Customer Reviews:

• "Sometimes when I read a book of poetry, I will skip here and there, reading poems whose titles appeal to me first, before reading the whole collection. With Reflections of the Inner Eye, I read straight through in one sitting. I am glad I did. There are, in my humble opinion, three categories of poems; those from the mind; those from the heart; and those from the soul. Jan Turner has given us a collection of poems from her soul.

The art in this treasure of a book also reveals the soul of this poet and artist. From the cover art which I take to be a mandala, to the final painting that illustrates her poem, Transcendence, the art is inspiring.

Reflections of the Inner Eye is a book to treasure, and to read again and again." - Emily Romano, author of After Eighty; Before Oblivion; Faeries Forever; Dream With Me; Firsthand Stories; The Music of Words; Thresholds to Haiku; and The Ties That Bind.

• "Today I received my copy of Jan Turner's first solo chapbook, REFLECTIONS OF THE INNER EYE and immediately began to read it. This is a very beautiful book with wisdom and reflective thought spilling through its pages. What I must mention first is the artwork. I know how hard Jan worked on the artwork for her book, not just in the creation of the artwork itself, but in its placement within the book so that each picture would reflect the message of the poem it illustrates. I love when a poet uses illustrations because it makes the book all the more special and Jan's book is one to be cherished by her family and by all who enjoy her creative style. Whether it be with a black and white drawing of an angel or a flock of birds, a colorful landscape picture or a beautiful photo she was given permission to use from a friend, almost every page in this book is graced with art.

REFLECTIONS OF THE INNER EYE is neatly divided into four sections, and I will now list the title of each of these chapters (along with some of my favorite poems from each section) to give an idea of the themes presented in Ms. Turner's book. In the first chapter (Earth Songs) are poems in praise of our planet and poems such as "Mother Earth's Lament" that urge us to care for Mother Earth. I mention that one because it is not only one of my favorites but it is also an illustration of a newly invented poetry form of Jan's called a Wrapped Refrain. Another poem with beautifully rhythmic refrains is "Nature's Balm" and here is the final stanza of that poem to show Jan's connection with nature:

        When I surrender everything
        to that which heaven manifests
        the flora and the fauna sing
        . . . and finally my spirit rests.

One other poem from Section I whose imagery is equal to the lovely painting beneath it is called "Journal Entry." The illustration shows a full moon reflecting light on a blue expanse of water. Furthermore, the poem is shaped in the form of a vase, which enhances the imagery of the words in that poem and matches the final line: "This lake and I are one, bearing witness long after sundown. . . tomorrow's vase to fill."

The second chapter (Evolution) is introduced with an interesting drawing of an old observatory's "stone-cold steps." In this section are poems about the ancients, about the earth's solstice as seen through the eyes of the ancients and spiritual poems such as "The Night of Tears," which depicts Christ's suffering in the garden and the unique depiction of an angel in a poem called "Resplendent Reaper." Jan employs several poetic forms in her book, such as the one invented by Emily Romano, a Double Pictorial. Employing that form in one of my favorite poems from Section II, Jan creates (with words) a picture of geese flying across a sky in the form of a V. Within the V shape Jan has included actual drawings of geese, which makes it doubly nice to both read the poem "Migration" as well as to truly visualize it!

The third part of Ms. Turner's book is introduced with the drawing of a crystal radiating light. In this section are poems with titles such as "Return to Dreamscape," "Chi Kung Master Healer" (in which she depicts a healing from a "Tashi's" touch), and "an elemental prayer" (in which Jan interestingly describes soul and body baptism by the four elements: water, fire, air and earth). One of my very favorite poems of Jan's, "Let's Steal Away to Meet Again" (another Wrapped Refrain) is in this section of the book and illustrated with yet another color picture, this one having a wonderful dreamy quality to it. And fittingly, the final poem of the section called Dreamscape is about a dream, a clever poem called "Time Traveling." I think its final stanza encapsulates a good piece of Jan's philosophy on life:

        Time traveling within the inner eye
        restores my faith that all will circle round. . .
        that lifetimes lived, recorded when I die,
        become the groundwork as I forward bound.

The final section of the chapbook (Time Folded), has as its introductory picture the symbol of the phoenix rising. Some of Ms. Turner's very best poetry is in this last chapter and some stunning artwork as well. The Constanza form (invented by Connie Marcum Wong) is the style of Jan's poem "Time after Time," another poem reflecting Jan's belief in many lives as the soul evolves. Another poem I have always loved, "Sweet Destiny," uses Jan's lovely invented form Trijan Refrain, and a brand new form she has created, the Tri-fall, is employed in "destiny's starway," a pretty poem that cascades like a waterfall. A picture of a sweet little bridge is used to illustrate the lyrical poem "A Bridge in Time." That piece is an Ottava Rima, a form that Jan is quite adept at using. The fourth chapter finishes with another shape poem called "Transendence" and this inspiring final line: "My spirit shall rise when life is done to become part of One."

For those who enjoy reflective poetry, REFLECTIONS OF THE INNER EYE, with its array of illustrations, is a beautiful buy!" - Andrea Dietrich, author of Dreaming the Unicorn, Dancing the Unicorn, Chesire Chuckles, Seasonal-Go-Round, Challenging the Muse, Friendship Garden, and For the Love of Etheree

• "Jan Turner’s REFLECTIONS OF THE INNER EYE is the amalgam of a very skillful fusion of her fine art talents and her gift for writing poetry. Several interesting and challenging poetry forms, some of her own invention (Wrapped Refrain, Trijan Refrain, and Tri-fall) provide the scaffolding for her complex ideas, many of which are revealed in various rhyme patterns and flowing meter.

Jan’s B.F.A. in Studio Arts, extensive reading, and credentials as a Reiki Master and Minister of the Essene New Life Church are all in evidence in her thoughtful writings and carefully paired illustrations.

The sheer beauty of this chapbook is astounding, as page by page the art (mostly Jan’s original work*) enhances the poetry, while the poetry enhances the art in a culmination that is an exceptional body of work.

REFLECTIONS OF THE INNER EYE by Jan Turner, from the colorful symbolic cover to the final poem, entitled “Cardinal Echoes”, is a chapbook that will continue to delight my eye, capture my heart, and resound in my soul." - Margaret R. Smith

*Two photos are included with credits to James Rasmusson and Yvonne Sparkes

• "This beautifully illustrated book of poetry by Jan Turner, reflects her soul and her souls search. It encompasses the past lives, present and future and brings to the fore all that is tied into a celestial knot which cannot be broken, and if this does happen it would be at our peril. I think "The Seeker", says it all about each of our souls journey through this life till our soul joins with that which owns and forms us. Jan speaks of empathy for Mother Earth and how in previous times there was more of it, and how we should tend and love this wonderful Planet that we are so closely tied too emotionally, and spiritually. Her Spiritual journey is something to treasure, and I hope that I may follow her journey and her footsteps through time. A wonderful read of very moving poetry, divided into sections of spiritual growth and renewal. I heartedly recommend this book to all those that feel those Reflections Of The Inner Eye." - Yvonne Sparkes