Seeker Magazine

Ann Winter

Ann Winter was born and raised in the foothills of Pasadena, CA and has lived the last 23 years in Santa Barbara, CA. She has loved observing and playing in nature all her life, and has been writing since childhood. She enjoys reading, writing, gardening, walking, skating and the great outdoors.
Her poetry on recovery has helped her work through issues of childhood and on to a more productive and peaceful life with her husband and three children.

Feathered Angels
Softly, lightly, they come
Gliding, gently floating
Cool breezes brush past wings
Fashioned by nature
To blend with life
To give life, to warm life.

Feathers hued and nestled to perfection
Fan the air in whispered waves
Each wave brings closeness
To sky or to earth.

Each night, tucked into natures' foliage
For protection, for peace, for sleep
To gain strength, courage
And hope for a new day.

Each dawn singing praises to the sky
Calling us to listen to simplicity and clarity
Asking us to share the joy of nature's peacefulness
It is all there. Let Feathered Angels lead our minds and our hearts.

Silence
Find bliss
In the full emptiness of silence.

Be mindful
Of spaces between the moments in life.

Listen to the thoughts
Between the words.

Awareness of quiet
Is calming for the body
Salve for the soul.

Hear tranquil tones
Between the notes.

Be still, take pleasure.

Peace is silence
Silence is peace.

Great Pacific
Oh great Pacific, I stand before you in awe
Your command for respect leaves me vigilant, yet
Your magnificence beckons me.

Searching your depth and breadth
For answers to heavenly thoughts
Is too difficult for this mortal soul.

As impossible as counting the grains of sand on the shore
Is the task of grasping your greatness.

Amid this ever changing world, you remain a constant
Your swells reaching skyward
Then plummeting with untold weight
To your darkened depths
Salty foam rolling in with the tide, retreating again
To your vast blue-green bosom.

Shimmers of light dance atop your wave tips
Salty spray drifts to me, sweetly stinging my cheeks
Closing my eyes, my other senses become heightened.

Aware of your essence in touch, sound, sight and smell
Brings me close to my place in the universe.
Oh great Pacific, you make me feel an integral part
Of this whole world.

Fire in the Heart
The anger in my heart is a poisonous venom
Permeating every cell.

It threatens to melt, blacken and decay my very being
A cinder of hate held deep within.

Anger, held a lifetime, yearning to be unleashed
But at what price? The fear is great.

To let down my guard, to shed my armor
To open my boundaries is to bare the hold on my soul.
My invisible thorns spring forth
Armoring me against those who venture
Near the sensitivity of my heart.

Oh to fulfill the deepest desire
The cool waters of peace and love
Flowing gently over my body
Washing away the heat, soothing the rage.

Peace, come to me, stay awhile.
Let me know your comforting wings of love.

Creatures of God
Animals bring to us a love not found in (the) humankind.

Theirs is an unspoken warmth, companionship and tenderness.
Theirs is an unconditional love, born of trust and loyalty.

All creatures in nature are created from God's love
And formed in His true delight.

Each has a special place in the cycle of life.
Whether fur, feather, quill, scale, skin or hide,
Their existence is essential to the balance and continuation
Of harmony in our universe.

The comfort we receive from earthly creatures is soulful,
And at times, heavenly.

The bond between animals and humans is one not easily broken.
Even in death,
Beloved animals stir love, comfort and fond memories.

We can learn so much from the simple lives and loves of animals
Let us always remember to hold them firmly in our love,
As they hold us firmly in their trust.

Hurtful Words, Healing Wisdom
Verbal poison invades my serenity
Raising fear and anxiety
Sending me into a state of paralysis.

This violation of peace thrusts me back
To a time of submission and silence.

This thrust imprisons mind and body
Disapproving, authoritative words of others
Evoke a sudden terror within.

Terror, understood only by those whose early life
Was shadowed by the threat of shame and guilt.

I am unable to express the intimidation
The humiliation felt when insensitive criticism
Or boastful orders are hurled my way.

I consciously remind myself, I am an adult
Responsible for my own beliefs, actions and feelings.
I don't have to take on those of others.

