News and Events: Cover Reveal for Words of Alchemy

Book cover for Words of Alchemy will be revealed on Saturday, September 28, 2019 at 1:00 pm PST! The reveal will take place on my Author facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/CamillaDownsAuthor … I’ll be open to any questions anyone has and I’ll read a few poems included in the book.

You can pre-order a signed copy of Words of Alchemy using this link … WordsofAlchemy.com. The book debuts near the end of October, at which time it will be available on Amazon, and the signed pre-ordered books will ship as well.

One person will be chosen to receive a free copy of Words of Alchemy from everyone who comments during the event time 1:00 – 1:30 (if you are outside of the US, you will receive a digital copy). Join the fun and comment and you could win!

Book Blurb:

In Words of Alchemy, Camilla Downs invites you to walk with her to share her love of Nature through a heartfelt free-verse poetry collection.

During her daily strolls she is mindfully present as she delves into life in the raw and experiences her heart’s observations.

Camilla embraces what happens when she opens her heart and invites the written words to flow. The Alchemy of Love and Healing is what happens.

Advance Praise for Words of Alchemy

“Words of Alchemy, Camilla Downs heartfelt new collection, lives up to its namesake in numerous ways. Downs spans the broad range of nature, healing, love, and parenting, while making sure we have a little fun along the way. And the bridge she creates from the mindfulness of how we see the world at large to the poetry of everyday life is certainly worth a stroll or two across its borders.” – Thomas Lloyd Qualls, Award-winning author of Painted Oxen

“This poetry collection offers contemplative words, soothing thoughts and peace to the reader.” – Sue Bentley, Bestselling author of Second Skin

“Camilla Downs shares truth, vulnerability and wisdom in her Words of Alchemy collection, inviting readers to be inspired, contemplate and dive into her world of self-awareness and growth.” – G. Brian Benson – Award-winning author, actor and spoken word artist

“These poems take you on a calm and loving walk through the verses of the author’s thoughts. Alchemy is a perfect word for the title as Camilla Downs understands nature; connecting with its magical, medicinal qualities and beauty which she conveys throughout her poetry.” – Ailsa Craig, Author of The Sand Between My Toes

“Words of Alchemy is a chronicle of hope. Camilla Downs poetry is an encouragement, especially when we are feeling at our lowest, to keep seeking the light that is our way forward, and focus on the real. This collection is a walk through the positive nature of life. Camilla Downs is to be commended.” – Frank Prem, Author of free-verse memoir Small Town Kid

The Journey by Camilla Downs

**THROWBACK TO 2016**

The Journey

A persons journey is never the same as another
With twists and turns and roads less traveled
Smooth at times, bumpy at others.

We begin this journey from our common home
And we travel to far away distant lands
In search of something we think we’ve lost
Only to realize that it was never really lost.

It was simply buried beneath ideas we assumed as our own
And buried beneath beliefs that soaked deep into our cells.
So we each travel our own journey home
And although our journeys are unique
Our destination is the same.

Ultimately, we all reach the destination
A destination reached at different times for each person.
We are welcomed to a home we never really departed
Welcomed into love’s embrace.
-©Camilla Downs 2016

The Daughter Knew She Could by Camilla Downs

June 15 2018:

The mom had nearly given up.
The daughter would not.
The daughter held strong to the
knowing that they were going.
Now. They are going. 
And it’s due to her persistence.
In the next two weeks
There’s still some
distance to cover.
The daughter enlisted her creativity
and crafted magical stories
to compliment each of
her selected drawings.
For her fundraising goals
the drawings would be offered.
Have you seen the stories
or the drawings?
The daughter knew she could.
So she did.
-2018, Camilla Downs

Lillian and Camilla May 2018 Date Day 5.22.18 #10

Feel the Joy by Camilla Downs

Joy, Oh What a Feeling
You effortlessly glide my way
Gently wrapping your wings of love
around me as I become dizzy with
your tingling embrace.

Joy says, “Write about me too!”
I am as important to feel
and be with as are the
unlovely feelings and emotions.

Feel me, physically feel me
Let yourself know that
you are worthy of the lovely
feelings too.

Feel me. Try not to cling
to me. I shall always …. Visit the below link to read further …

Poetry and Photography: Feel the Joy

The Space Within by Camilla Downs

“The Space Within”

The Space Within Poem February 2018

There is a space within
A space occupied, it was.

Occupied with judgment
Occupied with harshness
Occupied with unkind thoughts
towards others.

There is a space within
where the darkness
of judgment used to live.

Judgment lives
here no more.
Evicted.
It has been.

