Manufactured World, by GG
Fake lines of clouds torch the blue sky
The brilliant sun still triumphs with a smile
Divinity buried with our silent ancestors
Golden tablets glisten and ring
Churches stuffed with rubbish
Truth lives in the beating heart
Photoshopped blue marble earth
Yin and yang on a stationary earth
Manufactured humans
We are one breath with spirit
About a week ago, I read about a woman who worked at Disney World for over 30 years. She said she noticed a big change in today’s children. She noticed children on cell phones, not even looking up. They were visiting the most magical place on earth, yet not participating. What kind of memories are children creating? Just online shorts and nothing real?
Cell phones foster passive participation rather than active participation. Humans are watching and listening to other people and events. Before cell phones, we actively participated in life. We didn’t just watch things on a device.
We need to define what it means to be human. Also, we need to ask, “How can we live our lives to the fullest? And “What takes away from our precious time?”
The cell phone literally pacifies us. We go on it for entertainment and relaxation. But we need to be careful not to let it take away from living life. Screens also dull the mind and train the brain to accept a mediocre life. Humans are so distracted that they accept not being fully present in life.
And, more importantly, we must allow our children to participate fully in life. They need movement and to engage the senses. Every time they look down at their phone, they miss out on living out their childhood and being in the present moment. A human child needs to communicate, play, dream, and create.
The Internet is just like Disney World. It wants our engagement so it can make money. But to participate, we have to follow their rules. Tech companies have spent billions of dollars to find ways to capture our attention.
The system is set up in their favor, not ours. But we still have a choice about whether we want to play. We are at the crossroads, right now, to still have a choice. We need to make some big decisions on how we want to interact with screens and technology.
Namaste.
The Dream of Coco
By Gina M. Gafford
Magical, Mystical and Just Plain Cool
Reading/Poem
Sponsored by the Literary Committee of the Arts Consortium of Carver County (ACCC)
Sower Gallery (Shepherd of the Hill Presbyterian Church, Chaska, Minnesota)
February 8, 2026, 12:00-2:00 p.m.
Whenever I am near a horse, I feel like everything will be okay. My heart gallops in rhythm with the horse. Dust fills my nostrils, always bringing me back to my youth.
When I was 10 years old, I met Heidi at school. She was two grades younger than I, but we connected right away. She introduced me to the world of horses. Heidi had a hobby farm on the outskirts of Chanhassen, Minnesota. I would walk to the hobby farm by cutting across fields. Back then, there were a few houses, and the business district was still a dream.
My first ride was on a Shetland pony named Thimble. Thimble was always tolerant of our shenanigans. We would ride on Thimble’s neck (I know that wasn’t very nice), invite her into the kitchen to eat out of the refrigerator, and take her into town where people would slow down to see the cream-colored pony.
Thimble was my first love until I met Coco a few years later. Coco was a chestnut brown quarter horse. She appeared so tall. I learned how to put on a bridle, saddle, and a lead rope. Coco was so majestic, I was in love.
I loved kissing her velvet nose and rubbing the white stripe on her forehead. I could feel the massive muscles under her short, rough fur.
Heidi and I took the horses for a swim in Lake Ann. It was a quiet lake; no motorboats were allowed. I rode Coco. I gently walked her into the calm, cool lake. She appeared confident as we got deeper and deeper.
Then in one mystical moment, I was swimming with the horse. I didn’t even know horses could swim. As we rode bareback, Heidi and I laughed and laughed. Then Coco turned her head and bit me on my left thigh. After the sharp pain, I fell off the horse and began to cry. Heidi jumped off her horse to grab Coco’s halter. I couldn’t believe Coco bit me! The red spot turned into a huge black and blue bruise, the size of a grapefruit, and I had a new respect for horses. I forgave Coco for biting me.
Through the years, I rode Coco and other horses that joined the hobby farm. I begged my parents to buy me a horse, but they said they couldn’t afford one, and that we’d have to board it. Later, I volunteered at We Can Ride, which is a therapeutic riding program. I volunteered so I could be near horses and help children and adults with disabilities. It was an excellent program, and because of this reflection and story, I’m thinking about volunteering again.
The Dream of Coco, by GG
In the quiet stillness of the star-filled night,
Coco dreamt of running free.
She felt her dark gray hooves pounding on the packed white snow,
and her warm, pumping breath, mixed with the glow of the morning sun.
Her chocolate-brown mane whipped in the cool air.
She had the confidence of a Mustang, wild and free.
In the morning, once the yellow sun reached the horizon,
Coco woke from her dream.
She shook her dusty mane
and felt the cool air filled with possibilities.
Coco’s spirit will always be wild and free.
Namaste.
Open Mic (Poetry Reading)
Chanhassen Library
7711 Kerber Blvd., Chanhassen, Minnesota
February 14, 2026, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Becoming a Diamond, by GG
My ancestors are buried deep in the Earth’s mantle
Over millions (maybe billions) of years, their remains turned into shiny, black carbon
Each rotting body dissolved
from earth to water
water to fire
fire to air
air to space
Eventually, each ancestor became a radiant diamond, taking their place in the twinkling sky
The way to the Earth’s depths requires an inward journey
My turbulent mind holds positive and negative thoughts
The facets of my life reflect the past, present, and future
The intense heat of my emotions rolls on the whipping winds of a swirling storm
Daily stress cooks and bakes me into something resilient
Life’s pressures sculpt something precious inside me
And I can be brilliant or dull – the choice is mine
My spiritual jewel is revealed when I become awake to a higher consciousness
Through meditation and self-reflection, I polish myself into luminosity
I am strong and refined
I become a diamond
In the midst of death life persists, in the midst of untruth truth persists,
in the midst of darkness light persists.
