just be

2009 mixed media from a series
The flower doesn’t even know it is giving fragrance. Does it say, ‘Here is a nice person; I want to be extra nice and give her some fragrance?’ A candle doesn’t even know that it is giving light. It is just light. Does the candle say, ‘Hey, look. I’m here wasting my time; I’m melting away. Come, read or write something?’ No. The candle is just there. That is what a Karma Yogi is. Just by that yogi’s very presence, people enjoy the light, people enjoy the smell, people get the benefit. But, if you feel, ‘I wanted to give, but nobody wanted to receive; I’m wasting my time,’ then you are unhappy. Do you think that people are waiting around for you to give them something? Nobody is waiting for your gift. But, when they are hungry, they will take it. So, just be. Don’t try to become.

God bless you. OM Shanti, Shanti, Shanti.

- H. H. Swami Satchidananda (1914—2002)
my wise Gurudev...exactly what I needed to hear today...

most noble

for the most noble of them all
eagle

shaman

warrior

king

healer

most noble of them all...

spring fever

detail from a series of Spring photos, 2009
It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!
- Mark Twain (1835-1910)
got it...

enough

study for sculpture
when will it be enough?

when will it be good enough?

candle or mirror

detail from an idea


There are two ways of spreading light; to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.

- Edith Wharton (1862-1937)

How do you spread light?

never give up

detail from a series of Spring photos, 2009
When you get in a tight place, and everything goes against you till it seems as if you couldn't hold on a minute longer, never give up then, for that's just the place and time that the tide'll turn.
- Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896)

never give up

life is a poem

sketch from one of my journals
Any time is the time to make a poem.

- Gertrude Stein (1874-1926)

my life is a poem
with him and him

the waves in the ocean dance your name, he says

you are my ocean, she answers

laughter

no, that's cursi

rain dance

detail from 2009 mixed media


rain purifies and cleanses


let's go dance in the rain, he said

won't we get wet, she asked

that's the point, he answered


rain purifies and cleanses

fairy vacation

2009 mixed media from a dream
She gathered her rose petals and decided Spring was an ideal time to take a vacation from the world. She would go to the sea and stroll pink sands at sunrise and sunset...

excerpt from my dream journals

nicaragua: orlando sovalbarro

"...una luz que nos va dando pautas en el conocimiento, en este caso, el mío que es pictórico...yo creo que el experimento es importante, es como cuando se lee y se lee y al final te sentís fortalecido en espíritu, conciencia y concepto, como persona y trabajador, en este caso de la pintura..."

- Orlando Sovalbarro (1943-2009)

His sculpture speaks to me of dreams and fantasy and history. I have slept with his angels watching over me. I have meditated upon his haunting owls which remind me of Melba. Although we never met in person, our souls communicated on other levels...

full moon last night

detail from mixed media circa 2007He leaned over and whispered,
"...if you have a chance, go to your window and look at the moon..."
His breath was sweet and he smelled of lilacs.
It was a full moon last night.

dreams

2009 mixed media
Last night I dreamt so much...and this morning I told him a story partly from dreams, mostly from imagination.

Once upon a time there was a butterfly who fell in love with a little bird so blue...

with time

2009 mixed media from a series
with time, we become more authentic
with time, we reveal our essence
with time, our colors intensify

excerpt from one of my journals

spring

detail from one of my roses
Last night I slept with open windows.
This morning I woke up with singing birds.
Spring has arrived in all her glory!

una rosa de mujer

2009 mixed media from a series I began a few years ago
celebrando cada pétalo en mi vida

celebrandote mujer, hoy día

unexamined life

in the clouds


The unexamined life is not worth living.

- Socrates (469 - 399 BC)



How does one examine life while still remaining in the moment?

3 fortunes

from last night's take-out
Is life like a cookie, where we randomly choose our fortunes?

I believe life is a DANCE between our spirits and the Divine One...a wild and wonderful dance, which can leave one feeling out of breath at times...

life of the immortals

Seek not, my soul, the life of the immortals; but enjoy to the full the resources that are within thy reach.

- Pindar (518-438 B.C.)

