Evita Peron: PUEBLO

2008 mixed media
Yo, en cambio, nací en el pueblo y sufrí en el pueblo. Tengo carne y alma y sangre del pueblo. No podía hacer otra cosa que entregarme a mi pueblo.

- Eva "Evita" Duarte de Peron (1919-1952)

Margarita: MUSA

2007 "Tia Margarita" mixed media
Margarita Debayle Sacasa de Pallais
mi musa de sueños y fantasias, mi Margarita

eran las 3 de la mañana

de repente despertó

una nube la encontró

entre luna y estrellas

con Ruben y Margarita

la historia quería ser escrita

2004 excerpt from an ongoing series of writings inspired by Margarita...his Grand Mother who also visits my dreams from years and years ago

Melba: DIOSA

2007 "ISIS" mixed media collage study for sculpture
Melba Tercero Debayle
mi ada madrina, diosa de luz

I am Isis, mistress of the whole land...I am she who separated the heaven from the earth. I have instructed mankind in the mysteries...I have ordered the course of the sun and the moon. I am queen of the rivers and winds and sea...I have made justice more powerful than silver and gold. I have caused truth to be considered beautiful. I am she who is called the Goddess of women...

- excerpt from the Inscription on The Temple of Isis at Sais

the goddess called me
it was a full moon yesterday

Frida Kahlo: ALAS

mixed media from a series
Pies para qué los quiero si tengo alas para volar...

Feet why do I need them if I have wings to fly?

- Frida Kahlo (1907-1954)

Do you have wings to fly?
I do...I have enormous wings which rescue me and dare me to continue soaring into my wildest dreams. The more I use my wings, the stronger they become and the further I am able to fly.

originally published last year

Gabriela Mistral: MADRE

2008 mixed media

Madre, madre, tú me besas,
pero yo te beso más,
y el enjambre de mis besos
no te deja ni mirar...

Si la abeja se entra al lirio,
no se siente su aletear.
Cuando escondes a tu hijito
ni se le oye respirar...

Yo te miro, yo te miro
sin cansarme de mirar,
y qué lindo niño veo
a tus ojos asomar...

El estanque copia todo
lo que tú mirando estás;
pero tú en las niñas tienes
a tu hijo y nada más.

Los ojitos que me diste
me los tengo de gastar
en seguirte por los valles,
por el cielo y por el mar...

- Gabriela Mistral (1889-1957)

Have you ever written a poem - or a note of love - to your Mother?

The bond between Mother and Child is sacred...

originally published in 2008

Celia Cruz: VIDA

2008 mixed media

¡ Azúcar !

- Celia Cruz (1925 – 2003)

Todo aquel que piense que la vida es desigual,
tiene que saber que no es asi,
que la vida es una hermosura, hay que vivirla.
Todo aquel que piense que esta solo y que esta mal,
tiene que saber que no es asi,
que en la vida no hay nadie solo, siempre hay alguien.

Ay, no ha que llorar, que la vida es un carnaval,
es mas bello vivir cantando.
Oh, oh, oh, Ay, no hay que llorar,
que la vida es un carnaval
y las penas se van cantando.

Todo aquel que piense que la vida siempre es cruel,
tiene que saber que no es asi,
que tan solo hay momentos malos, y todo pasa.
Todo aquel que piense que esto nunca va a cambiar,
tiene que saber que no es asi,
que al mal tiempo buena cara, y todo pasa.

Ay, no ha que llorar, que la vida es un carnaval,
es mas bello vivir cantando.
Oh, oh, oh, Ay, no hay que llorar,
que la vida es un carnaval
y las penas se van cantando.
Para aquellos que se quejan tanto.
Para aquellos que solo critican.
Para aquellos que usan las armas.
Para aquellos que nos contaminan.
Para aquellos que hacen la guerra.
Para aquellos que viven pecando.
Para aquellos nos maltratan.
Para aquellos que nos contagian.

[lyrics from Celia Cruz’s “La Vida es un Carnaval”]

lady of pazardzhik

2007 "LADY of PAZARDZHIK" pencil study for sculpture


I sit.
I wait.
I pray.
I listen in silence.
I breathe in gratitude.
I feel the moon blessing me, bestowing fertility.

excerpt from “The Goddess Speaks”, a manuscript in progress

originally published in 2007

beacon of peace

2007 Untitled mixed media study

Oh Enlightened Buddha
Fill me with your light today
Steer me away from the darkness of anger
Oh Enlightened Buddha
Help me be a beacon of peace today
With only love and light coming my way
Om Shanthi, Shanthi, Shanthi...



