Jeanne Ripley, Author, Speaker, Nurse

2009-11-09T12:48:00.000-08:00

Wings to Fly

Poetry by Jeanne Ripley
Photographs by Joanne Chilton

Choices
You choose this place
to tell me a truth I would not face,
because you know I can not escape.

Still, even with your hand in mine,
out there seems real
and inside are fears I cannot name.

Jeanne Ripley, Author, Speaker, Nurse: Taking Wings...Tips For Writing Inspirational Poetry

2009-11-09T10:28:00.000-08:00

Jeanne Ripley, Author, Speaker, Nurse: Taking Wings...Tips For Writing Inspirational Poetry

Taking Wings...Tips For Writing Inspirational Poetry

2009-11-09T10:09:00.000-08:00

Taking Wings ...

A Poetry Session with Jeanne Ripley

If you have been trying to write poems and sense they lack substance, it may be that you need to go deeper into your experience. Does this resonate for you? If so, read below for more. As you know, writing poetry requires each word to count. It is often difficult to find the balance of enough words so that we connect with the reader but not having so many words that the reader loses interest.

When I was writing for my first book, Wings to Fly, I threw away several poems because I realized that I didn’t have passion or a focus. I believe that when we draw from a deeper well of passion, ideas and words flow easier. I asked myself: Why am I not writing about what is central to my life? When I did that, my focus became spiritual growth : the crossroads where science and spirituality meet.

It also helped me to write from a photograph. If you take a look at the sneak preview of Wings to Fly at www.jeanneripley.com the first poem is called Choices. It’s also the first poem in the book.

We want to write so that the reader is drawn into the poem and can relate it to her/his own life experience but not make it so narrow that most people cannot find themselves within the message.

Have a read and tell me what you think. Did you see yourself and your own story in the space of the poem and photograph? Would you like to share what that story is: a breakup of a relationship, an illness?

Learn and have fun with this: share your thoughts and comments.

Which One Are You?

2009-10-19T16:29:00.000-07:00

Do you operate more from heart or brain?

The way of the heart is collaboration as opposed to competition. It is the way of a balanced life rather than a fast paced life that is full of stress. It is accepting a little less and having a caring and loving orientation to others and the world. It is being available to help someone else.

Would others describe you as having a good heart, as a good listener and someone who is a pleasure to be with? Or, are people anxious around you? Do you frequently respond in anger and try to control situations and people?

Have you considered why we are bored by a walk in the park, sitting in the hammock swing with a cup of coffee? We are often not comfortable with just being because our brain tells us to do. We must always achieve, work on the next goal. It is the way of the heart to be and the way of the brain to do.

Our heart wants us to connect and to be patient, to be open to subtlety ...what attracts you, what turns you away. We attract congenial people when we are pleasant and kind to others.

Our hearts way is to walk gently in the world, to be thoughtful in our responses to others. It is to treat others as we hope to be treated: with sensitivity.

Dr. P. Pearsall says that our life energy is who we are. We don't send it or recieve it. We simply connect. The mystery of who we are is not just embedded in our thoughts about the here and now or our past (memories) but our nature. Given a chance, we can tune into our hearts energy once we slow dowm, become an observer of our thoughts and actions and just turn our thoughts off for awhile.

Jeanne Ripley, Author, Speaker, Nurse: Mind or Heart?

2009-10-11T12:03:00.000-07:00

Jeanne Ripley, Author, Speaker, Nurse: Mind or Heart?

Mind or Heart?

2009-10-11T11:11:00.000-07:00

How do we listen to our heart to find out just what it might tell us?

Our brain, our mind tends to be the insistent voice, the voice that wants us to believe that it knows all there is to know. Hearts think just as minds do. It has been known for many years now that our heart is much more than a mechanical pump. Neale Donald Walsch, from Conversations With God, has said that we will not find truth about ourselves from our mind.

