Spirit

TESTIMONY

There's godlike
And warlike
And strong
Like only some show
And there's sad like
And mad like
And had
Like we know
But by my life be I spirit
And by my heart be I woman
And by my eyes be I open
And by my hands be I whole

They say slowly
Brings the least shock
But no matter how slow I walk
There are traces
Empty spaces
And doors and doors of locks
But by my life be I spirit
And by my heart be I woman
And by my eyes be I open
And by my hands be I whole

You young ones
You're the next ones

And I hope you choose it well
Though you try hard
You may fall prey
To the jaded jewel
But by your lives be you spirit
And by your hearts be you women
And by your eyes be you open
And by your hands be you whole

Listen, there are waters
Hidden from us
In the maze we find them still
We'll take you to them
You take your young ones
May they take their own in turn
But by your lives be you spirit
And by your hearts be you women
And by your eyes be you open
And by your hands be you whole

(Ferron)

Mandala #43: Hansa (Swan) for Kevin

Mandala #43's ground is a letter that my artist and musician friend, Kevin, signed on June 27, 1989, when he was still able to use a typewriter.  He had been diagnosed with ALS a few years earlier and wanted his letter to be sent to his friends and loved ones after his death.  As the ALS progressed, his speech could be understood only by the one closest to him.  He died on June 25, 1991.  It was only after my friend, Deven (Kevin's wife) died unexpectedly this last February that I realized Kevin's major role in leading me to do a series of mandalas in recent years.  His final paintings were monumental mandalas.  Kevin and Deven were unwavering in their enthusiasm for my art work during a time when I felt inadequate and uncertain and lost in so many ways.

My goal once again this year is to complete 12 mandalas.  My first mandala was for Deven.  Now it is July, and my second mandala is for Kevin. 

Meditation on Mother Earth:



The Cart The strap that holds the cart in rein Has been let loose by wearing thin By wearing thin, by biting through The shift in power leans to you And the cart is on a wheel I've wept with joy for the things I've done And I've wept as hard for what I left undone For what I left undone For what I couldn't deem mine For what I thought was yours And so I drew the line And the cart is on a wheel And the wheel is on a hill I heard someone fall I saw another one flail I saw an arm dig deep Where there was no rail Well there is no rail And there's no 'because' Though the body be strong The Spirit is law And the cart is on a wheel And the wheel is on a hill And the hill is shifting sand And inside these laws we stand. If we are lives and souls to keep If we are Love, I hope we do not sleep I hope we do not sleep I hope we stay our ground Hold fast to the Mother as she turns us 'round. 'Cause the cart is on a wheel And the wheel is on a hill And the hill is shifting sand And inside these laws we stand. Hold fast to the Mother...hold fast.

(Song and lyrics by Ferron)

Witness / In the Meantime

"... i went empty up a mountain and brought back a piece of you."
(lyrics by Ferron from "In The Meantime")

Orlando Meditation / Listen to Ferron

Because grief will come in measures,
only grief alone will know
And you'll see it on your family,
on your own face it will grow
And they'll try to keep you hungry,
then they'll tell you to eat snow.
You know pride can be a moving thing
if we learn the strength of "NO!"

We are children in the rafters,
We are babies in the park,
We are lovers at the movies,
We are candles in the dark,
We are changes in the weather,
We are snowflakes in July,
We are women grown together,
We are men who easily cry,
We are words not quickly spoken,
We're the deeper side of try,
We are dreamers in the making, 
We are not afraid of "Why?"