a prayer that came to me after my yoga practice this morning
originally published in 2007

swim in dreams

detail from my desk
I swim in dreams of blue
turquoise everywhere
today I will paint
after I stretch
after I pray
after I meditate
I swim in dreams of blue
turquoise and you

sacred simple stillness

2007 Untitled mixed media
i sit in silence
for those who don’t

i sit in silence
for those who can’t

i sit in silence
for those who won’t

i sit in silence
for My Self

i sit in peace
i sit in love
i sit in light



i sit in sacred simple stillness

originally published in January 2007

petals into words

2007 Untitled mixed media sculpture detail study


she dreams in roses

pouring petals

into words

angels up above

dancing round

full of love

originally published in January 2007

la sevillana

2007 "SEVILLANA" mixed media























llevaba una mantilla negra de encaje

una flor roja en el corazon

sus ojos verdes llenos de esperanza...

...la sevillana...OLÉ !

excerpt from a short story written 2 years ago

play

playthings selected by baby
baby wants to play all day

when do you play?

I am learning to play all day...even while I do dishes and laundry...

mirror mirror

study for illustration
mirror, mirror on the wall
who is the fairest of them all?

mirror mirror on the wall
who is the thinnest of them all?

mirror mirror on the wall
who is the youngest of them all?

looks, weight, age
competition
fear

LIFE is TOO PRECIOUS for such NON-SENSE

morning of song & dance

detail from mixed media 2009
a morning of song & dance
a morning of laughter & joy

Ese lunar que tienes,
Cielito lindo, junto a la boca,
No se lo des a nadie,
Cielito lindo, que a mí me toca.
Ay, ay, ay, ay,
Canta y no llores,
Porque cantando se alegran,
Cielito lindo, los corazones.

- Quirino Mendoza y Cortés (c. 1859–1957)

a morning of gratitude
good morning

your mountain

detail from "VOLCAN" solid sterling silver

Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So... get on your way.
- Dr. Seuss (1904-1991)

your mountain is waiting

deeds with love

detail from 2009 mixed media in private collection
Without love, deeds, even the most brilliant, count as nothing.

- Saint Thérèse of Lisieux (1873-1897)

Papa-Coco

mixed media 2007
nací siendo la primera nieta de
Antioco Sacasa Sarria
mi bello Papa-Coco de ojos azules

Papa-Coco quien me contaba cuentos
historias reales
leyendas maravillosas
con guitarra y voz dulce

Papa-Coco siento su mirada en cielos celestes
Papa-Coco escucho sus consejos con amor,
ya que siempre nos encontramos en mis sueños

originally published 2 years ago today

Beloved Grand Father,
How I wish you were still walking this planet, holding my son's hand.
Although, I am certain you are already great friends.
Mi Papa-Coco de mis sueños...

waves

detail from mixed media, 2007

The whole world is an ocean filled with waves. Learn to float on them and don't get caught in them. Equanimity, or balance, is Yoga. Learn to balance yourself - then you will enjoy everything.

- Sri Swami Satchidananda (1914-2002)

do not get caught in the waves

especially other people's energetic waves

float above

surf on top

do not get caught in the waves

just smile

detail from a sterling candy dish which inspires me

If we are peaceful, if we are happy, we can smile and blossom like a flower, and everyone in our family, our entire society, will benefit from our peace.

- Thich Nhat Hanh

smile today and blossom
life is too short to carry around low energies that weigh us down
just smile
feel the sunshine on your face
breathe in the moment

goddess with turquoise

study for sculpture


She looked up at me with her turquoise eyes and smiled,

CREATE what is in your HEART
WRITING will set you APART
FLY...FLY...

and the goddess disappeared...

excerpt from a dream

whispers of the gods

self-portrait of mixed media
Let us be silent that we may hear the whispers of the gods.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

...the whispers of the gods...
ancestors whisper words of wisdom
Grand Parents whisper through the light
dreams filled with whispers every night

Woodstock - 40 years ago

beloved Gurudev with me, circa 1973
On August 15th, 1969, exactly 40 years ago today, His Holiness Sri Swami Satchidananda opened up the Woodstock Music Festival:

My Beloved Brothers and Sisters:

I am overwhelmed with joy to see the entire youth of America gathered here in the name of the fine art of music. In fact, through the music, we can work wonders. Music is a celestial sound and it is the sound that controls the whole universe, not atomic vibrations. Sound energy, sound power, is much, much greater than any other power in this world. And, one thing I would very much wish you all to remember is that with sound, we can make—and at the same time, break. Even in the war-field, to make the tender heart an animal, sound is used. Without that war band, that terrific sound, man will not become animal to kill his own brethren. So, that proves that you can break with sound, and if we care, we can make also.

