“The earth is at the same time mother,
She is mother of all that is natural,
Mother of all that is human,
She is the mother of all, for contained
In her are the seeds of all.
The earth of humankind
Contains all moistness,
All verdancy,
All geminating power.
It is in so many ways fruitful
All creation comes from it
Yet it forms not only the basic
Raw material for humankind,
But also the substance
Of the incarnation of God’s son.
—Hildegard of Bingen
This blog was brought to you by Mother Earth
I have been thinking a lot actually I am in the process of having some tests done and it has given me blank blocks of time which I can mentally write on and sing on and dance on. I was thinking that so many of my age respond to music unlike other ages. My heart and soul respond and have done since I was thirteen. I remember all of those early songs. Listening to a white plastic radio in my room–just me and my celestial friends the stars. Listening to” Puff the Magic Dragon”, and” I’ts My Party ” in the same way teens listen to music now. I have a grandson who is a teen and a musician to boot. Music , in my thinking has been a cord that binds. I was the notes and the spaces between the notes that made the music. It was the early 60″s and I didn’t care about anyone’s color or where they lived. I cared about the music. It would slip into my soul and has remained for fifty some years.
We can teach our children a lot more by what we do than what we say. Saying is a clue that hypocrisy is coming next. The parents who live what they believe, who go slow and steady through this life and teach children how to manage their emotions, answer questions about other people, teach acceptance and not hatred, and to love “all the others.” are the ones who succeed in this thing called “Parenting”. Whether it is the Mother’s Day coming quickly or whether it is June and Father’s day, it needs to be real.
As the beautiful Sunday afternoon shines and spreads its fragrance on the gentle breezes; we have time to stop the idea of hatred. Our actions have taught others, teach them to love “others” and not just those who look like us, or think like us. There is time to try to bring an end to violence and inequality, it is your chance to put on the old music, like “House at Pooh Corner.” and sing along and get them moving. Parent or grandparent we need to try to shake off the mantle of oppression and injustice. Spit hypocrisy out of your mouths, never to allow its entrance again. Teach your children well. No bullying, no laughing at those who are unfortunate, teach them to listen to what you do and make sure you say what Divinity would do if he/she/it were to walk our highways and byways today. Would you notice this Divine presence? What would you do or say? What would the little ones do or say?
Divine hands
All hands are loved by the Divine
We were born with love.
Give it away. Don’t hoard it. If someone hurts you, get help.
let your hope rise to the heavens.
We are facing a dark time in the world. It is not the first time and it won’t be the last time either. Each of us must decide how we are going to face the darkness and work through the pain and hopelessness.
Since the dawn of time there have been those who will take what they want without a care to the effect on other people. Greed and jealously twist the human heart and life becomes less valuable.
We can choose that path or we can choose to walk in the light. We can choose the light. we can work to keep hope alive. We can reach out to others, families and survivors.
I must keep my heart strong and loving. I must look up. My prayer is that if I do, I will do all I can to stand tall there, as tall as 5 foot 2 inches can stand. I will use every ounce of courage to light my candle.
I will forgive and I will love all of the children of the universe while tears slide down my face. Yes, tears because my heart is broken andI know it will be again. So I suggest we all work towards compassion, kindness, loving each other as sisters and brothers. Because we are all children of the universe. Life is bigger than each individual act. We need the big picture.
We need to remember that we are all equally part of the family of man.
And women. We can only survive if we work together to stop the darkness.
gathering of the flowers
Let us all work together to bring beauty into the darkness and never give up or lose hope.
” Even the bravest that are slain
Shall not dissemble their surprise
On waking to find valor reign,
Even as on earth, in paradise;
And where they sought without the sword
Wide fields of asphodel fore’er.
To find that the uttmost reward
Of daring should be still to dare.
The light of heaven falls whole and white
and is not shattered into dyes,
The light for ever is morning light;
The hills are verdured pasture-wise;
The angel hosts with freshness go,
And seek with laughter what to brave;—
And binding all is the hushed snow
Of the far-distant breaking wave.
And from a cliff-top is proclaimed
The gathering of the souls for birth,
The trial of existence named,
The obscuration upon earth.
And the slant spirits trooping by
In streams and cross-and counter-streams
Can but give ear to that sweet cry For its suggestion of what dreams!”
—-Robert Frost
” He [Robert Frost] has bequeathed his nation a body of imperishable verse from which Americans will forever gain joy and understanding.” —-John F. Kennedy
I believe there is an abundance of love and hope in this world. Bring it with you on your journey.
