singing

"Music can't solve problems. Human beings have to resolve their own problems. But music can console people who suffer from problems, and perhaps it can inspire people to try to solve their problems. Singers have to sing whatever they believe in. They have to stay true to themselves. These are the songs I believe in, so I have to keep singing them. "
- Mercedes Sosa (1935-2009)

....and we must continue singing, for our children's children...

shift relationship with time

"The act of forgiveness is the act of returning to present time. And that's why when one has become a forgiving person, and has managed to let go of the past, what they've really done is they've shifted their relationship with time. Forgive and call back the energy wasted on past events."
- Carolyn Myss

know beauty all the days of your life

" may the SUN bring you new energy by day,

may the MOON
softly restore you by night,

may the RAIN
wash away your worries,

may the BREEZE
blow new strength into your being,

may you WALK
gently through the world and know
its beauty all the days of your life. "

----- APACHE blessing

a favorite quote honoring Mother Earth

new moon in libra

Tonight I ask Mother Moon for clarity as I begin another blessed, grateful year of life on this planet...

love & serve all

"We do not interact at random.  We are in each other's lives for spiritual reasons.  We have "business" with one another.  By consciously choosing to focus on why I have met someone, on how I can best serve and expand another, I bring to each encounter a heightened awareness.  As I ask to love all and serve all, I bring forward my spiritual gifts and call forward the gifts of others.  Grace fills every moment when we are truly present.  Sometimes we transit each other's lives like benevolent planets." - Julia Cameron

PHOTOGRAPH: 2011, my son and Doña Petronila holding one of my pieces

why are you hiding?

He looked straight at me and asked a soul-to-soul question:

"Why are you hiding?" 

How do we hide? Why do we hide?  Who are we hiding from?

into memory & imagination

...I had become a sunlit bird with claws of solid gold, eyes and beak of diamond...with a magnificent moon pearl between my wings I flew into my memories, into the past, into my imagination...in gold and diamonds I flew over the black-sandy beaches of my childhood...

excerpt from a dream, originally published in 2007

longer nights, inner journeys

AUTUMN EQUINOX: a time to celebrate & give thanks for the ABUNDANCE in our lives as a NEW YEAR BEGINS in NATURE...longer nights, inner journeys..

how do we properly foster our seeds for growth?

"From the seed grows a root, then a sprout; from the sprout, the seedling leaves; from the leaves, the stem; around the stem, the branches; at the top, the flower...

We cannot say that the seed causes the growth, nor that the soil does. We can say that the potentialities for growth lie within the seed, in mysterious life forces, which when properly fostered, take on certain forms."

- M.C. Richards (1916-1999)

How do we properly foster our seeds?

self-esteem & growth

"Moments of guilt, moments of contrition, moments where we are lacking in self-esteem, moments when we are bearing the trial of being displeasing to ourselves, are essential to our growth."

- M. Scott Peck (1936-2005)

high-energy levels

"Expand your reality to the point where you pursue what you love doing and excel at it. Involve yourself in high-energy levels of trust, optimism, appreciation, reverence, joy, and love when you engage in every activity in your life." - Dr. Wayne Dyer

do

"You must do the thing you think you cannot do."
- Eleanor Roosevelt

dreams

The bare-breasted goddess walked through Cuban villages in search of antique silks...



excerpt from dream journals

stronger & wiser

"How very little can be done under the spirit of fear."

- Florence Nightingale (1829–1910)

How do you conquer your fears?

I pray.
I meditate.
I read and I write.
I dance.

Then, even if I still feel fear, I go ahead and breathe through whatever it is and just do it. Fear is part of human nature and something that can make us stronger and wiser - if we do not allow it to paralyze us.

originally published in 2008

te invento de recuerdos

te pinto mi alma
en acuarelas de sueños

te cuento mis secretos
en murmullos celestes

te invento de recuerdos
en las paginas de mi ser

soy esa niña hecha mujer

Padre Pallais

"Desde que era muy niño, saltaba de alegría,
cuando la fresca lluvia de los cielos caía.

Chorros de los tejados, vuestro rumor tenía
el divino silencio de la melancolía.

Los niños con las manos tapaban sus oídos,
y oyendo con asombro los profundos sonidos

del corazón que suena como si fuera el mar,
sentían un deseo supremo de llorar.

Y como por la lluvia, todo era interrumpido,
se bañaban las cosas en un color de olvido.

Y vagaban las mentes en un ocio divino,
muy propicio a los cuentos de Simbad el Marino.

Las lluvias de mi tierra me enseñaron lecciones... ...
con Alí Baba, pasan los cuarenta ladrones.

Y cantaban mis sueños en la noche lluviosa:
¡Lámpara de Aladino, lámpara milagrosa!

Y al caer de la lluvia, la criada más antigua
desgranaba sus cuentos en una forma ambigua.

Otro de los milagros que en la lluvia, yo canto,
es, que al caer sus linfas, se pone un nuevo manto

mi ciudad que al lavarse... ...yo pienso en una de esas
austeras e impecables ciudades holandesas:

Una ciudad lavada, sin polvo, nuevecita,
donde reza el aseo su plegaria bendita.

