Lions and Tigers and Contests, Oh My!

'Tis the season of giving and stressing over what to give, how much to give, where to give. It is a mixed bag of excitement and finding lights in the darkness through story,  yet who among us doesn't get caught up in presents over presence at times? Thinking of light as an entitlement instead of focusing on the being, experiencing, creating light.

Can I help relieve some of that with giveaways during the holiday season? I just put all of the names from last week's contest for a 50th anniversary copy of A Wrinkle in Time into Random.com and . . . the winner is . . . WriterAmI!!!! Thank you everyone for participating - you all really deepened the definition of tessering!

Two years ago on Tuesday, December 7th, my first book Edges was published by FSG. So to celebrate my book birthday, I am going to give away FIVE copies this week!

How to win?

In Edges, Cin has a number of animals tattooed on her body as a way to integrate them into herself. I have a tattoo of a tiger on my back, not because I think I have the personality of the tiger, but because I need the tiger energy in my life. (I'm more of a cuddly bear or an old cat really.)  Indeed, my Higher Power speaks to me in many different ways through different mediums if I am open enough to listen.

I see you're getting worried. Is she going to make us come up with what our power animal is?

No way - nobody needs to believe what I believe, my patchwork spirituality of different traditions. The only thing that's important is that we all view life as a glorious mystery, and we all want to deepen our relationships with each other and with the world. You read my blog because I am authentic, yes?

So. just tell me about one of your lights to see the world by . . . do you remember this scene in Wrinkle?

Mrs. Who's spectacles shone out at them triumphantly, "And the light shineth in darkness;                and the darkness comprehended it not."

"Jesus!" Charles Wallace said. "Why of course, Jesus!"

"Of course!" Mrs. Whatsit said. "Go on Charles, love. There were others. All your great Artists. They've been lights for us to see by.

"Leonardo da Vinci?" Calvin suggested tentatively. "And Michelangelo?"

"And Shakespeare," Charles Wallace's voice called out, "And Bach! And Pasteur and Madame Curie and Einstein!"

Now Calvin's voice rang with confidence. "And Shweitzer and Ghandi and Buddha and Rembrandt and St. Francis!"

And of course, the bigger you make this contest, the more chances you have of winning! (Does that even make sense?)

Tesser Well!