Of the Flame, Poems-Volume 15 (The Traduka Wisdom Series) by Wendy E. Slater

7/23/2018

Multi-volume Poet, Wendy E. Slater introduces us to her recent volume of poetry Of the Flame, Poems-Volume 15:
A new constellation of wisdom and healing that is modern and timeless.

Word by word, Wendy E. Slater will illuminate a new path for you and the healing of self-blame and judgment. The poetic method and wisdom of her words will radiate into your soul, and liberate you from constraints of self-blame and judgment.

"Her themes are unpretentiously cardinal: love, yearning, cleansing, and escaping." - Amazon Review

Be transformed by these modern mystical poetic formulas and allow the heart-fire of her wisdom to take your soul on a journey... to transform, release and transmute you into remembering your authentic self and your inner wisdom.

"A most wonderful read! Wendy Slater writes with the energy of a tidal wave and is galvanized by the simple things in life that often go unnoticed." - Amazon Review

Let your inner fire ignite and discharge you from your tethers, both known and hidden, so that the true continent of your authentic self is revealed and formed. Be guided through the geology and geography of your soul, as it remembers that the separation of self, love, and Divinity is merely an illusion.

I thought this volume would be a lot like Wendy’s previous volume of Poetry. Much to my surprise it is very different, or maybe I am the one who is different since reading volume 14. I found a wide range of feelings and experiences expressed in these pages. There is joy, anger, surprise, and innocence. I discovered a great deal of humor, as well an occasional upwelling of sadness.
Wendy has an unusual perspective on so many things, her writing pictures the differences that keep us from ourselves and others.
I award Of the Flame 5 stars! This just might change your life.

You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Of-the-Flame-Poems-Transformation-Traduka-Wisdom-ebook
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31193687-of-the-flame-poems---volume-15
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/of-the-flame-poems-volume-15
You can follow Wendy E. Slater:
https://twitter.com/WendyESlater
https://traduka.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Wendy-E-Slater-Poetess-Quantum-Healer-1415277638795044/
Copyright © 2018 Mark L Schultz except for the author's introduction

35 Comments

Wendy E. Slater link

7/24/2018 09:28:14 am

Mark, hi, Thank you for such a thoughtful review! I appreciate your comment on the difference between my 2 poetry books, "Into the Hearth" and "Of the Flame".

Mark

7/24/2018 11:44:24 am

You are most welcome, Wendy. I didn't know what to expect, so I let the book speak to me.
Books and I are old friends, we go way back.
You wrote all your poems over a number of years, then you organized them into volumes. You decided to publish volume 14 first, "Into the Heart". Was it difficult to organize all that writing into the volumes? Did the volumes organize themselves, more or less?

7/24/2018 12:23:08 pm

Hi Mark,

Funny that you wrote "Into the Heart" instead of the correct title "Into the Hearth" because I always think of the volume as voyage into the heart..but with purification--thus "Hearth".
Actually all the books came out as volumes. I literally had a journal titled it before I wrote it and then all poems came out me for a specific book.(Sometimes poems were written on scraps of paper and then copied into the journal volume). Basically the volumes organized themselves, and sometimes the volumes were written very quickly. "Into the Hearth" and " Of the Flame" were written over an approximately 2 week period.
And I am so psyched to be back on your blog. I had such an inspired blast when you last interviewed me!

7/24/2018 01:54:59 pm

Yes, even the Hyper-Speller makes typos! Thank you for spotting that, my apologies because next to your name, the title of your book is very important.
That is an amazing process! I am going to have to read both again.
Were you in Scotland when you wrote all the volumes, or just some of them? Which ones were written where?
Why Scotland?

7/24/2018 02:04:02 pm

I was actually in India when I wrote "Into the Hearth" and "Of the Flame".

You ask "why Scotland"? Scotland is a magical place, the landscape is so breath-taking. And so much wilderness in parts of Scotland. I haven't been there in over a decade-just writing about it makes me wonder about taking a trip there. There is a freedom I felt (feel) in Scotland, a tamed wildness within me comes alive.

