Photo by Steve Brown, acumen photography
My name is Helen Valentina and I am a writer who loves to explore why we do the things we do and how our characters are formed by our beliefs and actions. This blog will mainly showcase my poetry, but will also promote my longer works – such as novels.
The theme of Elemental Writing I am using is an attempt to identify the key element of any piece of work – for instance poetry or prose that mainly reflects emotional ideas would be ‘water’, whereas ego, action and passion ideas might be best identified as ‘fire’ and so on.
This partly reflects a separate interest of mine, the tarot deck, and its elucidation of life in terms of the elements depicted in the Minor Arcana (Cups= Water/emotions, Swords= Air/intellect, Pentacles = Earth/the material and Wands= Fire/passion, action and ego.) when considered against the journey of the soul’s development through the Major Arcana.
But this isn’t a New Age blog, its just a theme to organise my work, so don’t feel you have to get out incense and meditation tapes to spend any time here. 🙂
My fascination with the elements and the different facets of life is why the type of poetry you will read here is quite eclectic, as are the genres and themes of novels I will publish. I hope that some of the terrain I cover may resonate with you and you enjoy your time here.
I hope also this blog allows me to continue the wonderful friendships I have formed through the networking possible with other writers and artists on WordPress and to continue to find and build more friendships of this kind. This experience so far has truly been a revelation and a joy in my life.
Thank you to all who come here and extend the hand of friendship and support – you cannot know how appreciated that is!!
(c) iStockphoto.com/TheRealDarla
helenvalentina 
I’m really enjoying your writings! Thanks for sharing w/the rest of us. Please keep writing!
Thank you so much, really appreciated, and love your writing too!
Thanks for the follow and reading some of my poems! I look forward to reading your blog!!
You’re welcome. I love how you can stumble upon great blogs, like yours, by spending a bit of time perusing the wordpress reader….I look forward to reading more of your work.
I love this site as well, I have managed to connect with many other poets this way 🙂 Thank you so much! It means a lot!
All the best in your blogging & have a nice day ahead, Cheers!! 😀
Thank you!
Cheers~ 😀
Nice reading about you
Thanks for visiting my blog. Be in touch. Browse through the category sections,
I feel you may find something of your interest.
Thank you – I fully intend to explore your blog in detail and look forward to keeping up with posts – that’s why I followed you! 🙂 And thank you for stopping by at my blog, much appreciated.
thanks
This idea/concept of elemental writing is intriguing – good luck with the blogging.
Thank you! 🙂
Bookmarking your blog now 🙂
Thank you! 🙂
Your blog is very beautiful and I love how you have your works divided under the elements. Brilliant!
Thank you so much – I love your blog too, it is deep and mysterious and beautiful. 🙂
thanks for stopping by to read my words, i look forward to reading more of yours – like the elemental writing concept a lot – best, beth
Thanks so much, I look forward to keeping up with your writing too! 🙂
I’ve nominated you for the most Versatile Blogger award. The post about it is on my page. Have a beautiful Sunday. 🙂
Thank you so much – that is so appreciated! I wish I had time to do justice to the nomination but I don’t at the moment, so will regretfully decline, but please know it means so much that you thought of me! 🙂
You’re very welcome. Most deserving too, I might add. 😉
Here’s my Valentine gift for you 😉
http://didoisux.wordpress.com/2013/02/14/freakin-liebster-award/
Thank you, that is so kind to think of me! Unfortuately I’ve had to turn down nominations over the past few weeks because my time is very limited at the moment so I doubt I could do them justice. But do know that I really appreciate the nomination. 🙂
You have done such a fabulous job of not only creating a visually appealing blog that is astonishingly beautiful, but also it feels so welcome and personal to read your words. I love your blog.
P. S. I am also writing novels.
Thank you so much! I loved finding our blog on my Reader last night…still can’t gt over how many talented writers there are out there that we can now access so much more easily. Glad you are doing novels too, you must let us know when you get to the publishing stage. 🙂
I have appreciated your writing and your comments on my blog. I have nominated you for The Liebster Award. No obligation to pass along, I just wanted to recognize bloggers who’ve been an encouragement recently. Thank you!