Como, “pulvère procul” se lee en los pergaminos
de un noble de otros tiempos, por todos los caminos,

Cuando pasan las lluvias, se alegra y se extasía,
lejos, lejos del polvo, la profunda alegría:

La de andar sin pecado, por silencios de amor,
como un dulce ojo de agua de inocente rumor.

Si se libra el camino, del polvo –su pecado-
se vuelve como el santo de Asís, enamorado

de todas las criaturas, de todas las criaturas,
y a todas les ofrece sus blancas aventuras.

Son todos los caminos como flor de aventura
para el dulce Quijote de la Triste Figura."

- Azarías H. Pallais(1884-1954)

my husband's great uncle
Azarías H. Pallais

best known as Padre Pallais
regarded as a saint by many
a priest, a prophet, a poet
a man truly ahead of his time...

miracle

"There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."
- Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955)

today, let us celebrate every single moment

today, let us be grateful for every single miracle

PHOTOGRAPH: from a series taken at the nursing home in Rivas during dance lessons organized through Future of Nicaragua Foundation's cultural programs

another way, through moonlight

We sat by the window, waiting and howling at the moon...
She answered in song...There is another way...There is another way...

harvesting dreams under moonlight

mother moon guides, in all her fullness...let us harvest our dreams under moonlight...

madre luna, madre mia...

celebrating tonight's harvest full moon

amado abuelo

my beloved grandfather would have been 103 today
nació un 11 de septiembre
del vientre de venus
con alas de mariposas
y plumas de pavo-real

el sol
la luna
las estrellas
te celebran
hoy y siempre

amado abuelo
embajador del planeta
en mis sueños nos vemos

remembering my Popo on his birthday

how do we remember?

"There is nothing new except what has been forgotten."
- Marie Antoinette (1755-1793)

What have we forgotten?

Have we forgotten to smile?

Have we forgotten to forgive?

Have we forgotten to play?

Have we forgotten to pray?

...how do we remember?

originally published in 2008

renew

"I love people. I love my family, my children . . . but inside myself is a place where I live all alone and that's where you renew your springs that never dry up."
- Pearl S. Buck (1892-1973)



I need time alone.
It is not that I am anti-social.
It is just that seeing too many people too often just drains me.

I renew my springs by sitting in silence.
I renew my springs by sculpting, writing and painting.

I love time alone.
I love time with My Self.

originally published in 2008

simplify

"Unnecessary possessions are unnecessary burdens. If you have them, you have to take care of them! There is great freedom in simplicity of living.

It is those who have enough but not too much who are the happiest.

Anything you cannot relinquish when it has outlived its usefulness possesses you, and in this materialistic age a great many of us are possessed by our possessions."

- Peace Pilgrim (1908-1981)

What are the unnecessary burdens in our lives?

What possessions possess us?

How can we simplify our lives today?

Time to give away, recycle...to cleanse and renew mind, body and spirit...

originally published in 2008

do not forget to dream

mujer de amarillo
con brillantes pretendes volar

mujer de maravillas
vestida de dolor
en busca de un amor

mujer de amarillo
no te olvides de soñar


originally published in 2007, written in Spanish

woman in yellow
with diamonds you pretend to fly

woman of marvels
dressed in pain
searching for a love

woman in yellow
do not forget to dream

elegant strength

"I know all the swear words. I just don't use them. There are worse things in life than being called a Lady."

- Irene Dunne (1898-1990)

My beautiful mother-in-law, Maria de Lourdes is a lady.
Her cousin, Marta is a lady.

These women have an elegant spirit, their lives are illuminated in grace and delicate femininity.

These are two of the strongest women I know.
Being feminine, does not equal being weak.
A lady is not always a damsel in distress...

originally published in 2008

alignment

"If you meet someone whose soul is not aligned with yours, send them love and move along.  I align myself with people who support my growth." - Louise L. Hay

2010 photograph from a series

four blessings: old age, beauty, happiness & strength

"Just as the soft rains fill the streams,
pour into the rivers, and join together in the oceans,
so may the power of every moment of your goodness
flow forth to awaken and heal all beings--
those here now, those gone before, those yet to come.

By the power of every moment of your goodness,
may your heart's wishes be soon fulfilled
as completely shining as the bright full moon,
as magically as by a wish-fulfilling gem.

By the power of every moment of your goodness,
may all dangers be averted and all disease be gone.
May no obstacle come across your way.
May you enjoy fulfillment and long life.

For all in whose heart dwells respect,
who follow the wisdom and compassion, of the Way,
may your life prosper in the four blessings
of old age, beauty, happiness and strength."

- Traditional Buddhist Blessing & Healing Chant

call back wasted energy

"The act of forgiveness is the act of returning to present time. And that's why when one has become a forgiving person, and has managed to let go of the past, what they've really done is they've shifted their relationship with time. Forgive and call back the energy wasted on past events."
- Carolyn Myss

monitor inner dialogue

"Recognize that what you think about, EXPANDS. Monitor your inner dialogue, and match your thoughts to what you want, and what you intend to create." - Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

Queen of Sheba

"Wisdom is sweeter than honey, brings more joy than wine, illumines more than the sun, is more precious than jewels.

She causes the ears to hear and the heart to comprehend.  I love her like a mother, and she embraces me as her own child.  I will follow her footprints and she will not cast me away."

- Makeda, Queen of Sheba (ca. 960/1000 B.C.)