This is Issue 12 of my 22nd year of publication. It contains some of my favorite content from the past year.

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

Questions? Email me.

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VOLUME XXII – Issue 12: Sunday, January 29, 2023 (257th 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 February 26, 2023. The first issue of publication for Year 23.

Ancient tableau - part of the Egypt Display, Time of the Pharaohs (March)

...Opening Comments from Bob

This Issue: For the last eight years, the January Issue contains some of my favorites from the newsletters of the previous year, this one being Year 22. Click here to go to the list of previous PJs for the last year.

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 first issue of Year 23 comes out on February 26, 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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Snow covered Mt. Timpanangos, the highest peak near us (February)

Three Poems

May Issue - My birthday poem

 

August Issue

 

September Issue

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Recommendations (December)

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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The beach described above has a wonderful beach walk and a great view of Diamond Head. (April)

Quotable Quotes

""No seed ever sees the flower." - Zen saying (February)

"The more I read, the more I acquire, the more certain I am that I know nothing." - Voltaire (April)

“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, and how you can still come out of it.” – Maya Angelou (May)

"A woman is like a tea bag – you can't tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water." - Eleanor Roosevelt (July)

"The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any." - Alice Walker (October)

"We are very good at preparing to live, but not very good at living. We know how to sacrifice ten years for a diploma, and we are willing to work very hard to get a job, a car, a house, and so on. But we have difficulty remembering that we are alive in the present moment, the only moment there is for us to be alive." - Thich Nhat Hanh (November Issue)

 

 

A Bit of Humor

A bit of laughter is healthy for the soul (December Issue)

$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

June Issue

Pow Wow at BYU (July)

Vignette: Career Joys 

(September Issue)   

The last time I saw Brent Forsgren was when he was in my 5th grade class forty-five years ago at North Elementary School in Galion, OH. For several years we have tried to arrange a time to get together (delayed due to COVID, medical, etc.). It finally happened at lunch in SLC. One of the joys of teaching is learning about what has happened to the young people you had in class. His life has been filled with many successes. What fun it was to see him again and relive some memorable times! Pictured Brent and I outside the Salt Lake Restaurant: 

 

One of the displays in the kid friendly museum, Utah Fieldhouse of Natural History State Park in Vernal. (August)

Top of Guardsman Pass (October)

East Canyon (November)

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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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Responses to December 2022 Issue:

"Once again I send my sincere thanks for your poetry. Somehow you manage to touch many of the feelings I have. . . Have a wonderful Christmas with you and yours and may the new year bring health and happiness."– Billie (Ed.: Very much appreciated!)

"Bob, when I was a young missionary serving in the North Carolina-Virginia area my mom sent me a letter that I kept and have added to it every Christmas. I would like to send you a copy. I think you will enjoy it." - John from Utah (Ed.: I thoroughly enjoyed reading John's fascinating story whose travels have taken him all over the world.)

Thank you to the many who wished me a wonderful Holiday via Facebook.

One of my favorite responses in Year 21:

"Bob, I was thinking about my Onkel Hans today and how you helped me find Sandweiler so I could visit him at the mass grave site. I will forever be thankful to you." – Myra from NC (Ed.: Wonderful to hear from you again. In 2014, I published a poem in the PJ regarding the Battle of the Bulge. Included within it was a reference to the mass grave of German solders a mile down the road from the the well-kept burial grounds of the Allied troops. The content helped her find the final resting place of her uncle who perished in the battle. She sent several pictures. I have attached one of her at the grave site.

)

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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, February 26, 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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