Some poetry was written in Scotland. Some poems from (this is a guess) roughly volumes 4 and 5--which are unpublished volumes as of now.

7/24/2018 06:14:14 pm

I have traveled in western Europe several times, never to India. What was it that made India a destination for you? Were you there for very long? What can you tell us about the trip?

7/25/2018 07:06:46 am

HI Mark,

Balroop described India so beautifully in her post. I have been three times and each time for anywhere from 12 to 20 days. First off, it takes a while by jet to get there. 20 plus hours including layovers etc. and then there is the time difference..I think it is about 10 1/2 hours time difference. I go for rejuvenation and contemplation.

India is a vast and beautiful country and I have only seen a small bit of it. There is a sensuality to the scents of flowers and incense and cool feet on marble tiles in the shade on a hot day; there is a sense of things being just because they are being. For me, there is utter beauty in the chaos of traffic jams and cows blocking traffic and constant bobbing and weaving of cars, scooters, people and packs of dogs. There is a gorgeous richness in the textiles. I could go on and on about it, but as I said I have only seen a small slice of the country.

Balroop Singh link

7/24/2018 09:56:30 pm

Having read 'Into the Hearth' I look forward to reading 'Of the Flame' too as I know Wendy's poetry resonates with me. It touches the cords of the heart in a special manner and reveals truth that lies before you yet you fail to notice it.
Thank you Mark for this compelling review, it has ignited the flame within me.
India has been called the "land of golden sparrow," which has attracted several invaders to explore and loot her yet she has remained as rich as ever, not only in her resources but in the wealth knowledge as well as self-sacrificing, intellectual, resilient and sincere people whose contribution to world economy is unsurpassable. Only when you travel to India would you understand its diversity and incredible beauty. One visit would not be enough. :)

7/25/2018 07:10:16 am

Balroop, what an extraordinary description of India. A lovely thing to read first thing in the morning (for me). The "land of the golden sparrow" is a beautiful sounding phrase. Thank you for taking the time to drop by with your eloquent words.

7/25/2018 10:43:52 am

India is a source of inspiration for you. Do you have plans to visit again?
Does each volume of your poetry have a separate theme? Can you describe the theme of Hearth and of Flame and how they differ?

7/25/2018 10:37:54 am

Thank you, Balroop for dropping by and sharing about Wendy's poetry and your country. It does sound beautiful. I believe you, when you say one visit would not be enough.

7/25/2018 11:17:53 am

Hi Mark,

Just reading Balroop's description made me want to hop a plane and go! I hope to go in the next year. It is hard, as you can imagine, to schedule 3 weeks away from work etc.

The overall theme of the Traduka Wisdom poetry series is one of releasing and healing self-blame and judgement. The theme of "Into the Hearth" is one of transcendence and "Of the Flame's" theme is one of transformation.

7/25/2018 12:53:26 pm

Did you ever see that Hotel Marigold movie? That is the only recent movie, I can think of, I have seen that is set in India. India looked very beautiful, of course. So, I am not surprised that you would like to return there.
Have you ever thought about writing a novel or non-fiction?
If you were to write fiction what genre do you think it would be?
When it comes to non-fiction, what area interests you?

7/25/2018 01:51:29 pm

I did see that movie. I enjoyed it.

I would like to write a book on shamanic healing and archetypes.

I have the greatest respect for fiction writers. Perhaps, one day I would like write some children's fiction. If I was too write fiction...what genre? I honestly don't know, but maybe magical realism.

The areas of non-fiction that interest me are varied--Biographies, Autobiographies, History. I just love reading and love books. I am so grateful to have reading be such a core part of my life since I was a very young age. The apartment I grew up in had a library. I found such comfort in that room and the freedom that I could pick any book from the shelves to peruse.