I dreamt with many of them again last night...does that not make them immortal?

pintado o desnudo

detail from self-portrait in progress
ojo de mujer
que ves ?
a quien lloras ?

ojo de mujer
durmiendo
soñando

ojo de mujer
deja la luz entrar
-- es hora de despertar

ojo de mujer
pintado o desnudo
mirate en el espejo – y dime, de que color eres ?

originally published on 1/23/2007

mother-of-pearl

detail from a lovely piece I am incorporating in a sculpture
I am the mother-of-pearl.
The world is a vein of silver,
An illusion!

This is the truth.

Nothing to grasp,
Nothing to spurn,
Nothing to dissolve.

I am in all beings.
All beings are in me.

This is the whole truth.

Nothing to embrace,
Nothing to relinquish,
Nothing to dissolve.

- Ashtavakra Gita

something to meditate on

be who you are & say what you feel

2009 mixed media
Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.

- Dr. Seuss (1904-1991)

...and may I add, pooo-pooo to you who judge and eat too much fudge while holding a grudge and refusing to budge...

who irritates you?

2009 mixed media
Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.

- Carl Jung (1875-1961)

Years ago, when I first read this, it changed my life. I became more compassionate, not only with others, but also with myself.

old obsessions

an old photo...circa very early 1980sI am obsessed with old photos.
Each seems to hold a piece of the puzzle.
Is a photo from 1980-1981 considered old?
Not really, but old enough I suppose.

What is one of your oldest obsessions?

dulzura & calor: Edda M. Sevilla

2009 mixed media
Dame la dulzura de tus labios
El calor de tu cuerpo
El placer de tus manos
El milagro de tu amor
Llename de ti y así los dos revalsaremos de pasión.

------------------------------------------

Tu eres mi cielo siempre rodeandome de amor.
Tu eres mi sol siempre dandome calor.
Tu eres mi luna siempre mi luz en la oscuridad
Yo te prometo ser lo mismo y crear para los dos un paraíso hasta la eternidad.

- Edda M. Sevilla (b. 1949)

Happy Birthday Beloved God Mother Tilly!

mother is also born

2009 mixed media
The moment a child is born, the mother is also born.

She never existed before.

The woman existed, but the mother, never.

A mother is something absolutely new.

- Osho(1931-1990)

I have given birth to a new part of myself...

DIOR meets CASIMIRA

2009 mixed media

Zest is the secret of all beauty.
There is no beauty that is attractive without zest.

- Christian Dior (1905-1957)

How great is your appetite for life?

the soul like the moon

sterling silver with gemstone eye, circa 2003
The soul, like the moon,
is new, and always new again.

- Lalleswari (14th century)

My soul communicates with Mother Moon who offers me wisdom and light, guidance and hope for tomorrow.

healed - life anew

carved jade waiting to becomeO ye people,
be ye healed;
Life anew I bring unto ye.

O ye people,
be ye healed;
Life anew I bring unto ye.

Through the Father over all
Do I thus.
Life anew I bring unto ye.

- Good Eagle, Dakota Sioux holy man (late 19th century)

Last night I dreamt with ghosts...spirits whispering messages in between dances.

necessary dreams

2009 detail from mixed media





Dreams are necessary to life.

- Anaïs Nin (1903-1977)



I cannot imagine life without dreams...

nicaragua: Rubén Darío

2009 mixed media
Y para Casimira
El oro de la Lira
y las Flores de lis
que junten la fragancia
de Nicaragua y Francia
por su adorado Luis

- Rubén Darío (1867-1916)

I adore Rubén Darío, his works, his words never cease to inspire...

nicaragua: Luis H. Debayle

2009 mixed media of my Great-Great Grand Father
Dejadme que interrogue al agua que ha besado
Sus formas provocantes, su tez de rosa y lirio;
Y aquel grato aroma sus ondas ha impregnado;
Dejadme que su efluvio aspire con delirio.

Oh, la estancia que aun guarda la delicia inefable
De su talle y sus flancos y de su seno ardiente,
Velados por el negro cabello incomparable;
Y el lino que enjugara aquel cuerpo adorable,
Dejadme que lo oprima y lo bese ferviente.

El corsé que lucia y que mis dedos tocan
Trémulos, y las ropas que su encanto oprimieron,
Nostálgicos tal vez del goce que sintieron,
Me parece que esperan y en mi un pasado evocan.

Embriagado y absorto, en un ansia infinita,
Veo el ritmo felino, la carne que palpita,
La soberbia figura luciendo su realeza;
E irguiéndose atrevida en suprema belleza,
Nacida de la onda, la divina Afrodita.