I am precious, a gift of the Spirit
Worthy of love and respect
My life has validation.

No longer do other's actions and words
Have to destroy my peace.
I can place boundaries around toxins
Whether persons or situations.

I can leave others
To face the consequences of their own actions.

I am free
To choose health over sickness
Happiness over despair.

And, best of all

I am free to choose love, not fear
In my life.

Table of Contents

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Feathered Angels Softly, lightly, they come Gliding, gently floating Cool breezes brush past wings Fashioned by nature To blend with life To give life, to warm life. Feathers hued and nestled to perfection Fan the air in whispered waves Each wave brings closeness To sky or to earth. Each night, tucked into natures' foliage For protection, for peace, for sleep To gain strength, courage And hope for a new day. Each dawn singing praises to the sky Calling us to listen to simplicity and clarity Asking us to share the joy of nature's peacefulness It is all there. Let Feathered Angels lead our minds and our hearts.	Silence Find bliss In the full emptiness of silence. Be mindful Of spaces between the moments in life. Listen to the thoughts Between the words. Awareness of quiet Is calming for the body Salve for the soul. Hear tranquil tones Between the notes. Be still, take pleasure. Peace is silence Silence is peace.
Great Pacific Oh great Pacific, I stand before you in awe Your command for respect leaves me vigilant, yet Your magnificence beckons me. Searching your depth and breadth For answers to heavenly thoughts Is too difficult for this mortal soul. As impossible as counting the grains of sand on the shore Is the task of grasping your greatness. Amid this ever changing world, you remain a constant Your swells reaching skyward Then plummeting with untold weight To your darkened depths Salty foam rolling in with the tide, retreating again To your vast blue-green bosom. Shimmers of light dance atop your wave tips Salty spray drifts to me, sweetly stinging my cheeks Closing my eyes, my other senses become heightened. Aware of your essence in touch, sound, sight and smell Brings me close to my place in the universe. Oh great Pacific, you make me feel an integral part Of this whole world.	Fire in the Heart The anger in my heart is a poisonous venom Permeating every cell. It threatens to melt, blacken and decay my very being A cinder of hate held deep within. Anger, held a lifetime, yearning to be unleashed But at what price? The fear is great. To let down my guard, to shed my armor To open my boundaries is to bare the hold on my soul. My invisible thorns spring forth Armoring me against those who venture Near the sensitivity of my heart. Oh to fulfill the deepest desire The cool waters of peace and love Flowing gently over my body Washing away the heat, soothing the rage. Peace, come to me, stay awhile. Let me know your comforting wings of love.
Creatures of God Animals bring to us a love not found in (the) humankind. Theirs is an unspoken warmth, companionship and tenderness. Theirs is an unconditional love, born of trust and loyalty. All creatures in nature are created from God's love And formed in His true delight. Each has a special place in the cycle of life. Whether fur, feather, quill, scale, skin or hide, Their existence is essential to the balance and continuation Of harmony in our universe. The comfort we receive from earthly creatures is soulful, And at times, heavenly. The bond between animals and humans is one not easily broken. Even in death, Beloved animals stir love, comfort and fond memories. We can learn so much from the simple lives and loves of animals Let us always remember to hold them firmly in our love, As they hold us firmly in their trust.	Hurtful Words, Healing Wisdom Verbal poison invades my serenity Raising fear and anxiety Sending me into a state of paralysis. This violation of peace thrusts me back To a time of submission and silence. This thrust imprisons mind and body Disapproving, authoritative words of others Evoke a sudden terror within. Terror, understood only by those whose early life Was shadowed by the threat of shame and guilt. I am unable to express the intimidation The humiliation felt when insensitive criticism Or boastful orders are hurled my way. I consciously remind myself, I am an adult Responsible for my own beliefs, actions and feelings. I don't have to take on those of others. I am precious, a gift of the Spirit Worthy of love and respect My life has validation. No longer do other's actions and words Have to destroy my peace. I can place boundaries around toxins Whether persons or situations. I can leave others To face the consequences of their own actions. I am free To choose health over sickness Happiness over despair. And, best of all I am free to choose love, not fear In my life.