Thank you so much, so very kind! I don’t have time at the moment to do justice to nominations I’m afraid, but I do appreciate being thought of, it is very generous of you! 🙂
A fine intro. Thanks for sharing yourself here.
And thank you for visiting and your kind support! 🙂
Your work cuts, builds, is strong, well crafted. Cathedrals were built with less. I’m addicted and proud of it.
Thank you so much, that is truly a wonderful thing to say! Very, very kind of you! 🙂
Very cool idea – I love the elements theme. Thanks for checking out my blog as well, and keep writing!
Thank you so much! 🙂
Hey I nominated you for the Liebster Award check it out!
http://ambitioninthecity.com/2013/03/07/liebster-award-feeling-the-love/
Thank you so much, I will check it ou in more detail on the weekend! My time is so limited at the moment I may not be able to take up the challenge of following through with all the rules and process but please know I very, very, very much appreciate you thinking of me! 🙂
Not a problem. Have a great rest of the week.
Hello, I always sneak back to see what someone is doing on their blog when they visit or Like something on mine, and I really enjoyed reading on yours. I have added you to my bookmarks and will stop in again. (even without incense) Take care.
Thank you!! And ditto re yours – I look forward to following more of your work! 🙂
Thanks for stopping by and leaving such a lovely comment! Much appreciated. I’ll be checking back here often I reckon. You have some very nice writing happening, Onwards and upwards!
You’re more than welcome! Always such a pleasure to come across a great writer like you by browsing the poetry topic in my Reader! 🙂 And thank you for your kind words!
Thanks for showing interest in what I put out too.
I sincerely hope you continue to find my works entertaining & pleasurable.
Be safe.
You’re welcome! I am sure I will contnue to find your work very entertaining and pleasurable – that’s why I followed yor blog! 🙂 Thanks for dropping by!
your blog is awesome, it feels like having a cup of warm green tea in a cold day.
Thank yu so much, what a lovely thing to say, and ditto re yours..just went and visited and love it!There is such warmth, humour and caring in your words. 🙂
I too like the idea of sharing with each other. Let’s all take some time out to read what each of us has written – that is why we write isn’t it!!
Exactly! It is such a pleasure to scroll through the Reader for topics like poetry etc and come across great writers like you who also have the spirit of sharing! 🙂
I have nominated you to receive the Hope Unites Globally – HUG Award
http://roxistclair.com/2013/03/10/hope-unites-globally-hug-award/
Thank you so much Roxi! I really appreciate you thinking of me, particularly give the topic of this award. My time is so limited at the moment I have had a policy of not following through nominations, not from lack of interest or appreciation for being thought of, but in favour of spending the time I do have reading blogs I follow and inter-actng that way. But I do very much appreciate it, particularly coming from you as I consider you so much a force for good in this world. 🙂
Are you Indian? (If you don’t mind telling) because I see your post titled “ghazal”
Hi, no, I just read about the poetic for Ghazal and wanted to try it. 🙂 Thanks so much for visiting my blog! 🙂 🙂
Hey there, just thought I’d let you know that I nominated you for the “Very Inspiring Blogger Award”: http://evavanbeek.com/2013/03/18/thank-you/
Thank you so much, that is so kind of you! Unforunately my work is crazy busy at the moment leaving me really only enough time to post some poems (which I tend to schedule ahead on weekends as I don’t have time to write during the week) and read the blogs I follow (during the week, so I can keep up), such as your wonderful blog…these nominations are great but do take quite a bit of time to follow up – as you will know – so I hope you will understand if I regretfully decline. Bu again, thank you so much, it means alot that you would think of me. 🙂 🙂
Hi!!! I’m nominating you for the Best Moment Award, because, well, what can I say, I have some my best moments looking through your blog, lol. Well enjoy and congratulations! Check out the details here: http://wordsthatflowlikewater.wordpress.com/2013/03/22/blog-awards-best-moment-award/
Thank you so much, that is so very kind of you!! I may not get time to follow this up and do the nomination process myself – some brief free time yesterday afternoon when I did the dragon award one will now probably be balanced with work (as in my day to day job type work) to be done on my weekend…but do know that I very much appreciate you thinking of me and your very kind words! 🙂
It’s okay :). I have the same issues too with the exception that I don’t work, but instead have piles of uni assignments to works on…and it took me a while to get to this :). I thought of you because I love your poems and I love your blog, so congratulations and enjoy :)!