-Mahatma Gandhi
I love this line by Mahatma Gandhi: “In the midst of untruth truth persists.” No matter what happens in life. No matter how many lies are on the surface. The truth exists at the core.
There is also a truth that is within us. One way to find this truth is to come back “home” to ourselves. The word “home” contains “OM.” There are so many distractions in life that we need to intentionally find the truth within us. Meditation, self-reflection, silence, and yoga are ways to find this truth.
Technology is changing the way we think and function. We must reduce our screen time. Engage with screens and technology in small doses. Each time we are on a screen, our brains change. The dopamine hits light up certain aspects of our brain, which creates addiction. We need to figure out a balance when engaging with screens.
In the documentary “The Social Dilemma,” I recall Jaron Lanier, a computer scientist and futurist, discussing the crucial need for humans who are not manipulated to sit down and have a conversation. He is referring to people whose brains are not addicted to or manipulated by screens. I understood that he said this because we will need humans with normal brain function to make life-changing decisions. People who have become zombies will be of no help.
Also, we must not give children iPads or smartphones. Children are our future, and they are becoming zombies. The human child needs to play, dream, imagine, create, and have space. Screens are rewiring their brains to become addicted, distracted, and have less focus and concentration.
One of the goals of meditation is to learn to focus and concentrate. Screens are the opposite of meditation. The distraction of screens takes us farther away from ourselves. As humans, we need to come back home to ourselves.
We are at a crossroads right now. Each adult needs to do an assessment with their phone, computer, or any other screen. Ask yourself:
I know that I physically feel dizzy and nauseous if I’m on my phone or computer for too long. I actually start to feel “unwell.” Therefore, I know that phones and computers are unhealthy and dangerous to the human brain.
I still use screens, but in small doses (like radiation, which it is). I do not allow any technology, including my cell phone, in my bedroom. I turned off all notifications except text messages. I also find ways to disconnect by doing art projects, practicing yoga, meditating, exercising, or reading. I also enjoy phone-free conversations with family and friends.
We can find a way to balance our screentime. We need to have normal brain function without manipulation and addiction. We need to find the truth within us.
Namaste.
You Do Matter Minnesota
Living Through Crisis
Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing
University of Minnesota
During my yoga class last night, two participants were in tears because of the shooting of Renee Nicole Good and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minnesota. One woman sobbed so hard that she took sharp, shallow breaths. I realized that everything that is happening in my home state is deeply affecting people.
At the core of the human heart, is a human crisis. When will the mistreatment of human beings end? When will we treat one another as family on this planet? When will we stop the abuse?
As yogis, we agreed that humanity continues to create cycles of trauma. We are deeply saddened that this injustice continues in 2026. We are appalled that this is happening.
So, what did Martin Luther King Jr. say about justice? He said:
“It is not possible to be in favor of justice for some people and not be in favor of justice for all people.”
“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”
“We need leaders not in love with money but in love with justice. Not in love with publicity but in love with humanity.”
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
Martin Luther King Jr. was a trailblazer of nonviolence and peaceful protesting. Just like Mahatma Gandhi, he used his brain, not brute force. It’s his intelligence and cleverness that lead the way. I hope we can channel Martin Luther King Jr.’s energy and spirit to help us in these trying times.
When the yoga class ended, we embraced each other in a group hug. We may feel helpless, but we can be part of nonviolent and peaceful protesting. We can also do things “behind the scenes.” We must also serve as a guiding light for others.
Namaste.
Resource:
You Do Matter Minnesota
Living Through Crisis
Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing
University of Minnesota
Water Lilies
By Gina Gafford
Member’s Show
Photography
Sponsored by the Literary Committee of the Arts Consortium of Carver County
ACCC Gallery at the Chaska Community Center (artsofcarvercounty.org)
November 1 – December 31, 2025
Several weeks ago, as I woke up from sleep, I had a vision. I saw a tunnel about three inches in diameter open up near my forehead (third eye area). I heard a “snap” as it briefly opened up for a second. I saw a ring of light around the circle, and in the center of the circle were white, twinkling stars in a black background.
I’ve never had a vision like that before. I wasn’t scared, but I also didn’t feel ready to go “down that rabbit hole.” I even questioned if I was ready to dive deeper into my spirituality.
To calm my nervous system, I practiced Ujjayi Pranayama. Here is the practice:
Ujjayi Pranayama is also helpful when practicing yoga, especially during pain when stretching. I remember reading years ago that yoga can give the practitioner the skills to work with pain.
One more thing, emotions are very powerful. We can use our emotions to send out our intentions into the universe. If you feel a strong emotion, send out a prayer with that emotion as a catalyst for change.
Namaste.
AI generated picture.
Two Canoes
by GG
Mother prepares a canoe. The canoe is ready to bring me across the lake to a new land, a new life. I ride alone with the pull of the magnetic moon. I feel the blue waves pressing. I see the illuminated darkness around me. I am drawn toward the bright light. I am not afraid. I arrive in the new land with my head first and a demanding voice. Then I grow every day, and I look at the shining moon above. I see the yellow sun set on the horizon each night. I experience life. Then, one day, Mother prepares a canoe. It’s ready with love to take me back across the waters to the other side. I ride alone. I am not afraid. The shimmering moon pulls me back toward the night sky. The white lights guide my way.
I chose to write about “Two Canoes” because it brought back a memory of one of my hospice patients. As he neared his death, he would say, “It’s almost time to get into the canoe.” He said it with quiet acceptance.
Tunnel Vision 8 