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From Cairns to Obos: A Lesson in History, Ourselves & Unity

Fri, 06 May 2011 23:59:23 +0100

Attempts at "First Balance"

Obos is actually a Japanese term referring to a pile of rocks, for lack of a more eloquent description, and in English they are often referred to as Cairns. Although the following collection of words have been pieced together, much like a quilt, from numerous sources & locations and have been mingled with my own words for filler, they help me to communicate a message that, otherwise, I could only convey through artistic expression. This "quilt", in it's entirety, includes the pictures you see here...All of which have been taken by me. And the Cairns & Obos have been built by my 3 sons & I, around the many places in which we have managed to find solace in an otherwise crazy world.

Can Feel like "Turbulence"

For a little history, the cairn is a human-made pile of stones, often in conical form. The word cairn derives from the Scottish Gaelic (and Irish) càrn, which has a much broader meaning, and can refer to various types of hills and natural stone piles. Cairns have been found in uplands, on moorland, on mountaintops, or near waterways.

But even "Balancing in Darkness"

They have been built to mark a burial site and memorialize the dead, or mark the summit of a mountain, a place of ceremony or the crossing of ley lines. Placed at regular intervals, they have indicated a path across stony or barren terrain or across glaciers. They have also been used to commemorate events: anything from a battle site, to something as simple as the place where a cart tipped over.

We can experience "Growth"

They vary from loose, small piles of stones to elaborate feats of engineering. They have been found quite literally around the world in places like the British Isles, Asia, Scandinavia, even the Horn of Africa, dating as far as 3000 BC and earlier.

In obtaining "Balance In the Flow"

Cairns may also have a strong aesthetic purpose, for example; in the visual beauty of art or along hiking trails are often maintained by entire groups of hikers adding a stone when they pass. That aesthetic purpose can even be found in meditation, as in the creation of "Obos".

But the Strongest "Root of Balance"

A stacking of stones, one atop the other, they mean nothing to almost everyone who sees them but have a deep and resonating meaning to the one who builds them. Why? Because they create a focal point, even if placed amongst thousands of similar stones on a windy beach shoreline, they are something that comes from someone's hands. 3 or more small stones, found nearly everywhere. Inconsequential parts in nature, lovingly placed one on top of the other by our builder's hands, given life by our visions and transformed into a unique, beautiful and sacred whole.

Is to find a "Balance in Nature" within yourself.

Obos can be built anywhere from an abundance of natural resources just lying about: stones, rocks, pebbles, boulders, They've even been made with broken concrete blocks and old bricks. Placed on top of each other they become more than just 3 or 4 or 10 rocks in a shaky pillar, they become a sanctuary for our thoughts and our minds, sometimes only for a few minutes until we move on. Beside a ramshackle house, along a garden path, in a meditation labyrinth on someone's desk, next to a gutter on a busy Manhattan Street, riding the crest of a craggy mountain trail, there they are: shrines to the indelible human spirit of imagination and individuality. The insignificant is elevated to a different level, a tribute to something higher, a deep need to create.

Then you can build upon "Team Balance"

Obos may be used to commemorate an event, like reaching the end of a long hike, or marking a particular patch of ground for it's importance in one's life. Perhaps they are simple homages in reverence to something grander in the natural world surrounding them or just a playful gesture without seeming thought, a doodling with rocks, so to speak.

And "Ride the Flow with Others"

But we are builders, we work with our hands and our minds, consciously or not, and what we build is sacred if only for us, privately, for a fleeting second. Obos, by their very nature, are towers of serenity, including those being just 2 inches tall. Giving one pause, whether in their building or the contemplative eye upon them, in turn, lending respite from the cluttered world, effectively bringing one back to a place of focus, patience and balance within while standing as an affirmation to the value of our personal efforts and our individual dreams.

Joining the "Family" of Humanity in Unity

So give this naturally artful way of expressing "I was here" a try...yet taking only pictures & memories and leaving only footprints behind & within yourself.

Here are some more of my family's creations....

Reclaiming My Sunshine!

Fri, 06 May 2011 22:55:22 +0100

Originally written Monday, April 19, 2010

So, I met this truly incredible woman last Friday, her name is Grandmother Elk. The synchronicity leading up to the meeting was uncanny & undeniable, if you are someone like me who pays attention to the never ending signs, symbols, animal guides, even the red flags that life provides & sometimes throws up at us quite literally on a daily basis.

Our initial meeting lasted a few hours in the company of some very dear to my heart friends. Grandmother had spiritual medicine for each of us. Pointing out our physical illnesses as well as our spiritual blockages. It was absolutely AMAZING that this woman knew soooo much about each one of us & yet, on the other side of the coin, did not even know any of us on a personal level. Lynda was the first to meet her back during the holidays & was so impressed with her that she could not wait for the opportunity to introduce me to her. Jules was just fortunate enough to have come down to visit from Wisconsin, being here during the time this meeting was scheduled.

