Lightness of Being

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Aerial lightness

The last dragonfly ballet

Autumn rhapsody

© Salem Islas-Madlo 2016

“The dragonfly reminds us to embrace change…living life to its fullest. It leaves the underwater world it has called home for years to live at the whim of the winds in its brief time as a beautiful flying being.” – Author Unknown

“”The dragonfly spiritually embodies the stripping away of negativity that holds us back, helping us to achieve our dreams and goals. Dragonflies are the keepers of dreams, the energy within that sees all of our true potential and ability. Dragonflies inspire spirituality and creativity, they help us on the path of discovery and enlightenment. They reminder us that anything is possible.” – Beauty and the Green

“The dragonfly exhibits iridescence both on its wings as well as on its body. Iridescence is the property of an object to show itself in different colors depending on the angle and polarization of light falling on it.This property is seen and believed as the end of one’s self created illusions and a clear vision into the realities of life. The magical property of iridescence is also associated with the discovery of one’s own abilities by unmasking the real self and removing the doubts one casts on his/her own sense of identity. This again indirectly means self discovery and removal of inhibitions.” –Dragonfly-site.com

*art from Graffitipaintbar

Dragonfly Songs

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Time

To read 

The signals

Traveling 

On the wind.

© Salem Islas-Madlo 2016

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At the edge

Of summer

And autumn

Light softens

Dragonfly song.

© Salem Islas-Madlo 2016

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“When the air is hot and humid, there is a feeing of dullness and stagnation. Everyone is oppressed by lassitude. As the seasons begin changing, fresh air comes from the arctic. Clouds that have been building up begin to dispense rain, and damp air is exchanged for fresh, cool breezes. At night, the heavens are changing so quickly that lightning flashes from colliding clouds, and thunder heralds the revolving of the skies.

The same is true of human life. If the heavens cannot endure stagnation for long, how can stagnation last with us? If we find ourselves blocked and frustrated in life, we must look for the inevitable outlet. Nothing is permanent, so how can our obstacles last? We need to look for the first opportunity to set things moving again.

On the other hand, sometimes stagnation comes from our own laziness or incompetence. In this case, then it is we who must show initiative and stimulate a breakthrough in dull circumstances. As soon as we see a chance, we must act. Unless we engage ourselves and events fully, we cannot expect to act sufficiently.”

~Deng Ming-Dao

Autumn Reflections

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Deep in the mountains–

                                       falling into my heart

            autumn streams

~Shinkei

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More than last year

                                            it is lonely–

the autumn dusk

~Buson

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Sweeping

and then not sweeping

the fallen leaves

~Taigi    

Being Home

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The smell of Earth

In my nose

Riches of home

© Salem Islas-Madlo 2015

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The sound of water

In my ear

Whispers of home

© Salem Islas-Madlo 2015

Autumn Feathers

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Seeds of feathers

Gracious and yielding

Whose yesterdays

Unknown to the eye

Tenderly brush across

 Hidden surfaces

Of Awareness

Towards

Love.

© Salem Islas-Madlo 2015

 

Blessings of Abundance

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A playful spirit

Finding true happiness

Ladybug dreams

© Salem Islas-Madlo 2015

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“Hold fast to dreams,
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird,
That cannot fly.”

~Langston Hughes

“Throw your dreams into space like a kite, and you do not know what it will bring back, a new life, a new friend, a new love, a new country.” ~Anaïs Nin

“Dare to live the life you have dreamed for yourself. Go forward and make your dreams come true.”

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you’ve imagined.”

~Henry David Thoreau

“Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead.”

~Louisa May Alcott

“Be careful what you water your dreams with. Water them with worry and fear and you will produce weeds that choke the life from your dream. Water them with optimism and solutions and you will cultivate success. Always be on the lookout for ways to turn a problem into an opportunity for success. Always be on the lookout for ways to nurture your dream.”

~Lao Tzu

Autumn Haikus

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My heart lays down

With the grasses

Autumn rain

© Salem Islas-Madlo 2015

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Bearing down

Heavy with silence

Autumn sky

© Salem Islas-Madlo 2015

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Quenching thirst

Amongst petals

Autumn dawdler

© Salem Islas-Madlo 2015

Whatever is Noble

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Fallen oak leaves

Regal presence 

Within a wood 

Groaning

In the wind

A living legend

Found in

The bounty 

Of Now.

© Salem Islas-Madlo 2015

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Whatever is true, whatever is noble,

Whatever is right, whatever is pure,

Whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable,

Anything of excellence and worthy of praise

Dwell on these things only

Philippians 4:8

October First

October

October first

Wore blue memories

Of a summer sky

As she trailed 

The forest floor

Leaving a crisp 

Autumn scent

Behind.

© Salem Islas-Madlo 2015

*photo credits go to

http://the-forest-of-october.tumblr.com/post/41571433681

Stealing Kisses

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The sun thought

I wasn’t looking 

When he kissed the earth

But I saw

The soft light 

Between his lips

As he delicately

Brushed through

Her grassy meadows.

© Salem Islas-Madlo 2014

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