Celtic woman
Cleveland skyline from Huntington Beach, west of the city. Frozen Lake Erie. Photograph copyrighted by Barbara Mattio 2013
We are at a place in history where we have stood before. War, the worst of our mean, selfish, evil behaviour as human beings. Big countries start wars, small countries, a well aimed bullet ending the life of a king. Cultures will start wars. Religions start wars. Spirituality is different from religion, because spirituality is inclusive, not exclusive or demeaning to others who think differently, as many religions can be. Jihad is an excuse. The People of the Book love and follow the same God. Allah, Adonai, Christ – if you look at what they asked of the people of their world, it is similar. It is not supposed to take lives; lives that carry the exact same spark of Divinity. Now the people may suffer again under a new war and one that we may not survive.
We all feel the strong negative energy whirling around the world. We make sanctimonious noises about how good our country is, how right we are. Elsewhere, there is disease, famine, starvation, fear, Here, there is disease, fear, hunger, judgemental thinking, people say one thing and mean another. Trust is hard to find. People look at others and actually see a reflection of their inner selves. Mass shooting, mass stabbings, the ability to look away from the hungry child who can’t stay awake in school. We continue to look at children suffering as unfortunate. If we can, we look away or treat them like refuse which needs to be taken to the dump.
Love in the World
Every country in the world is experiencing pain, hunger, greed, oppression, in justice, hypocrisy, bullying, violence against women, racism and homophobia. It becomes a litany of woe. A list of the negativity people must live with.
What do we do? We are all on a journey and it is dark all around. We can’t see our feet through the whirling black negative energy. The answer is positive thoughts, positive actions. You can call them mitzvos of random acts of kindness. Or simply doing good. The name means nothing, the action is what produces the magic. The we find the source of some evil double the positive energy that will counteract the dark energies.
I have spoken with several masters who feel that the more positive energy we send in the world, the harder the darkness will fight. So we add more. Surround yourself and the troubled parts of the world with white light. Pray for leaders to have wisdom and the courage to act upon the wisdom.
” The bitter tear that flows into the sea
Dissolves into liquid unity
And in the sunlight rises up anew
To fall again as rain–sweet alchemy.
The seen of belief unfurls in faith , branches
out in experience, blossoms in realization, and bears fruit in service.
The goal of the journeyer is the Beloved.
The goal of the Beloved is the journey.”
—Pir Zia Inayat Khan
Babies are not born thinking others are different.
The Dalai Lama and his wise and love filled words.
Ghazal of Hazrat Inayat Khan
“Thanks be to God, the very world that birthed us
now is bathed by wondrous Nature
in a rapture of her glorious light:
the splendor of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water, now revealed.
And humankind, highest of creatures, endowed with Intellect’s might
so that all the beasts, wing’d and hoof’d
are place under his command
And Adam’s veins are filled
with Art, Science, Faith:
he knows the sciences are clear
–but music is the weightiest
as a surging ocean
outweights the very world through which it flows.
If he whose heart’s been moved
by the science of Music’s world effect
Were offered the pleasure of emperorship,
he’s certainly ignoring it
–for Man is not alone in his delight
at that sweet sound
since even animals have sacrificed themselves for it.
More stubborn than a donkey,
he who holds that Music’s “impure”;
Ignorant of beaty,
how clain acquaintance with the Lord?
Creator!
The ocean surges!
Permit my skiff to reach the shore
-King!
I beg what kindness thou canst afford.”
—-Hazrat Inayat Khan, founder of Chisti Sufi Order
what a wonderful gift
Have you heard the music of the spheres?
Open air amplitheatre at Chautuaqua Institute, NY. Photo copyrighted in 2001 by Barbara Mattio
Galveston Beach, Galveston Island, Tx; Photo by Barbara Mattio Of a former Korean vet
Today, our President gave a medal to Chaplin Kapaun, posthumously. This man was a hero in my eyes. He gallantly saved lives and kept up the spirits of the men who were captured. He gave them hope and reinforced their faiths. He really irritated their Korean captors who had the odious job of breaking the American men.
A decision was made to put him in a death block. It was a black, windowless square building where there was no plumbing, food or fluids. As the guards took him away, he blessed and forgave them, thus providing inspiration and hope for the captors and the captees.
