Earth Centered Heart Tree Project Participation Badge
Beginning:
The original re-quest (during Mercury retrograde):
Dear friends,
I think it would be neat if you helped me with some art. In fact, it’s more of an interaction experiment; and I’m hoping that you’ll share in the comments your ideas, along with a link to your own blog post around a tree of your choice. I’ll be away for a little while, and I’m curious to see if, when I come back, there will be some more inspiration to finish my own tree. I like to see your ideas, expressions, thoughts, ruminatings, visions, photographs, inspirations, prophecies, recipes, potions, field guides, haikus, short fiction, novels, Whatever. If you participate, I will be very inspired, and I will finish my tree painting and turn it into a badge for you.
I’d like to ask you some questions [I decided to answer them, too]:
This is in response to beautiful Ka, at Fiesta Estrellas. She is in the process of creating a very special tree painting, and has requested answers to these 3 questions:
If you were a tree, what would you feel like?
What kind would you be?
If you could choose to make artwork to honor a tree, what format/media/style would it be
I will speak as a ponderosa pine, as theirs is the habitat in which I live. I thought about willow or oak, as they are here too, and quite meaningful, but ponderosa has spoken to me the most this week, as I have pondered these questions. My style is photography with words.
For almost 300 years I have been standing amongst my friends. Ah, so many friends have I, who have come and gone over the course of my life. I have loved them all.
Every other day I’ve been adding touches to my/our painting. I’ve spent about 10-15min per session, which includes mixing my acrylic paints to make the next touches. Today there were some interesting developments in the image.
Breathing in/out the pink of love from the center of oneness
In honor of this New Moon in Gemini, I will be sitting in silence and in awe. I am also getting my files in order; setting up my home office, as well as other ‘todo’ items involving space clearing and yes, you guessed it: study. Meanwhile, my plants that ‘felt grumbly’ during the move, they are coming back to life. Overall, I’m not having a bad experience with 3rd house ruled Gemini, involving Mars and other attributes in the new moon “landscape,” as well as continuous courage for rainbow warriors. I definitely found it necessary to ‘take a moment’ before proceeding, in the midst of my day. If you’d like to meditate with me, here is this guided meditation. This is good self-care.
Currently my blog has been undergoing some maintenance. A new background image from a Eucalyptus deglupta , a picture taken in the neighborhood, has been added. My blog is now lined with tree bark. As a result, I lost a few of my decorations. The Rainbow Eucalyptus has been in my consciousness for a couple of years now, as has been the Rudraksha tree, which is part of my tree project. I suppose I am tracing back where my and, now, “our tree project” began – in my own life. I’m very much enjoying the story, the duality, the chores, and the brainstorming. Mercury retrograde afforded me this area of self-recognition, so I could see what I want to revise, and where I want to head next. While Mercury is still in “its shadow phase” I may not have ‘quite yet’ made any decisions with this new knowledge, but I’m okay with that. I have the spirit of my message nicely tucked into my heart.
IAM an old and wise Willow tree
I love to live by the riverside
my roots deeply emerged in cool waters
My branches are flexible and hang low
creating shade for my Human friends
to sit and eat their delicious picnics
hide away and laze during school recess
and cover them from the rain…
IAM a vibrant and unique Art form
I observe with joy the ones who pass by
imagining for a moment
IAM a smiley boy expressing
a bright and jolly nature
with rainbow colours hanging all around me
receiving light and warmth from the sun
feeling free, limitless and able to give
the beautiful fruits of reflection…
Barbara Franken… Inspiring New Energy Consciousness
We are truly all unique Art forms but do we ever look at ourselves with eyes of passion and see our true strength, playfulness, wisdom, sensuality and authentic power… When I look at an old tree…
There are several posts today that I was going to do…
Rest assured, the inspiration will not be lost while in favor of sending out this post today. 😀
Mars/Sun conjunction in Gemini in my 5th house has me healing deeply and less deeply, even on the crusted over surface. I’ve been all fired up in the best way to create and paint and love all aspects of creation which have visited me throughout the years. I’ve been having a varied experience, and I am grateful for every *like* every comment, everyone who has been inspired by visiting or knowing Fiestaestrellas – in any way. My desire to hug you – all your beautiful trees, families, tears, visions… the moon has slipped into Gemini… and we are so fortunate for the levity while Saturn retrogrades back into Scorpio. Everyone in the neighborhood here is having a party of some sort! I’ve got to get back to studying, and secretly smiling all the time. Trust that you will keep your forward momentum, even if it looks like you are back-tracking… you are GOING DEEPER. BIG HUGS to all of you who inspire me EVERY DAY with your creations, your suggestions, your ability and capacity to be inspired, feel loved, feel supported, and flow with your warrior self into your own self-mastery. We are here to overcome & to love. I love my rainbow tribe!
