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Here in Dublin, we are still wrapped up from the winter cold and short, dark days.

If you are like me and like to curl up with something great to read, please enjoy this month's The Spiritual Read, which includes Chapter 1 from Till Death Don't Us Part, a poem by the inspired Irish poet W. B. Yeats, beautiful work from my Soul Writing class participants, a transformative writing exercise, two great book recommendations, book nook photos, The Last Laugh, and more.

I wish you much love and gratitude for the gift of your presence last year and look forward to seeing you again in 2023.

Beannacht oraibh,

Enjoy an Excerpt

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I thought, what better way for me to start the new year than by sharing the start of Till Death Don’t Us Part? So here is Chapter 1 on SoundCloud. I hope you enjoy it.

Poem of the Month

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This month's poem comes from the illustrious Irish poet W. B. Yeats. It is both sad and surprisingly hopeful as we move from the dying light into brighter days.

When You Are Old

WHEN you are old and gray and full of sleep,
And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;

How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true,
But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face;

And bending down beside the glowing bars,
Murmur, a little sadly, how Love fled
And paced upon the mountains overhead
And hid his face among a crowd of stars.

—W. B. Yeats

Book Love

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This month's book love comes from Alice Winn along with a painting by her partner who is now in spirit form. Thank you for sharing your experience and your lovely photo.

Do you have a photo of your copy of Till Death Don’t Us Part? Send it to me and I’ll include it in The Spiritual Read, or post it on social with hashtag #tilldeathdontuspart.

Soul Poems

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This section includes some short poems written by participants of my Soul Writing class series. They wrote such beautiful haikus, quatrains, and bardo poems that I thought it would be wonderful to share their work with you here.

 An Old Refrain
He comes again with gentle smile,
A feeling he is here.
Brushing past when turmoil roils
That gentle smile an old refrain.

— Nelda Stroud

Crumpled Paper Prophecy Quatrain 

Four more years of tired competition and exhausted conflict

In an armored struggle on landed battlements and the sea, as in historic times.

Peace arrives on wings of butterflies and origami cranes, soaring high like eagles.

The Wisdom of the Ages peers back at us, through the trees and over our fences and walls.

— Steven Vogel

Soul Writing

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Would you like to work with soul writing to heal your shadows? I’m very excited to offer this transformative four-week program in which you will blend spiritual practice with writing to become aware of the greater depths within you and bring forth words of inspiration that can enhance your healing and spiritual growth. Click the image for more information and registration.

Writing Exercise: The 30-Day Haiku

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A great practice to become more present in the world and your life is daily haiku writing. This simple practice is a poetic form stemming from the seventeenth century and usually has a seasonal reference. Haikus consist of three lines, with five syllables in the first line, seven in the second, and five in the third.

To write a Haiku, write a sentence about something you saw or experienced or something that touched you each day. Keep it simple, and then rework this sentence into three lines of 5-7-5 syllables each.

Here are two examples from Master Basho (1644-1694 BCE) who is recognized as the greatest master of haiku.

Book Nook

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This month's book nook comes from the beautiful home of Mary Watkins in the English countryside. She kindly invited me to spend the weekend, and an inspiring and idyllic weekend it was.

Do you have a favorite book nook? Send us a photo, and I’ll include it in The Spiritual Read.

You will be surprised how doing this practice for 30 days can change the way you see and move through the world.

Recommended Reading

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The Last Laugh

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The seagulls here in Dublin are out in force, driven inland by a tumultuous sea. They are fearless and are notorious for snatching sandwiches, ice cream, and fries from your hand. They are certainly not reflective like the pensive gull here.

Till Next Time

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That’s it for this month. Check out my website for upcoming events and appointments. Follow me on social (links in footer) for updates on impromptu free events.

Have a great month. See you in February.

Deepen the Connection

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Private Appointments: If you want to reconnect with a loved one, explore your soul's purpose, or receive spiritual healing, private appointments are offered on Zoom. Watch a short video on in-person vs. Zoom sessions. 

NEW! Private Mentoring: These sessions are an opportunity to receive specialized individual teaching/coaching, engage with Karen about your concerns or goals, and receive calming and encouraging feedback. Series of 1, 3, and 5 sessions are available.

Gift Certificates: Give your loved ones the gift of a private session, workshop, or training course.

NEW!  Community: Feel free to join our new community area where you can listen to talks on a range of subjects related to spirituality and mediumship, as well as free guided meditations and workshop recordings. 

In the News: On my media page, listen to recent interviews and guest appearances on podcasts and YouTube TV, and read the latest magazine features. 

Free Absent Healing: If you would like to request healing for yourself or someone you know, please add their name to the healing list in our community area. Our team of healers would be happy to send them healing.