Is my blog in a rut?

Yes, because all I'm doing is writing poetry without stating the forms or experimenting with new poetry forms. There are hundreds of forms that I could be using, but the only forms I have worked with, in this blog, are free verse and free style. I define those as different forms. 

Free verse contains no end rhyme, while free style contains end rhyme. Sometime free verse contains internal rhyme, but this is an accident. The rhyme in free style is not random, all though sometimes it appears that way. 

I need to get out of my rut, therefore, I have to take a different approach to my blog entries. My goal for this blog, is to post at least three times a week. I think the best way to do this, while getting out of my rut is to compose the entry a day or two before so that I can research a poetry form. I, also, need to write about other, poetry related subjects. 

Tuesday Contemplations on my Blog Platform

I checked the notes on the blogger class I took on Saturday, May 13. The instructor gave four keys to a good blog, and I added a fifth key. The key I added contained just one word "Act". I still have to finish the exercises suggested for key one, bust since I haven't composed an e-mail to send to five friends, I'm going ahead with the discussion of my blog platform. 

In Saturday's class, I learned about several different blog platform, but the one I'm focusing on is the artist. This is because I'm a poet, and I know it. I also have an intriguing, or, perhaps, weird sense of humor. I'm not sure my sense of humor has much to do with my choice of blog platform because I've had a weird sense of humor all my life. 

I am an artist, 

A poet and an author: 

Inspirational poems. 

Motivational Monday: Contemplating My Worldview

The instructor teaching the blogging class I took on Saturday, May 13, suggested I ask myself this question: What is my worldview? After thinking about this question, I have come to the conclusion that my worldview has changed over the decades. My beliefs in the early twenty-first century are different then the were in the middle twentieth century. 

Part of this change is due to maturity and part is the results of a change in religion. In the late twentieth century, I declared my belief in Baha'u'llah. As a result I now look at the world differently. I believe in the three onenesses: (1) humanity is a single race, (2) God is an unknowable essence with many names, and (3) religion is one book with many chapters. At regular intervals God sends a prophet or Manifestation (a person who reflect the divine attributes to humanity) to assist the human race in the next stage of its spiritual growth. It is this belief that motivates me to write poetry and prose. 

Creation Saturday: Thoughts on Improving my Blog

This morning, about 10:00 AM Central Daylight Time, I participated in a free online blog class. I did this for two reasons. First, the class was taught by a blogger with more than 1,000 followers. Second, the class was free. I have attempted for some time to make money with this blog without much success. True I have experience a little success, but not the amount I would like to experience. 

One of the issues is my message. I do not think it is clear. Another problem is my platform  which I know is not clear. Both of these problem I can solve in approximately 30 days. After contemplating the platform problem, I have come to realize that I am an Artist who prefers to write spiritual stories and poetry. I do not know what my readers or friends think about this, so I am going to e-mail some of my friends and ask them. In the meantime, I will  continue to blog about spiritual poetry, stories, and essays. 

I begin this blog as a spiritual transformation project. Since I have expanded my writing while struggling with my own spiritual transformation. Transformation is difficulty. The butterfly larva inside the cocoon goes through an immense physical change which can  be compared to the spiritual change the soul goes through while partnered with the physical body. I have gotten away from that in the past few years, I will be getting back to that while writing poetry and prose about the subject. 

Morning Rituals

Istijlal (Majesty), 9 Jamál (Beauty), 173 BE - Thursday, May 5, 2016 about 5:44 AM Pacific Daylight T ime 

Morning always seems to come so early. It wakes up slow and stretching wondering what the day will bring. Each morning brings specific rituals that help the morning and myself wake up to face  the unknown possibilities of the day. Some morning rituals are about the same for everyone, so there is no need to go into those. Other rituals are different for each person waking up. 

My morning rituals consist of taking my thyroid medication before I even get out of bed, or in my case up off the recliner. I recite the morning prayer by heart, turn on the light, put on the coffee, and change from my nightclothes into my day clothes. Sometimes I change into my day clothes before I turn on the light or begin brewing the coffee. 

Morning rituals are comforting and give some stability to the day.  Stability is necessary to keep a person on track and moving forward undepressed. However, I think one should change the ritual are periodically and shake things up. That's why I waited until after I begin this entry to go into the kitchen to pour myself a cup of coffee. Usually I get my coffee before I begin composing poetry or blog entries.  