Stacked up
in old cases
are micro cassettes,
fragments
of conversations
made with coffee,
beer, and cigarettes.
spun together by the
wheels of travel,
and the comings and goings
of creation.
These
are the fingerprints
and logbooks
of times gone uncatalogued,
but recorded.
Laced among these
etchings of memory is the
antique smell of old wishes,
Fingerprints of old selves’ images
cobwebbed around
corners, breaking the rhythm patterned
slats of black and white into some
gossamer diagonals.
Even the cobwebs have shadows!
What were once
only some dog-eared remnants are now
the blackened, forgotten
bones of unchew-ed material,
rendered unidentifiable by time
and the consequences
of improper scrapbooking.
Time has lost its identity
and persons no longer care
about the era of happenings.
Edges fade in the total room
of all things attic-bound.
Behind the curtains of civilization
how the peopling of these
selves somehow happened
in conjunction with planetary
transits and their unmistakeable North Nodes
plastered to fate of the Earth, Moon, and Sun.
The bittersweet musk of unrequited love
descends like light rain
while the sound of a passionate banjo
breaks the air
and movement steps
to kick up some dust in order
to go forward.
Dust, falling like un-trained rain,
just scatters…
What’s left are the new
finger prints of recent visits
and the markings
of an explorer who has
left the continent of
the outside world
to traverse again the terrain
of his unkept inner chambers.
A rich collection
of untouched photographs
and other stains of memories
Layers of interpretation gone
missing. The witnesses
dissolved into their own stories.
Now with the lantern beside her,
The Lady of Shalott who is only
“Half-Sick of Shadows” returns
For she knows
there’s more area under the dark of the sun
than in all the light in the universe of awareness.
And holy ghosts visit
among the dead as much as the living
Marking each traveler as
a historical vagrant, an elusive shutterfly
One who becomes the reluctant
commentary of classical books
Lives on the island of the misfits
Here’s where all the fires are still
lit, and the inhabitants are most
unapologetic for their long dark shadowy arts.
Welcome back to the tower my dear!
May it enchant you with all the surprises and
remembrances of its forgotten inhabitants.
I welcome you to my blog, and I wanted to share a little bit about my workshop this past weekend. I was waiting to “process” my experience, and looking for greater clarity in order to provide to you with “my product.” However, I realized with Neptune turning retrograde, that I can only deliver to you “as I am.” So I will continue to do so…
I think when I photographed the two images above, I wasn’t all that concerned with getting the images to look clear. I’m pretty sure that most of my energy was involved in the workshop – releasing, realizing, and being present.
For all those who contributed to “my” tree-project; I dedicate my practice to you, as well as all the attunements I received while present. Of course, only Spirit and free-choice can deliver any offerings to you. Dedicating my work, and the merits of my practice is not a self-sacrificial thing to me; it’s in alignment with the truth for me about my relationship to this world, and those in it.
I had many reflections, and more reverberates through my being…
my virtue is collecting them
all, from where I am. Whatever is in reach.
My virtue is whatever name you
want to call me.
My virtue is showing up.
We’ve got aches and pains
that begin at the roots,
and touch every branch.
We’ve got friends with similar
diagnoses. Each leaf is a name
for what is really just pain.
What is pain but energy,
and I’m sorry but I only
took one creative writing class.
I got an A.
Grades don’t matter, but I got an F in Satire
AND I didn’t do that on purpose just to prove a point.
Do you know what does matter?
Your answer is flesh, made real.
We’ve got crayons in heaven with our
names on them. Do you know how
beautiful you are?
We’ve got superhero bandaids for
every single one of us.
For showing up.
You made it. You arrived. You cared enough
to keep arriving, to keep showing up.
You want to be a helping hand. You are curious,
how will all this go?
What can we do when we work together?
If I build it, will people come?
That’s not a question anymore.
I don’t even know who asked it first?
Who gets credit for creation, but God, and isn’t God,
also us? And you know how many names for God there are?
Shouldn’t there be as many names for God as there are particles of matter?
And what about the particles we haven’t created?
What about the unborn?
Can you sing a song with me? I want them to enter this world, welcomed.
As one of many,
I played the middle.
Do you know how delicate it is
to have no opinion?
To be voiceless.
To suppress the ‘within’ in order
to not get smacked by the
‘without’ ?
Getting smacked hurts.
Maybe I deserved it.
Who is this ‘I’ ?
It does not matter. It is just
another story.
Who is this victim,
it does matter. In a totally
non-personalized sense: It matters, doesn’t it?
We care most about the people we don’t know!