Your heart holds the key and therefore the wisdom of living within our own truth, our authenticity, our quiet, inner knowing voice. Our heart holds the wisdom of this moment, whereas the mind wants to go to the past and continue to live our same patterns and replay our memory tapes.

You can cultivate the ability to listen to your heart with practice. Be quiet with yourself. Focus on your heart, breathe deeply, imagine breathing in life energy and breathing out tension and doubt. Relax and give yourself this time to just be. It's not wasted time, by any means. Think of it as getting in touch with your essence, your creativity and love.

As you go within, let any thoughts go that are not loving thoughts. Loving thoughts take us to a higher vibrational level which will then open us into heart consciousness.

Going within also includes being present with all of our feelings-they may not all be positive but by embracing/accepting them, we are accepting ourselves, loving ourselves. And, we are not able to extend love to others if we cannot love ourselves.

Listening to our heart requires patience, as well as, practice. It does have information to share and, I have found, that the information is not always what we want to hear. For example, your heart may be telling you that you have to slow down, to rest. You feel that you simply cannot do that because of bills to pay, projects to complete, but, you will be shut down, now or later, if you continue to ignore the wisdom of the heart.

It helps me to think of the brain as the organ of competition, whereas the heart is one of cooperation.

I invite your questions or comments.

Sept.28,2009 Intention & Listening to our Heart

2009-09-28T10:12:00.000-07:00

Almost two weeks ago, on Sept.17th, I was one of thousands of people who logged in to Lynne McTaggert's Intention Experiment. It is a great experience to know that you are part of a global intention that involves powering up/meditating and focusing on a target.This was one for water...to change the molecular structure so that the sample tapwater in a petri dish become more like mineral water.

You might find it interesting to check out her websites: www.theintentionexperiment.com
and www.livingthefield.com

DID YOU KNOW...

Someone else can identify an angry heart if the smile is thin, eyes are wide, chin is jutting outwards & the cheeks are bulging
Someone else can identify your disgust if your lips are to the side and your nose is wrinkled.
Absence does not make the heart grow fonder since our heart needs close physical contact ... in fact, Dr. Pearsall says that frequent physical proximity profoundly increases the energetic connection between the two people.
We need quiet time together, more frequently to increase bonding
While our brain is attracted to opposites, our heart is attracted to similarities.
The heart wants to listen and the brain wants to be assertive.

Interesting to consider. This information and more in The Heart's Code helped me to understand which thoughts originate in my head versus my heart.

2009-09-21T11:42:00.000-07:00

WORLD PEACE DAY

Don't forget that this day, Sept.21st is Peace Day around our globe.

Things you might do:

Spend 5 minutes alone to think about peace in your heart
Think about peace in your home with your spouse & children
What would peace in every heart do for each family?
What would peace in every family do for the world?
What would you do diferently if you experienced inner peace?
What would world peace do for hunger and our resources?

What To Do When Little Things Go Wrong

2009-09-21T11:07:00.000-07:00

You know the times when we are late and in a rush ... for some of us, that's all the time, and we can't find our keys. Some of us are always spilling food or tripping over something. Does it seem to you, like something 'out there' is conspiring to make sure that we don't succeed, don't get ahead in our day to day race for more time?

Some cultures refer to this energy or situation as a joker or trickster, that is a part of all of our lives. Such incidents tend to slow us down, cause us to pause. Our pace may be too fast and we are left in a state of anxiety. It has been suggested that our best emotional response is to laugh, lighten up. It is likely that there is a message behind these incidents and we might consider what that is, for us.

Our heart and our health needs quiet time to allow our heart rate and breathing to slow down. We often have forgotten the simple joys of being alive. We have forgotten to celebrate all the good we have in our lives. Perhaps, we have gotten "too big for our breeches" as one of our parents may have told us. Do we recognize the value of humility? Ask yourself when you lasted watched a sunset, laughed so hard that your belly hurt.