On my way back to the computer from the kitchen, I stopped to look out my front window. I wanted to see what the neighbor's dog was barking at. I still don't know why she was barking this early in the morning because she usually doesn't back at anything until later in the morning. There was one car parked across the street this morning. 

Most of the neighbors move their cars into the alleys behind the apartment buildings on Thursday because this is the day the street sweeper is supposed to clean Sunrise Avenue. We have to move the cars in back of the buildings because they give tickets to those cars still parked in front when the street cleaner drives past. I can tell you from experience that a parking ticket for that is $20.00. 

Creation Saturday: Time to Create Something

Jalal (Glory), 9 Jalál (Glory) 173 BE - Saturday, April 16, 2016 about 10:18 AM Pacific Daylight Time

It's creation Saturday! It's time to create something. Time to exercise my muse, imagination, and creativity. Not that I don't exercise these attributes everyday, but today is the day I attempt to get outside the box to create something different or find a new theme for my blogs, poems, or stories.

Creation Saturday
the day my muse takes a walk
not down memories lane
but across the internet to find
a new subject to use to create
a story, poem, or blog entry.

Today I don't have to look very far for a subject to research. I'm participating in a 30-dau poetry challenge on writing.com. In this challenge, which started yesterday, I write a poem each day based on prompts given by the by the judges. Yesterday's prompt concerned a birthday poem. In today's prompt we (the participants) pick one of three phrases to use in the poem. These phrases are (1) old winds, (2) unfinished journal or (3) possibles bag. I've decided to use possibles bag in the challenge poem. I will save the other two phrases to use in other poems or stories.

What will you create
on Creation Saturday?
A poem,
a new sandwich,
a story,
a new coffee creation
with chocolate
or some other
exotic flavor.

A Different Topic for each day of the week

Istijlál (Majesty), 11 Baha (Splendor), 168 BE – Thursday, March 31, 2011 about 5:10 PM Pacific Time

In the past few days, I have had difficulty finding subject to cover in this blog. Therefore, I have decided to focus on a different subject each day of the week. This gives me something to write; the only thing I have to do is find a way to apply that subject to the day’s activities or encounters.

The general topics I want to cover are spiritual subjects (Sunday), living in Las Vegas (Monday), my favorites (Tuesday), midweek reflections (Wednesday), gratitude or giving thanks (Thankful Thursday), memories from my childhood (Friday), and Slices of my Life (Saturday). The minimum word count for each entry is 200 words. The 200 words maybe a bit of a stretch because I have other things to write; however, I am going to attempt that word count.

I know that I have to write and print a daily “To Do List” because I have to have my goals in front of me. In addition, I suspect I need a daily schedule, which should be interesting because I have tried this in the past. I will see how the schedule works out.

Spring and a New Year

Kamál (Perfection), 1 Baha (Splendor), 168 BE – Monday, March 21, 2011 about 2:33 PM Pacific Time

It is spring. It is a New Year. It is Naw-Ruz. In Las Vegas the wind is blowing. It is a chilly spring wind, with a wind chill factor. I am glad spring has finally arrived. The weeds in my front yard are green. The neighbors’ trees are leafing. The clouds in the sky are white and fluffy. It is a beautiful spring day in Las Vegas.

Since I am celebrating a New Year, I decided to attempt to post to all three of my blogs today. I am doing a good job because the season and the wind make good subjects. Because of the wind chill factor, I feel chilly, it is not as chilly outside or inside as I perceive. It is really a nice day in Las Vegas. The wind causes me to feel colder then it is.

I feel chilly, but I am enjoying watching the clouds move across the blue sky. It rained last night because when I woke up this morning there was a small puddle of water in my driveway. The sun dried up the puddle hours ago. The wind scattered the morning clouds. It is a beautiful day in Las Vegas.

I am planning to post every other day

‘Idál (Justice), 4 Kamál (Perfection), 167 BE – Wednesday, August 4, 2010 about 6:59 AM Pacific Time

After the difficulty posting I had yesterday, I am planning to post every other day to this blog. I am doing this because of a selfish motive. If I plan to post this way, I do not feel guilty when I miss posting to the journal. I intend making exceptions to this policy if the following occurs.

