Compassion

I was reading an article about the search for compassion. I felt like emailing the author to tell him, "Oh hey, it's over here at my place. Come and fill your boots. I've got plenty - bring a bucket!"

It seems hard to imagine people questing to suffer with their fellow man. In my garden, compassion grows like a weed, volunteering itself in every nook and crany, winding its way between more useful plants, seeding itself with abandon. Ahimsa, Karuna, Einfuhlung - a rose by any other name - Compassion comes crowding out my borders, cascading over every rock wall, merrily entwining itself around my heart when I bend over to water the lettuce. It is a fine line between being able to see someone else's pain and being able to feel it with them. I cross that line daily, and it leaves me with a tangle of emotions to sort and prune.

I'm feeling in stereo this fine spring. My loyalties are all over the map. I'm fiercely defensive, and ready to do battle, but given that I love everyone involved, instead all I can do is offer my hand to the people hurting most, and to hold it as steady as I can.

I didn't ask for it. But this particular weed is welcome in my backyard.

Transplanting

Well, I've moved all my old posts from tribe over to here. I don't know that I will actually update this blog but hey... who knows how long tribe will be up? Some of this trail of cookie crumbs I would rather not lose.

In Praise of Weeds

This post is In praise of weeds

for how they thrive under neglect,
how they bravely take hold in the worst soil conditions,
and blossom there,
and sweeten the air.

And for their medicinal value - and their trace vitamins and minerals.

And for how, in large doses, they are poisonous.

Tue, April 22, 2008 - 10:00 PM

Ave Maria

Recently as I have been walking around downtown I've had the song Ave Maria in my head and on my lips. I wander around with my own personal radio in my head complete with a full symphony orchestra and I am surprised at how well I know every lilt and tremble, and every soaring moment of this song despite the fact that I don't know the words. I suppose I must look like one of the crazy people, drifting through the crowd in my long black coat singing Ave Maria. But thats OK, it is a beautiful song to have stuck in my head. I'd like to keep it for a while.

Did you know that Ave Maria - which we all know as a German or Italian song, was originally a translation from an English poem? It was Sir Walter Scott's The Lady of the Lake which Schubert translated to the version that we are familiar with. It was then covered by people like Beethovan (my favourite version) and Pavarotti (also lovely!) Pavarotti sings the Latin version which as far as I can tell is just the Hail Mary Full of Grace prayer, not a translation of the Lady of the Lake like the German. The original words are something else... if I can memorize them I might sing them instead of the lalalala that I belt out now.


Walter Scott's Original
from "The Lady of the Lake"

Ave Maria! maiden mild!
Listen to a maiden's prayer!
Thou canst hear though from the wild,
Thou canst save amid despair.
Safe may we sleep beneath thy care,
Though banish'd, outcast and reviled -
Maiden! hear a maiden's prayer;
Mother, hear a suppliant child!
Ave Maria!

Ave Maria! undefiled!
The flinty couch we now must share
Shall seem this down of eider piled,
If thy protection hover there.
The murky cavern's heavy air
Shall breathe of balm if thou hast smiled;
Then, Maiden! hear a maiden's prayer;
Mother, list a suppliant child!
Ave Maria!

Ave Maria! stainless styled!
Foul demons of the earth and air,
From this their wonted haunt exiled,
Shall flee before thy presence fair.
We bow us to our lot of care,
Beneath thy guidance reconciled;
Hear for a maid a maiden's prayer,
And for a father hear a child!
Ave Maria!

Mon, March 17, 2008 - 12:07 AM

Victoria History

This letter was in the Times Colonist. It really made me smile!

Parrot took role of intercom, cellphone
Times Colonist
Published: Sunday, September 09, 2007

When I was growing up in Victoria in the 1920s and 1930s, there was a stream that ran along the north side of View Street behind where London Drugs is now.

There were several small homes on that side of the street and most of them had little bridges or catwalks to their front doors.

The family that lived directly across from my dad's business, the Pacific Auto Wrecking Company, had a parrot whose favourite perch was on their bridge railing.

This was before intercoms or cellphones, so when Dad wanted one of his employees, he would whistle -- a special whistle for each chap. The parrot soon learned these and would mimic those whistles at any time of day.

You can imagine the frustration on my dad's and his employees' part as they would go tearing out to find it was only the parrot!