Inter-family love is gorgeous. We learn to see eye-to eye.
Intra-family love does not go away. It’s impossible.
The victim is everyone.
Even when the little ‘i’ gets suppressed
Everyone suffers.
There is no way to ‘right’ a wrong.
There’s only to love.
There’s only to voice.
There’s only ho’pono’pono.
The middle is a fiddle
and once all the stagnation gets
broken up, once… then… oh, we’ll see.
Then we’ll re-arrange words
and hang up “Beauty” and “Love” Signs,
again. For now,
we’ve got bleeding.
The middle has blood.
Playing the middle is not the path.
Buddha suggests the center.
No one said, “don’t have an opinion”
They only implied it.
Tough Shit.I have blood, and skin. a beating heart.
I will use it ALL to say:
I Love you.
I’m sorry
Please forgive me.
Thank you.
When one chooses
to heal the wounds of their
family (themselves) by adopting 4 (all at once!)
They may be multiplying
issues.
When one chooses to heal
the work within
and not project it outside
they are not a martyr
They are doing the honest
work.
When one receives the invitation
to give more to the adopted
18 year old: in essence, “PAY attention to
the PARENT, and the PARENT’s choices”
We feel that
18 year old better not be sculpted into a pawn
as this youngest sister felt, was she.
A pawn to play the authorities with.
A pawn to acquire attention of the broken tree.
That hobbles along, being a family. Striking instead of
embracing. Using pictures as commodity.
Who does that?!
A voice can be lost in the masses
not wishing to cause further hurt,
but looking for an outlet. A way to honor
that pain can be turned into healing.
A way to heal..
The mission is only and ever has only
been, and to be “Healer Heal THYSELF.”
Please don’t make politics of your children. Who am I to judge?
For you, with tears in your eyes
With sadness in your grip
Your betrayal. The grief of being unsupported.
You: who aren’t seen.
You who are lost in the masses.
I rise up. I wake for you.
You, I see in every moment,
A heart beating.
Your life gone…
Few at your funeral. Fewer in the hospital
As you pass… truly your most sacred moment.
For no matter WHO you become in this
Life: Just know that you were someone to me.
You are the reason.
I will cram.
I will lay down before you.
YOU are my sacred chamber, my lost
Vessel, my unborn.
I may never meet you: because
There’s so much work to be done,
And I see you everywhere,
asking for my attention.
I can be a better mother to you
By being a good friend to all.
Earth Centered Heart Tree Project Participation Badge
Beginning:
The original re-quest (during Mercury retrograde):
Dear friends,
I think it would be neat if you helped me with some art. In fact, it’s more of an interaction experiment; and I’m hoping that you’ll share in the comments your ideas, along with a link to your own blog post around a tree of your choice. I’ll be away for a little while, and I’m curious to see if, when I come back, there will be some more inspiration to finish my own tree. I like to see your ideas, expressions, thoughts, ruminatings, visions, photographs, inspirations, prophecies, recipes, potions, field guides, haikus, short fiction, novels, Whatever. If you participate, I will be very inspired, and I will finish my tree painting and turn it into a badge for you.
I’d like to ask you some questions [I decided to answer them, too]:
If you were a tree, what would life feel like? [Here are my answers.]
If I were a mighty tree, I would sway in the wind and receive the rains from the sky. I would enjoy the sun soaking up the rain, and feel peaceful at night when all the little critters have gone to sleep. I would be free from ants. I would look up at the moon, and cherish the twinkle of the stars, and experience the awareness of all my beginnings and endings, from the depth of my roots, to the tips of my fingers and beyond.
What kind of tree would you be, if you got to be a tree just now?
I would be an ethereal tree, a consciousness that has accumulated from many, many times but can change form, appearance, name, and quality. I would be flexible enough to move through the world. I’d carry my roots with me. I’d open my limbs and leaves one day and the next, I’d wrap them up and bury myself like a fig tree in the winter (such as every year at my grandmother’s house) to rise next spring. One day, I’d be a house plant, another day I’d be a Rainbow Eucalyptus or a Rudraksha tree living on the island Kauai. Then, I’d be a redwood tree with an amazingly shallow but well-connected set of root-systems, connected to all my brothers and sisters, and taking in water from the coastal mists and through my leaves. It really wouldn’t matter to me what form I’d take on – just that I am free to be a the tree, any tree, that I need to be in the moment.
If you could choose to make artwork to honor a tree, what format/media/style would it be in?
How old would you be, if you were a tree ?(This is Kim’s Question!)
Since I am a tree spirit, I have been around for as long as I can remember, and even longer than that, there’s evidence of me.
Earth Centered Heart
Fiesta Estrellas 
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