1. A Baha'i Holy or holiday Day
2. A holiday of some other type
3. A special event occurs
4. Mom has an especially good day
5. Mom has an especially bad day
6. Something wonderful or exciting occurs
7. An interesting subject I am researching

Right now, these are the only exception I expect to occur. Of course, other exceptions will occur from time to time. The intriguing thing about life is that it is never static, something is always occurring and sometimes these events affect my life and writing.

About this blog

‘Idál (Justice), 12 Núr (Light), 167 BE – Wednesday, June 16, 2010 about 6:24 AM Pacific Time

When I began this blog, the subject was transformation. I have gotten away from that subject and blogged about numerous other things that have little to do with transformation. Therefore, I have a choice to make. I can change the subject and the name of the blog or I can get back to blogging about the various aspects of spiritual transformation.

I am not going the blog title. That being the case, I have to get back to the subject of transformation. I would like to make a blog entry everyday, but this may not be possible. Life and living have a tendency to insert themselves into a person’s best-laid plans. I am definitely going to blog every other day, but reserve the option to blog everyday if something interesting happens in the process of transformation.

Since I live in Las Vegas and I am my mother’s caregiver, intriguing things happen in my life often. The events in my life give me good themes about the process of transformation. However, sometimes it is difficult to write about those events on the day they happen. I will blog about these events as soon as I can.

Persistence pays off

Istiqlál (Independence), 5 Kalimát (Words), 166 BE – Friday, July 17, 2009 about 8:14 AM Pacific Time



Persistence pays off! I spent the entire morning attempting to make post to my blogs. The connection is slow this morning and when I went to save a draft or publish the post it didn't work. I think the problem is a combination of the weather and a telephone hook-up to my Internet provider. I'm going to have to get DSL there is just no getting around it.



It took me two hours to make one entry to another blog and it appears I'm going to have the same difficulty making this entry. That's all right, eventually I will get the entry posted I just have to be persistent. I can't let difficulty with my connect stop me from making a post.



This experience is a transformative experience. Transformation is the reason a person encounters tests and difficulties. If it weren't for tests and difficulties neither human beings nor civilazation would advance.

The idea was simple

Kamál (Perfection), 8 Sultán (Sovereignty), 165 BE – Monday, January 26, 2009 about 7:54 AM Pacific Time

I idea was simple, focus on uncluttering and setting up a spreadsheet with all Mom and my debts in it. My filing system can only be described as creative and it isn't working for me. Therefore, I decided to revamp it and unclutter. I didn't post to any of my blogs all weekend and I didn't get as much done as I wanted to do.

I did succeed in getting somewhat depressed about the bills, but that passed after I got into the process of putting the stuff into the spreadsheet. The idea is to just put the dollar amount down without thinking about it and I don't get depressed. This is another step in my process of transformation.

All right, I did get some stuff accomplished over the weekend. I took one can of trash to the curb on Friday evening for pick up Saturday morning. I found out that it is a two hour walk to and from the Food 4 Less on the corner of Sahara and Eastern. I also found out that if I do take that walk again, I'm going to take a push/pull cart with me no matter how little I get.

I bought enough stuff Saturday to carry home, the problem was I didn't consider my back and how it would feel after I carried the items home. My back is fine now, but Saturday night and Sunday morning it didn't feel so good. This is another step in my process of transformation. As long as I learn from my mistakes, I'm doing OK.

Thursday of a Long and Interesting Week

Istijlál (Majesty), 17 Qudrat (Power), 165 B.E. – Thursday, November 20, 2008 about 6:40 AM Pacific Time

OK, I'll admit that I could probably do with less interesting, at least for a little while. Until I get caught up with everything I'm behind on anyway. Tuesday a neighbor took me to the bank and then to the store, so we have bread. Being without a car is a pain, but I think I've mentioned that before.

Anyway Tuesday when I was getting back in the neighbor's car, I opened the door and hit myself in the mouth. I don't think I've ever did that before, but that's what happens when I get distracted and don't watch what I'm doing another lesson and another step toward transformation. I have a lot of lessons lately, which I may or may not blog about. It depends on what the next week or so has in store for me.

I'm not going to work today because Mom has a dental appointment at 11:00 AM and the Paratransit bus gets here about 10:44 AM. I hope it's on time, however I'm not going to worry about that. For the past week or so I've taken the Paratransit bus to work and home. The morning buses came on time, but the ones taking me home were late. If I have somewhere else to go then one late bus throws the entire schedule off.

