traditional candles

clay or metal cups 

they are small and fit comfortably into my hand 

fill with coconut or any other oil

put a cotton wick the length of my pinky into cup, letting it rise up a little above the oil 

thickness of wick is 5-strands

wet the top of wick sticking out with fingers 

sing a song to give thanks

light the wick 

have a comfortable flame for a nice long while 

keep singing 

this is south indian traditional "candle"

much better than wax! 

i will make many clay cups when i make a home again 

to put fire into 

i put these photos up thinking that my friends justin, bill, kari, joy, tamarack, and other traditional-ways pottery-loving friends would appreciate... and put the simple effective skill to immediate use!

in temples here they use metal instead of clay to hold the candles... have many indentations into a clay or metal plate, for the wicks to hang out. one cup or bowl or plate can hold many wicks and much oil to sustain it all... a beautiful powerful light. great for rituals, romantic dinners, and effective night-lighting. 

temple flower tree

i have only seen this flowers in trees next to ashrams 

they smile big toothy grins like they are in bliss, 

and waft sweet honey vanilla heart-opening scents

into the thunderstorm-approaching-big-wind air

bhud's back

more symbolic images 

everywhere they abound!

this one right on my friend bhud's back 

image from buddhist monks of thailand 

can you feel it? 

mandalas

from a temple floor, chalked in white, prayers aplenty, 

coming soon to a post office near you

family and home

sweet mud and spicy rain splashed all over

my wet body rolled into a nice warm blanket 

listening to soothing rumbles of my deep-voiced friends

a grounding bass base for the drumming and clanging overhead thunderstorm

fire cracking through sky in spirals, rivers, and explosions 

like all the meridian energy lines and waves rolling through body 

just feel it

powerful electricity pulsating through every molecule of sky united with earth

as we lie in center, just breathing clay pot bodies infused with electricity

just feel it 

moonlight, firelight, and inner light reflected in flashing eyes of all colors

sitting in a circle gently igniting kundalini with voices and arms uplifted in wild sacred celebration

threads of melody and voices of all textures interweaving a tapestry of celebratory moonsong

live your life as a celebration

dharma, karma, and moksha- you know the knowledge that knows what knowledge is

three oms, three shantis, and then sound of silence pulsing with prana, heartbeats, breath, and... something 

just feel the vibration 

says my teacher 

just feel it 

 

we infuse sacred silence with laughter that rolls through the night to dance with the clouds 

clouds weaving triangles and spinning dragons around full moon smiling upon us

in tall old tree near my home, three small monkeys by day, three huge bats by night

you must merge into the simple state simply

words of wisdom

"Focus in on your zone. Zone in on your focus." - Guy, Thailand

"Let your practice be the basis of your freedom." - Efan, USA/ Taiwan

"Heaven determined my Fate, but Destiny is in my hands." - Tommy, USA

"Trust." - Universe

spiraling into the center

love you! :) 

Heartsong

Hello, dear ones! 

I want to share a story with you. This story originates from the forests of Connecticut, as received by fellow nature educator, Justin Pegnataro. After leaving Connecticut, I have continued to share this story as I walk my winding walk. The story has evolved, as stories do. I have adapted Justin's story, from the land of Connecticut, into the written story below- may you read it out loud and share with dear friends, a special younger/ older person, and complete strangers. May you enjoy this story, and share your own!  

With love, 

Jiling 

朋友們

我寫了一篇故事。 我不想要翻譯， 因為翻譯起來， 會很不好聽！但是， 這個故事很特別。 我每次聽了這個故事都會全身發抖。 這個故事來至Connecticut和我 的好朋友Justin。 我離開Connecticut以後， 繼續分享故事。 故事也就慢慢改變了。底下的故事是我的基玲版故事！如果你想要聽故事， 請不要用Google翻譯。。。 請來找我， 我親自跟你講故事！

