week twenty four >> "oracle"

Today, the sky upheld the confirmation of this season. Through this heat we have been drooping in, here in LA, experiencing what some call an Indian Summer, through this, a thunder storm. As I rolled into Altadena this afternoon, returning the last vestiges of the volleyball team I coach, the rolling drum of lightning sounds dropped down from the surrounding mountains. Arriving home, the fall light of sunsetting through layered clouds and rains revealed the brightest rainbow. It produced a neighborhood corner gathering for a few moments of shared upliftment, until the strikes of Zeus began to flash close enough overhead to send all inside to observe from safety.

Today, at the Waldorf school I teach at, the 2nd grade and the 6th grade led the school in an annual celebration of Michaelmas as they presented the story of Nkosnati and the Dragon. Following, during the school wide games period, I was overseeing ‘the Dragons Sea’, through which the children were instructed to traverse a low wooden balance beam. In my creative simplicity, as I mulled how to make each grades challenge developmentally appropriate, I settled into a shared experience of a dark sea, where the travellers were to walk the narrow path with eyes closed. It was a stirringly beautiful observation vantage I then became witness to as each child approached with varying levels of confidence, and then embarked on this unsettling and brief task. The teetering balance between concentration, serenity and fear lit up in the closed eye faces. And I knew that this ‘game’ I hosted, upheld the Michaelmas sword... Courage to face dragons.

click for larger view

Today, as I look into zbook, entranced by the oracle image, seduced by the dragons at left, I am holding a deep gratitude for this season. As fall takes hold in its many faceted embrace, I am reminded by this zbook spread that the veil between worlds begins to thin in this time. In my readings and understandings of the Michaelmas festival, we humans are encouraged to take up our swords of Courage as we begin to enter the darkness of winter. Into this season, our Courage can lead the light of our soul to stand in truth before our own personal dragons and those which are reflected to us in the worlds vast seas. We are fortified with strengthening iron, running boosted in our blood and spreading, falling into our earths atmosphere from meteoric sources. The coverage of clouds across the sky with lightning striking is a visual of this picture, of forces converging, constricting to enhance power.

Today, as I continue to celebrate the birth and life of sweet Hallie, chronicled within the oracle, I wish great courage to swell in her heart. Nineness has taken hold, including an opening awareness to the outer world. In my parenting, I am faced with helping her, and myself, to overcome fear and doubt which has suddenly shadowed its presence with stronghold into our daily life. My child, who has been a breath of daring and outgoingness is facing the grip of an uncertain world. As she was sharing her choke today, she turned it around for herself, bursting into song of ‘slaying the dragon, St. Michael’. Blessings to you darling Libra, and may your many wisdomed guardians offer lights into the cave for you. Looking at you today, walking straight and confident, with eyes blinded from the sea, I was amazed to see your relations shining in your maturing face and stance. And, I pray for me to help see and acknowledge the emerging you which continues to crack through layers of childhoods protective shell. Dear Oracle, I am open to guidance and wisdom from all sources in this quest, feed me well to strengthen my courage! -J.

week eighteen >> "mapa"

"mapa"  click to view

When I hear this word, 'mapa', I see lands and crossings and adventure in my minds eye.
The picture from the “mapa” spread comes from the summer of July, 2002 at Lake Barryessa.
Tony, Hallie and Vinh have sinced been tribaled out by Ceci’s silver tipped experimentation.
 She apparently thought I was the tattoo / piercing culprit; however, I believe my observation stands here, as I mentioned to her, I probably wouldn't have gone all out on Tony's navel - because I know him too well!

This spread is obviously enhanced by intense shocks of color - blue saturated water colors, and fluorescent pen designs highlight the poignant masked angel beings who appear to be observing the goings on, participating?!  These Venetian robed figures hover as if on a threshhold of mirrored waters.  Through which, the words of life are swirling. 

I can't help but connecting this to the meditation on the Prologue to the Gospel of St. John:

                                                        In the Beginning

                                                        Was the Word

                                                        And the Word

                                                        Was with God

                                                        And the Word

                                                        Was God.

                                                        He was in the Beginning

                                                        With God.

As a studier of Rudolf Steiner, I came across the above 'Incarnation' in an issue of the Anthroposophical Society of LA's monthly newsletter some time ago.  I cut it out to keep and use because the intro said something about RS not being one to give guarantees, however, regarding this prologue, he is said to have said, "If you meditate on the Prologue to the Gospel of St. John, the first five verses (1 and 2 are above), for one year, every day, the whole course of your life will be changed."  That's a pretty powerful statement, so i cut it out.

On another note...

 Here is a short story to take you into the land of lake shores and rocky hillsides:
Our family travels every summer, through the hot plains of California’s fruit basket, into the foothills of the Western Sierras, via Dinuba and the Tivy Valley. As we turn the final curves of Sunnyslope into the domain of Pine Flats Lake, I am always relaxed into dreamy breath as my senses fill with the scenery. Our August trip, to celebrate Tony’s 42nd, was enlivened by his dear cousin's family floating along too. After a weekend overflowing with refreshment, we prepared our intentions and steered our course for Rattlesnake Island... to pay our final respects to Old Grandpa Snake.

We killed Old Grandpa last summer, another story in itself. This summer, a year later, we returned his head to the shores where we first crossed paths. Preserved in a hummus container, soaked in rock salt, OG’s diamond shaped cranium still held poison. We were cautious; my own touch, the only handling of the head and its container with gloves.
Tony and the four kids dug a hole.
I carried and opened the container and unloaded the contents.
Amazingly still well in tact after a year in salt, the head was large and commanded our reverance.
We admired the eyes and the scales and respected the fangs tucked away.
We prayed, then we buried and marked the snakes grave with a split walking stick, secured by rocks.
While the group swam in the warm cove, I climbed to the opposite side of the high water island, where the current is stronger, to rinse the bowls and jump into a cooler area.  I remembered swimming there, along the rocks with Hallie and Jack and cousin Jimmy the previous year,
the weekend we took home the snake.
For Christmas last, Tony tanned the skin and created five wearable pieces from it's length.  I received a baked skin bead on a red stone necklace he strung; Hallie was proud of her rattling bracelet and Tony's cowboy hat band catches any honky tonks eye. 

angels watching
Tonight, Tony and I pulled a powerful spread of cards to commemorate his birthday transition. So much of the weekends great lessons were mirrored in the pulls as we asked guidance from the Shaman Wisdom Cards and connected to the power of Zen utilizing the Osho Zen Tarot. So much power and affirmative wisdom poured through our devoted space; I am incredibly grateful and respondent to the gifts showered down. Tony acknowledges so graciously the truth of a 7 year cycle coming to close, and the next opening. In Steiner speak, he will come into a period once again of a double shot of will development. I will be elaborating on our spread for Tony, if anyone is interested in channeling universal guidance, feel free to ask. And also, go to Ceci’s newly manifested Oracle link – I’m sure she’ll extrapolate and invite expanded participation soon.

Please also feel free to share a comment with inspired vision ... we are on a path of visioning,
and oh my the waters are refreshing.
Blessings and Be well,
-Jennifer