Some of the soldiers he served with are still alive and were at the ceremony today at the White House. Each one is a brave and courageous man by the fact that they survived.
Heroes like Chaplain Kapaun do exist and are sorely needed in our world filled with pain, anger, hatred, judgement, and the urge to hurt others. This is the perfect time to remember that our society needs women and men to look up to. We need men and women to step up and speak out. Role models, mentors, and heroes will help to change our world. Their job would be to inspire, support, work hard and be educated; or as educated as each of us can be. We need to teach what we preach and we need to teach people how to think – not what to think, but how to think for themselves. It is important to think for ourselves and not to accept every bit of information that is fed to us.
We each need to do some soul searching. Are we doing enough? Should be doing more? I think I just might do more myself after my ankle heals.
I can dream, I can fly and I love everyone on this planet.
Steady the course
Life goes on – even after the adventure is gone. We must not forget the importance of living fully, of keeping the excitement of life. If it seems that your life has none, then it is your quest to find it and live it and share it.
I find, at twilight, that I experience that unique second, the moment that you recognize your complete and utter solitude and your deep and abiding connection to the universe. The feeling keeps me connected to the adventure of life and to the universe, and readies me to share my journey.
The journey through our days is often long, and sometimes seems too solitary, but you will meet the people you need in your life as you walk on the road. Open yourself to them, and let them open to you, and you will find adventure in the knowing of one another, and share the adventure of each morning, each evening and each lovely twilight as you walk side by side.
Some parts of the journey we walk alone and feel alone, but we are never really alone Photograph copyrighted by Barbara Mattio 2013
Twilight at Holden Beach. One last romp with the waves. Photography copyrighted by Barbara Mattio 2013
I find, that for me, there is a moment, one pure, crystalline moment when the day begins to fade and the night begins to wrap its arms around you, that brings the bitter sweetness pain and love. I don’t know why it happens. I have experienced it since I was a child. There are times that this moment brings tears to my eyes. Not sad or happy tears. I believe they are the tears of knowing that in those precious seconds, you live.
Twilight reminds us of our invisible and silken thread which connects us to the Universe. The air smells pure. You take a breath and know that all that matters is the fact you are alive and you are in every living thing on this planet and they are all in you. You might be sitting on a porch, walking along a beach, standing breathing the mountain air or driving along a highway, but this moment will flutter your heart. You are alive.
Shakespeare was the English bard and controversy not withstanding, he moves us as few others ever have . He was an expert in the craft of words. He crafted them for the common people and for Kings and Queens. For me there is an American bard. It Is Walt Whitman. While I don’t write poetry I love to read it and Whitman is my default poet when my heart and soul truly needs comfort.
I hope you will enjoy these selections as much as I do.
A Twilight Song
As I sit in twilight late alone by the flickering oak flame,
Musing on long-pass’d war-scenes–of the countless buried unknown soldiers,
Of the vacant names, as unindented air’s and sea’s–the unreturn’d,
The brief truce after battle, with grim burial-squads, and the deep-fill’d trenches
Of gather‘d dead from all America, North, South East, West, whence they came up,
From wooded Maine, New England’s farms, from fertile Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio,
From the measureless West, Virginia, the South, the Carolinas, Texas,
(even here in my room-shadows and half-lights in the noiseless flickering flames,
Again I see the stalwart ranks on-filing, rising—–
I hear the rhythmic tramp of the armies;)
You million unwrit names all, all-you dark bequest from all the war,
A special verse for you–a flash of duty long neglected–
your mystic roll strangely gather‘d here,
Each name recall‘d by me from out the darkness and death’s ashes,
Henceforth to, deep,deep within my heart recording, for many a future year,
Your mystic roll entire of unknown names, or North or South,
Embalm’d with love in this twilight song.:
—Walt Whitman
“Come, said my Soul,
Such verses for my Body let us write (for we are one)
That should I after death invisibly return,
Or, long, long hence, in other spheres, There to some group of mates the chanting resuming,
(Tallying Earth’s soil, trees, winds, and tumultuous waves,)
Ever with pleas’d smile I may keep on,
Ever and ever yet the verses owning–as, first, I here and now,
Signing for Soul and Body, set to them my name.
Walt Whitman
The beach at twilight. Photgraph copyrighted by Barbara Mattio
Blue Ridge Mountain twilight. Photograph copyrighted by Barbara Mattio
Seven Sisters Mountain twilight, Black Mountain.
Photograph copyrighted by Barbara Mattio
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