I carry a book to read and a pen and paper journal to write in, so waiting isn't the problem. Fortunately, the only place I had to go was the bank and the store. Today, while Mom's in the dentist, I'll walk down to Food 4 Less and get dishwashing liquid. I'm going to have to start making a grocery list when I go to the store because without a car I can't just drive there if I forgot something.

Another Beautiful Day in Las Vegas and goal setting

Istijlál (Majesty), 18 ‘Izzat (Might), 165 B.E. – Thursday, September 25, 2008 about 4:26 AM Pacific Time

Well, another beautiful day in Las Vegas has begun. I reviewed my 19-day goals last night and set up the spreadsheet to keep track of my accomplishments. I've changed the way I list my goals in the spreadsheet and my daily to do list. I wasn't placing them in the priority of there iimportance.

I've put the most important first on the list. In the upcoming 19-day period, the most important writing goal is completing my issues of the writing.com fantasy newsletter I help edit. Then comes other goals such as blog entries, submissions, novel, short stories, etc. The list isn't very long, because I've cut the list down to the nine most important writing projects.

It's another beautiful day in Las Vegas and I'm remembering my childhood. The one thing I don't remember learn is how to set goal. I don't think it was specifically taught in school and I don't remember it being discussed at home. It's something I've learn in the years since. After reviewing the difficulties I've had in setting goals, I really think it's something that should be taught to children.

Life is a challenge

Fidál (Grace), 9 ‘Izzat (Might), 165 B.E. – Tuesday, September 16, 2008 about 3:48 AM Pacific Time

Life is a challenge
24/7
a joyous experience.

I'm in a journaling contest at writing.com called "Follow the leader". Each day one of the participants writes a leading entry in his or her blog and the rest of the participants respond to the entry in their blogs. This contest started on September 11 and ends on October 1. I'm put my responses in my writing.com blog Snow Melt. My leading entry in this contest was on September 12 with the title "Coffee and Chocolate".

I'm also scheduled to participate in the "7 Day Journal Writing Challenge". I'm not sure when this challenge will start because there isn't enough participants yet. I'm going to use the same blog to write my responses to the challenges. Since the titles of each entry are a different format, there won't be a problem tell them apart.

I'm looking forward to the new contests. It's not that my life isn't challenging enough already, but sometimes I find myself search for blog entries and for subject for poems and stories. These journaling contests get me out of my rut and help me find new subjects and new approaches to old subjects.

I know better

‘Idál (Justice), 18 Kalimat (Words), 165 BE – Wednesday, July 30, 2008 about 7:44 AM PDT

I know better then to leave a blog entry for later in the day. If I do that there is about a 90% chance I am not going to get it written or posted. Life inserts itself into our plans. If the goal is to make a blog entry every day, then make the entry in the morning.

If something interesting happens during the day and I want to blog about it, I can make another entry. If I don't have time to make another entry that day, then I need to take notes about the event in my pen and paper journal.

I think I am going to have to start taking notes for blog entries anyway. I have a daily word count goal for each blog. If I make the minimum word count goal for each blog or piece of writing, then I am going to make the total daily word count goal. It may not seem like a big deal, but it is important to make the minimum goal because when I add all the minimums together they add up to the total.

In addition, if I set the goal to write and post in the morning, it pushes me to to wait until I complete the entry to rewrite and polish. In the morning, I have only a specific amount of time to write. I can write a blog entry in about thirty minutes, with spelling corrections included. However, I cannot stop and make corrections while I am composing the entry. Once I complete the entry, with any additions and spelling corrections I need then I can post the entry and get on with the next item on my agenda.

I think I take after my Grandmother

Kamál (Perfection), 16 Kalimat (Words), 165 BE – Monday, July 28, 2008 about 2:20 AM PDT

I have mentioned before about my Grandma Newland and her sleeplessness. Grandma would get up and do housework when she could not sleep. Lately, I have found it difficult to sleep through the night. Two or three mornings a week, I find myself getting up two or three hours before the alarm sounds.

I do not do housework instead; I say prayers, write and blog. This morning I did make an exception to not doing housework. I put a load of laundry in the washer because I needed cloths to wear to work. After I dry the cloths, then I can get ready for work. Laundry is the only housework I will do when I cannot sleep.

The advantage of blogging early in the morning is completing the entries before I go to work. The disadvantage is that sometimes my muse does not get up at the same time as I get up. This can be a problem, especially when I do not plan an entry ahead of time. Perhaps I should try planning daily blog themes ahead again.

