Friday, April 20, 2007

InMemoria04162007













(on the left) Perhaps the stars in the sky are but openings
where those that have gone before us
into that great unknown
shine down upon us
to let us know that they are

(on the right) I have left this world but I am always with you
I have left this world but I am forever remembered
I have left this world but don't cry for me honor me
I have left this world but I will see you again
~ Francine Castro

This memorial is a revision of the one i did for Sept. 11th in 2006. It is my sincerest wish that all of those at Virginia Tech find a bit of comfort and peace from this memorial, should it somehow find its way into their lives.








The star field is from http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ce/
US_Naval_Jack_48_stars.svg/800px-US_Naval_Jack_48_stars.svg.png

For Ginny's friend Cheryl with Francine's poem

Thursday, April 12, 2007

I Did Not Die

http://zmyztickleonion.blogspot.com/2007/04/i-did-not-die.html


Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.
attributed to Mary Frye (http://www.businessballs.com/donotstandatmygraveandweep.htm)



Mom's transformation led me 2 join these folks; GriefNet - A Community of Persons Dealing With Grief, Death, and Major Loss@griefnet.org (http://www.griefnet.org/) It has been a blessing talking and sharing with these folks. Recently, one of them requested this poem, which i found very inspiRing, and as usual the synchronicities did abound as i put it together, and i did a commemoRAtive of it 4 the requestors.

Synchronicities Abound! One of the things i luv about these digital images is the ability to evolve them with ongoing synchronicities! i wanted to include the swan story, as it was chosen intuitively as usual. And as usual, SpyderWoman led me to this straight away.....Swan flew through the Dreamtime, looking for the future. She rested for a moment in the coolness of the pond, looking for a way to find the entry point to the future. Dragonfly came flying by, and Swan stopped him to ask about the black hole she saw above the mountains. Dragonfly said, "Swan, that is the doorway to the other planes of imagination. I have been guardian of the illusion for many, many moons. If you want to enter there, you must be willing to accept whatever the future holds." "I will surrender to the flow of the spiral and trust what I am shown." Swan answered.
Dragonfly was very happy with Swan's answer and began to spin the magic to break the pond's illusion. So it is that we learn to surrender to the grace of the rhythm of the universe, and slip from our physical bodies into the Dreamtime. Swan medicine teaches us to be at one with all planes of consciousness, and to trust in the Great Spirit's protection. (from the book: Medicine Cards-"The Discovery of Power Through The Ways of Animals"-Jamie Sams and David Carson published by Bear and Co./Santa Fe, New Mexico-All rights reserved. http://www.medicinecards.com/) Thus, i have added Dragonfly to this image. (sea StarClouDragonfly-April 2007) Because of its pure white colour, the Swan is a symbol of light. In some regions it is considered a feminine symbol of the moon, but in most it is a masculine symbol of the sun. As a symbol in alchemy, the Swan was neither masculine nor feminine, but rather symbolised 'the marriage of the opposites', fire and water. As a dream symbol, the Swan can signify self transformation, intuition, sensitivity, and even the soul, the 'higher Self' within each person. In shamanism, the Swan totem is associated with love, inspiration, intuition, self-transformation, gracefulness and beauty, and traveling to the Otherworld. (http://www.dierinbeeld.nl/animal_files/birds/mute_swan/index.html) Thus, the deepest meaning of Swan medicine is Grace, not simply the ability to live harmoniously on the physical plane, but the gift of being at home in many planes of reality, to recognize that we are more than we appear to be, that we are simultaneously physical and spiritual beings. (http://www.rainbowcrystal.com/power/poweranimals/swan.html) (sea all these stories at http://www.swansongs.org/swanmyths.htm)
Once again, the BeautyFull Blew clouds of CorraLess form the first of the background layers. (sea StarClouDragonfly-April 2007) Also used the swan comet again. (sea SweepingGatha-October 2006)
When i googled snowflakes falling, i found this image. (http://wakaba.c3.cx/sup/kareha.pl/1118971388/) When i bemoaned the fact that i had reached the end of my photaes for images, Miche offered to provide some for me to use if i wanted. The first one she sent was of the ceiling at York Minster, and i knew immediately where it was to go! Perhaps she will post a comment to tell us it's story. In a google search for jewels (the diamond glints on snow), i found this image which expresses both tears and autumn rain. (http://www.jeffgalbraithphotography.ca/images/wallpaper/morning-jewels.jpg) when i googled 4 swans in flight, i found these 3. (http://www.worsleyschool.net/contests/worsleyphoto/contest3/entrymini0506_8.JPG) (http://www.deltachamber.org/swans%20in%20flight-art%20lenon.jpg)
(below-http://www.outdooreyes.com/list/thegallerys.php3?photoid=1049&wh=5) Then i found this image of wheat, wich i used as a custom brush. (http://www.ecpgr.cgiar.org/images/Networks/cer-wheat2.jpg)