I am sure the parrot learned a few more colourful words as a consequence.

Rubymay Parrott,

Victoria.
© Times Colonist (Victoria) 2007

Wed, October 3, 2007 - 12:24 PM

The Century of the Self

I just watched a remarkable video called The Century of the Self about the life and work of Freud's American Nephew and his role in shaping Modern democracy, consumerism and political manipulation. This is really worth watching!

video.google.com/videoplay

Mon, July 23, 2007 - 10:57 PM

Little birds

Now at my doorstep little birds

Flit here, and there, collecting the seeds I hung.

The wind picks up in the cedar with a roar.

The bees struggle homeward, heavy with their sweet burden.

Dandelion helicopters lift off and twirl across

My waiting garden soil.

Everything has taken wing.

I was going about that simple business of loving and living.

I was winding my way through days of joyful belonging.

Now everything has taken wing,

Unsettled itself,

The sudden freedom fresh and sharp

Seeding itself randomly on my soul.

Tue, May 8, 2007 - 2:01 PM

Shekina is gone.

It's been almost 18 years with my little black familiar. She and I, paired in this universe, through thick and thin. I remember doing tarot readings with her, she was always so interested in any magickal energy and always seemed to know what was appropriate. She loved it when I became a computer geek, sitting on my lap purring for hours a day. We knew each other, her and I.

She's dead here now, I just put her in the box that my new dishwear came in. I will bury her tomorrow morning. She can hunt rats for me, and guard my garden.

Thu, May 3, 2007 - 10:25 PM

The Thin Raft seems stronger after all these years.

Thank you Mel and James for a beautiful night.

Thank you Universe for beautiful friends.

....
I wanna tell you 'bout Texas Radio and the Big Beat
Comes out of the Virginia swamps
Cool and slow with plenty of precision
With a back beat narrow and hard to master

Some call it heavenly in it's brilliance
Others, mean and rueful of the Western dream
I love the friends I have gathered together on this thin raft
We have constructed pyramids in honor of our escaping
This is the land where the Pharaoh died

The Negroes in the forest brightly feathered
They are saying, "Forget the night.
Live with us in forests of azure.
Out here on the perimeter there are no stars
Out here we is stoned - immaculate."

Listen to this, and I'll tell you 'bout the heartache
I'll tell you 'bout the heartache and the lose of God
I'll tell you 'bout the hopeless night
The meager food for souls forgot
I'll tell you 'bout the maiden with wrought iron soul

I'll tell you this
No eternal reward will forgive us now for wasting the dawn

I'll tell you 'bout Texas Radio and the Big Beat
Soft drivin', slow and mad, like some new language

Now, listen to this, and I'll tell you 'bout the Texas
I'll tell you 'bout the Texas Radio
I'll tell you 'bout the hopeless night
Wandering the Western dream
Tell you 'bout the maiden with wrought iron soul

- The Doors, Texas Radio

Mon, April 2, 2007 - 10:27 AM

Rest in Peace

I never had a big brother, but always wanted one. I've borrowed one or two in my life but by far the most significant was Jesse. One thing you can say about that family is they do sure make you feel like part of it. So I've fought with him, and talked with him, and resented him, and loved him to pieces all at the same time, and always, always known that he would defend me if I ever needed it.

Masha, thanks for sharing your family with me. Having your brothers in my life means the world to me. Jesse made me a stronger better person by his imprint on me and my life is richer for having had him pass through it.

I've found myself to be praying (or the witchyness that passes for it) rather alot recently. Thinking about Jesse, I find myself understanding the urge to pray for someone's soul... may he truly rest in peace.

Mon, March 12, 2007 - 9:39 PM

Birthday Eve

Tonight a dear friend who I rarely see told me he loved me. Not in a romantic way - in a "you are part of my soul" way. There was a silence and in that silence the sense of belonging wrapped around us like the coziest blanket, like a serpentine snuggle. I think that is a good note to fall asleep on this birthday eve. Thirty Five years old and someone loves me, even if I don't see him ever again, this will always be true. Thinking of the various people who have passed through my life, many of whom I am not in regular contact with makes me realise how many there are like that... people I really do love. People who are part of my soul. People who I think of and smile.
It is wonderful to be connected again with so many old friends. I hope I never entirely forget the others.

