understanding pain as sacred

detail from a recent photograph
so much suffering on our planet
so much pain
why?

...and I was led to open the book and read:

"Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding. Even as the stone of the fruit must break, that its heart may stand in the sun, so must you know pain...."
- Kahlil Gibran

...and I remembered giving birth
labor pain - sacred pain
pain has the power to unite us and together birth miracles...

praying

a recent photo from Nicaragua

You can no more win a war that you can win an earthquake.

- Jeannette Rankin

praying for Haiti

praying for peace

praying for our planet

perspective

a Nicaraguan sunset
my husband and child dance and laugh

ZIGGY MARLEY sings "it's family time...it's time to be free...lift up your hearts with a smile, lift up your feet with a dance, lift up your spirit with a song..."

everything gets put into perspective

forever in my heart

detail from photograph taken in Rivas, Nicaragua
un altar a Nuestra Madre
Luz de Vida
Cancion de Amor
Ojos de Alegria

an altar to Our Mother
Light of Life
Song of Love
Eyes of Joy

remembering beloved Tia Indiana who lives forever in my heart

this day

detail from mixed media

Nothing is worth more than this day.
- Johann Von Goethe

wishing my beautiful beloved sister a blessed birthday and year

forgiveness freedom

detail from a recent photograph taken in Rivas, Nicaragua
forgiveness is freedom

it is lifting one's heart and giving it wings...

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

awake

self-portrait from a series
I love waking up before the world. I sit in silence an enter my soul. I imagine what is possible. I whisper my dreams into the dawn. I forgive others and myself. I listen to him breathing and give thanks for the moment, for being awake.

mujer

mixed media self-portrait from a series, 2010

soy guerrera de otros siglos

soy reina desde antes

soy gitana bailando

soy esa que grita su verdad en silencio

soy mujer


...English translation, although I prefer it in Spanish


I am a warrior from centuries past
I am a queen from long ago
I am a gypsy dancing
I am she who screams her truth in silence
I am a woman

rejuvenate

photograph taken in Rivas, Nicaragua this past December 2009
how do you rejuvenate yourself?

I dance

I stretch

I meditate

I dare

I pray

I take long showers (which are not very good for my delicate skin)

I laugh

I cry

I write and write and write

I wonder

I dream

I love

I kiss him and him over and over

I forgive everyone, including myself...

"We must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves; otherwise we harden." - Johann Von Goethe

best day

every day is a happy day for him
Write in your heart that every day is the BEST day of the year.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

floating world

I just love this series of recent photographs

I see people in the world throw away their lives lusting after things, never able to satisfy their desires, falling into deep despair and torturing themselves. Even if they get what they want, how long will they be able to enjoy it? For one heavenly pleasure they suffer ten torments of hell, binding themselves more firmly to the grindstone. Such people are like monkeys frantically grasping for the moon in the water and then falling into a whirlpool. How endlessly those caught up in the floating world suffer. - Ryōkan Taigu (1758–1831)

a quote that found me after morning meditation

creation

2009 photograph of my son holding "VOLCAN" solid sterling silver
my God Mother
also his God Mother
our Queen Tilly says:

Your son is holding your creation, holding you. The fact that it is a ring signifies the unity and bond between Mother and Son. He is the future holding the present - the sterling silver treasure from the depths of Mother Earth formed into a volcano representative of the power and forces of Nature. His open fingers signify that he will hold your hand for a while but then venture out on his own taking with him the love, strength, confidence, guidance, and inspiration he gains from you. Your son - your most beautiful creation is sharing your art with the world.

- Edda M. Sevilla Somoza

let's dance more

detail from a recent dance with baby, 2009 photograph
I dance every single day and yet I realize I do not dance enough...

when was the last time you danced with complete abandon?
with complete joy and freedom?

let's dance more
and more
until we fall to the floor in ecstasy

wild woman

mixed media self-portrait from a series, 2010
every woman has a WILD woman within
she dances with complete freedom
she does not care who stares, who judges
she is secure in her wildness

every woman is a WILD woman
there is RAW beauty in our wildness
there is SACRED light in our wildness

"You were WILD once. Don't let them TAME you."
- Isadora Duncan

a new decade has dawned

mixed media photograph of me in front of a portrait by Robert Barberena De La Rocha
a new decade has dawned
what are your wildest dreams?
what are your wildest desires?
what are you passionate about?

who is in your wildest dreams, supporting you?
who is part of your wildest desires?
who are you passionate about?

