Here is my latest tarot improvisation, based on a a root chakra meditation. “Who am I at the hearth?,” “Ace of Flames,” and “Hearth Dancers” are the three titles on my mind at present. How are you staying grounded, present, awake? Tarot coloring (as I revise the Heart’s Compass Tarot Workbook) continues to be a source of healing. I post these drawings on my heartscompasstarot Instagram under #tarotimprovisation and would love to see your drawings too.

San Diego Writers Festival

The San Diego Writer’s Festival originally slated for this spring prior to the Covid-19 pandemic has moved on-line with 4 days of programming starting tomorrow, Saturday June 27. Entirely free and open to the public, the festival kicks off at 10:00 am with a spoken-word performance by artist and musician Gill Sotu followed by an interview with Rabbi Steve Leder (author of “More Beautiful Than Before: How Suffering Transforms Us”) and panels on “Sources of Inspiration,” Western Writers of America, and “How to Turn Your Pain into Art” with author Laura Cathcart Robbins. “Walking Dead” producer and head writer Scott M. Gimple delivers the keynote address at 4 p.m. followed by an interview.

I’m grateful to have participated on the panel of poetry judges helping to select poems for the 2020 KidsWrite! San Diego Children’s Writing Contest, partnered with the San Diego Writers Festival, Coronado Library, and Union-Tribune Festival of Books. Thanks to KidsWrite! Director Jen Laffler, we considered work submitted by San Diego primary, middle school and high school students with the goal of amplifying voices of students weighing in on their definitions of the KidsWrite! 2020 theme of “Freedom.” The topic was bravely and openly challenged and celebrated across a spectrum of experiences and nationalities. Awards included the Spirit of KidsWrite! And “Social Justice Warrior” Award; winners will be announced at the festival on July 25th. Other contest categories include reflective essay, short story, and graphic novella.

Additional on-line San Diego Writers Festival days:

• Day 2, July 11^th: For the Love of Storytelling: Craft Sessions
• Day 3, July 25^th: KidsLit, Kids Programming, and KidsWrite! Winners Announced
• Day 4, August 8^th: Publishing and Platform Building

For the full schedule, visit the San Diego Writers Festival website. A second festival you may be interested in (attention poets!!!) is the October Geraldine R. Dodge 2020 Poetry Festival, also moving online and also free.

I’ve been tuning in to Wednesday Night Poetry’s Open Mic: Poetry Through the Pandemic curated by Kai Coggin (to access current and back readings check out the Facebook Page above). Every Wednesday night is amazing, but you’ll definitely want to listen to the June 10 line-up featuring Nikki Finney, Gabrielle Calvocoressi, and Lee Herrick followed by close to 50 additional poets reading their work.

Ongoing ways to play together: 

Tarot Journaling: A Heart’s Compass Approach is offered through San Diego Writers, Ink. We are journaling our way through the entire tarot deck, one Monday at a time. We write to the Empress this coming Monday. This drop in group is a pure delight.

Second Saturday Poetry Read and Critique is also offered through San Diego Writers, Ink. We are a serious but loving group of poets. Bring your poetry and we will support you and help you bring forth your true work. Next class meets on Saturday, July 11th.