7/25/2018 03:15:23 pm

I grew up with books also. My mom read a lot, she loved Reader's Digest and their Condensed Books. Our small town had a library and I loved using my card to check out books.
New questions.
When you were writing your volumes of poetry, did you ever have a particular person in mind for a certain poem or group of poems?
What kind of work do you do? You mentioned you had a job.

7/26/2018 06:59:53 am

You just reminded me of that distinct pleasure as a kid of using my library card and checking out books! And sitting in the book aisles on the floor perusing books or reading a book! Something so safe and magical about it--and sooo quiet. Did you ever get from the librarian the "SHHHH...quiet, no talking please?" (Who didn't?!)
When writing the poems, sometimes there is a person or was person. But oftentimes, no person. I wrote a poem for a dear friend (who is no longer on our planet) when she had a double masectomy. The poem was talking to the surgeon (s) in a way -the poem speaks of the breast being a slap on a surgical table after being removed and asks if the surgeon if he (she) realizes the breasts have memory of feeding her babies, lover's memories of her breasts etc. etc. I am not writing it very poetically over my second cup of morning coffee--but in essence it is a poem of voiced outrage screaming these breasts are (were) not just slabs or specimens.
I am almost a healer; I decode and then recode the energy patterns in a person's energy frequency so that deleterious aspects can be released. Metaphysicians see all things in the physical as having almost duplicate non-static frequency or template that is invisible to most in the etheric or subtle planes of this reality.

I will copy and past from my web page:
TRADUKA is quantum healing , an integrated metaphysical healing modality incorporating medical intuition, shamanic healing, clairsentience, clairaudience, and clairvoyance. A fundamental tenet of metaphysics is that all things in the physical plane have a dynamic and non-static unique etheric or subtle energy body which serves as an almost duplicate template for the physical body. The etheric energy body is invisible to most, but metaphysicians can assess, via one or all the senses, an individual’s subtle body which is composed of different textures, magnetic resonances, electro-magnetics, frequencies, tones, colors, shapes, woundings, and scars. By balancing the etheric bodies and eliminating interferences in the varied forms like cosmic, planetary and even microcosmic, TRADUKA addresses etheric energy imbalances and impediments so that constricted energy in the etheric body is freed up to flow in balance and with strength.

What is TRADUKA’s Mission?

TRADUKA’s mission and purpose is to assist in harmonizing and liberating the body, mind, and spirit of all things into the wholeness of the heart that lacks suppression of love. We all come into being with infinite love or energy, and TRADUKA’s focus is to liberate and strengthen this fundamental energy. It is when one experiences woundings and scars that the natural flow of energy becomes impeded or constricted.

All things can heal by opening the heart into forgiveness and love rather than being in a place of suppression due to grief or fear held on the conscious, subconscious, or even unconscious levels of being. This grief and fear accumulate throughout one’s life, and impedes, constricts, and blocks the natural flow of energy in the subtle bodies. The result of this accumulation is both a closing down of the heart and marked influence on how life is perceived. Projecting past impressions as guideposts to live the future disengages one in the present. Traduka rebalancing positively assists in how the now is perceived and experienced. By facilitating an equilibrium in the subtle energy bodies, TRADUKA addresses the roots of any disharmonies as the physical originates from the invisible or subtle energy body layers. Ultimately, TRADUKA’s mission is to assist another on the journey towards wholeness so that one may find the union of the now and always within and without, together and apart.

7/26/2018 12:27:23 pm

Quite interesting, Wendy, thank you for sharing about Traduka. I was planning on asking you about that. Healing is a noble mission. So many, if not all in a practical sense, are in need of healings. I am glad you and others are out there offering hope.
New questions.
20 volumes of poetry, we are talking about number 15, the second to be published. Do you think all 20 will be published eventually in the sequence as written at this point?
Do you connect with other poets online or in person on a regular basis? Do you offer courses, workshops, or classes in writing poetry?

