The word imagery experienced within the pages of Helene Cardona’s book of poetry Dreaming My Animal Selves in bare essence is magically spiritual. Regardless of a person’s way of belief, Cardona’s artistry of archetypal symbolize entwined in metaphor and airy rhythm titillates the birth of the mystical spirit in the reader. The conscious reader now becomes spiritually aware of the sub-conscious filled with images of nature set to a dream realm that invokes the feeling of kindred spirit. Through the mastery of word image, the artistry of poetry, seemingly is Cardona’s purpose to achieve what was similarly sought by the peoples of the First Nations. They used a sweat lodge and/or peyote, wherefore creating this altered state to induce spiritual enlightenment and growth. The kindred spirit felt through a heighten cognitive state of interaction with other living and nonliving aspects of nature, emerges spirituality, that felt sense of interconnection and interdependence with all else. Very similar to the emergence of flavor born from the chemical interaction between the properties of food and the taste buds of the tongue.
Whether or not Helene Cardona used the art of poetry for the above expressed reason I don’t know. However, I do promise if you buy and read the book, the experience will be more than worth the cost of the trip. Helene is a world class artist and human being who creates magic…..
Side note: When I met Helene Cardona at her book signing, she wrote the following in the copy I bought, “For Keith, kindred spirit with love and light.”
Peace Out !
~Keith Alan Hamilton~
