YOUer than you

To honor Mahala and her new decade, I steal the staggeringly beautiful words of David Whyte.

Detail of Unicorn Hunt from Geinhausen, Germany

Altar Antependium "Marienteppich" [late 15th century]

SEEING YOU

I want you 

to see

yourself

the way

I sometimes 

see you.

Hawaii | then & now

This all started with a conversation between Nainoa Langer and Sam Potter as they sat above a waterfall overlooking a childhood swimming hole.

Nai said, “We should start a travel-based series that gives people an in-depth look at cultures around the world,” in hopes that we could create something that encourages greater appreciation, understanding, and respect between cultures.

Sam's response was “Let’s start with home.” So, here we are. 

The first thought when it came to explaining a place as complex as Hawaii was people need to understand that there are two parts to the culture - the traditional side and the modern day side.

Our modern-day life represented by Kimi Werner, demonstrates our values, the way we care for each other, for our community, and for our environment.

The traditional side represented by Micah Kamohoalii, shares a little about the history of Hawaii, the practices of the Hawaiian people.

Most importantly, Aloha, what it means and how that too can be practiced.

pen & ink

Unpacking my art supplies after so long is like being reunited with long lost friends. Which is exactly what these instruments of delight are.

my final pen & ink colored sketch

Although I am unused to using them and have to reacquaint myself with each one. As my hand grasps and gropes awkwardly. Tiring all too soon.

For practice I return to my Entangled coloring book by Angela Porter. As I did when I first got this I work on inking in more lines.

worship of the woman

"La Loba sings over the bones she has gathered. To sing means to use the soul-voice. It means to say on the breath the truth of one’s power and one’s need, to breathe soul over the thing that is ailing or in need of restoration." ~ Clarissa Pinkola Estes ~ 

Georgia O'Keefe

Bone by bone, hair by hair, Wild Woman comes back.

Through night dreams, through events half understood and half remembered.

Wild Woman comes back. Singing over the bones.

This is called "Mater Dolorosa," the Unruined Heart. It is a blessing on you.

You can have pain. You can have tragedy. You can have devastation. And still, still a heart will remain unruined.

"It has to be in you, it is in your dreams. Dreams are the center of your psyche. So at the center of your psyche is all this wholeness, all this fullness, all this unruined heart."

This work, Untie the Strong Woman, is a continuation of all other works of Dr. Estes. She looks at the largest archetype of the holy, integral woman from many different angles.

Wild Woman, Wise Woman, Holy Woman - we share the same heartbeat.

In Women Who Run with the Wolves she writes -

"Wild Woman archetype is not savage or out of control but is a natural, instinctual set of longings and knowings that are embedded in our psyches."

Wisdom is not a condition, it is a holy endeavor.