In this Season of Reflection…

Every year, I suspect everyone expects the Holiday Season to be several days of peace, gratitude, giving, respect, and quiet reflection.  We prepare and make lists as to what we will do during another new year, and open our hearts for forgiveness even as we remember how someone else got under our skin. 

Harsh reality hits!  Engulfs us.  Changes our mood.  We get tired, grumpy, agitated, tired….post-holiday shopping and returning those unwanted gifts that are too tasteless to re-gift.

Well, those in the know tend to gravitate towards some type of relaxation exercise, retreats, candles, fragrant oils, lounging baths, and the last ditch effort: turning off the phone.  Shutting down the computer, and maybe binge watching TV shows (cable moreso than network,) that were missed during the regular episodic TV season. 

And then, along comes aaduna with its diverse, multi-cultural team of imaginative, thought provoking folks whose words and images craft poignant heart-warming avenues and invite others to walk down its path of creativity.  With aaduna in your consciousness, you can drift off to places imagined and bring your soul peace or moments of exhilarating wonderment. 

Welcome to the words (did I mean ‘worlds’…I think not, but then again words and worlds may be appropriate) of aaduna winter 2017/18 issue contributors, Christopher Alex Chablé and Lisa Lloyd-Branch.

Christopher Alex Chablé (photo provided)

Chablé offers this intriguing description in his poetic opening lines of “Two Feet from Two Fins:” 

Coelacanth was hungry today, despite family difficulties,

despite the survival of a couple of the investigators holding

organizational meetings in the mysterious dew outside of water.

The fish, coelacanth, heard of mice genes spun as slowly

as possible in some laboratory that lacked protection from beaches

several states away: Carolina, California, Tejas, the largely banned

barricades where no political lexicons resulted in the embezzlement

of state-controlled timber. 

Lisa Lloyd-Branch (photo provided)

“Broken” and “At a Loss” are the non-fiction contributions from writer Lisa Lloyd-Branch.  Here is the opening to “Broken,” that projects a “universal” experience for some women.

As I sat in her chair watching her expression, I couldn't help thinking of the documentary "Good Hair." Chris Rock had asked the store attendant "How much could I get for this hair?" as he brandished some natural "kinky black" hair. "Nothing, it's no good" was the response from the frowning attendant. I watched my stylist blatantly frown with the same disdain as she applied the "creamy crack.” I immediately felt ashamed, like a child who'd been reprimanded.

So, in this season of reflection and quiet contemplation, words will frame your sensibilities and influence how you approach another new year…with purpose and resolve towards refining your life.  

Watch for aaduna's winter 2017-18 issue, LAUNCHING SOON!

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aaduna - an online adventure with words and images - a globally read, multi-cultural, and diverse online literary and visual arts journal established in 2010.  Visit us at www.aaduna.org where we put measurable actions to our words.

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