Some discoveries about laughter:

It diffuses conflict and soothes the heart since the heart needs connection
A lack of laughter in a relationship is one of the early signs of a failing relationship
Laughing together is bonding
Laughter bolsters the immune system
The heart uses humor to express love

Did you know that the word "silly' is derived from the Greek word "selig" meaning blessed?

Laughter is not a sign of someone without suffering but of someone who has learned and accepted that life is suffering and can still laugh.

Most of this information was learned from my reading of The Heart's Code by Dr. Paul Pearsall.

Have a Look ... great writing & creativity tips

2009-09-16T16:45:00.000-07:00

http://thevoiceofyourmuse.com

2009-09-14T15:36:00.000-07:00

Writing and speaking have been a part of my life since I was a teenager...writing poems and essays, being class valedictorian, a debater, a toastmaster and recently, an author and speaker. After many rejections of my writing and attending writing workshops where I was told that I needed to find my voice, I stopped writing and began to look within myself.

Have you not at some point, known that you need to look more deeply into what’s going on inside of you? I had questions, BIG ONES... What has gone wrong in my life and why? I knew that I kept making similar mistakes. I knew there were negative behavior patterns. I was determined to find out what was causing my negative behaviors. What can I do to change my life?

THINGS I HAVE LEARNED:

Although you can be intelligent, competent and successful in many areas, you can also carry a negative self-image, frequently engage in negative self-talk, be perpetually busy, hold many fears, repeat failed relationships and have no focus.

That although most of the world focuses on the intellect and the outer conscious world: this is only one reality. The other reality is our inner world that is driven by our hopes and dreams: our heart’s desires. The inner you is activated by our own observation of it ... observation of your thoughts, your emotions and how that feels in your body. Our whole body is our subconscious and every cell holds memory. Each and every cell listens to what we ‘say’ about ourselves. What do you say?

That the longer we are quiet and have most of our chatter silenced ... the sooner the inner you arises. There are many meditation techniques available. Many teachers will say that it is all in the breath. Dr.Chopra suggested a short mantra recently at his Halifax, NS presentation that we can silently repeat while breathing deeply ... “I Am”. He says it has no karma attached to it.

We need to be patient. Our progress goes back and forth ... inner vision begins ... we have more energy... we feel the inner space growing: it feels like freedom and strength ... we have moments of inspiration.
Still, we accept concepts intellectually and it takes much longer for that concept to become real in your heart, so that we can live it naturally. If we rush our growth, it becomes empty, we become bored and listless since we are in unfamiliar territory and still identified with ego.

Writing and Creativity: Related Questions

2009-09-06T15:53:00.000-07:00

It is Labour Day weekend. Summer has been a time for family,rest and relaxation.

It is now time to look ahead.

If you have questions about where inspiration arises, exercises for beginners or specific questions about writing from your heart and what that means, feel free to contact me on this blog with your questions.

I will be happy to answer them and will check in every Monday (a September, 2009 resolution!)

Some interesting facts I learned about the heart:

**It is the primary generator of energy throughout our body
**The best way to tune into your heart is to slow down,sit down and be quiet
**A heart disconnected from the brain can still beat on its own for several minutes.
** Poetry written in iambic pentameter resembles the slow,steady beat of a restful heart
**The heart has cellular memory
**The heart has its own energy that is 5,000 times stronger than the energy from the brain.

How many of you have seen the documentary movie called, The Shadow Effect? If you read one of my poems called The Mystery, it says that this 'mystery' or shadow or darkness is a friend because it has much to give back to us if we are ready to face our worst fears. And, the poem titled, The Shadow poem takes us a bit farther: letting us know that if we are willing to face our shadow and remove our 'masks', there is a bigger truth to be found about who we really are.

The poems were written during a specfic four year period of my own personal growth.

All questions are welcome.

heart to heart ...
jeanne

What's New ... Writing From the Heart

2009-05-17T09:45:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,

It seems that I'm unable to write more frequently than every two months!

