Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Low Tide Wonder Wells

On the first day of spring, I found myself on the far shores of the Pacific Northwest in early morning.  All gray, blue, fresh and promising, with miles of beach.  At my feet wonderful sea-tumbled cobbles, above, eagles, one carrying a tree branch off to her nest on the seastack.  There are piles of driftwood at the high tide mark and raccoon tracks wandering along the ebb line, digging here and there for morsels from the sea.  There's nothing like beach combing a truly wild beach to settle the mind and hone the senses, and, once home, assembling the treasures found , smooth stones, feathers, sea-changed things mysterious and unidentifiable.

Here's a favorite poem by Pablo Neruda:

Si cada dia cae
dentro de cada noche
hay un pozo
donde la claridad esta encerrada


Hay que sentarse al orilla
del pozo de la sombra
y pescar luz caida
con paciencia

If day falls into night
There exists a well
where light is imprisoned

We must sit on the edge of the well of darkness
And fish for fallen light
With patience.

What if the whole ocean is such a well?  The patience required of us is just as deep.

Our patience is rewarded with discoveries, wonder and delight.

Remember, beauty is not all rare, priceless or unattainable.  It spreads at your feet, soars above your head, fills your lungs and widens your eyes.  It is free for the patience you invest in it.

Monday, March 15, 2010

Go Green

Just rest your eyes on the velvety understory of a northwest woodland trail, rocks, lichen and dainty ferns in a universe of green.  Insisting on life in the speckled light that escapes the high canopy, beautiful and doing its job for the planet, filtering water, dripping and trickling downgrade, to a river, ultimately to the sea.  All along the watershed many beings refine the water life needs. Please pick up the litter that drops from your hands, take back that bag of dog poop you left alongside the trail -- if the watershed doesn't appeal to you as something sacred, you missed something very important about life.  We all depend on water, so act like you got some respect!

Monday, March 1, 2010

The Wind Bracelet

An asymmetric bracelet of etched bronze, goat hide, brass, button, coconut heishi and 1825 coin of Batavia with mixed magnesite, pearl and turquoise and recycled parts, for instance, the hook came from the rings of an old wool reticule, possibly originally from India.  The image came from a turn of the century pamphlet for Bell Telephone, an image of The Wind blowing the clouds away.  The charm is a special treasure that focuses on a beautiful raku fired bead made by Bernard Jones, as simple and sublime as a bird's egg.  It was hard to part with this bead -- I had to be sure the piece was worth it!