Thu, February 15, 2007 - 10:32 PM

The Queen of Swords

She rode in like a typhoon
Full of darkness and wild rage
But when I bent to help her dismount
I found that her feet were so tiny
That by closing my hand
I could make one disapear.
The moment gone
She met my eyes,
Hers were all thunder and strength
Mine were unspoken question.
And She said to me
With a voice like fire
"The Queen of Swords hobbled
Is Hope."
I think she laughed
And softened there
Before she turned away
Her sword ready.
I stood as if rooted
And shivered in the shadow
Of the creeping kind
Of Dread and Despair.
...... so thats why Hope was the last and worst
of the Curses of Pandora's Box!

Mon, February 12, 2007 - 7:32 AM

VibrantVictoria.ca

I have been really enjoying a new forum called "Vibrant Victoria" which tracks (with a fetishistic glee) every new development in our fair city, every urban issue... It is really a fun outlet for me, bringing my computer geekiness together with my urban planning geekiness in a heady brew. For anyone who wonders what is happening, or wants to find out the specifics of some development I encourage you to go register at VV. From the main page you find articles, and a list of new developments, but if you lick on "forums" you find the motherload... Victorians debating each new thing, talking about good restaurants, pubs, entertainment and well, everything Victorian!!!

Home Page: www.vibrantvictoria.ca/

Forum (best with registration, which only takes a couple of mins) vibrantvictoria.ca/forum

There is also the Victoria Grid Project, where the city is divided into map grids, one each month... and everyone goes out and photographs them. I know that a few of you might enjoy that project!

Victoria Grid Project: www.vibrantvictoria.ca/gridpr...dex.htm

Enjoy!

Sat, January 20, 2007 - 4:26 PM

Dead Dragon!

I'm so happy, euphoric even. This may sound odd to some of you but.. WOooOOOHOooooooO! the DRAGON is DEAD!

For almost two months now my little video game team has been working on killing this one very challenging dragon. Twice a week we try, and each time we have come very very close only to fail again. Our team has been together 5 years, we are pretty good at working together, but this has been very demoralising for us. Never before have we been stuck like this on one thing for so long. Anyhow, this Sunday we gathered to attempt this kill yet again, our numbers were low, because losing all the time just ain't fun. But we didn't loose, we won! The teamwork was flawless, no one screwed up their role, the dragon fell beneath our swords. And the jubilation was awesome! So was the flood of congratulations from other gamers as the word spread of what we had done.

We got our groove back and it feels great!

Sun, December 10, 2006 - 2:14 PM

Sparkly and Shiney

I was a baroness for a night, or some other petty royalty I am sure. There was a fairy princess at my table, one of the old fashioned kind, a fae. She was sparkly and glittered when she spoke, her eyes shone with healthy, happy light and humour. She was the perfect dinner companion. The food was also magical, as was the service, of course, being that we were dining at the Empress. I think one of the best feelings in the world is being in love with your friends.

Thank you for an awesome night Julia!

Sat, November 25, 2006 - 12:34 PM

Giving

Last night, I met Stephen Lewis, and attended his lecture up at UVic. For those of you who don't know Stephen Lewis, here is a link to his website: www.stephenlewisfoundation.orgWhat I have to say about him is, this man is a national treasure. He makes me proud to be a Canadian in this world. Stephen is the UN's special envoy to Africa for HIV/AIDS. This means that he is on the front lines in one of the most devestating realities to face the world today. 25 million people dead and counting. The heroisms of Grandmothers raising orphans the middle generation dead. And throughout Canada hundreds and hundreds of grandmothers standing up to support the grandmothers in Africa. Little old ladies taking over the earth, loving hands, unfailing strength. It wasn't the army of them that seized power, as imagined. It was that when it came down to it, they are who is left.

He gave an amazing speech. He talked about globalization or rather, global issues, and how we need to keep fighting, keep supporting, keep caring because without that, we are lost. He talked about the human condition, and how it seems as though the world cares more for abstract economic models that are disasters on the ground, and for politics and for conflict. He talked about the UN Food program having to cut its calorie provision to populations under seige in Sudan and Darfour. Why? Because they were short the 10 or 20 million dollars it would take to keep these people alive until the conflict is over. Not billions. Millions. The price of a few dozen Victoria homes. And in perspective, the Iraq and Afghanistan war together are costing 10 billion dollars a month.

