blessed Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday and Passover are major occasions evoking sacred rites, rituals and communal practices among many. 

Palm Sunday marks the first day of Holy Week, the last week of the Christian solemn season of Lent that precedes the arrival of Eastertide. The beloved palm frond has become for many a precious symbol of triumph and victory. 

The origins of the Passover festival predate the Exodus. The Passover ritual, prior to Deuteronomy, is widely thought to have its origins in an apotropaic rite, unrelated to the Exodus, to ensure the protection of a family home, a rite conducted wholly within a clan. 

When done properly, their preparation is Sacred Alchemy - balancing mythology with technology and philosophy. 

Ganachakra (a Dakini feast) is a sacramental meal and festive celebration invoking an alchemical transmutation from base to higher vibration. 

In this process, the negative energy of baser emotion or klesha (poison) is transformed into the luminous energy of enlightened awareness or gnosis (jnana). 

Its ingestion is highly intoxicating where the physical digestion leads to spiritual unfolding and God realization. 

rabble rouser

their world is not our world

conflict and chaos reign supreme
in our current covid-19 crisis
as China sweeps ahead

an unimaginable horror
hidden from us all
exploding beyond belief

invisible and boundless
mutating faster than
our speed of comprehension

in a global stage
occupied by the scared and witless
a big bully projects itself well

be aggressive not passive
protest and persist
be unreasonable

demonstrate and demand
fair trade for you and me
equality for art and science

call a strike
for a bluer planet
for a greener earth

bypass politics
stage a shutdown
united we stand

a reflective St. Patrick's Day 2020

Lucky stars above you,

Sunshine on your way,

Many friends to love you,

Joy in work and play.

Laughter to outweigh each care,

In your heart a song -

And gladness waiting everywhere

All your whole life long.

Prayer of St. Patrick

shepherd, slave, snake wrangler, saint

This year the parade was cancelled as New York City shut down amid the pandemic spread of coronavirus [COVID19].

It is a strange time and a shock to us all as we start 2020 and the new decade under the weight of its uncertainty and pandemonium.

All have been advised to self isolate as much as we can since it is the most reliable option we have at the moment. Many cities and countries are already under imposed quarantine in the hope of diminishing its spread and devastation.

For the first time in many years, more of us now have the time and space [enforced or otherwise] to quiet down and reflect on much to consider. Many believe life as we know it is eternally altered as a result of this. For better or worse we are all encouraged to self isolate and practice social distancing.

Blessing or inconvenience - Happy St. Patrick's Day to us all. Let us celebrate all the leprechauns, miracle workers, rainbows and pots of gold in our lives.

Luck of the Irish [and our own] to ya ! ! ! Until we meet again, may God hold us in the palm of His hand.

March 8 is International Women's Day

March is Women's History Month and 2020 we commemorate 100 years the struggle for women's rights. Celebrating the political, social, economic and cultural achievements of women throughout history.

A focal point in the movement for women's rights, 2020's theme is "Valiant Women of the Vote." At the start of a new decade women of the world are asking, now what?

Hulu just released a biopic on Hillary Clinton. So sad and heartbreaking to hear how hard this worthy woman worked to make our world a better place.

America deserves Donald J. Trump for rejecting her the way we did. We all know now that things will only get so much worse before there is any hope to look forward to.

Too bad. So sad. After struggling for 100 years let's hope it does not take as long for us to wake up.

nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up

On Sunday, Feb 23 at 9pm, the film nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up aired on CBC TV. The TV version has been edited to fit into a 45 minute time slot and doesn’t include details that appear in the longer feature film version.

Illustration by Elizabeth LaPensée

We are pleased to offer this short segment of footage from the longer version, which provides deeper historical context to the film. In this stunning piece animated by Justin Stephenson & Solis Animation Inc, illustrated by Beth Lapensee and narrated by filmmaker Tasha Hubbard, we hear about a history of Indigenous peoples in the prairies and their relationship with the government, focusing on the events of the late nineteenth century.

In 1876, Treaty 6 negotiations ended with promises of health care, education, hunting rights and freedom in exchange for sharing the land to the depth of a plough. Instead, the Canadian government passed the Indian Act which pushed Indigenous people onto reserves. Violence and hunger were used to force assimilation and colonialism when leaders like Big Bear and Poundmaker tried to fight back.

Sensitively directed by Tasha Hubbard, nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up follows the family of the late Colten Boushie, a young Cree man fatally shot in a Saskatchewan farmyard, as they demand justice from Canada’s legal system.

Watch it online at https://www.wewillstandupfilm.com/watch. 

soulful songs to Shiva

Days like this make me miss my years living at the hermitage as a disciple and devotee. The clean pure joy of total surrender. Aarati. Seva. Japa. Meditation.

Maha Shivaratri is a popular Hindu festival celebrated every year in reverence of the Lord Shiva. The 'Great Night of Shiva' is an auspicious day believed to be the day of convergence of divine powers of Lord Shiva and Goddess Shakti. The night when Shiva performs the heavenly dance of creation, preservation and destruction. 

On this day the planetary positions in the universe align with these spiritual energies. Tapas are performed in exchange for boons. Through the practice of meditation and yoga, we pay our respect and pray to Lord Shiva all day, chanting Om Namah Shiva.

2020 big bangs

My daughter sent me this image and we agreed it captured exactly how bombarded we felt the first month of 2020.

J - Fires in Australia

A - Taal Volcano Eruption 

N - World War III

U - Earthquake

A - Floods

R - Corona Virus

Y - death of Kobe & Gigi Bryant art by Josua Cabrera

Gratefully February - so far, at least - appears to be gentler and much kinder to and for us. Big sigh!

Happy Valentine's Day to all!