We Are All Just Dandelions

Waiting To Be Hand-Picked, Savored And Shared In Community, Amongst Friends

Happy National Poetry Month!

The gift of being in community has been the healing balm I’ve needed, navigating and traversing life’s very hard things. In celebrating the launch of our community chat open thread, here at Mantra’s & Coffee, I am going to be highlighting the theme of COMMUNITY this entire quarter.

Life can really have its ups and downs. Maintaining contentment is an ongoing effort everyday. Some days feel better than other days. But, what I find is on those ‘not so great’ days, I feel a strength that I’m not sure I was aware existed a few years ago. For many of us, navigating the pandemic, brought about change in unconventional ways. Sort of a forced, thinking more ‘outside the box’ kind of way, about life. For me, this meant, going outside my own personal norm, choosing to do something just for myself, something creative and just for fun. I started writing poetry again. In general, I began just writing more, honestly. Journaling, writing short stories and list making became my therapy. I also decided I wanted to be a better reader. This meant having more defined reading time, in my day, again. I wanted my kids to see me reading in the hopes they would build healthy reading habits themselves. I said yes, to sitting with myself, even though it felt uncomfortable.

I began submitting poetry. I started meeting other poets online and reading their incredible works. I challenged myself to write from my heart everyday. Writing poems everyday for National Poetry month is a great opportunity to practice. I released so much heaviness from my heart. It was cathartic to say the least. I gained friendships from beautiful people all around the world! Similar to when my kids bring me dandelions, in the springtime, I love savoring each little flower, setting them into tiny vessels on my kitchen counter. The divine led me to my poem friends and the poetry tell-tales of their hearts. I love to savor what their soul’s release with honor and I’m reminded that I’m never ever truly alone.

Stepping into a group maybe nerveracking, at first. When an unexpected visitor knocks on your door, you may not be prepared to host them in your home or your heart right away. But, the benefits of welcoming someone in, conversing, perhaps, learning something you didn’t otherwise know, laughing, listening, enjoying yourself, showing your true self, far out weighs any non-engagement. It’s like a beautiful pattern interupt, combatting low level, buzzy kind of anxiety that is hard to shake sometimes.

By continuing to be present for myself, in a group setting, I feel better. For me, saying yes to community, my writing/poetry group community, specifically, has helped me, has lifted me up, has held space for me, has cared about what I have to say, has challenged ideas in my mind, and always includes me. Participating has been truly life giving.

Interestingly, I have found that in choosing to participate, the view I’ve received of my own self, reflected back through interaction with others has been so eye-opening. Other people’s positive vantage points of you can be so uplifting. In small actions and decisions regularly, like showing up in community, we can choose to give ourselves options. The support that is given and received is a never ending cycle. So, when those obtrusive thoughts come in… “things will be better when…I will be able to do that thing when…I can go and do the thing when…” there is a support system in place ready to help. We can choose to love ourselves better with a more clear heart living in community.

So, with all that being said, in honor of the theme of COMMUNITY this quarter, and in the spirit of celebration, discovery, and the rebirth of a new promising season, I will be sharing my “poetry friends,” my sweet friends in my writing circle with you, and some of their beautiful works of art.

We all met in a community called Tellher, created by Azure Antoinette.

AZURE’s Substack

@hello_azureantoinette (Instagram) She encouraged us to write on and on and on…

So we did.

Hopefully it will inspire you to go out and find your own tribe.

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Karen E Fraser

Karen E Fraser is a poet/gardener/artist/photo-snapper with degrees in Professional and Creative Writing, and Anthropology. She utilises the storytelling of belonging and dignity to illuminate beauty, truth, social justice, and our undeniable interconnectedness. Publications include: Free Verse Revolution Lit, Sunday Mornings at the River, Wee Sparrow Poetry Press, Humana Obscura, Querencia and Hellokoo.

Instagram - www.instagram.com/be_nourished

Karen Fraser

Wurundjeri Country

Melbourne, Australia

Oil on canvas 60 x 30

Karen won first prize in a local photography competition, for a photo this painting is based upon. Her beloved Lake, which is beautifully located basically right in her own backyard.

yearning is a moon

turning breath into water

the night into love

haiku and painting by Karen Fraser

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Mirjam Mahler

Mirjam Mahler writes poems and stories. She says her body is German, her heart is Spanish and her words are mostly English. She swims in lakes year round, hosts poetry workshops and book clubs. Her poems have been published in several anthologies and she has recently published her first collection Cold Water Poems. What started as the poetry prompt „adventure” sparked a new way of experiencing nature and her body.

Mirjam is co-editing Facing Goodbye - a poetry anthology for The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press. She volunteers for The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press and Consilience Journal.

Instagram @mirjamwrites and mirjamwrites.com

Mirjam Mahler @mirjamwrites

Mirjam recently recorded a podcast with The Wee Sparrow Poetry Podcast! Have a listen right here⬇️

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Azida Zainal

Azida Zainal is a Malaysian poet and ENT Surgeon whose work explores culture and tradition. She has been published in anthologies by Blood Moon Poetry, Sunday Mornings at the River and Free Verse Revolution. Her artistic tendencies were discovered by her grandmother at age 8 but was sidelined for many years for a career in healthcare. Her passion for art was re-ignited again during the pandemic. Watercolour landscapes and skyscapes are her favourite subjects; she also sketches urban scenes from her travels. She shares her work on Instagram @azzy501.

Azida created these inspiring watercolor landscapes as a way of seeking comfort and solace during the pandemic. It’s a true example of how art connects us all. She was unable to have the ability to go outside, due to lockdown regulations. So, she created her own ‘outside’ to ease her nature-loving heart. After being inspired by another artist, Michelle Bengson, who regularly took photos of her own backyard forest area, and shared them, Azida went to work. She connected with Michelle, via social media, and asked her permission to create these gorgeous watercolors based on her photography. Connection, friendship and a sense of freedom now live on in these joyful pieces of art.

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There we have it my, sweet readers! Hope you’ve enjoyed this special letter.

Remember, if you are moving through challenging days, you are never alone.

You are a dandelion.

Come and say hi in our community chat! Need some accountability or just a space to work out what’s coming through you? Let us know what your are creating!

Before we sign off, what was your favorite part of today?

Let us know in the comments!