Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Friday, May 15, 2015
The Reed Flute's Song
from The Essential Rumi
translated by Coleman Barks
dedicated in Thanks to All but especially
Raquy Danziger's Turkish Music Celebration
and the Beautiful souls who facilitate the Paralounge Drum Gathering.
Listen to the story told by the reed,
of being separated.
"Since I was cut from the reed bed,
I have made this crying sound."
Anyone apart from someone he loves
understands what I say.
Anyone pulled from a source
longs to go back.
At any gathering I am there,
mingling in the laughing and grieving,
a friend to each,
but few will hear the secrets hidden
within the notes.
No ears for that.
Body flowing out of spirit,
spirit up from body:
no concealing that mixing,
but it's not given us
to see the soul.
The reed flute is fire, not wind.
Be that empty.
Hear the love fire tangled
in the reed notes,
as bewilderment
melts into wine.
The reed is a friend to all
who want the fabric
and drawn away torn.
The reed is hurt and salve combining.
Intimacy and longing for intimacy,
one song.
A disastrous surrender
and fine love together The one
who secretly hears this is senseless.
A tongue has one customer,
the ear.
A sugarcane flute has such effect
because I was able to make sugar
in the reed bed.
The sound it makes
is for everyone.
Days full of wanting,
let them go by
without worrying
that they do.
Stay where you are
inside a pure hollow note.
Every thirst gets satisfied
except that of the fish, the mystics
who swim a vast ocean of grace
still somehow longing for it!
No one lives in that
without being nourished every day.
But if someone doesn't want to hear
the song of the reed flute,
it's best to cut conversation short,
say goodbye,
and leave."
Jelaluddin Rumi
Friday, May 8, 2015
New flowers and Old Books
"Stokes Astor"
is a Florida Native Plant that is new to me. I Love Native plants, just don't care so much for what I call Native Plant Nazis. A better term might be Native plant absoluters. Yes indeed some plants are invasive, but who says we humans are the only ones that can travel?
I often times tell folks who are on my "Trails" , since they ( non -natives) are here now (like us) why not make the best of them? There are no absolutes people. I am in love with this new flower, and Thanks again to Mary the Librarian and the fabulous Dunnellon Public Library, I was able to find it's name.
In my work with children via various Environmental Education programs using Acclimatization techniques
( search Earth Education http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Van_Matre ) we teach that is more important to know the community, behavior, ecosystem, cycles, adaptations etc of a plant , than to know it's human given name. I love hearing the different common names of various plants and for a treasure trove along those lines, check out www.botanical.com.
As for the scientific names, I know they are important for various reasons, but the older I get, the less important knowing all these names is.
One of my favorite activities I ever did back in the day in the Redwoods of Northern California, was to do a video in which I asked kids to make up a name and entire story of an assigned plant. I still have that video ( though no vcr in sight) and what they all came up with with their partners, was purely amazing. Those kids would be in their 30's by now and I often times wonder where they all landed in life. I have always , always said, "Kids are gong to save our asses" and I still believe that the kids of today will.
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
The blog entry that started it ALL is still relevant today....
"You have been telling the people
that this is the eleventh hour
Now you must go back and tell people
that THIS IS THE HOUR
and that there are things to be considered.
Where are you living?
What are you doing?
What are your relationships?
Are you in right relation?
Where is your water?
Know your garden
It is time to speak your truth.
Create your community
Be good to each other
and do not look outside of yourself for the leader.
This could be a good time!
There is a river flowing now very fast
It is so great and swift
that there are those who will be afraid
They will try to hold onto the shore;
They will feel they are being torn apart
and they will suffer greatly
know the river has it's destination
The elders say we must let go of the shore
Push off into the middle of the river,
Keep our eyes open and our heads above water.
See who is in there with you and celebrate.
At this time in history
we are to take nothing personally,
least of all...ourselves!!!
For the moment we do,
our spiritual growth and journey come to a halt.
The time of the world is over;
Gather yourselves
Banish the word STRUGGLE from your vocabulary
All that we do now must be done
in a sacred manner-and in celebration!
WE ARE THE ONES WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR!
That is what has been called "A Message from the Hopi Elders" that I found in a random free alternative weekly in Placerville, California last spring. I then heard it again sung out as a long song (though Hopi elders were not acknowledged the woman singing it had a good intention) in the Mission in San Francisco during Dia de los Muertos last October 2006. It is not only timely, but I find myself reading it again and again, each time gleaning a new understanding, a new aha! everytime...and yet so simple a message.
May 6, 2015 Can't believe this blog is nearly 8 years old!!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)