"Choose to be in close proximity to people who are empowering, who appeal to your sense of connection to intention, who see the greatness in you, who feel connected to God, and who live a life that gives evidence that Spirit has found celebration through them."
- Dr. Wayne Dyer

blue moon marks new decade

my beloved blue buddha
a decade comes to a close
what a year 2009 has been
so much change
so much growth

2010 marks a new beginning
a new decade
2010 begins with a blue moon
the second full moon this month

tonight, go out and find your blue moon
make a wish
and know you are blessed

feathers & roses

plumas y rosas
yo me regalo plumas y rosas
bailo al ritmo de mi alma
y soy feliz...

I give myself feathers and roses
dancing at soul's rhythm
I am happy...

at the doorway

2009 photograph
standing at the doorway
wanting to step in
trembling out of fear or delight or both

re-birth

recent self-portrait from a series
Little Bird hatched from Mother’s ancient crystals with a precious gem balanced upon its beak.

“Why am I here?” Little Bird asked Water Buddha.

Little Bird, you are here to live.
To breathe and to fly.
To laugh and to cry.
Little Bird, you are here to die.

“To die? But have I not just now begun to live? I do not understand.” Little Bird cried.

Little Bird, life would not exist without death.
And really, death is but re-birth.
Little Bird, you have always been and shall always be.

excerpt from short story begun in 2007 & soon to be published in print

falling in love

a recent photograph he took of me in front of a portrait by Carlos Barberena De La Rocha

If you focus on the present, your life will be constantly renewed. The present moment is the only time that is eternal. It never dies, nor can it be forgotten. Therefore, happiness in the present can never be taken away from you. It will free you from the snare of time, which brings about suffering through thought, evaluation, and analysis. Being fully in the present, you experience the timeless. In the timeless, you find your true self. - Deepak Chopra

an archaeologist
discovering my true self
fragment by fragment
smile by smile
falling in love with My Self
moment by moment

the whole universe

self-portrait from a series
I look into your eyes and see the whole universe
-- born and not yet born. - RUMI

merry christmas

the REAL santa
Merry Christmas

baby woke up, went to the altar and put on a rosary made of red rose petals...

believe

2009 photograph
BELIEVE

in miracles

in healing

in peace

in love

in prayer

in forgiveness

BELIEVE

if you cannot believe, I promise to believe for you...

silent night, holy night

about spirit

self-portrait
are you enjoying the beauty of the day?

the season is about spirit - not spending

remember to PLAY

beloved Gurudev

beloved Gurudev playing with me, circa 1973

wishing beloved Gurudev a happy birthday

winter solstice

my beloved son, my greatest teacher
today

winter solstice

I dance with my son

I sing with my son

I play with my son

new beginnings sprouting

rooted in mother earth

REJOICE

CELEBRATE

every breath

how truly blessed we are...

play

playing in the snow
today

go out

and play

discover joy

in simple pleasures

celebration

2007 mixed media
as I watch the silent dance of snow, he hands me a card:

Choose to be in close proximity to people who are empowering, who appeal to your sense of connection to intention, who see the greatness in you, who feel connected to God, and who live a life that gives evidence that Spirit has found celebration through them. Surround yourself with high-energy people.
- Dr. Wayne Dyer

the wisdom of the innocent
covers, cleanses and purifies my soul
one snowflake at at time

a celebration of spirit
a celebration of life
connection

we are all EQUAL

study for sculpture in progress
Feel Superior to No One

Release your need to feel superior by seeing the unfolding of Spirit in everyone. Don't assess others on the basis of their appearance, achievements, and possessions. It's an old saw, but is nonetheless true: WE ARE ALL EQUAL in the EYES of GOD.
- Dr. Wayne Dyer

when we feel superior to others
it is our own insecurity showing its ugly face

those who criticize others
are simply seeing themselves mirrored back

soy madre

2009 mixed media
madre del mar
madre de madres
reina del planeta
canto tu canto
bailo tu ritmo
escucho tu voz dentro de mi
soy parte mar
soy parte mujer
soy madre

excerpt from a series of writings soon to be published in print

beloved grand father

2007 mixed media series inspired by Andy Warhol
nací siendo la nieta, quizás la predilecta de
Guillermo Sevilla-Sacasa
mi bello Popo de colonias y cuentos


