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..At 2:00 this afternoon (EDT) we felt the peak of the super "full worm moon"-- an extra bright March moon named for the worms that are beginning to stir under the soil with the coming of spring (although what this really means is that they're beginning to stir upwards, since they dig down deep enough to where the earth has a constant temperature and they never actually stop moving. In any case that characteristic is certainly not true everywhere--there are many places, including the one where I am, where the ground has never frozen).  But the worm moon is a fun mental image, and I found an illustration from the Farmer's Almanac that illustrates it delightfully. I'm including it here.  

This image feels inviting to me: I want to follow that worm wherever it's going, since it seems so strong and determined and forward-looking.  And the look of the moon (is it yellow cheese?) is quite jaunty too.

I used associations and energies around the moon as prompts in my "Writing From the Inside" workshop today, and the group went in a very different direction; our writing led us to a peaceful place of bathing in mystery and magical moonlight. There were wonderful phrases/word pictures like "Yes, says the moon;" "the facets of your face;" and "I ate the moon" (which led me to a discovery of Aousha, the beloved "Arab girl" from the UAR who was known as "the poet who ate the moon"--she dreamed in her youth that the moon came down from the sky and she swallowed it).  I'm always in awe when I see what comes through as we explore through the words this way, much as I am when we see what comes through the images in SoulCollage.  It's this kind of discovery I seek to share in this blog.

Thus, I'm presenting another olio or miscellany today--some images of artwork, some poetry--no single theme, but examples of continued creative expression and hopefully, fodder for others.


First, some pieces I made for participants in the Inner Guidance by the Gulf workshop I led last week. Each started with one of my photographs, which was altered and enlivened, and then used as the basis of a dimensional collage--there are pieces of flora and fauna added to each one. Do click on the images for the full view, and see if you can determine what the added bits are. They are identified in the captions.
Next, more of the amazing forms in the landscape around me. I just revel in the variety, form and color. The first two are from my yard: the surprising seeds of the cardboard palm--which is actually not a palm at all, but a cycad, an ancient plant that has been around since the time of the dinosaurs; and a view of the curry leaf plant--still small but will grow into a tree. Stunning mandala!
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Interlude: two recent poems.

       OPEN WEAVE

The light comes through, gently latticed,
shining softly through the spaces.
Iridescent threads pull into small circles,
their cavities playing arpeggios of color
for our deep delight.



            GIFTING

She came, bearing a large box
wrapped beautifully and finished
with a perfect bow.

She held it out, offering,
"Here," she said, "this is for you."
"Take it," she urged:
the discovery, untying the ribbons,
feeling the slight unease
of not knowing what's to come.

She made a little bow, backed away,
and left the room.
Her gift was the promise,
the very moments of wonder
and anticipation.

This kind of economy is truly rich,
wrapping the presents and receiving,
the give and take flowing every which way,
always offering and
always taking in.


And a few more enlivened images, holding the light:
I've been busy with new sculptures and collages as well, but have no good photos yet, so I will save that for next time.  Remember, I appreciate your feedback.  How do these offerings affect you?   Thanks for sharing.