My mother suggested that this Christmas rather than presents, she donate for each of us to an appropriate cause. She used to say she would do this when we were kids, but I think that was just an object lesson. I like this idea, hijacking the consumer glut in order to do some real good.

Sat, November 18, 2006 - 1:19 PM

Sealand!!!

I was doing a search for "Sealand" on Google, looking for information about the old Victoria Sealand we all remember. Instead I found the Pricipality of Sealand. Get this!!! I love this!!!

In the late 60s this family went and occupied an abandoned fortress left over from WW2 in the high seas. They declared independance and got it upheld in various courts. They have currency, stamps, a king and queen! They had a war with Holland and Germany after some people kidnapped the prince and took over the island. There is an internet company called HavenCo which operates exclusively on the Island and "Sealand currently has no specific regulations regarding patents, libel, restrictions on political speech, cryptography, restrictions on maintaining customer records, DMCA or music sharing services"

This is so neat, a James Bond movie begging to happen.

Here, look, www.sealandgov.org/history.html

Sun, November 12, 2006 - 9:04 PM

Mighty Huntress

Today's offering.... A wing, and a small piece of skull, beak attached. Last week, an entire family of rats, one by one, daddy first, then mommy, then every morning, one little rat. She lays these offerings artfully on the carpet behind my computer for me to find in the morning.

17 years together, she's pretty much deaf now, and has finally got the years to account for her cantankerous behaviour. Funny how intertwined we are, we understand each other quite well, a glance speaks volumes. I've resisted being owned by any man all these years, only to find that somehow I became owned by a cat.

Fri, November 10, 2006 - 2:02 PM —

I met Wade Davis!!! -Repost from Tribe

And talked with him, drove around with him and told him stories, and listened to his stories, and got his email address, and attended his lecture on the Amazon Forest. What an amazing man, amazing scholar, and absolutely incredible story teller! I was honored to meet him, but what was best of all was that, remembering how much one of our friends loved his work and how inspired she was by him, I told him about her, and he wrote her a note, and offered to correspond with her. She's going to freak when she sees this. heheheehehe

For anyone who doesn't know who Wade Davis is, or never read Serpent and the Rainbow... here is a link: www.nationalgeographic.com/coun....html This guy was one of my major inspirational figures, a great explorer and story teller.

Wed, November 8, 2006 - 3:31 AM

This Morning...

Everything is fresh. The sunrise from my porch is a gentle creep of gold over a sky of uniform grey. The dark sillouhettes of my evergreens crowd around trying to shelter me from the largeness of the sky. Above them, like a queen, Diana's bow is perched - the crescent moon - huntress in her chariot, a thin sliver of silver. This, with hot coffee, and the prospect of yoga class within the hour, is invigorating. I love living alone.

Tue, October 17, 2006 - 7:18 AM

Crone Wisdom

A little old lady (one of my gang of little old ladies I take the bus with every morning) told me this yesterday : "If I die, and go to heaven, and it is half as beautiful as Victoria, I will be happy. We are truly blessed, my dear."

I have not got this out of my head since she said it. I hear it when I look at the blossoms on the trees, the quality of light behind the ivy covered brick buildings, the sun on the water... It is so beautiful here it makes me feel drunk.

Tue, March 28, 2006 - 10:52 PM —

Loving Your Enemies

Martin Luther King Jr:

Another way that you love your enemy is this:

When the opportunity presents itself for you to defeat your enemy,
that is the time which you must not do it.
There will come a time, in many instances,
when the person who hates you most,
the person who has misused you most,
the person who has gossiped about you most,
the person who has spread false rumors about you most,
there will come a time when
you will have an opportunity to defeat that person.
It might be in terms of a recommendation for a job;
it might be in terms of helping that person
to make some move in life.
That's the time you must do it.
That is the meaning of love.

In the final analysis,
love is not this sentimental something that we talk about.
It's not merely an emotional something.
Love is creative, understanding goodwill for all men.
It is the refusal to defeat any individual.
When you rise to the level of love, of its great beauty and power,
you seek only to defeat evil systems.
Individuals who happen to be caught up in that system, you love,
but you seek to defeat the system.

loving your enemies - martin luther king jr. - 1957