I tried that before and found it tedious. However, I could take another approach this time. Instead of having a specific theme for a specific day, I could just keep a list of themes or titles and mark them off as I use them. I will try that during Kamal (Perfection), which begins at sunset on July 31. I can make a list of about nineteen titles to use during the month of Kamal and then use them only if I need a theme.

The Theme for the Month is Words

Jamál (Beauty), 1 Kalimat (Words), 165 BE – Sunday, July 13, 2008 about 6:24 AM PDT

The theme for the month, for the next nineteen day, is words; writing them and speaking them. All right, I'm not a talker, I don't think I've ever been a talker; I listen, but I don't talk a lot. However, I'm going to talk a little more during the month of Kalimat.

I've set daily word count goal for my writing. During the past few months I haven't made the daily goals on a consistent basis. During these nineteen days, I'm going to focus on making those daily goals. One of the things I'm going to do, is finish a novel I'm working on. In addition, to the novel I'm going to finish at least one short story. Actually, I should finish more then one because I have seven ideas for short stories.

I'm working on a poetry manuscript called Year of the Poem, which consists of a daily poem written between March 21, 2008 and March 20, 2009. In addition, to the already mentioned projects, I'm want to make a daily entry in this blog. However, the other writing projects take priority, so I may have to reconsider the daily entries in this blog and make the entries every other day. I'll see; at the end of the nineteen day, I will reevaluate the writing goals and decide if I need to change anything.

Changing my Introduction

‘Idál (Justice), 16 Rahmat (Mercy), 165 BE – Wednesday, July 9, 2008 about 5:42 PM PDT

I have gone through a lot of stress and changes in the past year or so. Because of this and having two blogs on blogger, both showing the same profile, I have decided to change my introduction. I want the introduction to reflect the main goal of each blog, while revealing something about me.

The goal of this blog, Poet 999 - A Butterfly Emerges From Her Cocoon, is transformation and spirituality. I have notices in the past that some of the entries did not appear to stick to this theme. However, since every component of a person's life is connect everything that happens to an individual assists in the transformation of the soul. This is because the individual human is a spiritual being having a material or physical experience.

The other blog, Poet 999's Thoughts about Writing and Other Stuff is a mixed genre writing blog. The goal of that blog is to improve my writing, while at first glance some of the entries may not have anything to do with writing, all the entries, in some way, help me improve my skills as an author and writer.

The new introduction will state the main goal of each blog. In addition, I am going to add a few facts about myself. After that the individual entries in each blog will periodically give other information about myself and my life that is pertinent to the entry and theme of the blog. I think that is all I have to write at this time. Now I have to post this and rewrite my profile.

I’m fighting the down feeling today

Kamál (Perfection), 14 Rahmat (Mercy), 165 BE – Monday, July 7, 2008 about 7:34 AM PDT

I'm fighting the down feeling today. I'm not sure why I'm feeling down, but I'm feeling that way. There could be several reason's I'm feeling that way, none of which I'm ready to list at this time. The problem is I can thank of too many reasons I'm down. It doesn't do any good to list them, because when I do that the list becomes endless. This morning I can't deal with an endless list of depressing items.

I find that if I write about the darkness then sometimes it goes away; that's why I have an off line journal called Writing My Spiritual Journey. However, this morning I've already made an entry in that journal, so I'm not going to make another entry until after I've completed all the writing goals or assignments for July 7, 2008. That's why I'm writing about being depressed in this entry. I usually don't write about being down in this blog.

Another thing I do when I'm feeling down is say prayers. I pray every day, of course, but when I'm down I make a special effort to say specific prayers. Most of the prayers are reveal by Baha'u'llah or The Bab, however, there is one prayer written by 'Abdu'l-Baha that I say. The prayer by 'Abdu'l-Baha has to do with laying everything in God's hand.

Prayer helps me when I'm down. Writing helps me when I'm down. Perhaps that's what I need to do. I need to list everything that helps when I'm down. Instead of listing an endless group of unhappiness, I need to list the things that give me happiness. I hadn't thought of that before, but that's why I make journal entries when I'm down. Writing helps me think. Writing changes my mood. Writing helps me focus. Writing, like prayer, assist in transformation or at least it does for me. Writing assist me to see where I need to change and the areas that need the most work.