There is something about ‘learning’ that not only touches the soul, but activates it — opening our heart to new experiences, new feelings, new thoughts.
I don’t know how long I looked at this plant on the walk before I took its photo, or how long I looked at its photo in my camera, but there was something quite magical about it all.
The plant took me on a journey of learning about the ‘name’ of the plant and what other indigenous plants in our provincial parks have been used by the First Nation peoples to heal bodies, flavour food, and add colour to fabric.
As I walked in our local Provincial Park, it “called” to me. I’d never seen one before. It was tall and gorgeous … a very large leaf with a tiny flower in the centre. “What are you?” I wondered. After some research, I learned that it is ‘Miner’s Lettuce’ … an indigenous plant common on Vancouver Island.
Its magnificent leaves form a rosette. Inside that rosette, there are tiny pink or white flowers with five petals in the centre, and the outer leaves turn a deep red colour when they dry out as the days get hotter and drier.
Thank you, little plant, for a new opportunity to experience spirituality in yet another way of opening my heart to the blessings around me.
Today is Canada Day in this country. I honour and pay respect to the privilege and reality that I live on unceded aboriginal land, meaning that Aboriginal Title has neither been surrendered nor acquired by the government (Crown) and that our national anthem notes “our home and native land.”
Canada became a self-governing Dominion on July 1, 1867. That’s only 156 years ago. We are a very young country.
The First Nations people have been here for over 15,000 years. Our history with the People of the Land was not good long ago. It is not good now, as many in our land continue to reel at discoveries of unmarked graves of children on properties of former Residential Schools, and the ongoing reality of missing and murdered indigenous women continues to appall.
But there is hope in the gentle word “Mamawi” which is Cree for “All together” – a word which holds a hope that reconciliation can happen and that this country *can* heal. It will take intention. It will take time. It will take sacrifice. It will take work. But it is possible.
As we move into the next year of the history of this country of Canada, may we work to more fully respect the traditions of the First People of this land. May we honour their love of and care for the land, waters around it, the animals and life that live on our land and in the waters around. May we stop pointing fingers and recognize our role in the sense of helplessness, anger and fear by colonization and racism. May we find healing ways to acknowledge the hurt in our country’s history. And may we express gratitude for the good that is here. For there is good here.
Happy Canada Day, my friends. May it be a peaceful and safe day, mindful of our many blessings.
************** OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM: We are a bilingual country.
OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM IN ENGLISH “O Canada! Our home and native land! True patriot love in all of us command. With glowing hearts we see thee rise, The True North strong and free! From far and wide, O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. God keep our land glorious and free! O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM IN FRENCH Ô Canada! Terre de nos aïeux, Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux! Car ton bras sait porter l’épée, Il sait porter la croix! Ton histoire est une épopée Des plus brillants exploits. Et ta valeur, de foi trempée, Protégera nos foyers et nos droits. Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.
OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM’S BILINGUAL VERSION O Canada! Our home and native land! True patriot love in all of us command, Car ton bras sait porter l’épée, Il sait porter la croix! Ton histoire est une épopée Des plus brillants exploits, God keep our land glorious and free! O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
My birthday was yesterday and it was one of those landmark birthdays. One of those “Oh my gosh how did I get here?” birthdays. One of those “I’ve outlived my parents and my siblings!” birthdays. One of those “I’m holding fast to Mark Twain’s words: ‘Age is a matter of mind. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter” birthdays. One of those “It does matter because it’s a reminder that I’m not getting any younger” birthdays. And at the same time, it’s also a reminder, as Debbie Reynolds sang in the musical “The Unsinkable Molly Brown” (https://genius.com/Debbie-reynolds-i-aint-down-yet-lyrics) that “I Ain’t Done Yet!” In other words, I’m still here which tells me there are things I have yet to do.
Birthdays rate quite high on the stress-test (which counts ‘distress’ and ‘eustress’) which is often surprising for many people. Birthdays can be HIGH’S: big celebration and they can be LOW’S: the stress of birthday prep; the stress of ‘to get a gift or not’ and if so, ‘what’ gift; the stress of past birthdays that were anything but happy.
I’m someone who asks questions. Then I reflect on my own questions. And when I do, I often come up with more questions because I believe that human beings are meant to bring meaning to life and that in asking questions, in reflecting, we come to know ourselves better, hopefully discover ways we can be better human beings and come closer to understanding the meaning of life for ourselves.
