“The Badlands grade all the way from those that are almost rolling in character to those that are so fantastically broken in form and so bizarre in color as to seem hardly properly to belong to this earth“. – Theodore Roosevelt
In the dream, I ran the badlands, the brilliant cosmos overhead, held my own toward the future, and closed the timeline on my past. The beat of sound it came from heaven, the aurora borealis above my running head. The tongues of prayers, a field of angels, the healing wound of all I dread. In the vision was the lifeblood, of what I used to be, a great belief in all apostles, their words a platitude filled sea. A youthful mind indecisive, until time crept up on me. Now a gray haired man runs through the badlands, a rapid heartbeat of disbelief.
The shifting sands of narrow arroyos, the briars and snakes held there, hard to think that in a summer storm, one could drown if still stuck there. A star lights on the mesa, alien bright it falls so fair, as if to light an earthbound altar beseeching communication from out there.
Unbound, unbound my beating heart that inhales desert air in coldest dark. Scratching illumination as I run in midnight’s lair, humanity’s close death I share. A stretch into my imagination, mixed thoughts rising there, a better night for flying a throng of bats into the air. For I am a prayer unto the union of the joining of a pair, that lessor light of Shekinah with the glory of the upper care. My lungs they know no other way, then to praise the night, for whence cometh day. Loose now these bonds, these pounding feet, bare shrub, and cacti, a thousand shadows creep. The moment stark as in all dreams is it now real, or in my sleep.
In the dream, I ran the badlands, the brilliant cosmos overhead, and stuck between the sedimentary, I thought myself somewhere. The distance marked by parasangs, a length in whispers dared, I ran between the hoodoos, and caught the spirits in their lair. For it was on this occasion, it was this vision faire, that a grey haired man still running, found the secret of things not there. The desert is a badland, with creations built with care, a fortress of our human secrets, of the kind we would not share. We think them rather horrid, a reflection rarely seen, when in truth while we are running, they bring us breathless to know our where. To know our where.
In the dream, I ran the badlands, the brilliant cosmos overhead, held my own toward the future, and closed the timeline on my past. – 08.14.2018 – דָּנִיֵּאל
Beautiful surreal thoughts Daniel.
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Thank you Danika, I like the surreal, just not too much. 😉
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You do well with the sprinkles you add to the recipe you brew, although I do agree too much out there can be too much out there. 🙂
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Indeed there can be, but sprinkles are good. 🙂
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I usually think of sprinkles in a positive way candy or rain, so there is that. 🙂
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Impressive as always, with meanings larger than life stretching beyond. I enjoyed the TR quote and the music brought back fond memories of a great PBS program as well. 🙂
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Thank you Carmel. I appreciate your kind words. I too was a great fan of Sagan’s PBS program. 😉
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Very welcome Daniel, keep exploring! 😉
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Daniel this was beautiful, a very dream like piece written, helping one to realize those inner badlands are not so horrendous when faced. The following was my favorite. “he desert is a badland, with creations built with care, a fortress of our human secrets, of the kind we would not share. We think them rather horrid, a reflection rarely seen, when in truth while we are running, they bring us breathless to know our where. ” ❤
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Hi Caroline, I am happy you liked this piece. Thank you. I agree the badlands are never as bad when faced or lived with.
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Better to face the darkest night than walk in the coldest morning. (Old Turkish proverb 😉 )
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Visual inner dialogue, written very well. I enjoyed reading this. Thank you once again Daniel for helping me think something through at just the right time. 😉 ❤
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Thank you Deb. I am happy this helped you think something through. That makes my day. 😁
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Your welcome 🙂
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Well written Daniel, the journey into the bad lands is always one held with trepidation as you so well stated, but one worth while. As always I enjoyed your thoughts of depth.
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Thanks much Steve. That which keeps us on our toes in our darkest hours is actually good I think. Thank you for your wonderful comment.
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Shalom Daniel, your words are of great service to me this day, and I thank you for them. The “Interpretive” was well interpreted. ❤
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Thank you Lisa, I am thrilled my words meant something to you. Wishing you a wonderful evening.
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Loved this. Surreal and yet very real and emotional. The music add was just the right touch. ❤
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Hi Albina, Thank you for your kind words. I was hoping the music would fit, and thankfully it seems to have. I appreciate your reading and commenting.
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❤ 🙂
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One of your finest mate. 🙂
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Thank you Shaun, always honored to have you comment on my stuff. Wishing you a great evening mate!
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The lead in quote from TR was very fitting. Great piece linking the universe with the soul.
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Thank you Darrin for your comment. I found TR’s quote to may be have a greater meaning then he originally intended but you never know. 😉 The universe for me everyday is becoming more of the soul. I hope that makes sense. 😉
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It makes a lot of sense Daniel. The universe is always changing IMHO just like the soul, and it is important to change as it changes.
