THE WORK

What is it that brings the creative drive into play? The urge to communicate, write, paint, sing, play, is so strong at times it is impossible to not act.

Others can bring our energies 'up' as the Chinese Taoist teacher said. “Bring it up”. Stand up, you can't move the air if you sit.

The brush has its own life. The paper absorbs. The ink speaks. The fingers work on their own at times. Thrill, mystery, union of a deeper self. IT is the essence of Life, this creative force streaking through our moments.

Awake or in sleep, or wandering in the no-man's-land in-be-tween we can pose the questions, write the masterpieces, draw a unique version, sing a new chant to All mankind in time and space.

We don't know from whence it comes or where it goes. Go with it! Let it out. Drop the past and write the present with thrilling uncertainty and awareness. Accept that shock of new becoming!.

Guidance

     It occurred to me this morning as I was reading about the coming full moon eclipse, the US election, the angst and distrust in the human world, the fears of global calamity, that I was trained to pick out the flaws in reality and it was a big mis-step in understanding what Life is about.

   My talented ferocious grandmother seemed to think she had the right to criticize her family and hurt them in service to her 'faith' and adherence to original sin. BS. If you can't see both sides of the extremes you are stuck. Comparison is not necessarily productive when we look at ourselves or others. Seeing flaws can be helpful if there is an insight or pathway toward improvement but to pick out what is wrong without a notion of movement toward release or growth will keep one trapped in negativity. We have been so arrogant toward our stations in life in the midst of human diversity and individuality that we think we get to choose who is good/bad, right/wrong, successful/failing and then act as the 'god' of acceptance. Whoa. Not working.

   If those people over there want to hate and control and grab for themselves can we gracefully step back, leave them in their own world and create a better one with our comrades? Can the world still contain individual pockets of independent specialty? Can we congratulate instead of judging? Are our instincts and insights going to open to greater ideals and methods and abilities for comfort, security and sharing of appreciation? We should have grown up by now. 

   Woops, judgement isn't working. If unity is the next consciousness development and compassion  can hep us fix the inequalities and grow beyond fear we need to drop the assumption that we are helpless in the light of perfection and believe we can add to the greatness of human wellness and  satisfaction. Besides the differences we all seem to be experiencing, can we understand that each has  his/her/their own destiny and expression and that possibilities are unlimited for us within the parameters of physical materialization? This is the new faith: it is fair, it is up to us, we have guidance on unlimited levels, we can choose, and we are GOOD. Being is benevolent. Dreams of well being are attainable without conflict.

   Yes! Let's go there. All Love. 

Outlook!   

 

 

Learnings from the Birds

 

  I am sitting here watching the birds on the bannister fake each other out at the seed dish. When a blue jay landed on the porch last week I decided to try to put out food again. Last winter was a long learning process for me, novice bird hostess, to get it right in a different location in the trees. 

  Feeding birds is controversial, as is most interaction with wild species. But what a pleasure to see the pairs and flocks coming and going, choosing, interacting, singing and soaring. This new house porch is up in the rooftops of a small maritime village. I wondered if birds would visit. There are gardens hidden in the hilly town between houses, stairways, pathways and tight streets. Winter can't offer much here for them, I'd think, but here they are.

   The blue jay brought a mate, then the starlings came, then the crows were patrolling and snooping and soaring past. The dish was knocked to the ground, I bungied it, that was turned over, I taped it down, the tape is loose, what to do? This morning those 2 starlings (I like them, they are beautiful and funny) ran the blue jay off, he ran them off, they all flew away and then the blue jay came back and ate quickly. A sparrow was running around the floor of the porch earlier. 

  How do these creatures orchestrate themselves? The blue jay comes in and calls, then eats, his/her mate shows up and he/she moves off to make room for it to have at the dish. The starlings come in a pair, too. Somehow they all interact and feed themselves and soar away in a dance of their own making. I am watching and waiting to see what happens next. 

   Inner rhythms, environmental conditions, population density, behavioral habits are all part of the feeding life cycle, the state of being for all creatures. I think we are interacting better with the butterflies and birds and our beloved pets these days than we are with humans we consider to be different or in conflict with our chosen pattern of beliefs or life styles. What balance to the extremes will emerge? Can we dance a dance of Life in a wellness that is beneficial to all? Can we move past struggle for nourishment and space? I am watching the birds to see how they do it here on my porch overlooking a peaceful bay near the cold Atlantic sea. I want my blue jay to be happy, secure, and well fed on my new porch. 

    

   

The Ones We Knew as Young

   

   After the chaos of 2020, 2021, and now the confusion and intensity of '22, I think and try to feel my way through the best (or acceptable) pathways of daily life. Much has changed in my living setup, and I have changed physically and internally. But, Oh, the changes I can enjoy when I see my lifetime friends!

   There are the childhood and schoolmate kids I knew who are all olding like I am. There are the kids I taught who now have kids. There are the ones gone by who I still feel and sometimes talk with. TIME. Who invented that? 

