C.O.L.D.E.R. Today

Coming autumn
Obliterates summer
Later than expected.
Dropping leaves
Emphasize
Rebirth.
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Elspeth

2,3,8

The sky
Is blue here.
The clouds move and change as I must.
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Elspeth

POS to YYZ

I will be leaving tomorrow (Monday 19th September, 2005) for Canada and will be there for three weeks. At first I will not be updating the blog, but once I've settled in, I will update as usual from my new location.

These labels on the handle are over two decades old. They are from the time the choir and steel band of the high school I was at (S.A.G.H.S.) went to Canada on an exchange trip ( I was in the steelband playing high tenor).

About two years ago Daddy asked me to throw away this old suitcase. It had been up on top of a cupboard gathering dust for years. When I saw the labels on the handle, they looked so picturesque and intriguing to me that I started taking photos of them and the suitcase (one of those large 'old fashioned' hard carboardy ones) in different environments.

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The suitcase looked as though it would be an interesting piece around which to build a play or a film ... full of stories (actually it was full of winter clothes) . Some friends and I ended up going to Lopinot that day (Aisha, Michelle and Irum - visiting researchers/scholars) and I took photos of the suitcase on the banks of the river and in the river itself. At the time, I had not yet opened the case and didn't know that anything was in it ... so when I finally opened it on the banks of the river and saw that it contained anoraks, coats and my maternal grandfather's old fluffy winter hat, it looked quite surreal: winter clothes in suitcase on banks of river in tropics. I didn't know what I was going to do with the photos - but we all got the feeling that they were part of an unfolding story. In those photos, standing on a rock in the middle of the river, the suitcase looked like the symbol of a journey - one that twists and turns through the landscape of life, changing its shape through erosion as much as it does by bringing new things to build it up into a completely new design.

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Until we meet again, may our symbolic suitcases be filled with wellness, safety and great things. Keep checking the page. I will update when I can.

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Elspeth

20

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1. It twists and turns and leads you to the centre of itself and yourself

2. All is well and as it should be

3. Expect nothing

4. Enjoy everything

5. The Truth will set you free

6. Trust in the Invisible

7. The way is clear

8. Empty mind

9. Empty heart

10. Empty being

11. Rest

12. Release

13. Think of nothing

14. Worry about nothing

15. New

16. Collect

17. Connect

18. The sky is full of shooting stars

19. Wish

20. Receive

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Elspeth

The Moon says: Pt 2

Last night I lay on my back in the driveway,

Looking up at the fullsome Moon.

Cat by my side,

Sleep denied,

"Coming, coming soon."

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The rays feel bluish, calm and cool

As this Moon projects:

Showerfully

Powerfully,

Universe protects.

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Later, as I go inside,

I flow out of myself:

Pink then red,

Flowerbed,

In my head

Blooming.

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Elspeth

Painting

One artform I never really got into is painting. I have painted things and painted on things (in an abstract way) but never really, intentionally set out to buy paints, brushes, canvas, etc. and try my hand at painting something. The other day I was going to buy cat food and the pet store wasn't open yet, so I went into a new art shop that had opened next door. The woman in there was so friendly, we ended up chatting for ages and I ended up buying three small canvasses, some acrylics, some brushes and a little palette type thing to mix the paints in. We'll see what happens.

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Elspeth

The Moon says ...

Release yourself.

Emerge from the Temple.

Make this a powerful day,

Goddess.

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Elspeth

Positive Vibes

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Elspeth

The Wonderful One Dollar Sale

The other day I was thinking that $100 seems like so much less these days. Soon after I break it to buy something, it seems to disappear. Then a few days ago I was buying fruit and veg in the fruit & veg stall on Southern Main Road and I overherad a woman telling the man who was hanging up fruit: "Boy, dese days a $20 come like a $1!"
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Yesterday I had a "Wonderful One Dollar Sale". It was a sale based on items I had put together during a spontaneous clean-out some time last week. I sent out an e-mail invitation featuring some photos of a few of the items and invited friends to come and buy (every item was one dollar): books, CDs, cassettes, miscellaneous items (pool cue, candles, candle holders, etc.) I had the sale down in the garden under the sapodilla tree (everything laid out on blankets and wraps); there was cooler with ice, a container of fruit punch, some cups and snacks. It was somewhat like a picnic (the dogs took over the blankets though, thinking they had been laid out for them. Pippa even guarded the pack of Cheez Stix, growling at anyone who tried to venture near. Navid got bitten twice upon arrival). Anyway, I made exactly $50, which is not bad at all. I will use it to buy two rolls of film.
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This morning when I remembered the woman saying that $20 is now like $1, I thought that yesterday's Wonderful One Dollar Sale had brought back some power to the dollar. It was wonderful seeing people walking away with books, music, etc. that they liked, knowing that each item had only been a dollar. Reminded me of older people saying that groceries once used to cost 15 cents.
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Elspeth

Now is ...