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Much to glom onto in the badlands Daniel, and I think you have a great start. The reason for being there once resolved helps to bring answers and more importantly learning. Very enjoyable post. Thank you.
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Hi Ryan, thanks for your comment. Sounds like the badlands have been real and there for you too my friend. 😉
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Your welcome Daniel, yes indeed I have felt the sting of the darkness more than once and it is a learning experience like no other.
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Dear Daniel,
Beautiful as always with deep words that mean more than casual thoughts for the moment. Simply wonderful. Thank you.
❤ Ruby
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Dear Ruby, Thank you as I always thank you for your wonderful comment. I hope all is going well in Michigan these days. Thanks again. Daniel
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Dear Daniel, You are always most welcome. Michigan is hot, except on the upper peninsula, where I spend as much of my summer days as possible. ❤ Ruby
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Daniel this is another favorite for me. A great post of value for those changing things up a bit in the badlands while letting go of stuff. Write on my friend, write on! 🙂
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Thank you Wang, I think the badlands might be the best place to face ourselves and let go of stuff. Nobody ever wants to do it when things are going swimmingly well. 😉
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You are right. Facing those times helps one appreciate the better times in ones life.
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A majority of this wonderful post gave me chills, but none more than the following phrase: “For I am a prayer unto the union of the joining of a pair, that lessor light of Shekinah with the glory of the upper care. ” Very well done. I loved the quote and the music as well, it went so well with your words. ❤
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Hi Abigail, Thank you for commenting and pointing out the part of the post you got the most from. I am humbled. I loved the quote and the music as well. The music goes back a ways for me, but I won’t date myself with how far. 😉
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I remember the series on PBS as well so we are both dated. 🙂
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The quote was a great way to start what is another wonderful writing from you Daniel. I enjoy the references to the hoodoo. The sight of them will always hold meaning for me. Have a great day!
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Thank you Raquel, I always remember your thoughts on growing up in the Southwest when I mention the landscape in these post. You are correct the hoodoo do hold much meaning. 😉
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Your welcome, looking forward to your next piece already! 😉
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Your writing makes me think about life both light and darkness in life, in the majority of the post that you write but never has there been a post that balanced them so well in that fourth dimensional world that you make yourself at home in as this one. Thank you.
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Thank you Lynette, I am thankful you picked up on the balance. I must confess I have been trying to pull my writing out of a morbid state lately so balance I think is good. Hope all is going well with you and yours.
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The balance is necessary. Thank you for your positive wishes. We are doing well in my house, wishing the same wellness for you and your family.
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Brother, you had me close to tears again with this wonderful soul revealing work of yours. Your journey that I gladly join you upon is at a wonderful apex it seems. Those dark desert nights in the wastelands, they provide such opportunities for growth. I will seize them with you. Shalom Den
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Hi Dennis, Thank you, as always I am so thankful that you my brother are along for this journey. You lead me you know. I am happy to stride the wastelands with you. Shalom, Daniel
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We are side by side my brother although at times we take turns, life is like that one strong when the other is weak and vice versa. Provides for good balance. 😉 Shalom, Den
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❤
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Thank you. 🙂 So happy you liked this post.
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Daniel, I loved this. The badlands of the soul of course are a part of balance, however that part seems to overrule so much of the light in our lives. Once again you have made me think. Thank you. ❤
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Hi Erin, Thank you for your wonderful comment. I am thankful there is balance, and even more thankful for the light that shines even in the darkest bad land. Wishing you a great evening my friend.
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Your welcome Daniel. I too am thankful for the light that shines so ever brightly. ❤
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❤ "Scratching illumination as I run in midnight’s lair" ❤ A line filled with genius. Loved this piece!
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Thank you Gigi. I am always thankful for the moon. Illumination from her source the lessor light still gives balance to the night. 😉
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The moon is boss as far as I am concerned. The source of so much mystery, light and great moments. 😉
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Funny how fast we run though badlands, through any land and that we know of land at all.
It may be a dream masquerading as reality. Perhaps it’s reality in a night’s gown’s steam.
The next thing we know, it’s grey haired prose, running, well paced to the future.
I really enjoyed this, Daniel!
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Thank you Resa. As always you commented in just the most wonderful way making me think and imagine a visual that is perfect to write on about. Of course you are a Whitby lady and your gifts are many In the meantime I suppose I will take my grey hair and continue to run, there is no doudt another story around the next shadow. 🙂
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😀 I have grey hair. I run with it, and a bottle of dye! See you in the next shadow!
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Happy i came across your blog, this was well written!
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Thank you Itsa and welcome to my blog. So happy to have you here.
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You are most welcome, thank you for your warm greeting… 🙂
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