So I am very happy to see that we are all here gathered to create some sounds—to find that peace and joy through the celestial music. And I am really very much honored for having been given this opportunity of opening this great, great music Festival. I should have come a little earlier to do that job, but as you all know, thousands of brothers and sisters are on the way and it’s not that easy to reach here.

America leads the whole world in several ways. Very recently, when I was in the East, the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi met me and asked me what’s happening in America. and I said, “America is becoming a whole. America is helping everybody in the material field, but the time has come for America to help the whole world with spirituality also.” And, that’s why from the length and breadth, we see people—thousands of people, yoga-minded, spiritual-minded. The whole of last month I was in Hawaii and I was on the West Coast and witnessed it again.

So, let all our actions, and all our arts, express Yoga. Through that sacred art of music, let us find peace that will pervade all over the globe. Often we hear groups of people shouting, “Fight for Peace.” I still don’t understand how they are going to fight and then find peace. Therefore, let us not fight for peace, but let us find peace within ourselves first.

And the future of the whole world is in your hands. You can make or break. But, you are really here to make the world and not to break it. I am seeing it. There is a dynamic manpower here. The hearts are meeting. Just yesterday I was in Princeton, at Stony Brook in a monastery, where about two hundred or three hundred Catholic monks and nuns met and they asked me to talk to them under the heading of “East and West—One Heart.” Here, I really wonder whether I am in the East or West. If these pictures or the films are going to be shown in India, they would certainly never believe that this is taken in America. For here, the East has come into the West. And with all my heart, I wish a great, great success in this music Festival to pave the way for many more festivals in many other parts of this country.

But the entire success is in your hands, not in the hands of a few organizers. Naturally, they have come forward to do some job. I have met them. I admire them. But still, in your hands, the success lies. The entire world is going to watch this. The entire world is going to know that what the American youth can do to the humanity. So, every one of you should be responsible for the success of this Festival.

And, before I conclude my talk, I would like you all to join me and our group here in repeating a very simple chant. As I was reminding you of the sound power, there are certain mystical sounds which the Sanskrit terminology says are the bijakshara, or the “seed words.” We are going to use three seed words, or the mystic words, to formulate the chants. And if you all join wholeheartedly, after the chant we are going to have at least one whole minute of absolute silence. Not even the cameras will click at that time. And in that silent period, that one minute of silence, you are going to feel the great, great power of that sound and the wonderful peace that it can bring in you and into the whole world. Let us have a sample of that now. The words will be: “Hari” is one word. “Om” is another word. The first chant will have these two words, “Hari Om Hari Om, Hari Hari Hari Om.” The second line will be “Hari Om, Hari Om, Hari Hari Om.”

There will be another chant afterwards: just one word, “Ram.” We’ll be repeating: “Rama Rama Rama Rama Rama Rama Rama Ram.” It’s a sample. It’s very easy to follow with everybody and we’ll have a gentle clapping also. So, now we’ll begin in a slow rhythm and gradually build it up. Now I will request all of my friends to join me. We will repeat the line once, then allow you to follow. (The entire festival then chanted the “Hari Om” chant together.)

Thank you all very much. And once again let me express my sincere wish and prayers for the success and peace of this celebration. Thank you.

- Sri Swami Satchidananda (1914-2002)

OM, Shanti...

ojo

my eye, detail from recent photograph
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 in 2007

underneath the wrinkles

salvaged rose petals to be used in mixed media
I was about to throw away the old roses. It had been almost two weeks and they had dried up, becoming shriveled and no longer emanating any fragrance. And then I noticed that hidden underneath the wrinkles, existed the most magnificent colors....glorious colors not found in fresh buds...

this morning

behind the waterfall

The jewel-encrusted cave led her to an enormous drape of flowing water. Behind the luminescent waterfall curtain she discovered another world...a world where butterflies spoke and angels painted...a dream where the ocean sang and the moon danced...

excerpt from a dream-story originally published in May 2007

do what you have to

2001 Untitled mixed media on canvas, from a series
First say to yourself what you would be,
and then do what you have to do.
- Epictetus (AD 55–AD 135)

I received this message after morning yoga and meditation.

goddess of gold

raw material



goddess of gold

dressed in moonlight tonight

goddess of old

bathed is sunlight tomorrow

goddess of gold



excerpt from my meditation journal

originally published in April 2007

praying mantis

the praying mantis on our windowsill
The fairy spirit dressed in green appeared as a lovely praying mantis.

