Dear E sent me this fantastic portable shrine kit to set up… so beautiful, sacred and fun. “These altars of fortune, whether sacred or secular, are found all around the world. Whether they are dedicated to icons, divinities, or protective saints, it’s a way of paying homage and of associating them with the events of daily life, bringing happiness and luck”. (Anne-Claire Léveque, ‘Happy VooDoo Gris Gris’, 2006).
Here’s to occupying purple for the day, commemoration, preparation, a challenge. Bought an orchid. Making sacred space for the Grís, Grís Happy Shrine. LOVE to Elizabeta, OX. Many consider orchids exotic flowers, tropical…(one big secret, water once a week with 3 ice cubes), and thrive best out of harsh sunlight. They grow wild in all climes, they are spotted and veined, each, like all flowers, unique. “I met a lady in the meads, Full beautiful, a faery’s child; her foot was light, And her eyes were wild. I set her on my pacing steed, And nothing else saw all day long; For sideways she would lean and sing A faery’s song….” John Keats, ‘La Belle Dame sans Merci’
And air And kissess…These spheres are made of seven bands of warying width and ore, copper, steel silver plated steel. Dangling on the each hoop tied with colorful ribbon is a memento, a wish, good luck, jewelry, crystals, ect. It symbolizes the number 7. There are seven branches on the Cosmic tree. We use Mistletoe to extra kisses; Indian people are to kiss if caught beneath the spheres and it is the guest must find a talisman to tie upon the mobile.
Whilst in my self-inflicted prison, my dear friend E hooked me up with this title: http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2012/04/bugs-on-book-covers/
Creative use of recycling art and they are “bound” for life! The cocoon is a self imposed prison and the Hermit travels down that road too; searching for light, spreading light. Below: Isolated Hermit Butterfly, chazara briseis.
Grateful shout out to M for giving me new perspective as regards Acadia National Park…always thought it was my own back yard. Saw butterflies on a set of curtains and yesterday whilst playing around outside saw two cabbage whites (Pieris Rapae) yesterday…first siting of the year; HUZZAH! They’re back! Crepes Suzette a la coco y blackberry w/ tons of whipped creme for breakfast. The joys of being home…”Fealty to kin, actual and imagined, and the protection of them, possible or not, were their parents’ pride…chief source of satisfaction, frustration, and anxiety.” (‘Home’ Marilynne Robinson, 2008). Love u ma and dad, miss you D; thanks for all you do!
As I mentioned on Facebook, a student gifted me with a gorgeous beaded ring w/faux jewels…another student made me another one today. Butterflies are becoming contagious…it’s a “Where’s Waldo” every day, they try to find the butterfly on me every day. Picked up my Nabokov bible this afternoon… “I found it in a legendary land all rocks and lavender and tufted grass, where it was settled on some sodden sand…The features it combines mark it as new…” (Published, 1942, poem in The New Yorker). Holy giant HUG for M for fixing my lap top, camera, and iPad this AM!!! You’re the MAN!
My job is meager, trite and redundant at times…this is why I am a teacher. “My work enraptures but utterly exhausts me…to trace relationships that to no one have occurred before…why the butterflies?” (V. Nabokov, ‘Speak, Memory‘). Pile of thank you cards from my students…sheesh