I think that there is ‘meaning’ connected with our birthday. If so, what does your birthday mean for you now? Think back – what did your birthday mean to you when you were five? Remember Danny Kaye singing “I’m five. I’m five. I’m a big boy now, I’m five!”https://www.letssingit.com/danny-kaye-lyrics-i-m-five-gl27rzc) or Barbra Streisand’s “I’m five. I’m five. I’m a big girl now, I’m five!” (https://genius.com/Barbra-streisand-im-five-lyrics)
What did your birthday mean when you were 13 – becoming a teenager? What about 18 / 21 – becoming an adult? What about turning 50 – half a century? What about turning 65 – retirement age? What about the decades / half-decades which follow: 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100+?
I’ve discovered, to my surprise, that my birthdays at each of the above stages had a different meaning to me. This year, one of those decade/half-decade years, has a new meaning. And so I will be doing some self-reflection on the aging process, answer the above questions for myself, and set a goal for the coming year / coming half-decade: a goal that is achievable. At the end of the year/half-decade, I’ll reflect on how that goal was achieved.
The last time I did this on my ‘half-decade birthday,’ my husband had recently died. I was facing an unknown future without him. My goal was two-pronged: breathe and heal. Through the initial grieving, my mantra focused on my breathing, remembering Dame Julian of Norwich’s words “All shall be well. All shall be well. And all manner of thing shall be well” which helped me focus when I didn’t think I could breathe with all of the things that had to be done. Then came the healing – gently stepping into the world as a widow. It is not easy. It takes work.
And yesterday, I arrived at another landmark birthday. What will the next half-decade / decade bring? What will I learn? How many other half-decade / decade birthdays will I have? And how will I mark them?
And those are not just my questions. They can be yours too: what will your next half-decade / decade bring? What will you learn? How many other half-decade / decade birthdays will you have? How will you mark them?
Whatever the answers, may each of us be mindful that each birthday is gift … another day to celebrate being alive; another day to contribute to the world; another day to give thanks and be grateful for at least one thing. Let’s not squander our birthdays; let’s not take our birthdays for granted; let’s not regret our birthdays. Let’s celebrate them! The alternative is … well, who wants to think about not having another birthday?
I believe that birthdays remind us that we are ‘works in progress’ rather than ‘completed’ lives. So, may we celebrate the progress we have made and anticipate the progress we have yet to make.
I remember the day that the wind changed direction and the smoke from the fire was so frighteningly strong that it woke me and my lungs ached.
Over the years, as I watched the news about the fires in the Amazon, Uruguay, Brazil and now the fires in Canada with smoke from those fires being carried by the wind to the United States and even Norway, global concerns about life-destroying fires in general and the impact on climate change and on peoples’ lives was, and is, being stoked.
And not just physical fires.
There is a lot of soul-destroying fire happening in today’s world … leaders and wanna-be leaders whose focus is self-adoration, self-promotion rather than the people … supporters of such leaders who mindlessly follow and don’t stand up to the immorality, lies, dangerous rhetoric and don’t speak up for democracy, justice, compassion … tropical storms and other dangerous weather concerns becoming more and more frequent and stronger … the seemingly never-ending war in Ukraine. The life-destroying and soul-destroying list goes on.
What is the response to these destructive fires? Many no longer read or watch the news because they find it too stressful and their sense of helplessness is reinforced. But, does ignoring the news help reduce the soul-destruction?
If putting a lid on a physical garbage can, filled with festering garbage, only hides the putrid smell, can a similar response happen in putting a lid on an emotional garbage can filled with festering garbage of anger and hatred and fear and resentment and racism and me-me-me-ism?
Tears fall from my eyes and tears cover my heart and my soul as I realize that soul-destroying fires really exist and that lately, they seem to be moving even more quickly. What can I, or others, do?
I find that the tears, the sense of helplessness is diminished by being aware of what is happening, not by ignoring the news … by naming the fears and not letting them fester … by not closing my eyes to the realities … by not stifling conversation about what is happening … by being open to letting Light in, so that healing can begin for this world we inhabit and love.
May every tear shed, every prayer said, every thought expressed, every peaceful protest, every vote count.