- Luis H. Debayle (1865-1938)

I believe he wrote this for his beloved Casimira...

nicaragua: Salomón de la Selva

2009 mixed media
Se me figura que todo el mundo ahora
debe sentir lo que yo siento.
Imagínate: ¡Hoy a salido el sol!
¡Hoy hemos visto el cielo!

Han pasado incontables aeroplanos:
todos quedamos roncos
de gritarles saludos.
¡Qué nos iban a oír!
Pero oírse uno mismo es lo importante,
oírse hasta quedarse sordo,
y ver la luz del día hasta cegarse:
¿Verdad que es muy sencillo
el secreto del arte?

Tuvimos un fuego al aire libre
hasta que nos obligaron a apagarlo.
El calor nos volvió contemplativos.
¡Todos nos chamuscamos los zapatos!
Otro descubrimiento divino:
Darse al calor hasta quemarse
es el secreto del misticismo.

Nadie ha proferido ni una queja.
Es por entero falso que tengamos enemigo.
No nos hemos cruzado ni una bala.
Sin embargo, esta noche
esperamos ataque.
Por eso te escribo.

- Salomón de la Selva (1893-1959)

...darse al calor hasta quemarse...
how often do we step into the FIRE?

nicaragua: Azarías H. Pallais

2009 mixed media, husband's great uncle
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)

a perfect meditation for a rainy day like today

nicaragua: Alfonso Cortés

2009 mixed media
Muchos me han dicho: El viento, el mar, la lluvia, el grito
de los pastores... Otros: La hembra humana y el cielo;
otros: La errante sombra y el invisible velo
de la Verdad, y aquellos: La fantasía, el mito.

Yo no. Yo sé que todo es inefable rito
en el que oficia un coro de arcángeles en vuelo,
y que la eternidad vive en sagrado celo,
en el que engrenda el Hombre y pare lo infinito.

Por eso, mis palabras son silencio hablado,
y en la fatal urdimbre de cada ser, encuentro
difícil lo sabido y fácil lo ignorado...

Yo soy el Mercader de una divina feria
en la que infinito es círculo sin centro
y el número la forma de lo que es materia.

- Alfonso Cortés (1893-1969)

...mis palabras son silencio hablado...
...my words are spoken silence...

nicaragua: Marcos Orozco

he used one of my mixed medias for the cover of his first book
This week Nicaragua celebrates its annual poetry festival...and although I am not there in person, I am there in spirit...

NICARAGUA

Ayer Gioconda preguntó:
Qué sos?, par saberte
dentro de sí misma.

Hoy, yo no necesito preguntarte:
Qué tienes?
para saber que sufres.

- Marcos Orozco (b. 1976)

what is evil?

2009 mixed media
What is evil?

Killing is evil,

Lying is evil,

Slandering is evil,

Abuse is evil,

Gossip is evil,

Envy is evil,

Hatred is evil,

To cling to false doctrines is evil;
All these things are evil.

And what is the root of evil?

DESIRE is the root of evil,
ILLUSION is the root of evil.

- Buddha

She warned us about an envious click around and advised us to pray for them and to bless them, for they are the unhappiest creatures in the universe...

bella melodía

detail from my Valentine's wrapped present, wonder what's inside...
No existe un momento de día
en que pueda apartarme de ti;
el mundo parece distinto
cuando no estás junto a mí.

No hay bella melodía
donde no surjas tú,
ni yo quiero escucharla
si no la escuchas tú.

Es que te has convertido
en parte de mi alma,
ya nada me conforma
si no estás tú también.

Más allá de tus labios
del sol y las estrellas,
contigo en la distancia
amada mía/o estoy.

- César Portillo de la Luz (born 1922)

I have been singing this song for a few days...

age of aquarius

2009 mixed media
When the moon is in the Seventh House
And Jupiter aligns with Mars
Then peace will guide the planets
And love will steer the stars

This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius

Harmony and understanding
Sympathy and trust abounding
No more falsehoods or derisions
Golden living dreams of visions
Mystic crystal revelation
And the mind's true liberation

When the moon is in the Seventh House
And Jupiter aligns with Mars
Then peace will guide the planets
And love will steer the stars

At 7.25am on 14th February 2009 - and for the 18 minutes of the alignment, I invite you, in the universal heart, to add your own intention for love and peace and to co-create the dawning of the Age of Aquarius to that of the Cosmos. In whatever way feels appropriate for you, you may choose to align with7.25am (UT) or 7.25am your own local time energizing a wave of intention that will surge around the Earth.

