change your story, now? Could you use some company on the road? Let’s talk! You, me, journals & cuppas. Red Thread if it’s handy. 45 min. My gift. Your dreams. We’ll claim your next right thing… and plot Good Trouble we could cause together! Just click here and the Calendar Elves will hook us up!

Tomorrow’s calendar is overflowing. A family birthday… long distance.

Prayer dots to make for a dear friend having surgery… also long distance.

EARLY VOTING! Not so much long distance as – hopefully – long lines!

I don’t know about you, but I’ve about reached the way-too-full level on news. Well, crazy news.

My personal plan has a lot to do with putting my friend, Glinda, in charge of the world. Sadly, I’m pretty sure that’s not going to actually work which means it’s time for my magic! That leads us back to my all-time favorite question:

What am I trying to accomplish???

I want sane people to be making choices. I want food and shelter and healthcare and education for everybody. I want skin color and gender and faith traditions to help us marvel at the complexity of humanity, rather than being used as wedges to divide us.

All of which is, admittedly, a pretty big goal for your average Thursday. Here’s the thing, though…

I’m going to do my best, anyway!

One day at a time. As many days as I can manage. And grace for the days when Joan Baez and cacao feel like all I can actually pull off!

And here’s the surprising part – the odds are good that I’ll actually dream up something useful, even in the midst of the crazy. You know… like creation out of chaos!

Just in case it gets scary, my tiger has agreed to join me. My courage spirit animal from way, way back in the day! You could adopt one, too!

ps… that magic you’ve had all along – Are you ready to set it free??? Let’s talk! 45 min. My gift. Just click here and the calendar elves will hook you up! You bring your dream, a cuppa, and something to write on & with. We’ll name your next step and talk about what might help, around the next curve…