Friday, January 15, 2021

A Glorious Celebration

 I bumped into this picture yesterday and wondered what the heck?

And then I found out what it was…

It’s Holi, a Hindu Festival that celebrates the triumph of good over evil.

Far out!

It also marks the end of winter and the coming of spring. beginning on the last day of the full moon in March, and lasts for a day and a night. (28 to 29th) Night bonfires remind me of Burning Man.

It’s a time of unity, a time of play, laughter, music and dance, a time to repair broken relationships.

Imagine.

As a youth, Lord Krishna, a reincarnation of Lord Vishnu, liked to play pranks on the village girls by drenching them in water and colors.

Here is a chance to throw colored powders, to pelt each other with water balloons, and to squirt with water pistols.

It is a time to forgive and forget, a to drink bhang, a drink made with cannabis. It is a time the gods turn a blind eye.

After sobering up, people dress up and visit friends and family.

Live Joyously!

Sunday, January 10, 2021

Are You a Writer, Reader, or Both?

 I’ve heard that there are only three rules for writing.

Unfortunately, nobody knows what they are.

So, there you have it, folks. If you want to be a writer, make your own rules. If you want to write, write your little heart out.

Or write and read. Stephen King says if you don’t have time to read, you don’t have time to write.

I know people are attuned to a story, with a beginning, a middle, and an end. That doesn’t happen so much with blogs, but it ought to. Follow the Hero’s Journey, and it will stand you in good stead.

I think the concept of the hero’s journey began long ago when a storyteller stood at the campfire with the people eager for entertainment.

The hunter who brought home the bacon would get attention, but the one who embellished the story got more.

The one who died on the hunt was popular, too, for he met a consequence that didn’t bring home the bacon. The trouble was, someone else had to tell the story for him. That’s where you need a great obituary writer. Gosh, when I think about it, most obituaries I’ve heard were boring. Now, that doesn’t do the person justice. They’ve had a life. They loved, wept, had children, hardships, victories. (Born somewhere, educated somewhere, married, survived by.) I’m feeling sad for them.

People want to hear how the hero/heroine got kicked out of Paradise and had to find herself in the world. He/she had to endure hardships, and the stakes were high, the consequences extreme. He/she would, hopefully, come home victorious and bring honor to the tribe.

Let’s hope this happens now.

The following is a copy of my Newsletter, Jewell’s Happy Trails.

I intended that this Newsletter be only for people that request it, for I don’t want to junk up people’s email boxes without invitation. I placed it here to let you know it exists.

Those links aren’t live, so I will place them here:

Blog: https://travelwithjo.com

Books: https://www.jewellstrails.com Books leave a trail don’t they?

Store: https://jewellshappytrails.com Remember that store has “Happy” in it.

Newsletter sign-up

travelswithjo7@gmail.com