"Twinkle" Marie Manning

Mini Bio:

In the religious world “Twinkle” Marie Manning is a poet, minister, liturgist and retreat leader.

In the secular world she is an award winning television producer, development director, event planner and book publisher.

She writes and publishes inspirational books, poetry, anthologies, non-fiction and fiction.

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Rev. Dr. “Twinkle” Marie Manning was ordained in 2008 by the IMM where she also holds a Master’s Degree. (same alma mater as Della Reese!) In 2017 Twinkle completed the doctoral program through University of Sedona and was awarded her Doctor of Divinity (D.D.)

She is the founding minister of The Church of Kineo and Moosehead Lake Retreats. Her ministry has long been known as Twinkle's Place. Twinkle is also part of Women’s Spirituality communities where she is developing curriculum, ritual and liturgies.

Twinkle is a clergy member serving as a freelance minister and liturgist.  Her interfaith ministry serves  many -both inside and outside the walls of- congregations. She has achieved long-standing accolades as a preacher and pastoral care support to members of the congregations and covenant groups she works with.

http://twinklesplace.org/twinkle-in-the-press/

In addition to her own books, Twinkle’s work has been published in several Poetry Anthologies (Florida) and also had columns in Island Life Magazine (Florida), Island Voice Magazine (Florida), Colonial Times (Massachusetts) and was published by LifeByMe. Stories about Twinkle have appeared in The MONTECITO MESSENGER, Concord Journal, Rolling Thunder and other local presses.

She was the host and producer of PBS’s Daytona Beach Affiliate station’s show entitled, “Conversations” where she interviewed celebrities who spoke about some of their most meaningful life lessons. Between her television and writing work, she has interviewed some of the most interesting people including Nobel Peace Laureatte Betty Williams and Pro Surfers Lisa Andersen and Kelly Slater, to Rock Stars Eddie Money and Neil Giraldo and NBA Allstar Vince Carter.

Many have described Twinkle as an artist, a visionary and a mystic.

She describes herself below:

I am a Poet, liturgist, gatherer and storyteller.

I am Living Life as a Prayer.

I tend to not fit neatly into any one spiritual, secular or political box.

I believe our choices matter and impact us and others in seen and unseen ways.

I believe that we are meant to be mindful moderators of our own Time.

I am not always politically correct (promise) yet I strive to be always compassionately correct (promise).

Keep these in mind should you glance at my blog posts and musings which vary in tone and theme completely dependent on which aspect of my life is taking first place on my plate….or is ready to go into the recycling bin…sometimes these are one and the same.

Spiritual matters of late have been toping the list. Prayers. Reflections. Some of my sermons. Certainly Poems. All play active and inter-active roles throughout the months of years of my writings.

Writing is my Muse. I turn to Her for clarity and inspiration in both joy-full and challenging times.

If you like what you read or see, please comment.

If you do not like what you see, sorry that mailbox is full ;)

All things I work my magic in are dedicated to:

Well-being for every Being.
Compassion. Peace. Kindness. Respect. Honorableness. Understanding. 
Gratitude.
 Harmony.
 Abundance.
 Stewardship. 
Unity. 
Joy. 
Love.

TESTIMONIALS and Book Reviews:

“I have known Twinkle well, through shared connections, for the past many years. Among her attributes are centeredness, kindness, ability to connect, buoyancy, and caring about others. She is an excellent and articulate writer. She has served on many levels in many ways for many groups in a very public fashion and I applaud her. She is a rain-maker!”

Anna Huckabee Tull, Massachusetts; Life Coach and Author of Living the Deeper YES

“I found "Women Of Spirit" to be a wonderful enriching book. The insights lessons and 'Light' in this book is both entertaining and moving. Each contribution is it's own gem and a joy to read.” - Shawna Allard, Spiritual Councelor and Author of KNOWING

“A favorite collection of words. Women of Spirit holds a sacred space in my life. One that I can not describe.” - Valerie Sorrentino, Energy Coach and Transformational Teacher

“Uplifting and Captivating! Amazing Stories of beautiful women of Light. This book is unique in that every woman's story is her own journey that she is sharing with the reader. Uplifting and captivating!” - JoAnne Bassett, Natural Perfumer and Royal Alchemist.

