The December Issue goes out on Christmas Eve and has an abbreviated format.

Poetical Journal ©by Bob Casey

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Mission: To provide poetical and thoughtful comments on life

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PLEASE! Supporting the efforts of the Poetical Journal is greatly appreciated!
Any amount of donation is appreciated. To support, click on the link and scroll down. click here.


Please click here to go to the Amazon link to learn about my books.

Questions? Email me.

ALL CALENDARS ARE SOLD OR ACCOUNTED FOR. I BELIEVE THIS YEAR'S WAS ONE OF THE BEST.

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VOLUME XXI – Issue 11: Sunday, December 24, 2022 (256th Issue)

Welcome

I am pleased to have you as a reader. If you enjoy the PJ, please encourage others to subscribe.

If your country is not listed in the demographic section at the end, please let me know so I can update the list.

The next Poetical Journal will be out January 29, 2023. The last issue of publication for Year 21.

Winter is here.

...Opening Comments from Bob

This Issue: This Holiday Issue is a bit briefer than the others, but the poems and pictures below say everything I want to say during this season of celebration. As I have stated before in this newsletter, whether you are Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Taoist, or some other faith or non-faith, my sincere hope is that each of you has a year of good health and inner peace. For the soldiers in my readership, may you return safely to your families.

The three new poems are Christmas 2022, Fireplace (2), The Joy of Sitting, and the bonus one, A Christmas Carole.

My fondest best wishes to you and your family throughout 2023.

Subscriber Residences: PLEASE let me know if your state, providence, or country is not listed in the demographic section at the end. There currently are subscribers in 27 states, 3 provinces, and 13 countries. See complete list near at the newsletter.

Next Month: The last issue of Year 21 comes out on January 29, 2023.

To become a friend on Facebook, click on this link.

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PLEASE! Supporting the efforts of the Poetical Journal is greatly appreciated! Any amount of donation is appreciated. To support, click here.

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Midway ranch in late November. The snows have arrived in our valley and not just the mountains. The tall mountain
in the background is Mt. Timpanogos (10,000+ ft.)

Three Poems this Month + Bonus

A special poem for this Christmas season.

 

Comments: The second poem with the title of "Fireplace." Meditation's gift is often a sense of peace.

 

Comments: Some might say the above poem is a strange one for Christmas, but it is actually a gift to you.
Follow the intent described in the poem, and you will definitely experience positive changes in your life.

 

Bonus Poem: On Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram I have been running a series of my poems accompanied with an appropriate picture. I will show a favorite in this section each month. This poem first appeared in VOLUME VII – ISSUE 11: Wednesday, December 24, 2008 – Issue #88 and definitely has a Christmas theme.

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Recommendations

Make a New Year's Resolution to savor rather than devour the year.

Please take a look at the online book and gift pages.

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Quotable Quotes

"You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven." – Jesus: Mathew 5:43-45a.

"So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today." – Jesus: Mathew 6:34.

"Life is too short to be in a hurry." – Henry David Thoreau

". . . real peace comes from enlightenment and educating people to behave more in a divine manner." – Carlos Santana

"It does not require many words to speak the truth." – Chief Joseph

"For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light." – Psalm 36:9

 

 

A Bit of Humor

A bit of laughter is healthy for the soul

$50 Cruise

A man sees an ad for a $50 cruise on Craigslist. Despite his better judgment, he grabs some cash and makes his way to the address given in the ad.

He opens the door to a small office and is knocked unconscious from behind. He wakes up tied to a barrel floating in the Atlantic Ocean. "Well, this sucks," he thinks out loud.

A second man floats by, also tied to a barrel. "Tell me about it," the second man replies. "This is worse than last year."

Compliment of A Joke A Day

 

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Tai Chi Corner

Screenshot of a recent international tai chi instructors workshop I attended.
Click here to locate the name of a tai chi instructor near you, or contact me directly.

PJ Forum

If you have comments, recommendations, or suggestions for the PJ, please e-mail them to bob@poeticaljourneys.com. I personally respond to all. (When editing the comments for publication, I eliminate very personal comments and edit for spacing.

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"Heading to Thompson Road for a hike. . ."– Janet (Ed.:I was very pleased to receive this email. It is not often I hear from someone that took one of my recommendations. Regular readers know it is one of my favorite places on Maui.)

Thank yous to Ted and Billie who sent Thanksgiving wishes.

"Hey Bob, I was going through my email and realized I had a folder of saved oooooold emails. Here’s a little glimpse into the past before social media took off . . .I hope you are doing well and that you have a Merry Christmas!" - Julie from California (Ed.: What a wonderful surprise! Julie shared some early correspondence from 15 years ago. It was like reading frozen bits of time. Again, I was reminded of the many gifts this newsletter has given me.)

