6.23.2010

saint johnswort

today was a saint johnswort day!
hypericum perforatum 
"perforatum" for the small dots that light filter thru on the leaves
the flowers smell like heaven and will help further repair the ripped-up side of my face (from the Fall)
how does such a little yellow flower work such strong magic? 
i am in love!!

this is summer: june and july plans

if anyone's interested...

my itinerary for the next couple weeks:
this weekend= "ancient and innovative foundations training" with luz elena morey in brattleboro, vt
next week (last week of june)= either camp in woodbridge, ct with justin or visiting friends near northampton, ma
1rst week july= "gaia nature arts camp" for 5-7 yr olds with luz elena morey in brattleboro, vt
that weekend= maybe red tent in hartford, ct; or camping on keith's farm near northampton, ma
2nd week july= housesitting/exploring near brattleboro, vt
3rd week july= "gaia nature arts camp" for 8-12 yr olds with luz elena morey in brattleboro, vt
final week of july= still open

and then aug is mostly open, until aug 20 is women's herbal conference... and i think i will hitch around maine for a bit and explore some mountains i haven't touched yet, check out a high point, dip in the ocean for a few days, etc (mount desert island...!)

pow wow!

the order and preservation of indigenous cultures 
a gathering of tribes, really
disconnected yet (re)connected

the rhythm of the heartbeat drum just sets my heart beating faster
and then slower again
as we attune to the drum 
and attune to each other 
we begin to notice 
our voices coming from a shared breath
of the same quality of air and breathing 
into the nose, down into the belly, out thru the mouth
to be shared some more 
with the trees and fields surrounding
and the eagle soaring above 
riding on that same air current 
of precious breath
gift friend air wind 
take us as we soar 
on air currents of drum song

old songs, new songs, so many songs!
i recorded most
but it will take quite a while for me to really remember them 
for now, three are stuck in my head
seems like every other moment though
i remember another song
and find myself humming yet another pow wow tune
as i toodle around the woods and observe mosses growing
(that same beat thrums in you too huh?) 

many of the songs don't have a literal meaning 
but the feeling that the song evokes
that is what is important 
that is what is intentional
not the words
the words come secondary to the feelings 
yes!

and then at night we women gathered around 
the red clover womens' drum 
for me, it doesn't quite matter who i'm drumming with
so long as we get attuned
and the magic happens 
but there's just something about all us women gathered together
with a drum without a drum 
but ooh that night yes with a drum 
and drumming and singing and laughing and sharing
shining eyes reflecting the stars
with shared hands beating the sacred ancient drum 
something magic
is still here 
and reawakening 
yes!

6.21.2010

questions

to hitch or not to hitch?
that is the question
in a state of too many cars and not enough real people
real
people
i have many questions

6.16.2010

ji-ling

my family name is lin
which means forest
my given chinese name
my "real name" is 
ji ling
ji is from an old family poem
each generation gets the next
word in the poem 
ji also means basic, foundational,
grounded
ling is the sound of bells
ethereal and abstract
ji ling is like grounded ether
sky and earth melded into one
being
ji ling also means spritely, flexible, nimble
like a fairy
lin ji ling
forest sprite

i am now going by my chinese name
ji ling 
(that's me... as well as a compendium of joyce, jaz, crow... and all the other names along the way. but now, back to ji-ling. hello, again)

raccoon

i just saw all seven of the chickens sprinting past the kitchen
with a raccoon in hot pursuit
he wasn't afraid to run into the bushes 
and watch me with big bandit eyes

remember

chalk art 2