The Moon Rounds

Traditions are ways and means of being with your relatives over time. The things we do, the way we do those things; the way we relate to the others (humans, elements, creatures) in our environment; the way we reciprocate become traditions. Sometimes, especially in a contemporary community these ways and means are unconscious. Habit replaces tradition, and without 'being conscious of the embodied experiences that define[...]' tradition, there is no differentiation. So wrote Pualani Kanaka'ole Kanahele in the opening lines to Ka Honua Ola, The Living Earth.  Dr. Kanahele primes us, challenges us Kanaka Maoli to be awake to the ways and means of relating to this living earth and for that I am very grateful. 

Mahina Hoonui

The Moon, Mahina rounds in her cycle toward full. And me too, thickening in my maturity, rounding in ways that both test and affirm my journey. Too many pancakes with maple syrup? Yes, too many and then my body works hard to process the refined wheat. An addiction that I must relate to with care, and forgiveness. I notice it, feel the elastic stretch at my waist, and make an extra effort to chop more onions and add another clove of garlic to tonight's soup. 

The process of growing the new school HO'OMOKU challenges me to round out my obsession to 'make good.' I'm writing out this process as the foundation for this teaching place takes shape. Over at the cybersite where I put my thoughts and discernment I wrote:

"My Ancestors were keen observers. Kilo practitioner and ethno-scientist Kalei Nu'uhiwa answers Three Common Questions About Kaulana Mahina on her website. She answers the question, "Where does the term Kaulana Mahina comes from?" by citing three scholars' definitions, including Pukui and Elbert (Hawaiian Dictionary),Zepelino Keauokamalie and Joseph M. Poepoe. Her conclusion:

"Therefore Kaulana Mahina is a traditional Hawaiian science that employed the methodology of keen observation, hypothesis, and trial and error, noting conclusions and then organizing time by the traditional environmental experts called kahuna."

Between this blog and that one,  I spread the thinking process out and make connections. I round out. And you, where you are? How does the moon round for you?

Keep a keen sense of observation … NOTICE

Summer has found itself comfortable here on The Ledge. Simple things take place at the moment, appreciating the cycles of life through the observation of the Moon Calendar I take time to notice. The past four days of the Hawaiian Moon Calendar (check out the sidebar for more on the Hawaiian Moon Calendar) were the 'ole days ... times when Pete and I restore and slow even more. Living on the Ledge in the Woods is priming us for a life more in sync with natural patterns. Pete and our friend "Anna Paint" who shares her land with us are playing Scrabble. It's a routine the two old dears engage in to pass time companionably, and in the process something happens with the synapses in their brains. Across the strawberry fields I hear them in Scrabble conversation ... not hearing them exactly I simply notice they are engaged.

The mid-morning sky is delicious ... clear, and exquisite a background to the tall rising firs growing slowly around the Vardo. Our lives include many journeys; some extensive and repetitive others tiny and almost unnoticed. With the challenges of living with a long-term and surprising illness like chemical sensitivities and environment illness the quiet moments and still times need a different sort of attention. Without the cloak of defensiveness I notice my body is disoriented: like at night when the light of sun, street lights that are completely void here, and the empty night sky. It is so completely dark within the walls of our Vardo I seek the flannel curtain and draw it back just a bit to give me perspective. Claustrophophia? Perhaps, or maybe a bread crumb ... simply reaching for the bread crumb in my familiar fairy tale of a transforming life.

An update and seven-day report on Bounce and Shaking. It really works wonders. It's fun, moves lymph like the massages that I've not been able to have for years and I had a chance to share the simple jirations with our MCS Seattle friends. So, early this week in a North Seattle Park three friends and I did the Bounce and Shake moves. Two minutes of movement and goofiness. And then stillness, notice the tingling. "That's the lymph moving!" "That's amazing. That's all it takes?" "I believe so." "Wow." The 'ole days of the moon happen approximately ever 2-3 weeks and are a perfect time to restore and attend to the maintainence I lose track of for any number of reasons. I notice the small routine fits gently into my day without extreme, adds a quality of goodness that I can feel and is easily shared with friends.

Lovely morning.

Do your best in all things … BELIEVE YOUR BEST IS ENOUGH.

