Author: Avellina Balestri

  • The Icon on Your Desk

    We kiss the frame of an icon because. We pray for a Breath of the Eternal. We gaze upon an icon because… Read more

  • Kessho Chronicles

    The door of a quaint little house opened, and a teen entered, his mouth covered with a scarf and a hood over his head… Read more

  • Picking a Fight: A Movie Review of “Braveheart”

    BY AVELLINA BALESTRI The whole Battle of Stirling made me feel kind of adrift and apathetic about who was doing what. Read more

  • Veil of Sorrow

    She came from an affluent and strict family, whom Father Flaherty was very close to. Carol Ann Murphy was, by all accounts… Read more

  • Light & Dark of Halloween

    There are two forces at work when the sun sets on Halloween, one dark, the other light. They are often at war with each other… Read more

  • Halloween Night

    On Halloween night, when the old folk take fright and the children are snug in their beds. The Faerie and Goblins all take… Read more

  • Gilligan’s Island of Castaway Verse

    The discipline of reading at least one poem each day. The meter started getting rough aboard. A scheduled poetic three-minute tour… Read more

  • Lord of the Rings Drabbles

    Hurt. A Small Word… “Does it still hurt, Frodo?” Pip swaddled him in blankets. Hurt. A small word – more fitted to… Read more

  • Lovescape: Meditatations on the Saints of October

    BY AVELLINA BALESTRI St. Teresa of Avila puts me in touch with Christ through her ecstatic longing for union with a lover. Read more

  • Slip in Time – Chapter 15

    BY CHRIS S. (ALIAS WEREWOLFKING350) In the middle of the night, he awakened in a cold sweat… Read more

  • The Best Robe: A Star Trek Story – Chapter 15

    Kirk sat on the edge of his bed, drinking a cup of coffee. He rubbed his eyes with one hand. The intercom on his wall chirped… Read more

  • Last Breath: A Lord of the Rings Story

    The Wind Lord himself brought the news to Imladris. Not that it was more than confirmation to me. Vilya had glowed faintly for a moment… Read more

  • A Promise in the Name of the Saints

    A man could swim across the Hellespont, or walk poor Keats’ dark forest thoughtlessly. Drink deeply from the Castalian font… Read more

  • Ashura: Day of Destiny

    BY AVELLINA BALESTRI There is Hussain, displaying a father’s desperation and begging for water when he sees his infant son is likely to die too. Read more

  • The Wolf and the Apples

    The apples had the power to heal and to sustain a person for many months. But, if there were no apples to be given out, then… Read more

  • What Can We Do About the Violence?

    Every book we read to a little child. Every kindness we work for another soul. Every bowl we fill while serving the poor… Read more

  • Koumoko Meets Umpidori

    “Chishaki-sama, what are you going to do about the boy?” The brown-haired tengu glanced at the young kodama, moaning and… Read more

  • Divine Dance: Interfaith Discussions on the Trinity

    BY AVELLINA BALESTRI When a Muslim says that God is indivisible, again, I wouldn’t automatically think that was intended to disclaim the Trinity. Read more

  • The Best Robe: A Star Trek Story – Chapter 13

    A security officer ushered Descin and Albix into the dining room together, Todar following behind them. Albix wore his orange robe… Read more

  • Circular Horizon – Chapter 3

    BY BOKERAH BRUMLEY “You’ll like Penelope, and I think you’ll love our story. Without realizing it, you were partially responsible.” Read more