Welcome June - Bienvenido Junio

 Reflections by Maritza M. Mejía

Welcome June! As the earth spins; one could feel the gentle breeze, others the cruel freeze. While Mother Nature screams out, “Be gentle, it's all I ask.” 

It is time to take care of our planet. I invite you this month to be conscious about it and take action. 
Have a blessed and happy summer/winter wherever you are.

Summer Break

Mission accomplished!

One more the year is over

Time to take a break!

(Haiku, @2016 Mejía)

¡Bienvenido Junio! Mientras que la tierra rota; unos podrán sentir la briza suave, otros el cruel frio. Mientras la Madre Naturaleza grita, “Ten cuidado conmigo, es todo lo que pido.” 

Es tiempo de cuidar nuestro planeta en todos los medios y formas. Te invito este mes a tomar conciencia de este tema y actuar. 

Ten un feliz y bendecido verano/invierno donde quiera que estés.

¡Feliz Junio y Verano!

Thank you for your support!🌷 #LuzDelMes 🌠

ACTIVIDADES GRATIS EN: www.luzdelmes.com

Maritza Martínez Mejía

Mother, Author, Educator, Translator and Publisher

Member: FWA, MCBD Board of Advisors, ANLMI Delegate, 

International Read to Me! Day Ambassador.

Website: www.luzdelmes.com

Received Crystal Apple Award, VCB Poetry Award, Latino Book Awards 2016 & Author’s Talk

Poetry for Peace ~ Poesía por la Paz

Poets around the world have defined PEACE in different ways using various literary images. It can mean world peace, peace between friends, family, or inner peace. Whichever meaning of peace you're looking for, LuzDelMes project is sharing a moment to reflect on the meaning of PEACE throughout POETRY. Join us the last Saturday of each month at 10:00 a.m. ET via Zoom & Instagram.

The Objective: Reach inner peace throughout poetry.

During the month of January, we read poems by Rabindranath Tagore. On February, Black History Month, I chose Maya Angelou. During March, I quoted a poem by Emily Dickinson "I Many Times Thought Peace Had Come," and on April exploring the Japanese philosophy and idiom proverb from the 1400,s  "Kacho-Fuugetsu" 花鳥風月and May the poetry of Pablo Neruda (Chilean Poet) & Thomas Merton's reflections.

Thomas Merton (1915-1968)

Prayer for Peace (1962) Edited by Peter Y. Chou Poetry on Peace: Thomas Merton (wisdomportal.com)

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Almighty and merciful God, Father of all men, Creator and ruler of the universe, Lord of all history, whose designs are without blemish, whose compassion for the errors of men is inexhaustible, in your will is our peace. Mercifully hear this prayer which rises to you from the tumult and desperation of a world in which you are forgotten, in which your name is not invoked, your laws are derided and your presence is ignored. Because we do not know you, we have no peace. From the heart of an eternal silence, you have watched the rise of empires and have seen the smoke of their downfall. You have witnessed the impious fury of ten thousand fratricidal wars, in which great powers have torn whole continents to shreds in the name of peace and justice. A day of ominous decision has now dawned on this free nation. Save us then from our obsessions! Open our eyes, dissipate our confusions, teach us to understand ourselves and our adversary. Let us never forget that sins against the law of love are punishable by loss of faith, and those without faith stop at no crime to achieve their ends! Help us to be masters of the weapons that threaten to master us. Help us to use our science for peace and plenty, not for war and destruction. Save us from the compulsion to follow our adversaries in all that we most hate, confirming them in their hatred and suspicion of us. Resolve our inner contradictions, which now grow beyond belief and beyond bearing. They are at once a torment and a blessing: for if you had not left us the light of conscience, we would not have to endure them. Teach us to wait and trust. Grant light, grant strength and patience to all who work for peace. But grant us above all to see that our ways are not necessarily your ways, that we cannot fully penetrate the mystery of your designs and that the very storm of power now raging on this earth reveals your hidden will and your inscrutable decision. Grant us to see your face in the lightning of this cosmic storm, O God of holiness, merciful to men. Grant us to seek peace where it is truly found. In your will, O God, is our peace. Amen.

¡Poesía por la Paz!

Ver reflexión en:

YouTube Zoom Video 

https://youtu.be/Q3Xo1rrpYkI #poetryforpeace #LuzDelMes

Los poetas alrededor del mundo han definido la PAZ de diferentes formas usando  diversas imágenes literarias. Puede significar la paz mundial, paz entre amigos, en la familia, o paz interior. Sea cual sea el significado de paz que esté buscando, el proyecto LuzDelMes está compartiendo un momento para reflexionar sobre el significado de la PAZ usando como medio la POESÍA. Acompáñanos el último sábado del mes a las 10:00 a.m. ET vía Zoom & Twitch. TV/ LuzDelMes. 

En enero exploramos la poesía de Rabindranath Tagore el poeta bengalí, premio nobel de literatura 1913. En febrero, Mes de la Historia Negra,  seleccioné a Maya Angelou, celebre poeta y activista Afro-Americana.  En Marzo dedicamos a la poeta Estadounidense Emily Dickinson con el poema: Muchas veces pensé que la paz había llegado, 1863. En Abril, exploraremos el conepto Japónes: 花鳥風月 (Kachou Fuugetsu). El profesor y filósofo, Masashi Nakamura nos dice que significa: "conocerse a sí mismo a través de la naturaleza. En Mayo exploramos la poesia de Thomas Merton (USA, 1915-1968) y Pablo Neruda (Chile, 1904-1973).