I did have my 3 hour workshop at Alderney Landing Library on April 18,2009. The 9 participants rated it Good, Very Good and Excellent. It was a fun experience for me and I hope it was for the participants, as well. We had a few moments of distraction when we watched the window cleaners outside our window (I have photos). I talked about what writing from the heart means, facts about the heart, what we can do to enhance our creativity, breathing exercises and questions for you to answer to help you identify your uniqueness. The content of the workshop may be on my website, in the near future, for a small fee.

A full day workshop will be arranged for September if enough of you are interested. I will have completed a program called The Heart Essence Method by Susan Castle which helps us remove blocks to acccessing our heart and living in our Heartspace. This workshop will include writing exercises with a critique from myself and class participants. Please contact me through www.jeanneripley.com (see my contact page) to let me know if this interests you.

Recently (May 14/09), I shared a presentation with approximately 20 people at a Spiritual Seekers meeting... www.spiritualseekers.com. It was a sharing of "Things That I Have Learned" on my path to Self-Awareness.

The topic was related to our deeper personal awareness that comes from exploring our past. When we find the courage to "go there", we learn more and more of who we really are and the self-care that is needed to move from our negative patterns into living consciously. It really is about the power of emotional healing.

Knowing who we are at our core leads us to uncover our natural talents, that can lead us to our purpose, and to developing a strong sense of our Self-Worth. Our self worth comes from a deep knowing of who we are and of our unique gifts that we can share with others.

Look for a substantial portion of this presentation on my website in the near future.

Did any of you attend the presentation of Deepak Chopra, in Halifax recently? He told us (among many things) that 35% of our unhappiness is due to our childhood programming. I have been, and still am, dedicated to removing that conditioning and to laughing more.

Smiles and hugs,
Jeanne

Is Time Really Going Faster?

2009-03-22T12:04:00.000-07:00

Everyone I talk to claims that time is moving faster than ever. I have heard it said that is true because the earth is rotating faster.

Well, I can't believe that it has been almost two months since my last post. I have been busy writing and tweaking my website ... preparing for 'branding'. In addition, it is tax time ... not my favorite thing.

Right now, I am preparing for my vacation. R&R, walking the beaches, exploring the Gulf Coast of Florida. This time is for visiting family and friends. Reconnecting is healthy and feels good. I have read in Lynne McTaggert's Living the Field that those who regularly connect with lots of other people live the longest.

Don't forget my workshop at Alderney Landing Library on April 18th,2009 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. It includes basic tips for writing, editing and using available resources. I will review new information about our heart and a breathing exercise that helps us listen to what our heart wants to tell us. Techniques & tips that enhance our creativity are included. I'm looking for plenty of interaction.

What's Happening ...

2009-01-31T07:54:00.000-08:00

It is the last day of January. I am planning a trip to Florida to visit family and friends ... can't wait to be warm again.

We have just had our book, Wings to Fly, accepted into Chapters in Dartmouth and Halifax, NS. It is now available in 35 bookstores or other outlets in Nova Scotia and 2 in BC.

There will be a signing and draw (for a framed print of Joanne Chilton's) on Feb.07th from 1-3 at Chapter's in Bayer's Lake and a signing plus a draw for a framed poem in Dartmouth TBA.

I am doing a brief writing workshop on April 18,2009 at Alderney Landing Library from 10:00am to 1:00 pm that will explore my focus for writing from your heart.

Look for the resceduled Author's night to be held at Mount St. Vincent University, hosted by Lorri Neilsen Glenn, author and Poet Laureate for Halifax, 2005-2009. The public is invited to meet authors of books that were published in 2008. I will be reading from Wings to Fly.