Thursday, April 05, 2007

StarCloudRAgonFly

http://zmyztickleonion.blogspot.com/2007/04/starcloudragonfly.html



Deep in the
sun-searched growths
the dragonfly
Hangs like a blue thread loosened from
the sky.
Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Silent Noon

The DragonFly symbolizes Illusion and dreams. DragonFly is the power of light. The DragonFly inhabits two realms: air and water. DragonFlies, or damselflies, were connected to Freya the Norse goddess of love, fertility and warfare. Freya was famous for her beauty and her knowledge as a magician. It was she who taught Odin the shamanic practices known as seidr. The paired bodies of mating DragonFlies form the shape of a heart, perhaps being the source for that modern symbol of love. In ancient lore, the DragonFly represents transformation, adaptation and insight. (http://www.crystalinks.com/dragonfly.html) (http://www.dreamstime.com/dragonflies-image1760530) In North American Indian lore, the DragonFly is the essence of the winds of change, representing the messages of wisdom and enlightenment; and communication from the elemental world. The DragonFly possesses the ability to see through illusion. They bring prosperity and harmony.(http://www.dragonflydream.com/delight.html) DragonFly is associated with the nature angels, devas,and fairies. If one flies into your life it may be time to hike, camp, or play with some plants. Reconnect with your elemental nature by going outdoors and finding the divine all around you.
DragonFly's wings are clear but can appear colored in different lights. Similarly, our emotions color our reality. DragonFly urges you to look beyond illusions and see the truth that is right in front of you. (http://www.snowwowl.com/animallore/rlanimalsother2.html)
(sea allsew I Did Not Die-April 2007 & InMemoria09112006 4Mor)

Just call me
'Creativity Gone Wild'
An after affect of this wretched knee recupeRAtion i'm going thru.
i think this poem was sent from one of my soul sisters to another, but alas i cannot remember the reason. Anywho, that sister and i both love dragonflies. (The consensus seems to be that Miche found it when Rita was trying to find a name for her line of stitchery-Dragonfly Threads-makes sense qué no?)


The background is yet amother shot of The Mountain Profile, a fave subject from my life in CorralLess. And,O, the specks are not glitches in the photae, they are hot air balloons. Wouldn't you like to ride? Oops, almost forgot the source 4 the DragonFly!

Sunday, April 01, 2007

PeaceSeason

http://zmyztickleonion.blogspot.com/2007/04/peaceseason.html


PeaceSeason

This invocation:
May Peace RAin
Down on Earth
in Every Moment
thru Every Season


Was inspired by this haiku:
Time passes,
moments live;
seasons of peace.
Joe Cabaza

i found Joe thru our hospice volunteer. She gave me his photography website address (http://www.ourspiritheart.com/) because she knew i did digital collages with my photos and had spoken of my like of Ansel Adams as a photographer. i was amazed at the similarities!
The background is from my friend Michelle's house in the Jemez mountains of New Mexico, and is a sister to the backgrounds used for InMemoria09112006 and SuCasa.

Michelle had a beautiful home and i also took a picture of the peace dove suncatcher that hung in her sewing room window. For the Peace symbol story, sea ProfundaPazRAflower.
For the Earth symbol story, sea ShakRArose. (sea March 2007 4 both)

Seasons0'Peace