I love tarot and I really like the idea of categorizing your interests like that. 🙂
Thanks so much, yes the tarot is a beautiful and amazing concept and very inspirational I find. 🙂
Hi there! Thanks for visiting my blog–I’m glad you found something you liked there. I hope you come back to visit again!
This blog is very beautiful and intriguing. I’ll be back, too!
Thanks for visiting my blog too – yes, I am sure there is much I will enjoy by following your blog! 🙂
Also, if there’s an element like “Cotton Candy” or “Marshmallow Fluff” out there, please feel free to contribute to my game, BizarroWord (deadline next Friday): http://thatsajennstory.wordpress.com/2013/03/16/saturday-snippets-4/
also thank you for checking in on my blog…your site looks interesting….will check it out from now on
You’re welcome, I was glad to find your blog, your writing is very strong and immediate and I look forward to reading more. 🙂
no thrills as Bukowski used to say..well he never actually said that…more he denied the metaphor…but hey we are not Bukowski…i don’t think my liver could stand it…cheers
HI there thanks for dropping by my blog , you are always welcome
Thank you so much! 🙂
my pleasure 😉
Love the idea! any chance on me getting a free tarot reading? LOL J/k!
LOL..bit difficult to do tarot readings at a distance, hehehe. Thanks for dropping by to my blog! 🙂
Possibly you’d share your writing via the ITN program? Take a look at prototypes found on https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=f885f56c47be1762&id=F885F56C47BE1762%21836 or https://skydrive.live.com/?id=F885F56C47BE1762!2767&cid=f885f56c47be1762. Contact me with questions or comments. Dan mlberg.caregiver.blog@gmail.com
Thank you – I’ll check this out on the weekend when I have more time to devote to it, then be in touch. Thanks for thinking of me. 🙂
Well you’re sure welcome but it is I who should be thanking you. I feel like I did some groundwork and built a platform but now the truly great work needs to be done…and it will have a showcase. Be sure to focus on the Presenter Template Pointers and don’t hesitate to ask questions or make comments. Thanks for sharing your enthusiasm.
Dan
Ready for some international collaboration?
Just checked out the sites – not sure I totally understand how to navigate, what to do, what you are suggesting etc – feel free to email me and let me know. 🙂 I’ll be logging off soon but will be back later today.
Helen,
Focus on the Presenter’s Template. Imagine you are tasked with encouraging someone to make a presentation on caregiving. What will you tell them (Presenters) that will leave them (Caregivers) with feelings of encouragement, support, and urgency? Essentially your voice will be heard through the mouths of Presenters at ITN meetings when they (Presenters) take courage and give positive witness. That is your mission on this project.
Come back at me with the need for more clarification.
Thank you for trying.
Dan
It’s a shame for me that I didn’t glance thru your work before thoroughly. I sincerely apologize 😦
Your poems are great…And most of all your musings are similar to mine, you know it’s great feeling to find out somebody who contemplates the way you do…So, I’m gonna follow your blog tightly 🙂
Greetings from Istanbul…
Thank you so much! I very much enjoy reading your blog also! Greetings from Australia to you!! 🙂
Hello helenvalentina. Quite an interesting body of work here and perception of you as an individual that shows through. Thank you for finding me.I look forward to reading more of your blog and hopefully discovering more about you as a person. I beleive you offer a tremendous amount of insight and perception. -Bri
Thank you so much, that is so kind of you!:)
Thank you Helen for subscribing to my blog. I’m also receiving your post updates. Hope to “see” each other more.