Anyways, the medicine of the day was "The Strength of the Oak" and how the woman is the Oak Tree. The Oak is the only tree in the world that has a root system that perfectly matches the branch system above, providing a perfect semblance of balance & grounding. And we, as women, are to be as The Oak in doing the same for our family, friends & those within our sphere of influence within our communities.

So, yesterday I took my dear friend & Sister out to Mystery Dog Ranch, just to show her the beauty of the land in which Heartland (an organization I was affiliated with for about 4 years) now calls home. We no sooner made it out the door and the view of sunlight coming thru a tree in the yard of the apartment complex I live caught my attention. As I looked up through the leaves, it was as if the sun made each new leaf glow with the radiance of Spring...and the tree is an Oak. I knew, at that very moment that it was going to be a beautiful day on many levels.

We arrived at the ranch and took ourselves a walk thru the back pastures, along a path that follows the creek. With each step there was something to amaze & wonder over. The fields were full of flowers that provided sporadic blankets of yellow across them. Some of the most beautiful specimens of trees along that path were Oaks. It was as if Mother Nature was making sure that the medicine in the lesson Grandmother Elk provided us would integrate into the very core of our being.

And to be honest, I have not been much of an Oak for my family in recent times. My health and many other extenuating influences have most certainly been much like poison having been poured upon my roots, in turn putting me out of balance & losing my own sense of grounding.

Its quite amazing how the influence of an unhealthy individual in your life can have such a negative effect on the spiritual self. No matter the type of relationship, whether it is your boss, your spouse, a neighbor, or even a close friend, if their own spirit is out of balance and they are unable to recognize this within themselves, they can become much like Kudzu, as their energy spreads all over the place, covering over everything else. Instead of developing their own solid roots & trunk (spirit) and growing upward on their own, their growth (energy) scatters & grows to the point of smothering & even killing whatever "host" they have managed to find...all in an effort to essentially hog up all the sunlight...and without sunlight, nothing can continue to grow in a healthy fashion.

Thankfully, I came to this realization within my own life & realized that several "Kudzu-like" influences had to go, so I got me some "goats" (one of the few environmentally friendly ways to get rid of Kudzu, lol) and got rid of those unhealthy influences. Now I am in a space of being able to reclaim my own share of sunshine. Altho the health is still a pretty serious issue at this point, with some proper tending to my own roots & spirit, I can better facilitate healthy care & recovery for myself.

No matter how many times this Mighty Oak may get struck by lightning or encroached upon by Kudzu, she WILL stand tall, continue to grow (in learning) & provide shade (balance & grounding) for those in need of it.

A Visit from Sister Walela

Fri, 06 May 2011 22:53:55 +0100

Originally written September 9, 2010

ALL animals bring medicine or messages to us with their presence in our lives. How often do you p[ay attention to those that are present when you walk outside? Do you notice them in the air, in the bushes & trees, on the ground or in the creek nearby? Their presence is Great Spirit's unspoken voice bringing us silent words of encouragement, guidance or even warnings.

So, I was sitting on the couch reading a short while ago & caught a quick movement in the living room window. Watched patiently for a minute and there it was again, Sister Walela buzzing up and down, just in and out of sight at the bottom of the window. Walela is the Cherokee word for Hummingbird and this was a female, Ruby-Throated Hummingbird.

Hummingbird brings love like no other medicine can. Hummingbird is loved by the flowers and plants, for as it sucks the nectar from the flower, the plant reproduces and more of its kind are created. Its presence brings joy to the observer watching it. The hummingbird is the only creature that can stop dead while traveling at full speed; can hover; or can go forward, backward, up or down. Great Spirit created Hummingbird to be slightly different from other feathered creatures. Hummingbird lives on nectar and searches for the sweetness of life. It's purpose is to pollinate the flowers of the world. Its long "nose" lets it bypass the often tough and bitter outer layer to find the hidden treasurers underneath. The song of hummingbird awakens the medicine flowers.

Hummingbird's message is adaptability in life's many situations and being able to "roll with the punches". To receive hummingbird medicine, you must adapt easily to whatever situation you may find yourself in, and make the most of your new circumstances. You don't waste time looking back and wishing for "what was" for you are concerned with making the most of "what is".

In The Animal Wise Tarot:

“Hummingbird's appearance signals a time of new nectar within our lives. New joy is manifesting around us and our dreams are closer to be fulfilled. We are entering a period of accomplishment.
Hummingbird's appearance always heralds joy and accomplishment. We will begin to see the attainment of our dreams. Opportunity is manifesting around us and we should grab it heartily. Hummingbird signals a time of blessings and new sunshine. New ventures of success and renewed health are a promise.
The hummingbird is a symbol for accomplishing what seems impossible. The hummingbird helps us to find the miracle of joyful living. A beautiful, magical gift.”

So, needless to say, I most certainly feel blessed for having received a visit from Sister Walela today.