HAPPY SUMMER SOLSTICE!

We have just released our Summer issue of Mused - our free literary magazine! Here is a description of this delightful issue.

The Summer Solstice is the exact point in each year when sun is at its very highest point in the sky. This is a pinpoint moment in time, an amazing astronomical event. Intriguingly, it can happen at all periods of day or night because of our imperfect calendar. Some years the summer solstice is at 11:28am GMT - nearly noon. In other years, like in 2012, it can be at 23:09pm GMT - nearly midnight. Sometimes it's on the 20th, and sometimes it's on the 21st. That is the wonder of this universe we live in. We force artificial calendar systems on a beautifully natural cycle, and sometimes they misalign.

It can be wonderful to release the shackles of our man-made constructs, if only for a little while, and breathe in the natural cycles of the world around us. Absorb the delicate beauty of the pink petals of a camellia. Bask in the golden glow of sun streaming through clouds. Be drawn by the warm invitation of an open pair of pasture gates, leading beneath the gentle arch of a tree. Sometimes nature wows us with a "super moon" reflecting over an ocean. Sometimes it is the delicate tracery on the tiniest of insects which reminds us that beauty comes in all sizes.

Poetry paints images richer than life. Sifting dirt through fingers helps ease the clutter of the mind. A solitary cypress is lashed with sand and salt. Golden aster stretch along a bank drifting with mockingbird song.

Non-fiction reminds us of the power of nature. A family struggles against the raging Texas fires of 2011. But in some cases society can be even more harsh. A girl growing up in India is treated as a commodity, to be traded off at auction to the best husband available. A woman in her sixties feels as if women in her age group are not allowed to dance.

Fiction encourages us to treasure every moment. A brother and sister take in the final words of their beloved mother. An elderly woman looks back on her life with both appreciation and regret.

Our featured artist, Karen Noles, brings to life gorgeous images of Native Americans and the natural world they adore. With it, she strives towards "elevating the human spirit. There are so many ways to accomplish this. Everyone has their own unique gift." Soak in our latest Summer Solstice issue of Mused, and then seek to nurture your own gifts. We all have something to share, and a unique message to bring to our world.

We'd love to hear your feedback on the issue. Which item do you like best?

http://www.bellaonline.com/review/

We are actively seeking more members for the editorial team. These are the people who read and vote on the submissions for each issue. It's a lot of fun! Please let me know if you're interested in joining us :)


Lisa Shea, owner
BellaOnline.com

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