The #MicroPoetry of the blog began as a creative practice in 2012. Using the confines of twitter's 140 characters, this discipline has been a generative opportunity to use words to poetically muse. Starting in 2017, brief reflections became another way to explore the use of these verses as part prayer, thought, reflection, challenge or something in-between. I hope these monthly collections offer you space to be, reflect and consider how your own choices might help you and other #ShineOn.

Amidst Chaos’ discordance
& Division’s illusions
New Life shatters
Miasma’s fragility
A Child’s first breath
exhales Hope into Universe’s turning
Inspired by Oscar’s arrival …
Reflection
What does it mean to witness renewal in the midst of uncertainty?
We are often surrounded by confusion and division, unsure of what comes next. Yet, even in these moments, something new can emerge; something that reminds us of possibility. When we encounter beginnings, especially those that carry innocence and promise, we are invited to remember that transformation is always within us. Such rememberings don’t erase the tension around us, but they offer a reminder of what could be. They call us to imagine a future shaped not by fear or fragmentation, but by connexion, courage, and the quiet strength of starting again.

Life’s tapestry does not hold
with an individual weft
Our collective knitting
begins as we awaken
to the parts of the weave
we alone can thread
Inspired by connexion between learning & growing …
Reflection
We grow when we recognise that learning is not a solitary act. Understanding deepens when we engage with others, sharing insights and experiences that shape our perspectives. Growth becomes possible when we contribute to something larger than ourselves, each of us offering a unique strand to the whole. Together, we form patterns of meaning that no one could create alone. The journey of becoming is not linear; it’s layered, shaped by the connexions we make and the wisdom we exchange. In community, we discover that our individual paths are part of a greater unfolding, one that invites us to keep evolving.

Gratitude is more than aspiration
neither platitude nor cliché
A grateful orientation
reveals a transformative path
recognising abounding beauty
Inspired by a commitment to live appreciatively …
Reflection
What happens when we choose to see the world through the lens of appreciation rather than expectation?
We begin to notice the quiet moments that often go unseen: the kindness of a stranger, the warmth of sunlight, the rhythm of breath. Gratitude becomes a way of being, not just a reaction to good fortune. It shifts our focus from what is missing to what is already present. In doing so, we cultivate resilience, deepen our relationships, and find meaning in the everyday. This perspective doesn’t ignore hardship; it simply refuses to let difficulty define the whole story. Gratitude, then, becomes a quiet strength and companion.

On a starry night
as shadows frame the sky
stars illumine truth eternal
as Light travels through the ether infinite
Love binds each of us
as One
Inspired by Love’s web …
Reflection
As we consider the vastness of existence, we are reminded of the unseen threads that connect us. These connexions, though unseen, shape our understanding of unity and belonging. In moments of stillness, we sense a shared purpose that transcends individual experience. It is in this awareness that we find strength; not in isolation, but in togetherness. The idea that we are part of something greater invites us to act with compassion and intention. As we navigate uncertainty, this sense of unity becomes a guide, encouraging us to move forward with hope, knowing that we are never truly alone.

Our True Nature
is neither stitched into sinew
nor bound to bone
That which we are
is best illustrated
by the intention
that motivates what we do
Inspired by discovering our True Self …
Reflection
What drives us to act with compassion when no one is watching?
In moments of uncertainty, we find clarity not in what we possess, but in how we choose to respond. Our shared humanity is revealed through the motivations behind our actions; those quiet decisions that ripple outward. When we move with purpose rooted in care, we shape a world that reflects our deepest values. It is not the surface of our lives that defines us, but the unseen forces that guide our choices. In recognising this, we begin to understand that who we are is not fixed, but continually formed by the intentions we carry.

Let us not be lulled
to acquiesce the strength
we collectively possess
In solidarity
bound by our commitment
to elevate dignity
shadows dissipate
Inspired by the fortitude of our inner resolve …
Reflection
When we stand together, our shared strength becomes a force that can reshape what surrounds us. In unity, we find courage to challenge what diminishes worth and to lift what affirms it. The commitment to uphold dignity is not passive; it demands that we act and be intentional in our resolve. As we move forward, we learn that change is not born from silence but from the voices that rise in harmony. Shadows of doubt and division fade when we choose to act with purpose. Together, we become more than individuals; we become a movement that refuses to settle for less than justice.

In times when rent soars
groceries tick upward
& finding solace is problematic
Despondence stirs
In these times
when we share
our healing begins
Inspired by remembering we are universally bound together …
Reflection
What happens when we dispel the illusion that we’re alone in our struggles?
When we acknowledge the weight of shared burdens, something shifts. We begin to see that hardship isn’t a solitary experience; it’s a collective one. In recognising this, we open space for empathy, for listening, and for healing. We find strength not in isolation but in connexion, in knowing others walk beside us through uncertainty. This awareness doesn’t erase difficulty, but it softens its edges. It reminds us that resilience grows in community, and that hope is often born from the simple act of showing up for one another. Together, we become more than what challenges us.

When we see atrocities
perpetuated on the least
be not numbed by Terror
See in the suffering of tears
our humanity beseeching the need to act
Inspired by knowing our purpose is to be Love …
Reflection
We are called to respond when injustice strikes those most vulnerable. It is not enough to observe suffering from a distance; we must allow it to stir us into action. Compassion becomes a shared responsibility, urging us to confront cruelty with courage and empathy. In recognising the pain of others, we affirm our collective dignity and purpose. Silence in the face of harm is complicity. Together, we must choose to be present, to care, and to intervene. Our humanity is not passive; it is active, engaged, and rooted in the conviction that love must be lived, not merely believed.

Your reflections are most welcome!