- Jude Currivan, PhD
thank you Amma

hablaría con el corazón

an idea
Si me quitaran totalmente todo
si, por ejemplo, me quitaran el saludo
de los pájaros, o los buenos días
del sol sobre la tierra,
me quedaría
aún una palabra.
Aún me quedaría una palabra
donde apoyar la voz.
Si me quitaran las palabras,
o la lengua,
hablaría con el corazón
en la mano,
o con las manos en el corazón.
Si me quitaran una pierna
bailaría en un pie.
Si me quitaran un ojo
lloraría en un ojo.
Si me quitaran un brazo
me quedaría el otro,
para saludar a mis hermanos,
para sembrar los surcos de la tierra,
para escribir todas las playas del mundo, con tu nombre, amor mío.

- Alejandro Romualdo (1926-2008)

moving to Susana Baca's sung version and remembering Tia Lala

whispering angels

2009 mixed media, sculpture in progress
Every blade of grass has its ANGEL that bends over it and whispers, "Grow, grow."
- The Talmud

Angels are always whispering, we need to be still enough and willing enough to listen...

diamond flower

2009 mixed media


She wore a diamond flower in her hair, and all the people turned to stare...

excerpt from a dream

beautiful boy

my beautiful boy
Close your eyes,
Have no fear,
The monsters gone,
He's on the run and your mamma’s [daddy's] here,

Beautiful,
Beautiful, beautiful,
Beautiful Boy,

Before you go to sleep,
Say a little prayer,
Every day in every way,
It's getting better and better,

Beautiful,
Beautiful, beautiful,
Beautiful Boy,

Out on the ocean sailing away,
I can hardly wait,
To see you to come of age,
But I guess we'll both,
Just have to be patient,
Yes it's a long way to go,
But in the meantime,

Before you cross the street,
Take my hand,
Life is just what happens to you,
While your busy making other plans,

Beautiful,
Beautiful, beautiful,
Beautiful Boy,
Darling,
Darling...

- John Lennon (1940-1980)

one of my favorite songs to sing to my beautiful boy

47-year-old baby

2009 mixed media
"I still sway that way whenever I hold a grocery bag in my arms and my baby is 47 years old..."
- a lady I met today while I was holding baby in store...

united nations: labels

this label made me laugh

While folding and sorting laundry last night, I began to notice the labels.

MADE IN: India, Bangladesh, Guatemala, Mexico, Lesotho, El Salvador, Russia, Indonesia, China, U.S.A., Egypt, Philippines, Italy, Canada, Japan, Nicaragua, Peru, Vietnam, Thailand...and my favorite:
Designed in France, Made in Tunisia...

purple hair

2009 mixed media sketch for sculpture
The senior citizen wore an elegant three-piece suit. His shoes were polished. When the wind blew, I noticed his purple hair...how fabulously bold...

on the way to the grocery store this morning

patience & wisdom

2009 mixed media

Patience is the companion of wisdom.

- St. Augustine (354 AD – 430 AD)

Do you consider yourself a patient person?

Do you consider yourself a wise person?

medicine man

2009 mixed media
His face appeared to have been carved from ancient stone.
His voice was a faint whisper.
The Native American Medicine Man passed on these commandments:

Treat the Earth and all that dwell thereon with respect.

Remain close to the Great Spirit.

Show great respect for your fellow beings.

Work together for the benefit of all mankind.

Give assistance and kindness wherever needed.

Do what you know to be right.

Look after the well being of mind and body.

Dedicate a share of your efforts to the greater good.

Be truthful and honest at all times.

Take full responsibility for your actions.

a true story

snowflake

snowflake on my window

Nature is full of genius, full of the divinity; so that not a snowflake escapes its fashioning hand.

- Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

Enjoying the scattered snowflakes this morning...

life like a wild flower

2009 sketch for a brooch
May your life be like a wild flower, growing freely in the beauty and joy of each day.
- Native American Proverb

my wish for myself, my husband and our child
my wish for the planet

majestic motherhood

2009 sculpture in progress
six months ago, I gave birth to a son
six months ago, I gave birth to the mother within
...majestic motherhood