Popo quien me enseño a dibujar
a jugar con palabras
a platicar con seguridad


a ser una verdadera pavo-real-la
de plumas blancas y plateadas como las de las hadas


Popo, siempre impecable y notable
un genio genial y jovial
de medallas y honores
Popo de mis amores


siento su mirada noche y día
escucho sus consejos
segura que nos encontramos en mis sueños

originally published in 2007

Beloved Grand Father,
I ask for your wisdom, your guidance.
Give me strength to remain stoic...
...and ignore all the criticism around me.
Thank you for being a pillar in my life.
I love you,
julia casimira

long tongues & envious hearts

detail from silk pouch in a private collection 2009

those with long tongues talk and talk
yet say NOTHING of importance

those with envious hearts talk and talk
and bury themselves in mud-like energy

forgiving and blessing
those with long tongues and envious hearts

just be

detail from silk pouch, 2009
walk into the fire
surrender into the sea
just be

el amor

detail from silk pouch, 2009
el amor eterno
el amor fresco y despierto
el amor de rosas y mariposas

a love eternal

detail from silk pouch, 2009
a love so pure
a love so real
a love eternal

roses

detail from silk pouch, 2009
the roses
her roses
invaded me with sacred blessings
mother mary, mother earth

sandy dreams

detail from silk pouch, 2009
salt water blessings
sandy dreams
childhood memories

surrender

detail from silk pouch, 2009
motherhood
a gift
a priviledge
a challenge
a surrender into the fire

volcano mother

detail from silk pouch, 2009
she is everywhere
volcano mother
birthing new beginnings

¿Quién causa tanta alegría?

2007 mixed media featuring the interior of León's cathedral
Who causes so much happiness?

This is the cry of millions of Nicaraguans during the December 7th “La Griteria” (The Shouting) celebration of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. An elaborate altar is set up with fresh flowers, lights, candles and more. Celebrants gather to sing prayerful hymns to Mother Mary. After the singing, massive amounts of food are distributed. Everything from oranges with little paper flags, candies made of condensed milk and coconut, tamales wrapped in dark green plantain leaves and a sweet pink drink made of corn. The tradition began somewhere between the 18th–19th century in the majestic colonial city of León, Nicaragua.

I have always seen “La Purisima” (The Purest) as a fascinating pagan-like ritual, one of my favorite parts of growing up Catholic. As a child, I believed we were honoring all the mothers, all the women and not just a statue of a pretty white lady dressed in blue draping gowns. Even more so today, I like to believe the songs, the prayers and food honor and celebrate the goddess in every woman...

originally published in 2007

goddess mother everywhere
more than ever
we need you

living poetry

detail from silk pouch, 2009
colonial cobblestone streets
where ancestors strolled
arm in arm
under moonlight
writing our stories
dreaming our existence into being
living poetry

love story

detail from silk pouch, 2009
a love story
yesterday
today and tomorrow

mother moon

detail from silk pouch, 2009
mother moon guided
in all her fullness
she welcomed us home

liquid light

detail from silk pouch, 2009
light
liquid light
throughout this journey and beyond

she challenged me

detail from another silk pouch, 2009
she challenged me
and I am stronger

she challenged me
and I am wiser

she challenged me
and I am grateful

simple pleasures

detail from one of my crazy silk pouches, Kwan Yin

value simple pleasures

savor what is naturally good

REUSE and RENEW

cook with humor, eat with meaning

give thanks for farmers and support bountiful oceans

give and give back

share home-cooked favorites

do good and be well

- Whole Foods Market recycled brown paper bag

This Holiday season...let us focus on SIMPLE PLEASURES....