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Reader Demographics

States - AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, HI, IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, NC, ND, NY, OH, OR, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WV, and WI     

Canadian Provinces - BC, ON, and QC;   

Countries - Albania, Australia, Belgium, Canada, England, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, Turkey, UK, U.S., and Venezuela.

........Changes to this section will be updated each month.

If your state, province, or country is not mentioned, please let me know.

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Book Reviews

Blast Series: Review by Janice M. regarding Blast Book Four: . . . I loved the book.  There were so many ideas floating around in my head from your writings, and I understood everything you wrote about.  I saw the visions while traveling through the pages. Thank you for your inspiration. . . ."

General: JJG wrote: I've read Bob's "To the End of Time" trilogy twice, each time gaining deep and deeper insights into the human condition. The three small volumes hold their own as good stories but also provide a unique glimpse into a new religious paradigm. Would that it could come to be.

Specific Book: To the End of Time and Back: An Epic Journey

David from Utah: "The new novel, To the End of Time and Back is a skillful account of two lovers on an 'Epic Journey,' racing through time and history to learn life-changing truths. Their spectral mentor, Arundel, sends them through difficult travels, but their relationship endures and remains strong despite physical, and psychological stress. Powerful emotions such as fear, anger and happiness, combine with lust, pain and sexuality to help them learn. Written in verse form, the story is an epic poem, painted to portray the duality of mankind throughout dimensions of human history that is sometimes cruel and horrific. The reader will come to know and understand what is being described and will certainly enjoy the stimulating elegance of the story and the philosophy. A thoroughly enjoyable read that is certain to make you think."
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Jim from Mt. Vernon: "I finished your book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was much easier to follow by having the whole thing in front of me, and reading as much as I wanted at a time. I felt pretty weary after bouncing around in time for many hundreds of years, but I was relieved to know that at least part of the world survived 'Armageddon'. What a feat you have performed."
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Kimberly from Ohio: "Well, Bob! I am rather blown away by your book. Finished it yesterday, and it only took four days, which means I was intrigued and wanted to know how the book ends. I'm a slow, deep reader and since my profession is writing and editing, I edit continuously as I read. Can't help it! But this book was worth dropping everything for and reading to the end. I admit to cynicism about your claim that it would change me, and I don't know that it has just yet but it won't be leaving my heart and head for a long time, and change could happen. I'm impressed that the book actually lived up to your claims for it. . . . I'm intrigued by this book because it rings so true, and I am therefore tempted to believe you actually were given the gift of this dictation. But if not and this is fiction, you have written one hell of a book, masquerading amazingly as non-fiction ... which is indeed one of the goals of fiction."
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An Ohio Reader: "WOW! WOW! WOW! I read it in one sitting and found so many things you wrote about 'true' for what I know and feel about past lives I've lived. Actually, the chapter about the Holocaust was something I couldn't bear to read–too sad and painful. (I've always felt that way about that period of history.) . . . it was very well done, Bob. Just beautifully done. I'm looking for the movie. . . I'm sure others will feel connected to this book just as I did. AMAZING. Just AMAZING. I couldn't put it down. There was so much anticipation with each chapter it hooked me from the very beginning. . ."
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Specific Book: Adelyn: An Epic Journey:

Ohio Reader: "In his book, Adelyn: An Epic Journey, Bob navigates the reader through a challenging journey in the time space continuum while exposing both the weaknesses and strengths of humanity. As Adelyn is exposed to the infinite love of The Source, the reader is challenged to understand how personal beliefs and actions often have more to do with cultural rather than spiritual influences. In a time and world filled with political anger and personal indulgences reading Adelyn offers the open-minded promise. It would make a great book study."

Specific Book: The Tao of Momentary Thoughts

Doug from Ohio: ". . . I was not prepared for page 116 Should have been because of the extremely personal nature of the entire book. Please understand that the unusual length of time to finish your book (especially for a binge reader like me) was because it screamed to be read thoughtfully in increments. For me that was 10-15 pages every weekend, often in quiet . . .Thank you for "putting pen to paper" and sharing your soul. Those of us who have followed Poetical Journeys will recognize much of the content. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to share part of your journey really feel a part of it."

Charles from Park City: "Hi Bob….I just picked up your The Tao of Momentary Thoughts.  It’s wonderful . . I love your book."

Ed from Seattle: The Tao of Momentary Thoughts: "I was smiling all the way through the reading . . .I think I will reread it again during the next week."

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PJ Online

To read some of the back issues of the PJ, go to here.

The next issue will go out on Sunday, January 29, 2023.

Until next time - joy and peace,

Bob

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Bob Casey
Poetical Journeys
P.O. Box 319
Midway, UT 84049
bob@poeticaljourneys.com

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