Mid-year update ~ 2017

on 2016: the fall and winter were all about Standing Rock & saving the waters... it still is... and now saving all the world everywhere... i spent a lot of time connecting with Water Protectors, allies, and community members in report backs & fundraisers... & then dealt with trying to re-integrate back into the life i had before Standing Rock... it was very rocky & now looking back i know that it was my path...



2017 saw many elders & friends pass, in particular I honor Mrs. Osie Webster of Tennessee, who raise a beautiful family that is dear & close to my heart, and Manu Koreha, my Maori Healer teacher & friend, who has brought so many teachings to everyone worldwide. I must also honor Master Danongan Kalanduyan, Malonga Casquelord and Carlos Aceituno, three dance and music teachers who guided my dance for the earth, for the elements and for humanity for a large portion of my life... I honor all my ancestors who brought me to this moment and I honor all my relations who are dear to me and who I hold dear.

that said

i wander my mind
in search of true meaning
a teacher gone, but
not really as they are in every star, flower
seed, water drop and air molecule

i stand
then sit
ponder the next moments
thank goodness my garden calls
the apples fall from the trees
begging to be picked and shared with all

there is abundance all around
yet many go without
time to share what is learned
to fill the cups of those who need it

i love
there is more
in this life and i await
its secrets

May all be blessed, may all walk in goodness
& "Godliness" as Manu would have us do

I look forward to all joining me on this journey of healing
Here's a snapshot of offerings: past & future

From 2016:

Summer, 2017 in Oakland:

A Brief Overview of 2016

 It's pour rain, much needed here in California. We've had a 4 year drought that seems like centuries and the land so dry... now we've got lots of rain, some flooding in the low lands and a boulder fell off my hill. But Spring will be here soon and my roses will burst with joy when the sun blesses them. Our Luna Nueva Wellness Collective hosted my Herbal Workshop on Depression last year, with Laurel Bae assisting me with creating, presenting and sharing the wonders of Flower Essences and other healing herbal remedies. We focused on the Rose as a powerful Heart Healer and we really need this at this time. Our human-ness is fully expressed though the love emanating from our hearts and our sweet smelling friend, the Rose, amplifies our love both within and without...

 My father taught us about the hummingbird as our ancestor and great communicator of protection for our family. I have several flowers that the hummingbird loves and this one really attracts them, even this winter. I was pleased to see a hummingbird try to get sugar water from the hummingbird feeder my daughter gave me, but I prefer having the hummingbirds get their nectar from the beautiful flowers all around our home... Believe it or not this great beauty began blooming after our December frosts... kinda early, but who's gonna' complain? That same hummingbird quickly flew to my backyard to sip from these beauties and it gave us an opportunity to talk story with my nephew, Paul on Grandpa Rudy's great love of hummingbirds... if it's red, it must be grandma Mary!!!

I traveled to Japan and the Philippines last year and wish I took more fotos of the flora... but too busy keeping up with my daughter Aja to do so... here's just a sampling below...

 Japan...

& the Philippines up close!!!