My second cup of tea has filled me nicely. Breakfast of steamed millet and hard cooked eggs seem to be settling into my system with good effect. I feel nourished. My sewing machine is on the floor, the basket of rope piping I began the other day gets longer. I've found a real set of Sharps for hand-stitching and my mind is stepping through the process of making a padded wall for the back of the vardo. It doesn't look like we are going to be moving from The Kitchenette in less than a week ... our things are still as they have been for months. In fact, just prior to moving things get even more jumbled as we live the between-ness of get to the there, from here.

The cold that caught me last week seems to be wearing through me. The sniffles and drips are minimal, my voice still a half octave lower. In some ways the stuffiness creates temporary relief from the ever-on job of the proboscis with multiple chemical sensitivities. It's at this time when my prayer channels needs to be turned squarely in the tuned in position. Like turning over the keys to the gate, I surrender the job of sniffing to the Invisible Companions and do the best I can. Spontaneous napping happens and multiple re-plays of favorite escape films "A Good Year", "Stardust", "Babette's Feast" "Chocolat", and "Miss Potter" keep me company. I drift in and out of nap-land hear the voices of my film friends.

Pete has been out buying the poplar he'll use to make the bed frame. Through the glass door I watched him haul the two arms filled with wood. He caught the pot of millet steaming on the burner ... I'd hoped he would see ... breakfast was being kept for him. The things we do in a day fill most minutes from dawn to dark. Navigating our way through the choices, being honest and gentle as we discern truth that will be comfortable for us ... it takes a village. We are two old dears with a village of faith we sometimes lose track of. Then, the birds come to eat our millet, the moon lights a dark sky and healing dreams take me to all places and times at night.

I just do my best and that is good enough.

Engage in good health practices … CARE

Clipart credit: www.designedtoat.com

Well, I gotta admit the weather is baffling me. Snowed last night. I appreciate the changes because there's always the chance something new will be 'better.' Or, maybe not. I glance over at "The Humor Stick" and read Swami Beyondananda's daily dose of humor. The universe being a "C grade" science project really shakes me up, laughing at myself. Is it okay to get "C's" in your world? Though I have no recollection of my GPA in high school, I do know that it was definitely more C's than the other letters at the beginning of the alphabet. Grades are a dangerous barometer for assessing worth in my opinion. There's all kinds of research and study that prove a narrow view of a student's prowess in the fundamentals of learning can put a crimp in the collective value of a tribe-country. We humans learn stuff in many ways ... and sit down and listen is probably the least effective, least fun way for most kids.

Looking back, I see the two styles of learning stuff in my family home: my brother the Sagittarius was athletic, charming, physical and adventurous. He did a lot. Classrooms weren't his best fit ... he still prefers being outside, and was a soldier who used all his "Sag" to make it out alive. Oh how I see his Value bright and clear from this point. And then me. I wished I were as popular and vigorous as my younger by two years brother. I was serious, funny when comfortable, quiet and observant, I thought a lot. Like most siblings the life we lived and the memories we have of the early years were different. "You thought that?" "I don't remember that?" I was a tough grader, and I remain a tough grader, it's not easy to win my trust. My brother and I are many years older and the thoughts we have about family life and learning seems to be more accepting and forgiving. Both of us have learned to understand ourselves by living life in our unique fashion. In some ways we have switched roles: I was the home-body until my early twenties, my brother rarely made appearances in the home during those days. I left home at twenty-five and have floated in and out every since.

Good for you isn't always good for me. Getting a "C" might be great for you, and not enough for me. In the long run it might be useful for all alphabets to be valued for there uniqueness and not there commonness. Let's see, if there weren't a lot of alphabets this post might read like ....AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.

Feel the heart beat of the culture ... MAKE ROOM FOR LOVE

We are searching for our people. In a common day the reactions to exposure and symptoms that follow are difficult to explain to people. Science aka logic often falls short of comforting me when I am having a bout with symptoms. When a stranger deems me crazy for feeling/being sickened by a run of the mill product/fragrance/activity I can more easily let it go. When one of my potential people doesn't get it my mind clings to the need to defend. Writing the story of Sam and Sally, and now the continuing blog stories of these 'characters', was one way for me to detach from explanations and defenses. The Storyteller speaks for me, and I can take a break so-to-speak.

