Hi Folks,
Looks like several comments have been lost due to the site being ‘rolled back’ to a previous version saved on the 29th March. We can only be thankful there was a saved version! So if you left a comment that you don’t now see please get back in there and leave a replacement. Orlando is waiting for you! I’m almost inclined to make him the ‘temple cat’.
Yearly Archives: 2011
The Door Is Open
Spring looking in all directions
Nothing like spring flowers to bring a smile to the heart. And the smell in the air too. Country smells. And sounds too. Drying mud. Animal manure. Lambs calling. Birds squawking. But it all falls to the ground with a splash as the rain and wind returns, which it has in the last couple of days.
And as many of you know Jade fell to the ground for a couple of days too. I think it was a combination of web server trouble, and possible something I just might have done…possibly. Anyway, thanks to those of you who wrote letting me know the site was not it’s usual self. And many thanks for the tech help in Houston which has everything working just as it should.
Having the site down had me wondering just why I was so out of sorts even though I knew (had faith perhaps) that eventually all would be back to normal. And it struck me the downed site was the equivalent of not being able to unlock the front door of a Priory. Nobody could get in.
There is a ceremony we have where a priest essentially makes a promise to keep the door of the temple open so people can benefit from what’s offered inside. On a personal level I guess there is the wish or promise one makes to oneself to always keep open to what is offered.
Thanks for returning and walking through the door.
Orlando (The Marmalade Cat)
Looking for a home….
Still looking for a home….
Free and noble spirit – glad of a meal.
My parents had a succession of ginger cats, all strays. The last one they called Olly after Orlando The Marmalade Cat who featured in a series of children’s books. I see that Orlando Went To The Moon and then in another book Orlando Becomes A Doctor! Cute.
This cat made his move this afternoon. As I pulled up after being away over night the fur-ball ginger was pacing the wall outside of the house where I am staying. He, and ginger cats are generally male, jumped onto the car as I came to a full stop. Sooo cute. But unfortunately I can’t take on a cat, as much as I’d like to.
The story goes that he lived across the road and when his people moved he wouldn’t. He just kept on finding his way back to his known home area. Animals are just amazing at navigating their way back to where they regard as home, often traveling huge distances.
Ginger looks fit and well though. The new house owner is probably feeding him. Probably half the neighbouhood is feeding him! You have to like them don’t you. Love ’em really. I think it is their free spirit and them being their own cat, so to speak, that makes felines so very attractive.
The Creative Process
Allendale FORGE Studios
I just do not know where to start. Perhaps that’s just how it always is with the creative process. Creativity? Is that for special artistic people? People with talent who draw or shape or paint or decorate cakes and the like? I think not.
There are those who make a living by their artistic endeavours. But we all know it is not easy for them. But is it a them? Are we not all in the process of translating our ideas, transforming our vision, into plastic form. Or in some way making manifest that which weaves and twists and turns within us asking for, or even demanding, expression. And then we give birth. It could be a knitted tea cozy or a design for a modern office block. Or a meal, a poem, a one year family trip around the world. But we all know it is not easy for anybody. There are twists and turns along the way. That cozy can turn into a hat! Or a cat bed. The long distance walk transform into – leading guided tours in ones neighbourhood, perhaps.
So when I was in Allendale the other day I was especially glad, excited to be honest, to walk into the recently opened Allendale FORGE Studios and be shown around by the woman who worked to make her vision, this building and all the potential it contains, manifest. From Pebbles Gallery and Art Cafe to the recently opened purpose built Allendale FORGE Studios. It has not been easy I know.
We had met back in 2007, she served hot chocolate – with frills – at Pebbles! Over the years I’ve supped tea and fingered the textile art, listened to talk about finding matched funding, applications for grants, the youth project. I remember a sound studio being mentioned AND I remember mention of Local Radio. Now I’ve walked around the sound studio and no doubt in no time local people will be beaming out their own local radio broadcasts. Hurrah! It will not be easy.
People often ask about creative expression and where that sits in terms of Buddhism. It sits just as well as anything else as far as I can see, given due Preceptual consideration. The significant matter, as with everything we get up to, is what’s going on inside. What is ones relationship to the activity. Making great things, putting on great performances, can quite easily cause one to be great in ones own head. Obviously one can enjoy a sense of natural pride in achievement, find deep pleasure in fingering the recently published book for example. But Become great in ones own head? Hum. Not, I think.
I observe when the creative process works well it’s marked by a strong and clear expression of generosity. Of an open-handed giving whose hands remain open. That is what I have seen all these years in Amanda. I’m inspired.
To Absent Friends
When a stand of trees are cut down, they are absent. When a stone wall falls, it is absent. There is a hole where once they were. Not quite like a death, but close.
Yesterday I had the great pleasure of meeting with my two cousins. They are my closest living relatives. It turned out we had never been together in the same place before. One had been absent when two had met. But, for all that, it didn’t seem odd or strange to be all together. We fell into easy reminiscing about our respective parents. Now all dead.
Talking on we realized that there were most likely absent/unknown relatives aplenty. In Canada. And in America too. I now sit and imagine a stand of relatives. And friends. Not dead, just a hole where they might be. Unknowing of one another.
Absent/unknown relatives. Lost touch with. Gone away to a new life. Perhaps absent animal friends too. Ones that just got lost. Ran away. Went away. Never came back.
Here’s to absent friends. And relatives too.