My new website will be available within the next few weeks ...come back soon. If you haven't read my articles, go to my bio and have a look. You may find some valuable information that you can relate to your life. In sharing what we learn and experience, we learn even more. Share any thoughts you have about my writing or just any questions you have. How do you handle stress? Write me at jeanne.ripley@jeanneripley.com

Last evening,during a family/friends discussion, I was told that "My Mom called me and said she was reading Wings to Fly and started to cry because she related to something you wrote."

It felt good to hear that.

Articles

2008-08-25T15:48:00.000-07:00

Hello again,

I forgot to mention my articles.

It is my plan to be able to introduce one each month.

To find my article titled: Insights and Strategies for Writing from the Heart...go to www.jeanneripley.com
check out my links page and click articles.

Month by month

2008-08-25T15:09:00.000-07:00

What was most exciting about your last month?

Mine was not in one event but in the diversity of events and the many friends & family that I shared time with. I spent time with extended family in a reunion, with several different friends traveling the province with our Wings to Fly book, my grandaughter's swimming meet. I was often tired but felt that I had accomplished a lot and I had fun.

I watched whales off Brier island and was totally fascinated ... especially, the baby whale...it actually played around our boat and swam under it. Much fun.

I still find time to watch Canadian Idol ... read my current book... Awe by Dr. Paul Pearsall, attend meetings and, of course,write.

It seems that many people who have read Wings to Fly are interested in the meaning behind the poems and also, the origin of the images. I am planning a workshop that will explore the "where did this come from?" question(s). It may take a few months but if any of you readers out there are interested, you can let me know by writing to me at jeanne.ripley@jeanneripley.com

In addition, if anyone is interested in monthly inspirational quotes and images let me know at the same address and give me your email address.

Relationships, love...

2008-07-26T12:41:00.000-07:00

It's July 25th ... I hope that you are having your best summer ever!

I have been thinking about relationships with friends, family and partners ( or 'would be' partners). We think they should be simple but never seem to experience that.

It does seem that our expectations come from our previous relationships, our early family life and a myriad of other influences such as TV and film.

Love, love, love in all it's forms captivates us and we remain a willing captive. I have no answers, only expressions of related thoughts and feelings. Below is my experience of a loving friendship. If you 'relate' to any of it ...send me your comments.

Our Loving Friendship

It is only you who listens to my pain
who sees my souls nakedness and
does not turn away.

It is only you who stands in my rain
waits for the darkest places to show
the light of day.

It is only your love that sings my song
dances in my dreams
makes me believe that I am Queen.

Your faith holds me safe and strong
guides me as I take flight to places
I have never been.

Do you know that I stand for you?

Jeanne Ripley
copyright 2008

Country Yard Sales; Happening Spots

2008-06-02T07:24:00.000-07:00

I had to see for myself! There was a dandelion festival in Wallace NS. The fields of dandelions were left untouched and they were beautiful. My friend and I debated the virtues and beauty of the dandelion. Any comments?

We had a great breakfast at the Tatamagouche Farmers Market. Flowers nesteled in a wreath, maple products...MMMmmm, handmade cards and lots more. The gift shop, coffee shop and accomodations in the old train was something I tucked in my memory bank for a fun weekend this summer.

Hannah's bookstore had 3 authors visit during the 45 minutes that I was there. Linda Little signed her book that I had purchased, Scotch River. They support the arts in a big way.

Back to Pugwash and the Chatterbox Cafe. The owners ,Norene and Greg are friendly and fun and the visitors have the pleasure of her paintings surrounding them along with the good company. You could spend hours at this cafe along with the Hidden Jewel gift shop that adjoins them. And it's not even tourist season, yet!

Neat Cafes ... other blogs ...favorite quotes

2008-05-19T06:08:00.000-07:00

I have just checked out a blog that is fun and has lots of interesting entries. See for yourself at http://gimsonandfriends.blogspot.com

I am hearing from people who have read our book, Wings to Fly, and it is heart-warming to hear the comments.

