Ancestors

"If you look deeply into the palm of your hand, you will see your parents and all generations of your ancestors. All of them are alive in this moment. Each is present in your body. You are the continuation of each of these people."
Thich Nhat Hanh

I have been creating an "Ancestor Album" for my grandmother Edith from a vintage record album. The cover is a fabric transfer photo of Edith on her wedding day to my grandfather Leslie Clark. One of my relatives has created a website for the Clark Family and there is a chapter in the book relating to my grandfather Leslie's family.

My grandmother had an interesting life and was a strong Matriarchal figure in our family. I have many of her letters and notebooks as well as her old lace and her sapphire ring. Edith taught me about poetry, about being strong and about beauty. One of the poems I remember her reciting to me was this one by William Davies:

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

I want to remember to take the time to notice all the amazingly beautiful things around me, especially as spring makes itself known again.

Looking for Color

I'm reading "My Stroke of Insight" by Jill Bolte Taylor and was excited to find she had this to say:
"We are designed to focus in on whatever we are looking for. If I seek red in the world then I will find it everywhere. Perhaps just a little in the beginning, but the longer I stay focused on looking for red, then before you know it, I will see red everywhere."

This has been my experience of the world, and is most obvious to me as a result of the Photo Art Journals that I host every couple of weeks. The photo theme makes sure that I keep my eyes open for images that speak to the theme. Recently the themes have been the colors. A book each for Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange and Purple. You can find what you are looking for everywhere once your unconscious starts being on the lookout on your behalf (just remember to carry your camera with you!).

I imagine that this applies to everything in life. What you focus on expands.

Neale Donald Walsch says it this way: "Whatever you are being, you are creating."

So here is some of the red I've found in the world!