   I have a best-before-birth friend whose mother and mine were best for each other for over 80 years. She is grey, loved, adjusting to the recent loss of her husband from college days, and still working as a healer, traveling, gathering Family, and .... whatever she does in the Midwest of the USA surrounded by extreme outlooks and higher prices in living. 

  I read and post with the giving friend who grew from a wild unpredictable whirlwind in a genteel family into a missionary of sorts traveling from the Holy Land to deep suburban America talking about religion, creativity, loving regardless of differences and hosting many who want to find the magic in history's legends.

   There is the beautiful 3 year old reading prodigy who is now a recently turned out gay single mother of a rambunctious and daring boy. She is a teacher in Canada working with 'disabled' people and high school hopefuls looking for a future.  

   My old high school class pres became a lawyer and minister and college president and a comrade of golfing champions and Texas conservatism. Do we all love each other?

   My own sweet little daughters have gone away. They are strong independent self supporting professionals with chosen (or seemingly not) challenges and healthy vital lives. I am so fortunate. But I miss them, all the children and youthful comrades in life I have known. Growing in Time is a bit of a conundrum.

   All is well as of this moment. We can live in beauty and try to contribute to the higher planes of fellowship!!! Amen.

Love of Place, Kindred Friends

     Today I visited a magical place in time; an inland bay, river, hillside, taken in love and intent into a remarkable home on the Earth by a remarkable multi-talented woman. Single, senior, artistic, visionary and practical, she has built a small house and landscaped gardens for herself. It is difficult to imagine a better way of life.

   Nearby is the established homestead of our good friends who live with creative verve and independence. What makes a homefront extraordinary? Where does the heart find the openings for setting itself down in beauty? What minds can envision a way to find secure and consistent creativity ongoing through years of enjoyment, labor and sharing? We live who we are or we are lacking. The greater spirit of a holistic existence can be played out in this world in spite of the disturbances we all encounter as a 'civilized' collective. Individual dreams can be enacted by working with the elements: earth, sky, water, flora, fauna, climate, community, and solitude.

   Grow your food, harvest your firewood, use natural supplies, trade and share, make space for your own talents and hobbies and body/mind/soul. Heart salutations to you who understand and build our personal dream worlds!     

                          

                                      

  

                                                                                           

                                                            

Decisions and Results

 Good Sunny cold morning,

 I tried to sign up to the Canadian Gov. immunization site thinking it would lead me to the Covid booster appointment forms and instead I found out I am OUT OF DATE. Aw. So sorry for all of those many years of no flu shot, etc.

  Being managed is difficult. I need to stick to seeing what is all around me as fulfilled choices and acceptable results. Then move on. We older folks are weary from fighting the social need to be regulated. I certainly have been resisting for years. Creative license and mass think do not mix. 

   We feel the impact of every new requirement in our bones as we work to keep up with the changes in our culture and environment. I have stopped at Facebook. No instagram, tweet, blabla. Too much. Well, What's App works ok for family far away and videos and photos are the most important news items on the baby I haven't met. Yet. 

   Should I fly? Drive? Take shots? Trust fate? Stay home?  Yes, all of the above when the mood strikes and the world seems to make an opening for me to move in ease or with confidence. I do not like these challenges. Did I help make them into reality? Probably. I want a heated house; do I have to feel guilty to the Earth? Using up resources, accepting climate change guilt, apologizing to the trees I burn; is this necessary? Aren't we here and now and ok in the universe of possible realities? Can we change these
tense outlooks with some friendly understanding? Conundrum. 2022, come along, sing a new song. Please.                                                                                                    

 Love, Ann

I Feel Like Writing

   

   In this newly whitened world on a frigid Spring Equinox, in a year of confinement, caution, creativity and care, what can be said to heighten the spirit of the day? We go on and on adjusting and re-aligning ourselves and still there is no great new reality emerging from the challenges.

   I am a juggler of mood and ability as I walk the plank of aging. Who is that in the mirror? She sags and looks bewildered. Why must the young encounter this worldly mess? Where is the ease? Who can enliven our outlook? When will the dangers end?

   It seems my inner life has taken to the cloud. Social interaction is constrained and masked with the eyes speaking loud and clear. Armshots are the gold, real estate the prize to fight for. How do we carry on with a sense of renewal when there are others unhinged from lack of any security or comradery. My children are Chinese and Latina. I am an immigrant from another land. 'Unity awareness' has a nice ring to the sound image but it is fragmented into units of We/Them.

   Did my father sink in realization of his need to go to war? Were the mothers of our childhood disappointed with the lacks of life? What happens when you reach the conclusion that Mankind is not kind and manliness contributes to a weakened strain of power-controlled ineptitude.

   I think sitting in the home typing is a placebo for the wishes we have that are not coming out as we would choose. Go out, find beauty, forget the things that have gone down the drain of history. I say to myself.. there is a light here somewhere. It is tiny and shines in the heart of those I love. It emerges in unexpected places, in masked faces, on earthly spaces. Our determination to BE is fueling the push of daily experience. Now what?