There is a space within.

A soft space of love
of compassion
of empathy
of understanding.

For a journey
of a thousand miles has
been lived with
the understanding
that each one of us
has traveled a similar journey.

To be sure …… Go here to read more …

Poetry and Photography: The Space Within

 

 

Can I Handle the Changes by Camilla Downs

Can I?

The changes.
Create fear,
they do.

We’re all getting older,
life is not as it was.

What is this strange
thing happening?

It is true things change,
nothing stays the same.

What is happening?

Can I handle the changes?

It’s all changing
I’m changing
they are changing
nothing is as it was.

There’s no stopping
the changes.

It’s the one thing
we can be sure will
arrive – changes.

Why do the changes
create such suffering?
Why do the changes
have to be experienced
in …..

Go here to read more ….

Poetry and Photography: Can I Handle The Changes

One Breath at a Time by Camilla Downs

December 13 2017:

One Breath at a Time

One breath at a time, dear one

You find yourself in a vast ocean of your own creation.
An ocean full of the humanness of life.

Joy, love, peace,
laughter, happiness, abundance,
beauty, compassion, kindness.
Fear, sadness, greed,
competition, judgements, shame,
guilt, jealousy, loneliness.

At times you feel as if you
are on the verge of drowning.

One’s arms and legs have become
heavy with the struggle of this
ocean swirling with humanness.

What is one to do?
There is no ….

Go here to read more ….

Poetry and Photography: One Breath at a Time

Shining Star Bag by Camilla Downs

You can take
All the hearts
Nature puts forth

And put them 
All in a bag
Made of stars
Wrapped in a
Bow of beautiful
Green grass.

But there’ll be
Days when no
Matter the beauty
No matter the love
No matter the
Depth of knowing
How the Light
Shines within.

There’ll be days
When a heaviness
Envelops and that
Shining star bag
Full of love ….

Go here to read more …

Poetry and Photography: Shining Star Bag

Lillian and Camilla October 2017 Date Day

October 16 2017:

Lillian Darnell and Camilla October 2017 Date Day. First. French fries for lunch. Garlic fries for Lillian. Truffle fries for me with a cup of soup.

Then to the park to have our dessert of bat cookies and to take in the beautiful fall colors. Check out the gorgeous view where we enjoyed those bats!  xoxoxo

Last stop. She got to use the birthday gift card she received from The Romano Duo.

Lillian and Camilla October 2017 Date Day #1 Lillian and Camilla October 2017 Date Day #2 Lillian and Camilla October 2017 Date Day #3 Lillian and Camilla October 2017 Date Day #4 Lillian and Camilla October 2017 Date Day #5 Lillian and Camilla October 2017 Date Day #6 Lillian and Camilla October 2017 Date Day #7 Lillian and Camilla October 2017 Date Day #8 Lillian and Camilla October 2017 Date Day #10 Lillian and Camilla October 2017 Date Day #11 Lillian and Camilla October 2017 Date Day #12 Lillian and Camilla October 2017 Date Day #13 Lillian and Camilla October 2017 Date Day #14 Lillian and Camilla October 2017 Date Day #15 Lillian and Camilla October 2017 Date Day #16Lillian and Camilla October 2017 Date Day #17Lillian and Camilla October 2017 Date Day #18Lillian and Camilla October 2017 Date Day #19Lillian and Camilla October 2017 Date Day #20Lillian and Camilla October 2017 Date Day #21Lillian and Camilla October 2017 Date Day #22Lillian and Camilla October 2017 Date Day #23Lillian and Camilla October 2017 Date Day #24Lillian and Camilla October 2017 Date Day #25Lillian and Camilla October 2017 Date Day #26Lillian and Camilla October 2017 Date Day #27Lillian and Camilla October 2017 Date Day #28Lillian and Camilla October 2017 Date Day #29Lillian and Camilla October 2017 Date Day #30Lillian and Camilla October 2017 Date Day #31Lillian and Camilla October 2017 Date Day #32Lillian and Camilla October 2017 Date Day #33Lillian and Camilla October 2017 Date Day #34

Unearthing the Hurt by Camilla Downs

Unearthing the Hurt

She had a dream.
Walking through a
tunnel of books, she saw herself.
Look! Light at the end of the tunnel.

No wait, then … she had a vision.
Walking through a tunnel
of darkness, she saw herself.

She had chosen to
go deep this time.
Chosen to unearth
a hurt buried so
deep, she tricked
herself into believing
it never happened
and was gone forever.

A hurt that caused
her to ….

Go here to read more …

Poetry and Photography: Unearthing the Hurt