Saturday, I traveled to Springhill and Amherst to place our books in the hospital gift shops and the Anne Murray Centre www.ANNEMURRAY.COM. They have neat gifts, lots of cd's and a tour of Anne's life & career. I will be doing a reading there sometime in July...will post the date when it is settled.

On Friday, I stopped in for some great soup and cheesecake at From My Nova Scotia Heart in Glen Haven. I spent about 30 minutes (maybe more) checking out their gifts...most items are made locally.They are also selling our book and I will do a reading there, as well. More info later.

Today, I am off to meet friends at Into the Mystic...1082 Cole Harbour Road ... they do readings, reiki and sell wonderful gifts and jewellry...and more. It's a great place to meet friends over an exotic cup of tea and a home made dessert. I bet you haven't guessed that they also have our book. You do make new friends there. I did.

If you have a favorite quote from Wings to Fly...let me know what it is and (if you want), what it means to you.

Finish off your w/e in style ... smile

Jeanne

Sneak Preview & Reading of Poems on Website

2008-04-17T17:56:00.000-07:00

Hi there...

Later tonight or tomorrow, I will have an audio of me reading the poems within the 'sneak preview' of Wings to Fly. The poems will be visible and you can follow along.

I would like to hear if you found a message that relates to your life situation ... that has meaning for you. Perhaps, you have a story to tell around that. If so, send it along to me at
jeanne.ripley@djeanneripley.com

For anyone who reads the book, let me know what you think. Do you have any questions?

And, come to hear me read on Apr.29th/08 at the Economy Shoe Shop, Argyle St., Halifax...8:00pm

Dare to be you.

Jeanne

2008-04-17T17:55:00.000-07:00

A Spiritual Connection to Creativity

2008-02-25T18:17:00.000-08:00

We are all creative. Spirit creates us … the connection is already there. It was there from our beginning. Many of us have awareness that our connection was erased, or at least blurred, by the opinions and actions of significant people in our lives. How do we reconnect?

Have you had an experience of a teacher or parent telling you that a childhood creation of yours was wrong: red when it should be green or brown, messy when it should be neat, just not good enough? An experience like this can turn you away from your innate creativity. We may turn to jobs that we are expected to do to earn income or status.

It is common for people to return to a passion they once had, after a period of personal growth, an illness, or during retirement. Our passion seems to return from our going within ourselves to uncover who we really are. We remember things we loved to do … would sometimes get lost in this activity. Others may have recognized our talent, but not necessarily so.

In some form, however we choose: we need to invite our spiritual muse back into our life. It has been helpful for me to do that … acknowledge to myself that I need guidance and assistance.

Here are nine tips to help you connect:

Spend five minutes every morning and evening to go within. Be still, silence your phone.
Do your best to stop thinking: play music with the sounds of nature or focus on your breath.
Try an activity that feels self-nurturing …something that feeds your spirit: a walk outside, giving something to someone who needs help.
Start a journal to write about events, people or words that surprised you in how they happened just when you really needed them.
Notice how you ‘feel’ when you recognize that something great has just happened to you.
Let that feeling build some energy within you.
Spend a few moments to express gratitude (out loud or in silence) for the event and the feeling that came with it.
Celebrate that experience, however small…share it with a friend or post a big smile in your journal. Say, Yes!
Silently or out loud invite your inner guide, your spirit, to assist you.

Write your answers to these questions:

Ø What do I feel deeply about?
Ø What moves me, emotionally?
Ø What do I deny myself right now that I would like to do ‘some other time’?
Ø Who, in my life, was most significant to me? Why?
Ø Does my heart need to be heard?

I struggled with my writing for many years. When I release that struggle: write down dreams or words that wake me in the night, invite Spirit to assist me when I feel stuck, or remember that words are not just ‘my’ words; writing became more fun.

Creating with a purpose in mind or just for the sheer joy of the creative process is equally rewarding. And, to do this, it is essential to give ourselves the experiences that nourish us,
feed our curiosity, excite us and make us feel alive. Give yourself more playtimes. Smile.