祝你這新的龍年天天發現生活中充滿了美妙和神秘的東西， 讓你天天開心， 大笑， 忍不住的在跳舞！ 

感恩， 

基玲

---

Once upon a time, a long time ago, when all the world was still dark, there lived a little bird named Ji. Unlike other creatures content with crawling, flying, and bumbling through the darkness, Ji could no longer stand flapping around in the oppressively endless blackness, bumping into trees and strangers, confusing friends with food, and forever getting lost. She was convinced that there must be a better way of life, but knew no other alternatives besides the life that she led. One day, while trying to fly as high as possible to seek an opening in the Sky, Ji crashed into a massive mountain and went rolling down, down, down over cold ice and sharp stones. Crumpled onto the Earth, her body twisted, bleeding, and broken, Ji cried and cried, feeling painful, hopeless, and frustrated. Grandfather Turtle crawling through the forest heard her cries. “My dear most beautiful beloved,” called out Turtle, “Why are you crying so sadly?” “I am stuck! I am broken! I am suffocating!” gasped Ji, “I CANNOT live in such darkness!” Turtle crawled over, and tenderly cleaned and bound up Ji’s wounds. “My dear most beautiful beloved,” crooned Turtle, “when I was your age, a long long time ago, my Great-Grandmother told me that there is a Sun that brings light to the Sky. Great-Grandmother said that only the most beautiful song in the world can call out Sun.” Ji sat up straight, her breath caught in her throat, “I will find and sing the most beautiful song on Earth. I will call out Sun.”

Before her wounds were even completely healed, Ji set off on her journey to find the most beautiful song on Earth. She swam to the bottom of the deepest Oceans, learning all the songs of all the fishes, sea plants, and waters. She clambered to the tops of the highest Mountains, learning all the songs of all the birds, trees, plants, stones, and winds. She learned the songs of the newborn, songs of the sick and dying, songs of joy, and songs of pain. She learned the songs of all the four-legged, two-legged, crawling, flying, jumping, swimming creatures of Earth, Sky, Water, and even bacteria. Ji journeyed up to the icy North, down to the hot South, and all the way around the windy East until she landed back in the windy West. Every day, Ji sang a new song, each song more beautiful than the next. But, Sun still did not appear. The world was still as dark as it had ever been. Most creatures did not understand Ji’s journey, though some were sympathetically helpful. Though she was often ridiculed, Ji persevered in her quest to find the most beautiful song on Earth, and call out the Sun.

After seven years, Ji had circumnavigated, re-circumnavigated, and re-re-circumnavigated the whole world in search of new songs, stories, and ideas. One day, she found herself once more at the base of the Mountain that she had crashed into and so traumatically plummeted down, years ago. Exhausted from all her journeying, Ji fell into a deep sleep. After four days of dreamless sleep, Grandfather Turtle came ambling into Ji’s dreams. “My dear most beautiful beloved,” he called out, “just sing. Wake up! Just sing.” Ji woke up, well-rested, and empty. Letting go of all the songs that she learned, all the known songs of the world, she began to sing. Ji sang from the deepest recesses of her Heart. Her voice, at first cracked and tired, grew stronger as she drew breath from the deepest core of her belly. Her song, at first unsteady and questioning, grew stronger as she drew powerful infinite melodies from the deepest core of her Heart. Other birds in a nearby forest, startled from their bumbling in the darkness, stopped to listen to Ji’s singing. They had never heard such a beautiful song before. Intrigued, inspired, and excited, they too began singing from their Hearts. More birds in a further forest heard the singing, and like a powerful spark, were also incited into singing from their Hearts. The song grew louder and more powerful as and more and more birds joined the singing. Soon, all of the birds from every direction on the entire Earth were all joyously singing their Heart Songs, drawing deep full breaths from their core center, and drawing deep full songs from their heart center. No one had ever heard such music before! And then… it begins with a small reddish glow that slowly illuminates the bleak blank blackness, slowly drawing never-before-seen outlines into existence. Everything begins glowing, until there is an uncontrollable shaking on the horizon, colors begin exploding and dancing, and eyes must be shielded and arms must be thrown open in celebration, as the brightest, most illuminatingly beautiful Sun bursts flaming into existence to greet the brightest, most illuminatingly beautiful song on Earth, the Song of the Heart.