As a child, my favorite saint was St. Francis. I think one of the reasons I was so drawn to his story was his profound connection to all of creation: sun, moon, plants, rivers mountains, animals … somehow that way of living and being has always resonated with me. I continue to gain inspiration from… Continue reading Inspired by the Prayer of St. Francis
Tag: poem
Seen :: Frost Birds
did not have to go far today
to see a sudden burst of flight.
frost birds rise, startled,
in the dimming afternoon.
Luke’s Dream
I recently finished “Luke’s Dream.” My sister, Kat and her husband, Jerry, commissioned me to make a mixed media painting to remind them of their sweet rottweiler, Luke, and their sailboat, the Splendid Mane. It was really lovely to be able to deliver it to my sister in person and to see her reaction to it.
Seen:: Tiny Fisherwoman Casts Her Net
waiting like a fisher in a sea of air,
she casts her net, spinning silks
and delicate knots
thank you God for most this amazing day
One of my all time favorite poems is by e.e.cummings, a poem I first read when I was 14 years old, living in Virginia. My dad introduced me to e.e.cummings. Throughout my spiritual journey, from Catholicism to Buddhism, to exploring other Christian faith communities and finally finding my spiritual home in Huichol Shamanism, e.e.cumming’s poet-mystic vision rings true to my heart.
Seen :: The Same Sun
washing the mountain dust from our bags,
I hang them to dry in the same sun that shines
on Mt. Shasta and on the Huichol village
Learning to Observe Nature with kids
Kids love to investigate natural objects. To help children develop a strong, respectful relationship with all of life and the Creator, give them object lessons whenever you can. Here’s an activity to get kids interested in scientific inquiry. What could be cooler than a dissection? Despite the “ewwww-factor,” Ema and Adia were enthusiastic about dissecting an old wasp nest. We observed with our senses of smell, sight and touch then took nature notes and guessed about the stories of the wasp colony.
Seen :: Hitchhiker Tricks
like lines of a poem, tendrils, stems
and seeds of a hitchhiker weed
twist, turn and stick in my memory<