“This little book is full of pure golden nuggets of wisdom in just the right bite size juicy pieces! You open to any page and get exactly what you need to feel uplifted. This is a wonderful, thoughtful and loving gift ~ for your self and friends” - Maria M.

“Vibrant with Spirit! As a man I don't know if the women in this book (Women of Spirit) should inspire me or frighten me, they are all so spirit powerful. I do know I was strongly drawn to their energy. After reading just a few chapters I began to feel more alive.” Gary Broughman, founder of CHBMedia and Positively Florida

“Twinkle Marie Manning has compiled heartwarming and inspirational stories from courageous women who have walked the walk. I smiled, laughed, and cried as I read each woman's story. I've bought several copies of this book to pass along to friends and family who are also Women of Spirit. I look forward to more of Twinkle's books.” Gail K.

QUOTES from Twinkle’s writings, sermons and speeches:

“Let’s plant many trees of knowledge and of wisdom, and of peace, and of compassion, and of kindness, gentleness and freedom.”

“Consider with me this: There is a divine echo that whispers within every heart. Indeed, that every soul carries with it the echo of a intrinsic intimacy. An original echo that is brought fourth through time from original source. A primal source where we are all One. Where intimacy has no limit and love has no barrier. And we carry the essence of this original echo as a talisman of our divinity and a reminder of the vast belonging we are capable of. Because it is who we are. We Belong to each other.”

“We turn inward as the Darkness beckons us. We welcome the warmth of the fire, contemplating the mysteries of the Unseen.”

“We honor the soft ache in our hearts for those we have lost:
the people, the dreams. And we rest. For rest we must, to heal.”

“What if hospitality was the pillar of our Faith? If coming together created sanctuary? If sharing Joys and Sorrows was the path to enlightenment? What if our sacred texts were our sermons, poems and songs? If our principles were our doctrines? If our covenant
was the Hope that binds us?”

“The spaces we create together, whether in community or in our intimate relationships, are so safe and so sacred they can hold all our fears along with all our joys. Here, our broken hearts are mended as they are loyally treated as sacrosanct.”

“One thing is certain: We are all on borrowed Time. Every moment alive, we get to choose where our Time reserve goes, how we spend it,
and who we allow to draw from it. Perhaps our greatest responsibility is truly to be mindful of our Time.”

“As a society, we treat Time as if we have a surplus attached
to a lavish line of credit and syphon it into a plethoric gluttony of distractions.”

“Let our words be gentle. Let our thoughts and our actions be consistent with the outcomes we desire.”

“We are indeed a wounded gift to each other, but a beloved gift nonetheless.”

“We must learn to speak with love again.”

“Instead of one call to action after another, this is your call to rest, to be still, to go within, to look each other in the eyes, to hold each other, to be with one another.”

“Does time echo forward? Or does it echo back?
It seems to me the latter.
But is it possible to track? Coincidences coincide continually. Yet are they purposeful perpetually? It seems to me quite possibly.
But is this reality?”

“Deep in the forest, Quiet shapes the sound of immense emollient twilight. Sanctuary of Solace found beneath copious canopies of trees; Living, Breathing.”

“With the eyes of the birds, we see the centrifugal forces at work and feel the pull towards center, the root and connectivity of all things.”

WHY the nickname “Twinkle”?

What seems like a long time ago a dear friend had begun to call me “Twinkle” early on in our friendship. It happened spur-of-the-moment at a time she was having a bad day. I walked into the room where we were meeting with another colleague and she looked at me, sighed in relief and said, “I’m so glad you are here. You light up a room when you walk in. You twinkle! Yes. You are Twinkle.” And from that day forward that is how she referred to me. Soon many people in our Circle of business and friend relationships used the name affectionately as well.  “Twinkle’s World” emerged as I began to talk about the way things “could be” and actually were in my world – friend’s started to refer to the little every-day miracles as “the way things work in Twinkle’s World.”

Eventually my path took me towards media: television and radio broadcasting and publishing magazines and books.

I hosted a PBS TV show, “Conversations,” and had a magazine column entitled: “Conversations with Twinkle.”

Soon after, when I would be asked to speak at events, they would include my nickname in the introduction – and even in the program listings – YIKES! So I decided to embrace the name, after all I feel my mission on the planet is largely to bring light and joy to the world, so “Twinkle” certainly fits! And when I began to host gatherings regularly in my retreat homes, we coined them “Twinkle’s Place.”