We are searching for our people. Part of the process of making a life in VARDOFORTWO is linking up with people who are willing to begin and sustain the learning process of living with MCS. I look around and see how small my circle of people has become. In part it is my style to count few, maybe one, loyal and trusted friend as 'my people.' This morning I woke from a restless sleep, and called one of my people. This pal lives a life that confounds others... if you don't live with the changed reality of a life in her body, it is near impossible to get your hands around it. We share that conundrum, and it seems to me making room for love bridges the space that could be filled with explanation and defense. Turtle Woman simply remains open to my reality and fills in the rest with love.

We are searching for our people. We all wish to be in the company of folks who like us. In the company of your people, there is a culture the keeps the beat, the heart beat. When you or he or she is out of step, your people will simply grab hold of your shoulder and dance with you until the heart beat and yours are in sync. Outside the circle of your people, a missed beat is a mistake and a reason to "deem". You know what I mean. Ever seen THE BEE GIRL? Here is a wonderful video, story and string of comments from ELSA P. my favorite astrowoman. Through her gleaning, I found a girl (now woman) who found her people. It's a glorious and delightful discovery, and a HOLIDAY! And as I said on her blog, "Elsa, you create unexpected holidays all the time." Thanks Elsa.

Hope your day is spent with your people,
Mokihana

Do your best in all things … BELIEVE YOUR BEST IS ENOUGH.

Have you ever watched a crystal pendulum swing? In the past I hung one from my bedroom window, took it from its resting place and used it to answer questions that came up during the day. I always asked permission before posing a question and keep the question simple. “Yes” or “No” answers are the only ones I can expect. I settle for them and appreciate the assistance. For more than six years I lived and spent plenty of alone time in Kuli`ou`ou. Rebuilding the old family home, learning to accept the place as it is now. Asking for clarification when old memories of this place muddled my present was a frequent activity. I often used the pendulum. Many of the neighbors in the home place have never left the islands. I on the other hand left when I was twenty-five and returned almost that many years later. I was different for having left. I fled originally for more room to breathe and grow.

The tiny stones scattered beneath the old Hayden Mango tree in my old backyard (the tree now a memory, no longer growing there), enjoyed my company when I was there. But, the tree didn’t miss me when I got too busy or when I avoided the shade of that tree because mosquitoes and the threat of Dengue Fever kept me inside. The beautiful red hibiscus hedges grew well when showers of winter rain soaked their roots and washed the nibbling bugs from their fleshy leaves. The long slender branches reached for the sun and stretched to the sky. Akua and my guardians were ever present, however their voices were hard to hear. Looking back at those years in Kuliouou and my use of the pendulum I see that I was searching for a way to connect with an unadapted version of truth ... a clear source. This part of my journey was a courageous re-entry into an early life of chaos and lack. When my life at mid-center began unraveling I went backwards and sought the corrections I believed might come by living again in a house that had long memories, answers. Maybe, I thought, I was strong enough now to make peace with my past. Pete and I stayed nearly eight years, and then we both knew our best was not enough to change others, we would need to make changes to save our selves.
One episode at a time I understand that it is less important to be ‘right’ and more important to do the best I can regardless of how imperfect that might be. We did rebuild the old Hick's built house and created a beautiful home. What we learned in my old neighborhood was a lesson we would re-learn again and again while we lived on the Islands: your neighbor's choices affect you even when your best efforts at spiritually balancing and peace-making are exhausted each of us affects the other. By the time we sold 319 Dalene Way in 2004 my endocrine system: my thyroid gland in my throat, adrenal glands above my kidneys and my pituitary gland in my brain had collected high levels of pesticides. My relationship with a very long-time friend is different. We no longer 'get' each other and she would not stop using pesticides. Finding my place on the earth, at ease in my skin with the experiences of a woman whose system and organs will not tolerate small levels of chemicals, fragrances or toxins, is a pendulum swinging experience. The arch of the swing sometimes so intense those closest to me find they can’t or don’t wish to ride the arch of those changes. I pray for the wisdom to accept what I cannot change, and more than that I pray to be gently held while I impatiently wait to understand. To be at peace with the fall-out of chemical-usage gone riot is difficult. I am human, not a goddess and today I have a life and voice to share a spiritual journey. I am one example. What comforts me as I write this is knowing that wherever I have been in my journey to be at peace, I have done my best and today I believe that was enough. Tomorrow is another day, and peace comes a day at a time and that is good enough.
Do you make time in your today to believe your best is good enough? Do you tell yourself your best is enough?