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)