7/26/2018 01:39:52 pm

HI Mark, yes, I do feel all 20 volumes will be published. But I am not sure if the next volume will be volume 17 or Volume 1.
I do not offer workshops, but I plan to some day.
I do connect with other poet's--we all have our styles. I love mentoring other poet's.

7/26/2018 02:47:36 pm

I love to hear that you are mentoring other poets. I was an apprentice in the trades for several years and worked closely with journeyman learning the sheet metal craft, and then service tech craft. I now mentor several teens who want to be writers.
Is your mentoring one on one, on an occasional basis, or is it more than that? How do you meet other poets in real life or virtual life/online? Is there a school for poets?

7/26/2018 03:11:20 pm

A lot of poets out there have english degrees, etc. But that is not always the case!
I mentor one on one, and truly not that often, because I truly have had such little free time beyond, editing, publishing and promoting the poetry books.
I can see you mentoring and can sense you would be great at it. I love being in the role of guiding, teaching and empowering another to find their way, their own words.
When I have more free time I would like to teach some poetry workshops. I have thought of doing a internet web workshop on it, and so I am sure I will in due time!

7/26/2018 09:19:05 pm

As a sheet metal apprentice, I was not expected to know much or have very many of the tools that a journeyman would own. I was expected to start with a few tools and buy more as I progressed in the trade.
What kind of tools should a poet apprentice have at the beginning? What kind of skills would they be expected to learn and eventually master after a period of time?
My Sheet Metal apprenticeship was 5 years long and included a week-long, all-day training three times each year. How long do you think it would take before a poet would no longer be considered a student or an apprentice?

7/27/2018 10:12:24 am

I guess a poet apprentice would start with a pencil and paper and desire to know more. Looking back, I read (and not always by choice--i.e. school assignments) a large spectrum of poets. Everyone from Coleridge, Keats, Dickinson, Tennyson, WW1 poets, Poe, Walt Whitman, Rumi, feminist poets...etc. I think that it is a personal choice--exposure to other's writings, but I think it is necessary in order to embrace one's poetic voice with confidence.
I think a large part of being an apprentice would be doing alot of editing, learning about formatting...really the stuff that is bare bones.

7/27/2018 01:06:38 pm

Do you think it's still important for an apprentice to read the classic poets? Should they practice writing those forms of poetry? How many different forms of poetry should an apprentice be familiar with?

7/27/2018 01:18:27 pm

I recall reading Coleridge in high school, and thinking “who cares about an albatross? I certainly don’t!” (Rime of the Ancient Mariner)—Makes me laugh now. I would not have wanted to be any of my high school teachers having to teach me! I wanted to outside working not in a classroom. At any rate, I am very grateful that I was exposed to many of the classic poets.
I don’t think a poet has to write in all styles or be able to. I vaguely recall a school assignment to write a Shakespeare-like sonnet or something like that. Sure, I did it, but that is not my style. I do feel there is a great empowerment in studying different poets in different historical eras etc. I would say that about any area of art for any artist.

7/27/2018 01:39:09 pm

I had that same assignment in high school. I really sucked at writing. I was a science major and expressed my creativity in that field or in outdoor arts. I was a boy scout and very interested in Native American culture.
Who is your favorite classical poet, your least favorite classical poet, and why?
Poetry, like every other art form, undergoes changes over time. Is there any one form from the past that you particularly enjoy, one that you detest, and why?

7/28/2018 09:03:01 am

It all depends on how one define's classic poetry. I think you mean it in a sense of historical poetry. But to me, classic poets are Anne Sexton, Adrienne Rich (they are not poets from centuries past)--I guess as I write that I would say Emily Dickinson is a classic poet who I go to from time to time to read. I also love Rumi and Tibetan Buddhist poetry from centuries ago. I don't have a least favorite classical poet.
I not a huge fan of rhyming poetry, in general.

7/28/2018 11:06:32 am

Definitions can vary without a doubt. I feel like I know very little about poetry, so you are educating as we talk.
Let's pull back just a little bit and take a broader view. What do you think are the basic divisions of poetry? Can you aggregate poetry into two groups or would you need more divisions, how many? What would those divisions be?