Peace, Eric
Thanks, ditto, looking forward to catching up with our work on a regular basis too!:)
Hi, thanks for liking a couple of my poemsperday pieces. The admiration is mutual… yours is one of the few blogs I follow.
Thank you so much, that is very kind! 🙂
thanks helenvalentina
I’ve no doubt this has happened to you before, but Ive nominated you for the Beautiful Blogger Award. Check out my post 🙂
Thank you so much! I so appreciate you thinking of me. My time is very limited so I may not be able to follow through if the nomination rules are complicated, but do know I very much appreciate your thought. 🙂
I am so glad to have found your blog =)
And I’m so glad to have found yours!! A mutually great meeting!! 🙂
Absolutely!
Thanks for the like, which lead me to you. Intriguing intro! Can’t wait to spend more time here. Actually I taught a writing course over four weeks where the theme each week was…one of the elements! I’ll be back to read more later…blessings:-)
Thank you so much, looking forward to keeping up with your work too!! 🙂
Thank you so much!! 🙂
Thanks for stopping by, reading my poetry, and following along. You have a lovely site here and I love your dragon, LOL!
Thank you!!! You’re welcome! I loved your blog, so the pleasure is all mine!! Oh, and I love my dragon too!! 🙂
Just to Say, I have nominated you for The Versatile Blogger Award, I hope you don’t mind, but your blog really inspires me, and I think you really deserve it. Just click on my website, where you will see your nomination, and the rules. http://presentorigin.wordpress.com/.
Kirsty x
Thank you so much – I certainly don’t mind such kind thoughtfulness I will probably not have time to follow through on the rules, but I do very much appreciate you thinking of me!! 🙂
That’s brilliant, your blog is an inspiration to so, so many! Thank you
Kirsty x
Hi there Helenvalentina,
I wanted to drop by and thank you for following me on http://www.postsofhypnoticsuggestion.wordpress.com, it’s much appreciated. I really like what you’re doing here, so am now following you too.
Wishing you all the best
Tony
PS If you wanted to, you could also follow me on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/tbtalks. You’d be very welcome.
Thanks so much, really appreciate your support too!! 🙂
Hi,
Your profile at http://en.gravatar.com/helenvalentina66 does not include a blog link that is mentioned; had to search/google to find your blog.
Thanks for the tip – I’m still relatively new at all this and didn’t realise it didn’t link automatically…have gone and fixed it, so thank you again for letting me know! Much appreciated!! 🙂 🙂
I nominated you for a Sunhine Award
Sunshine Award
Thank you so much – that is so kind of you! I have very little spare time at the moment so it is hard to follow up on nominations given they often have quite complicated rules, but please know I so appreciate you thinking of me, and of your support more generally for my writing! 🙂
no problem Helen… I completely understand. 🙂 I do enjoy your writing immensely.
I have nominated you for the WordPress Family Award. Please refer to my post “Embarrassment of Riches” at http://poesypluspolemics.com/2013/04/25/embarrassment-of-riches/
Thank you so much!!! that is so kind!! What a great award too – such a great way of honoring this wonderful community we are all part of! I have so little time to follow up the rules of nominations I may not follow through, but please know it is so much appreciated you thought of me!! 🙂
But I already got out the incense and meditation tapes!! Do I have to put them back? 😀
No, you can still use them if you want, just wanted everyone to know it wasn’t compulsory, LOL!! 🙂
Sweet!!! 😀 ~runs off to light the candles and hopefully not catch the house on fire~
Thanks for the follow, I love the writing!
You’re welcome – love your writing and blog too!! 🙂
Thnkyou for following!! compelling and intriguing intro, i love the write-up!
Thank you, and you’re welcome!! 🙂 🙂