Well it doesn't happen very often, but I woke up this morning at exactly 6:00 am with the birdsong. Not only that, but I had a clear sense of direction about what I needed to do with my summer. Now that's really rare. I can barely remember why I left downstairs for upstairs in my house anymore and sometimes drive off with no clear sense of where I'm supposed to be going. Just on autopilot. Not today. Maybe it was getting to sleep by eleven thirty and not waiting until midnight to write this blog.
Studies show that use of computers and phones before bed can affect melatonin because of the blue screen and mess up circadian rhythms.
So this morning I stretched and and meditated. Reading about the Hebrew divine feminine aspect Shekhinah, the Sabbath Queen - who was celebrated in the spring and summer for fertility with the song "Lechah Dodi." In early Christianity the convergence of male and female were celebrated in the Song of Songs:
"Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away for lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time for the signing of the birds is come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines and tender grape giveth a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one and come away." Song of Solomon 2:10-13
(Boryshenko,1994)
In honor of the female aspect of spring greening, I chanted to the Green Tara:
"Om Tara Tuttara ture Svaha"
In Mahayana Buddhist tradition Green Tara is a bodhisatta or enlightened being who has moved beyond the bounds of mortal suffering but remains in samsara (imperfect mortality) to help all who suffer. She helps solve problems and meet material needs and represents compassion in action. She also protects from the eight mortal fears represented by symbols: ignorance/elephants; pride/lions; anger/fire; jealousy/venomous snakes; wrong thinking/thieves; greed/imprisonment; attachment/water; and doubt/demons.
"Green symbolizes the color of awakened activity and deep compassion. Green also indicates the color of wind and Nature. Tara acts for the benefit of those who pray to her with the swiftness of the wind."
http://gayatriclab.com/2011/10/the-power-of-tara-mantra-%E2%80%9Com-tare-tuttare-ture-swaha%E2%80%9D-for-daily-protection/
I can attest to that. My instinct to pray to Tara this morning had immediate results. After meditation I got my husband up and we walked our five miles - something we have not done in weeks! Then after various chores I ended up in the studio and had a clear vision of how to plan for my upcoming show at The Upstream Gallery in Nov. This is something I have been tossing around all winter, but I had it in my head when I woke this morning and new pieces began to manifest today in studio that will become a whole environment. I'm going to Haystack Mountain School of Craft in Maine this June to work on alternative weaving and I know exactly what I will do there now! Very exciting - additionally I'm applying to the Sculpture Center in Queens for a large installation. It's all coming together. Thank you Green Tara for fertility of ideas.
I have to say I woke with the vision of a political cartoon in mind as well: DT with his jowls and tiny hands and Paul Ryan with his giant Adam's apple, Mickey Mouse head and hawk nose, in the Rose Garden with martini glasses clicking; their feet on top of baby wolves and bears who've been massacred in their dens. I know its gruesome, but I swear that's what I saw. Clarity and direction. I wish I had time to draw that one up (maybe some day) but I'd much rather be weaving. I do, however, have direction from my fury and that is to get on the phone, make my voice heard and get those Democrats elected like bowling pins knocking the Republicans off the scoreboard.
A symbol of fertility and feminine power budding in my garden:
Studies show that use of computers and phones before bed can affect melatonin because of the blue screen and mess up circadian rhythms.
So this morning I stretched and and meditated. Reading about the Hebrew divine feminine aspect Shekhinah, the Sabbath Queen - who was celebrated in the spring and summer for fertility with the song "Lechah Dodi." In early Christianity the convergence of male and female were celebrated in the Song of Songs:
"Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away for lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time for the signing of the birds is come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines and tender grape giveth a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one and come away." Song of Solomon 2:10-13
(Boryshenko,1994)
In honor of the female aspect of spring greening, I chanted to the Green Tara:
"Om Tara Tuttara ture Svaha"
In Mahayana Buddhist tradition Green Tara is a bodhisatta or enlightened being who has moved beyond the bounds of mortal suffering but remains in samsara (imperfect mortality) to help all who suffer. She helps solve problems and meet material needs and represents compassion in action. She also protects from the eight mortal fears represented by symbols: ignorance/elephants; pride/lions; anger/fire; jealousy/venomous snakes; wrong thinking/thieves; greed/imprisonment; attachment/water; and doubt/demons.
"Green symbolizes the color of awakened activity and deep compassion. Green also indicates the color of wind and Nature. Tara acts for the benefit of those who pray to her with the swiftness of the wind."
http://gayatriclab.com/2011/10/the-power-of-tara-mantra-%E2%80%9Com-tare-tuttare-ture-swaha%E2%80%9D-for-daily-protection/
I can attest to that. My instinct to pray to Tara this morning had immediate results. After meditation I got my husband up and we walked our five miles - something we have not done in weeks! Then after various chores I ended up in the studio and had a clear vision of how to plan for my upcoming show at The Upstream Gallery in Nov. This is something I have been tossing around all winter, but I had it in my head when I woke this morning and new pieces began to manifest today in studio that will become a whole environment. I'm going to Haystack Mountain School of Craft in Maine this June to work on alternative weaving and I know exactly what I will do there now! Very exciting - additionally I'm applying to the Sculpture Center in Queens for a large installation. It's all coming together. Thank you Green Tara for fertility of ideas.
I have to say I woke with the vision of a political cartoon in mind as well: DT with his jowls and tiny hands and Paul Ryan with his giant Adam's apple, Mickey Mouse head and hawk nose, in the Rose Garden with martini glasses clicking; their feet on top of baby wolves and bears who've been massacred in their dens. I know its gruesome, but I swear that's what I saw. Clarity and direction. I wish I had time to draw that one up (maybe some day) but I'd much rather be weaving. I do, however, have direction from my fury and that is to get on the phone, make my voice heard and get those Democrats elected like bowling pins knocking the Republicans off the scoreboard.
A symbol of fertility and feminine power budding in my garden:
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