Courage, Pride, Unconditional Love

The Land

Girls Night OUT

Detail: Mariposas

Someone asked me about LGBTQ Pride and why we use that word. When society as a whole sends a message that you can't share who you are and who you love; self worth is attacked and internalized oppression sets in. Add to it: you lose family support and or relationship bonds, job is threatened, housing discrimination, can be denied medical care, few if any protections under the law, many are physically attacked or killed, your relationships are not recognized or respected; all this adds up. It takes some like minded community members to remind you that self love and holding your head up is the only way to make it... "show some pride!"

This is LGBTQ Pride month so I wish all my Lesbiana, Gay, Bi, Trans, & Queer family and friends love and happiness and courage! Courage to be who you are in spite of the love and "good intentions" of others who may want you to change so they feel better.

Love is love and it starts with self love. Heal yourself with self love and seek to be who you are as Creator intended. Some of us are blessed to walk this Red Road as a Two Spirit. Before the oppression of organized religions (I'm not saying all religion is oppressive, you decide that; I'm just talking history) Two Spirits were celebrated in the community, we were the healers, teachers, warriors and those who were given the strength to be different and all were celebrated not hated.

Loving is never wrong but it can lead to some unthoughtful often hurtful actions and decisions. Those who love us and want us to change really do love us; they just struggle with how to love us. Imposing beliefs on one another is where we miss the part about unconditional love. I will accept you and your beliefs and if we differ I will love you anyway. I ask that you allow the same. We just want to walk our path with dignity and respect for who we know we are, not who you need us to be.

Love is never wrong but it can look different from what you know and understand; doesn't mean its not love. Human Spirits in a caring relationship, committed to one another, just trying to make it through daily life; it happens in straight and LGBTQ relationships. One is not better than the other. All wanting to share a life, be happy, and be respected as a couple.

There are many couples on their way to California to celebrate love and with a validation that as humans we have equal rights for those relationships. There are those in opposition. As history writes a new chapter of how we as humans on this planet treat one another I pray that this chapter will end differently.

For those of you my brothers and sisters in the LGBTQ community who have lost traditional "family" because you had the courage to be you, stand strong and know that you are part of the larger family of Two Spirits and I love you, just for being you!

Love yourself, love others...unconditionally... it may take some practice but its worth it. You will find that in loving you will receive love and together we can begin to heal for the Greater Good. Tlazokamati

la loba finds a home

I am happy to share that this work has found a great home. It has been with me for some time and traveled to tell many stories. It was time she came to rest and I am honored to have her be part of a an amazing family of kindred souls whose life work I truly admire.She reminds me of you Louise and I know she will be happy with you and Bill!

I tell it to you as it was told to me. The old one gathers the bones in the desert. Under the moon and stars she calls upon the ancestors. She sings and dances with the Spirits far into the night. As she dances the bones begin to combine and become the wolf again. Bringing with it a clear vision of her walk in life filled with direction, strength and power. la loba

Gather what is scattered in this life and call upon the wisdom you have carried with you throughout the ages. Listen to the wind as it sings your inner voice. Dance toward your dreams without reservation. And feel the fire that can ignite the never ending power of love you hold inside. I wish you strength, love, and clear vision this day on on this Good Red Road.

sin miedo

sin miedo

The imagery of this work is a bit out of my usual realm of images but one has to step into different worlds every now and then to keep moving. And for those who know a bit about me they understand that I am in a state of constant shifting and growth. Just when you think you know what to expect I tend to do or say the unexpected! I create what I am led to create. I have said it before, I am not in charge of the work, I have the honor of surrendering and letting it happen through me.

This small art work is in a beautiful old Mexican wooden frame that I have had for years, it seemed to call for this design so I married the two. It is a gift for my beloved with imagery that speaks a secret code to one another. Long evening chats about past loves, past lives, serendipity, and magical places can lead to inspiration. Live, Love, and Create fearlessly, sin miedo!

Tzolkin date meaning for today

muluc - offering; known as the water sign

Today the Mayan Sun sign calendar is day of offering appreciation for all of creation.

This day is the day of Muluc with the Galactic tone of ten.

Muluc represents water. Water was and is used in many ceremonies as an offering to bring about collective strength, adaptability and harmony. Muluc formulates and transmits the creative pulse. The flow of water like creativity makes it very emotional, imaginative and even psychic. Muluc can be romantic and fantasy prone.