She reminded us of stillness and quiet...of the importance of mindfulness combined with creativity...

animal crackers

a cookie...cracker...a horse or a donkey
we had animal crackers in Adams Morgan

eternal love

my beautiful, beloved Grand Mother
an eternal love
mother's love

first words

one of my altars
his first words

DADA

MAMA

AGUILA (the Spanish word for eagle)

and this morning BUDDHA

the unknown

study for sculpture
the unknown
do we leap?
or wait to be pushed?

open

study for sculpture
open up

open mind

open body

look to the sun and

open up

spirit is waiting

from today's morning meditation & yoga

risk & face the truth

detail from amber, citrine & jade piece, circa 2004-2005
Risk! Risk anything!
Care no more for the opinions of others, for those voices.
Do the hardest thing on earth for you.
Act for yourself.
Face the truth.
- Katherine Mansfield (1888-1923)

Remember, the goddess whispered...

living in sacred manner

my corals and turquoise
Where are you living?
What are you doing?
What are your relationships?
Are you in right relation?
Where is your water?
Know our garden.
It is time to speak your Truth.
Create your community.
Be good to each other.
And do not look outside 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 on to the shore. They will feel like they are being torn apart, and they will suffer greatly.

Know the river has its destination. The elders say we must let go of the shore, push off toward the middle of the river, keep our eyes open, and our heads above the water.

See who is 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 comes to a halt.

The time of the lonely wolf is over. Gather yourselves!

Banish the word struggle from your attitude and vocabulary.

All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.

We are the ones we have been waiting for.

The Elders,
Oraibi, Arizona
Hopi Nation

reborn

a recent photograph
one year ago I became a mother

one year ago I was reborn

a lot of love

a fun candle


sugar
eggs
cream
flour
pineapple preserves
coconut
candles
a pan fit for an angel

There is a lot of love in those bags!
- check-out clerk at the grocery store

we had a delicious dinner
one year later
visiting Australia and Thailand instead of Peru

volcanoes

detail from pen & ink, circa 2006

The only mountains he had ever known were the three volcanoes, which came up to his knees. And he used the extinct volcano as a foot-stool.

- excerpt from Antoine de Saint-Exupery's
"The Little Prince"

I've been thinking and dreaming of volcanoes lately...

dawn in golden slippers

mixed media study


When I opened my eyes
hardly had dawn
in golden slippers
touched me

- SAPPHO

simplify

detail from a simple sketch that became a series in progress




simplify

simplify your life

he says

freedom & time

mixed media completed this weekend, from a series
I was organizing a bookshelf and stopped to view some photos from about 14 years ago. I was younger - and thinner, but I feel more beautiful today. I know who I am, where I stand and where I am headed. I am centered and balanced.

Yes, I may be overwhelmed with chores and lack of 8-hour sleep, but I am learning to give myself freedom and time to play and take naps...and to be in the moment and just give thanks...

dream messages

detail from mixed media


They were living in a luxurious chateau in France. I was overjoyed to see my beloved Grand Parents. André Breton came to visit and we discussed my art, my writing...

Words make love with one another.

- André Breton (1896-1966)

excerpt from last night's dream

the laundry can wait

2009 mixed media from a series
there are about four loads of laundry to wash, dry, fold and put away

and all I want to do is paint
and finish a fabulous necklace
and play with baby
and take a nap

the laundry can wait

unraveling meditations for manifesting

detail from mixed media, 2009
He sat in his green rocking chair, unraveling meditations for manifesting as the praying mantis appeared at the window...

excerpt from a true story in progress

baby artist

2009 marker on paper by baby
He asks to sit on my lap every morning to draw. Some days it is with a pencil, other days with a pen. Today it was with a purple marker. I am in love with my baby artist...

to remember or to forget?

detail from a mixed media in progress
I have kept a journal since childhood. Isabel Allende advices to write what should not be forgotten. What about things that are best left in the past? What needs to be remembered and what needs to be forgotten? Do we really have the power to decide?

silence

mixed media in progress
are we afraid of silence?

Within each of us there is a silence - a silence as vast as the universe. We are afraid of it...and we long for it. When we experience that silence, we remember who we are: creatures of the stars, created from the birth of galaxies, created from the cooling of this planet, created from dust and gas, created from the elements, created from time and space...created from silence. Silence is the source of all that exists, the unfathomable stillness where vibration began - the first oscillation, the first word, from which life emerged. Silence is our deepest nature, our home, our common ground, our peace. Silence reveals. Silence heals. Silence is where God dwells. We yearn to be there. - Gunilla Norris

are we afraid to remember who we are?
are we afraid to be healed through silence?

40 years

detail from a circa 1998 sculpture

only 40 years ago
a human being
walked on the moon

where will the next 40 years take us?

where will the next 40 days take us?

...the next 40 minutes?

...these next 40 seconds?