Castaneda Canto

The backbone of a warrior is humbleness and efficiency, acting without expecting, withstanding anything that lies ahead of him (her). Don Juan

Hail to the Queen of the Turning Earth

Vegetation
 O never harm the dreaming world,
 the world of green, the world of leaves,
 but let its million palms unfold
 the adoration of the trees.
 It is a love in darkness wrought
 obedient to the unseen sun,
 longer than memory, a thought
 deeper than the graves of time.
 The turning spindles of the cells
 weave a slow forest over space,
 the dance of love, creation,
 out of time moves not a leaf,
 and out of summer, not a shade.

by Kathleen Raine

A happiest summer wish to all. The sun has not been strong this spring on the Oregon coast. But today it may gather strength and bestow us with much needed golden rays. The loving lingering rains have greened everything beyond even the normal brilliance. Now we need the contrast of drier and dappled shadows filtering thru and dancing. Hail to Summer, the golden Queen of the turning Earth, dispelling darkness and doubt, rising heated blood and warm memories. Hail to the Queen of flowers enveloped in bee buzz and drifting clouds of tiny flying buglets. May your golden eyes light up the waves dashing the shore in translucent glows of blue and green and cream. So glad to see your bold and beautiful form after damp and misty corners dreary. I smile in welcome !

Species of Intoxication

You are The Wheel of Fortune

Good fortune and happiness but sometimes a species of intoxication with success.
The Wheel of Fortune is all about big things, luck, change, fortune. Almost always good fortune. You are lucky in all things that you do and happy with the things that come to you. Be careful that success does not go to your head however. Sometimes luck can change.
Take the Test

I'm not sure what a species of intoxication is, but sounds quite interesting and maybe not what it's seems. I found this little tarot card test while googling Odin. And it reminded me of this song:

The wheel is turning and you can't slow down,
You can't let go and you can't hold on,

You can't go back and you can't stand still,

If the thunder don't get you then the lightning will.

"The Wheel" by The Grateful Dead

http://studies.lekevicius.com/p1_1/gods-odin.html

Mesmerized by Blue Sky

Shazam to the Awesome Meter

My blood is coursing steady and strong thru my veins now as I grab my dancing minstral shoes and hop out the window. That's just alittle of what this song does to me. Kinda like when I read Tolkien, except then I grab my elven cloak...

Driving Rain

Evidently filmed driving along the coast of Croatia. This song always blasts right into my heart. It seems actually that Van Morrison can envoke a huge emotional/physical response from me in general. Sometimes if I hear his music I pretend to ignore it (out of self-preservation), and other times I surrender completly.

Mola-Makers

Off the coast of Panama in the San Blas Islands the women make the most creative and beautiful cloth art called molas. Layers of different colored cloth are stitched, slashed to reveal colors and stitched some more in the most intricate patterns.
"Cuna women pursue simple and productive lives governed by tradition and enriched by ritual. Their art is strictly a woman's art which is intertwined with the total fabric of their being. They work compulsively with one or more unfinished designs always at hand, their sea island environment being conducive to an idyllic life-style which leaves plenty of time for creative stitchery. Their complicated appliqué technique is not practised by neighboring Indian tribes or any other culture on earth."
from MOLAS FOLK ART OF THE CUNA NDIANS by Ann Parker and Avon Neal 1977

Rockin in the Free World

It has been some of the best ever agate hunting lately on the beach by my house. I thought this season was going to be a wash until these past 2 weeks. Storms, tides and waves uncovered huge beds of agates on a rock shelf I haven't seen for years. So awesome ! I was sore from leaning over picking up agates. My teenage boys and I spent some quality time in the sun by the sea gleaning these beauties. Plenty of sea glass and jasper too.

 

An Auld Aquaintance Not Forgotten

Terry, we miss you much. R.I.P.

Home, Peter !

A most uneventful Easter at my house this year. I dearly love the Easter Bunny but he barely poked his head in the door. I hope he stops by longer next year... He and his helpers should all be home home and cozied up to the fire by now - it must be exhausting hiding all of
those lovely eggs.

White April

The orchard is a pool, wherein I drown;

It is a very pool of loveliness.
I clutch the edge of a white world and press
To the bottomless white billows down and down:
I clutch, I gasp, and all at once each spring
That I have known comes sharply to my mind,
Passes before me, and each one I find,
Stirs in me a packed, swift remembering.
Oh, pear-trees, ancient by an ancient lane,
A hundred at the delicate white start,
Tall waves that roll and break upon a shore!
I struggle up, I am myself again:
Dripping with April, April to the heart,
I run back to the house, and bolt the door!

WHITE APRIL by Lizette Woodworth Reese circa 1930

Just Thinking ...

"Make yourselves nests of pleasant thoughts. None of us yet know what fairy palaces we may build of beautiful thought - proof against all adversity. Bright fancies, satisfied memories, noble histories, faithful sayings, treasure houses of precious and restful thoughts, which care cannot disturb, nor pain make gloomy, nor poverty take away from us - houses built without hands, for our souls to live in."          John Ruskin

Starlight

Here is a small collage my granddaughter made today. She was sent home from school because she had a slight fever and stomach ache. I had just the cure - Art ! 
She has made quite a few wonderful little masterpieces in her 7 years. We have so much fun and she is a huge fountain of inspiration for me.  We are playful art partners.
"Starlight"
 by Dejah

Song of Uvavnak

by Uvavnak, Eskimo Shaman woman
  The great sea
  has sent me adrift.
  It moves me
  as a weed in the great river.
  Earth and the great weather
  move me.
  They have carried me away
  and move my inward parts with joy.

I have been so very inspired lately... I adore being inspired and court that state of being with devotion. Have been working on small collages. I like doing artful things that bring a thought or emotion with them, or at least some reaction, preferably positive. I love it when people "get" it. But I am perfectly happy pleasing only myself and my inner muse ...

Filling My Vision

"Each time your soul beholds the sun, the clouds, the wind in the trees, a rose, a perfect leaf, a pebble or a wave, then tucks the design in the folds of memory, it is adding to your treasure of those perfected ideas which are the building blocks of your reality."

                                                               Mark & Elizabeth Prophet

I hope we all have the chance and inclination to fill our collective folds of memory with beauty. Have a care...