May all do what we can to become informed about issues and work to becoming a world of people who listen to the pain beneath the words, who recognize fascism and work for democracy, and who focus on the corporate ‘needs’ of society rather than their individual ‘wants’. It is time to put out the fires that bring body, mind and soul-destruction to people and this planet.
Okay, I admit it. I’m a Broadway musical fan and a Tony Awards fan and the Tony Awards are almost here! Sunday night the popcorn maker will come out, the phone won’t get answered and I’ll be glued to the tv, waiting for snippets of Broadway musicals as the Tony Awards salute excellence in Broadway theatre and the gift of music!
Why title this Soulistry reflection “A Poohian ‘Theology’ of Music”? It’s because music speaks to my soul – nourishes my soul – delights my soul … connects me to the Divine.
Without a doubt, if I were ever able to make a return visit to New York City or London, I would love, love, love to get tickets for some musicals. But as that’s unlikely to happen, Sunday night will do – a night in front of the tv watching the musical performances on the Tony Awards show.
What’s with the “Poohian” in the title? It’s because Winnie the Pooh once said: “Poetry and Hums aren’t things which you get. They’re things which get you. All you have to do is go where they can find you.” (A.A.Milne author of “Winnie the Pooh”) The “poetry and hums” get to us! And when they do, the body expresses emotions being experienced in the soul when fingers rap out a rhythm, toes tap a beat, heads nod, larynx hums a tune or sings out loud.
When the “poetry and hums” get to us, healing can happen. Feelings of sorrow, anger, frustration, fear, rage, passion, grief and even boredom can be relieved. Courage can be awakened. Love, passion, happiness and devotion can be nurtured. Our physical body can become stimulated with increasing blood flow, speed of circulation, muscular energy, and metabolism. And we can be connected with the Source of All Life in a unique way.
Music is gift. Music gifts us with the ability to reflect, remember, and become re-created. Maybe it’s the combined right/left brain activity that takes place when we sing, play instruments or listen to music on the radio, tv, CD’s, stereo or at a concert. Maybe it’s the soul-soaring as hymns are sung, psalms are chanted, sung prayers are offered. Maybe it’s the unique embodiment of art, wisdom, theology and emotional release in word and song that captures our heart and mind. Whatever it is, music appeals to our soul and senses.
Society reminds us that music is a wonderful part of our existence: music awakens astronauts (and many of us) first thing in the morning … music entertains at concerts … music enriches movie experiences … music is often played in stores, elevators, airplanes and even restaurants … and music has an endurance that is retained in the deepest recesses of memory.
Those who have worked with stroke victims and neurological disorders know that people who have forgotten so much (even the names of their partner, children) have been known to play music on the piano, hum the melody of beloved hymns, toe-tap to remembered songs, and respond to meditative choruses.
One of the greatest conductors of all time, Leopold Stokowski, once said that “there are regions so elusive in our life of feeling that only music can express such intangible and sublime visions of beauty.”
There is no doubt that music awakens the soul and that an inner part of ourselves connects directly to the Holy Other whether that music be Rock, Country, Classical, Reggae, Chamber Music, Jazz, Latin, Folk, Celtic, Gospel, Spa Music, Country, Blues, John Philip Sousa marches, Gregorian chant, Chuck Berry, Celine Dion, Paul Anka, Barbra Streisand … whether it be penny whistle, French horn, bass, bagpipe, flute, bassoon, cello, comb and tissue paper or even one’s own whistling!
Music can make us dance and skip, move us to tears, and encourage us to be as happy as Winnie the Pooh on a fine summer’s morn! It’s true, Pooh, music can be a wonderful bridge between the body and soul. “All you have to do is go where they can find you.”
May we make time to go where music can find us. And may we remember that “music gives life to everything” and give voice to the “poetry and hums” that nurture and touch our soul beyond cognitive understanding.
Around the world, fires burn, water rises, tempers flare, workers strike, untruths abound, fear permeates, AI threatens and the war in Ukraine continues.
I discovered the Photofunia App and played with it a bit … placing a watercolour piece I created for the people of Ukraine, surrounded by images of hope – for them and the rest of the world.
May the symbolism of the egg, green leaves and daffodils open hearts and minds to the possibility of life … new life … without forest fires, floods, anger, strikes, lies, fear, threat, war.