                   Thank you for your support!🌷 #LuzDelMes 🌠

ACTIVIDADES GRATIS EN: www.luzdelmes.com

Maritza Martínez Mejía

Mother, Author, Educator, Translator and Publisher

Member: FWA, MCBD Board of Advisors, ANLMI Delegate, 

International Read to Me! Day Ambassador.

Website: www.luzdelmes.com

Received Crystal Apple Award, VCB Poetry Award, Latino Book Awards 2016 & Author’s Talk

Maypole ~ Cruz de Mayo

 

Maypole is celebrated on May 3rd. According to traditions, it is a pre-Christian celebration known as the feast of the Mays or Maypole. It is a celebration held half of the spring in honor of nature. In particular, it celebrated decorating a totem with ornaments with ritual dances. 

Photo Courtesy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maypole

With the arrival of Christianity, this feast was adapted to the new faith, replacing the totem with the Christian cross. The cross of May and the Palo de Mayo festivities remain parallel in some Central American countries. 

In Spain there are processions with the Virgin in the Cruz de Mayo, and in some countries of South America, prayers are made to the Holy Cross. In Colombia, for example, one meditates on the devotion of the thousand Jesus.

As a child, my grandma taught me to prepare a Cross with the dry palms from Palm Sunday and make this prayer, "Holy Cross of May, my lawyer you should be, renounce to Satan, who with me, will not count because the day of the Holy Cross I said 1000 times: Jesus, Jesus, Jesus...'"

MayPole

Maypole is awake

Cheerful mid-spring must be here

Cross proclaim his name

(Haiku, Maritza@2016)

Fiesta de las Cruces o Cruz de Mayo, se celebra el 3 de Mayo.

Según las tradiciones, es una celebración pre-cristiana conocida como la fiesta de los mays o Maypole. Es una fiesta que se celebra en la mitad de la primavera en honor a la naturaleza. En particular, se celebra con la decoración de un tótem con flores y adornos en los que se hacen  bailes rituales.

www.luzdelmes.com

Los Mayas y Aztecas la festejaban adornando un tronco con flores, mientras se cantaba y hacían danzas rituales . Con la llegada del cristianismo, la fiesta remplaza el tótem por la cruz cristiana.

En algunos países centroamericanos se mantienen en forma paralela las festividades de la Cruz de Mayo y del Palo de Mayo. Es España se haacen procesiones con la Virgen en la Cruz de Mayo. En algunos paises de Sudamerica se hace honor a la cruz. 

En Colombia, por ejemplo, se medita en la devoción de los mil Jesús. 

Cuando niña, mi abuelita me ensenó a preparar una cruz con las palmas secas del Domingo de Ramos y hacer esta oración para el día de la Santa Cruz, “Santísima cruz de mayo, mi abogada habéis de ser, renuncio a Satanás que conmigo no contará porque el día de la Santa Cruz dije 1000 veces Jesús…’

¡Feliz Día de la Santa Cruz! - Happy May Cross!

Thank you for your support!🌷 #LuzDelMes 🌠

ACTIVIDADES GRATIS EN: www.luzdelmes.com

Maritza Martínez Mejía

Mother, Author, Educator, Translator and Publisher

Member: FWA, MCBD Board of Advisors, ANLMI Delegate, 

International Read to Me! Day Ambassador.

Website: www.luzdelmes.com

Received Crystal Apple Award, VCB Poetry Award, Latino Book Awards 2016 & Author’s Talk

Welcome May - Bienvenido Mayo

Reflections by Maritza Martínez Mejía Mejíaons by Maritza Martínez Mejía

Mothers are remembered on this memorable month of May, but for those whose mothers are not present is not easy to recall. However, it is important to recognize the value of giving birth, nurture, and taking care of a reliant being.

Let us recognize the value of motherhood even if you are not a mother; we all need to embrace parenthood with love, responsibility and care.

Have a Happy May!

🌺blossom hue flowers

nature shine, sing, smell arrives

may must be here! 🌸

Farewell April!

(Haiku @Mejia Spring 2021)

#NovedadesdemiJardin 🌴#LuzDelMes ✨

Las Madres son recordadas en este memorable mes de Mayo, pero para aquellos/as que sus madres no están presentes no es fácil de recordar. Sin embargo es importante darle el reconocimiento a esta magnífica experiencia de dar a luz, alimentar, y cuidar a un indefenso ser.

Apreciemos el valor de la maternidad aunque no seas madre; todos/as necesitamos acoger la paternidad con amor, responsabilidad, y cariño. 

¡Tengan un Feliz Mayo!

Thank you for your support!🌷 #LuzDelMes 🌠

ACTIVIDADES GRATIS EN: www.luzdelmes.com

Maritza Martínez Mejía

Mother, Author, Educator, Translator and Publisher

Member: FWA, MCBD Board of Advisors, ANLMI Delegate, 

International Read to Me! Day Ambassador.

Website: www.luzdelmes.com

Received Crystal Apple Award, VCB Poetry Award, Latino Book Awards 2016 & Author’s Talk