7/28/2018 11:32:40 am

Wow, what a question! Poetry is a constantly morphing arena, and there are enormous styles or what you term "divisions". I know that sounds vague, but your brilliant question is worthy of 3 hour dinner conversation. Personally, I think your question is, for me, really a philosophical question. Actually , your question is making me think it would be an intriguing expression for me to write a lengthy poem with all sorts of styles --styles changing stanza by stanza--. Hmm...something for me to think about.

7/28/2018 12:51:02 pm

Thank you. I do understand about constantly changing. We are as people also, we change a little bit every day, without changing into something completely different.
I would love to see a poem like that, annotated for an uneducated consumer of poetry, like myself. Perhaps we can come back to the question of poetical styles later, after you have had time to ruminate. This question might even make a good blog. If you do write a blog about this, I would love to offer you space on my guest blogs to share it with a wide audience
New questions.
You mentioned that Tibetan Buddhist poetry from centuries ago was a favorite form. What is the biggest change in this style of poetry that keeps you in the past? Are you a Buddhist yourself?

7/30/2018 07:22:37 am

I am a practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism. The essence of Tibetan Buddhism is to cleanse and liberate the mind of the ego's clinging and grasping--including labels one attaches to "things" including perspective of "things" and to be with compassion and loving kindness. Obviously it is more complex than that, but that is my first cup of coffee in morning summary! My main issue with Tibetan Buddhism is I still find it to be steeped in varying degrees of patriarchy, and the feminine-the true feminine-needs to be liberated in this modern reality. It has begun but ...
About the poetry, I am not a Tibetan Buddhist scholar of poetry, but there is a succinct simplicity to the mystical poetry of Shakbar (Tibetan Buddhist poet (1781—1851). Here is an excerpt from a poem by Shakbar:
“Sky empty and luminous
Beyond all attachments,
Remains.
Me, the setting sun
Resplendent with light,
Will not remain at all.” -Shakbar.(Poem excerpt.)
I have not read any modern poetry, Tibetan Buddhist poetry or other poetry, that truly touches me as being mystical poetry. As I am a mystical poet, I resonate with mystical poetry.

7/30/2018 11:49:31 am

Quite interesting that the older poetry resonates with you so well. I do like that piece you shared. Succinct is an excellent word describing that selection, the imagery conjured up in my mind is stark and beautiful.
New questions, as we wrap up the week.
Do you think western poetry is headed in a good direction or a bad direction, and why?
Are eastern poetry and western poetry blending or staying distinct?

7/30/2018 12:08:29 pm

I think of modern poetry as universal poetry. I don't see it as eastern or western. I think poetry is a powerful platform and expression that is being "found" again. I think rap really opened a whole new platform for the spoken word. I dream one day to hear my poetry used as lyrics with music.

7/30/2018 01:27:51 pm

I bet that would be cool to hear your poetry with music.
When I first heard rap, it reminded me of rhyming poetry.
New question.
Looking back over the ages, do you see poetry styles advancing, changing, or does it appear to run in cycles of style?
What style of poetry do you write? Is it pretty consistent in the twenty volumes or do you see change or evolution of style?

7/30/2018 03:14:27 pm

My poetry style is consistent but changes over the volumes as the subject matter changes from volume to volume.

There are certainly some poets who emulate specific time periods or styles like Elizabethan poetry. I personally think that poetry is constantly redefining itself. Historically, poetry seems more separated into distinct styles seperated by history and region. Communication is so instant today--wasn't so even fifty years ago--

I want to thank you so very much, Mark, for having me on your blog. As always, it has been a joy!

7/30/2018 04:48:00 pm

It certainly has been fun, I have enjoyed our conversation a great deal.
Perhaps we can resume it down the road.

Of the Flame, Poems-Volume 15 (The Traduka Wisdom Series) by Wendy E. Slater

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