The Galactic tone for today is ten meaning manifestation. Where we once had ideas, dreams, and hopes can now become present. What is focused on with intention and attention becomes real with ten.

So as I work on reorganizing my studio, my life I give attention and intention to the life I am creating and the work that will flow from my hands. I am thankful for the newness and the manifestation of dreams come true. Now back to the studio so that I can create in the days to come from the inspiration I feel today. Tlazocamati for all that life brings.

Raccoon Medicine

This morning during my morning meditation time I had the usual brother and sister birds that add to my time with Creator bringing different messages for the day. But today I noticed in the neighbors tree a new visitor, Brother raccoon, a relative of the bear. He came over the fence moved directly toward me as I sat on my perch and without hesitation he made his way over to me face to face. We made eye contact several times as I spoke to him and then I stopped to listened to what he had come to say. Thank you Brother Raccoon for this message today. Ttlazocamati

Excerpts taken from my Animal Medicine cards.

Raccoon: Generous Protector and Provider, the Robin Hood of the Animal Kingdom.

Raccoon is keeper of what goes around comes around. What you give out is what you receive. You give back to the source of your strength. This medicine is also about speaking up in defense when others are silent. An important point to keep in mind is that we have to honor our own needs and the needs of others equally. Being self full is not the same as being selfish.

Raccoon also warns to keep an eye out for what I call energy vampires, those who take and rarely or never give back. Your generosity can be wasted on those who refuse to help themselves.

Whatever raccoon needs, he is going to try to get it in a variety of ways, instead of insisting it come from one direction in exactly a certain way. When you practice flexibility and resourcefulness, there are less limitations in life.

The mask that raccoon wears is sometimes associated with thievery, but it actually is powerful mystical symbolism. Around the world for centuries masks are and have been used to achieve altered states, ceremony, celebration, magical practices, and in healing work. By wearing a mask we are longer whom we thought ourselves to be but become one with other forces. We create a doorway in the mind and in the physical world, a threshold that we can cross into new dimensions and transformation takes place. It teaches us that none of us are quite what we seem, even to ourselves, that in our lives we can experience the freedom of many identities. This medicine helps us to assume and release the many roles we play.

If raccoon speaks to you today ask yourself Are you hiding your true self? Are others hiding their true self? Do you need to present a different face in life for greater success? Are you giving more to others instead of yourself?

Walk with beauty on Good Red Road with a knowing that all is available to you. You need only slow down to listen and to see with clear eyes. Take care of yourself today and be one with all of who you are and always have been. Yocoxcayotl, Paz, Peace

Connecting

Donaghy Building Gallery, Downtown Little Rock, AR

My work with the conference is complete for another year. It was a powerful event with many groups represented, authentic voices from diverse communities each telling their story for the greater good. People from all over the state and some from surrounding states came together to learn, share, ask questions and participate in connecting conversations with one another. In this way we can continue to build allies, coalitions, and heal generational wounds as we strengthen the work we do for children and famines in the State. Thanks to all and especially to my friends Bill Sparks and Louise Derman Sparks for their loving support of the sometimes difficult work we are doing.

In the midst of the conference work I was invited to share my work at the Donaghy Building Gallery where it was well received. Its a small space 10 works on exhibit and I am happy to share that I have sold two. The show is up until the end of the month.

The community work I do and the art is a natural for me, I cant do one without the other. They compliment each other like a couple that have been together for a long time. When one is challenged in conveying the message the other gently facilitates the dialogue. Art brings people together and I hope that mine poses questions and provokes thoughts that can lead to connecting respectfully with one another at a basic level. My community work feeds my art so now its time to get some rest. And then get back into the studio to let the images flow from the stories that were shared and the relationships I am building. Gracias,thanks, tlazocamati to all for being a part.

Spring is a busy time

Well its finally stopped raining for awhile and the trees and flowers are in beautiful color and the birds are everywhere. I started working on my home alter for spring but haven't had much time. Also haven't had time in the studio but have been cleaning out, shedding. Its time to build a new nest!

I have been working on a conference, Celebrating Cultural Harmony http://www.uams.edu/welcomethechildren/conference/general_information.asp
If you are in the area I invite you to join us. I am finally finished with the presenters and they are posted on the website. We are covering lots of diversity not just racial and ethnic.

I have a show of various work up in downtown Little Rock in the Donaghy State building. It is a great opportunity to share about Latino culture and art quilts. I'll get and post pictures from that later.