I love peonies and was delighted to visit a display of dozens of varieties that I had never seen. I was amazed as I peered inside a few, at the vibrant colors that resided therein. So much beauty. The petals enfolded the inner beauty and it took some probing to uncover the lime green stamens, coral filaments, deep dark centers that were hidden inside. I laughed with delight at the amazing colors and textures swirling within. I felt doubly gifted as I enjoyed the richness and softness of the outer petals as well as the beauty that lay deep within. And of course, the lovely fragrance that filled the air.
Monthly Archives: May 2011
Emerging From the Confusion
This was a beautiful willow sculpture at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens which I recently visited with my aunt. There are layers and layers of branches that have been intertwined into lovely, lyrical sculptural forms. I love the organic nature of these works of art and the way that they sit in the landscape like nests of some unknown creature. I feel as though they could be my nest. As I peeked out of one of the openings and my aunt caught my image, it occurred to me that I have recently emerged from a tangled, jumbled time of criss-crossing paths and intertwining timelines to land in this present moment. I have traveled the four directions of Canada and the USA with no real knowing other than tuning in daily to the call of Spirit. I could not articulate what I was doing though I knew that it was mine to do. Mostly it was being and driving! Lots of driving in my dear Maxie, she of the rainbow light.
Moving Through the Gateway to More of Myself
It is an interesting thing in these times how we will be called to an event only to discover that the important nugget or aha for us, had little to do with the original idea of why we were there. I found this to be the case during my recent time in Virginia. The workshop was wonderful and I was so happy to remember the ways of working with the elements and the land. I felt expanded and renewed. Yet, that was not the reason that I came.
New Ways of Creating
Time is such a fluid concept. Days pass and I am floating my way through them of late. I am on the East coast, enjoying time with a friend. We traveled to Virginia for a one day workshop on Sacred Temple Building. Yes, I flew across the country to attend this workshop as when I saw the email, I felt such a hit in my heart that I knew that it was important for me. I had a flash of doing this work in another lifetime and saw that my friend was one who worked with me. The hostess said that when she saw my name, she knew that my coming was important also. We all honored our knowing and opened ourselves to the magic. I truly love the way Spirit works in my life, leading me onward to more of myself all the time.
Mula Bandha and Criticisms
Last week, or sometime in the not too distant
The Open Heart
This statue of Saint Francis was standing in the garden at the Santa Barbara Mission. You can see that it has weathered in the elements. I was caught by the way his chest has rotted away. To me it spoke of his heart which was so beautiful and open. He did not shield it nor protect it but left it open to all the elements. He faced much criticism in his lifetime from his family and friends who did not understand his chosen path. I could feel such a resonance with him. He opened his heart so wide to the people and animals around him. Now he can shelter the birds that he so loved. They can actually find a space to land in his heart.
Clearing a Path
Yesterday I spent time clearing the pathway next to the cottage that my friends are so graciously hosting me in. It was rewarding on so many levels. First there was the delight that I felt energy moving through my body that wanted to be used. Hurrah! Second, I was able to breathe in the beauty of the trees, the sun-dappled shade, the birds singing and touching the earth so tangibly. Third, the path was one that my youngest son had been hired to relay years ago (don’t you love friends who support your children!) It was fun to see how well it had held up, only lifting in a couple of spots where the tree roots had grown larger. Fourth, by clearing the plants from the edges, it framed the remaining spaces in such a way that their beauty was more clearly evident.
Nature shows us the way
Mother’s Day
A beautiful day, waking up in the apartment with my two sons…what joy! The three of us establish a resonance together that is filled with peace and ease. Mother Mary is very present with me today as one of the divine mothers and as my adopted mother of the past 25 years. This is my first communion statue that has somehow survived from my childhood, the only thing that I have from that time. She is so dear to me. She has listened to my prayers for almost 50 years! Today I feel her mother’s heart beating with my own as we both embrace all the children of the world. And we are all her children.
Sailing Through the Changes
So much shifting, it is a good thing that I have my little boat to carry me along! I made the ceramic base a couple of years ago. I was amazed to find it intact and still among my few possessions. I had never added the sails, as I had not found material that was suited to it. I was bagging up some clothes for Goodwill when I came across this top that I no longer wore. I loved the satin binding that held the buttons and it seemed a perfect sail material. I was so pleased with the result. When I showed it to a friend, she recognized the material as having come from the top that I had bought on a trip to Colorado with her. Amazing! I thought of that last week when I was helping my son to sort through his collection of clothes. We had some laughs as we recalled shopping together as well as who he was in each period the clothes represented. Bit of a life review, what the challenges were and the lessons learned. Our possessions do tell us a story about how we are living our lives. Right now, mine would state chaos! I feel scattered, some things in San Francisco with my kids, some at my friend’s cottage, some in the trunk of my car. Where is Linda? I wonder that…