Empty mind

Clean slate

Free space

Open gate

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Elspeth

As easy as 1,2,3 ...

one
two
three
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I think I was subconsciously thinking about "miracles" anyway - and then on Tuesday night I went with a friend, Nisha, to visit another friend, Rosanna, and over dinner we started talking about the book "A Course in Miracles" which Rosanna was saying she picks up every now and then and reads randomly (wherever she opens the book she reads that part). I also have a copy of the book and I do the same thing every once in a blue moon.
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I like some of the definitions that book gives at the beginning, explaining what a "miracle" is. Here are three (today's magic number):

1. Miracles as such do not matter. The only thing that matters is their Source, which is far beyond evaluation.

2. Miracles occur naturally as expressions of love. The real miracle is the love that inspires them. In this sense everything that comes from love is a miracle.

3. Miracles are natural. When they do not occur, something has gone wrong.

(From: A Course in Miracles)

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Elspeth

M.I.R.A.C.L.E. 3

Music Is Radiant And Can Lift Energy

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Tune in to the full version of my WASHERWOMAN piece.

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Elspeth

M.I.R.A.C.L.E. 2

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Elspeth

M.I.R.A.C.L.E.

My ... It Really Always Comes Like Enlightenment.

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Something simple today will reveal the answer.

Something simple today will show the way.

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Elspeth

Munuhhhhhhhh ... a.k.a. "Morning"

When I was in St. Vincent/Bequia, one thing that struck me was the way that people (complete strangers) would go out of their way to say a cheerful "Good morning!" In St. Vincent I stayed with my Aunt (Auntie Jean) and early on the two mornings I was there, I would sit on her verandah watching people pass. Inevitably, they would all look up at me from the street and wave cheerfully, calling out "Good morning!" and smiling. Why it struck me is because this generally does not happen in Trinidad.
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When I go for my walk in the morning, I say good morning to everyone I pass. No, I say "Morning" ... which, as a friend and I were discussing recently, is different from saying specifically "GOOD morning." Just saying "Morning" could mean good, bad, indifferent morning. Fill in the blank morning? "__________ Morning." But generally when I have heard people saying good morning here, most tend to say "Morning." I find older people tend to say "Good morning!" Especially older women who say it in a sing-song voice as though you are a sweet little child: "Good moorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrning, darling/baby/babes!"
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So this morning on my walk, as I said "Morning" to people who passed by, I noted the following responses from them:
* "Morning!" (cheerful response accompanied by smile)
* Munuhhhhhh (reluctant, mumbled response with head tucked down and eyes averted)
* Mmmmm (hurried, absent-minded response)
* ________ (no response at all even when I repeat myself)
* People who smile and say "Morning" before I get a chance to.

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Have a good morning/day/evening/night.

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Elspeth

If we were all "Scouts" ...

There's quite a bit of work I have to do before leaving the country again. One job is to write two 5 minute video scripts - one on the Girl Guides movement and one on the Scout Movement in TT. Today I'm going to talk to Sister Annetta (re Girl Guides) and tomorrow a Mr. Nanan is coming up to talk to me about the Scouts. I was just reading over a two-page document I have on the Scouting Movement and I find the Scout PROMISE, the Scout LAW and their VALUE SYSTEM to be simple yet powerful. I know Scouts are male, but I am presenting the below "Promise", etc. as something for both male and female - applicable as a guide for humanity. As a result, I've just made some little additions/adjustments of my own to make the guidance more applicable to everyone.
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THE PROMISE
I promise that I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country
To keep the SCOUT LAW
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THE SCOUT LAW
A Scout is to be trusted
A Scout is loyal
A Scout is friendly and considerate
A Scout is a brother to all scouts (I'll just add 'sister' here to include female readers and myself)
A Scout has courage in all difficulties
A Scout makes good use if his (her*) time and is careful of possessions
A Scout has respect for himself (herself*) and others
* My additions
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Then another part of the document says that "It is from the aforementioned that our VALUE SYSTEM has evolved."
* Doing one's best
* Duty to God
* Duty to others
* Duty to self
* Duty to the environment
* Keeping the Law
* Honesty
* Loyalty
* Friendliness
* Brotherhood (national and international) - add Sisterhood
* Courage
* Time management
* Careful (I suppose this should be "Care" or "Carefulness")
* Respect for self
* Respect for others
- older people
- people in authority
- clergy
- parents teachers
- caregivers
- the opposite sex (I will also include the same sex here)
* Respect for property
- own
- others
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Have a Scouty day.
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Elspeth

C.R.A.B.*

* Caught Running Along Beach (in Bequia)

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From the depths

I come to light

When the time is right.

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Elspeth

Cloud 9

Two birds flying over the beach in Bequia

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Whenever I see birds soaring and dipping on wind currents I think it must be one of the happiest, most freeing and most exhilarating feelings in the world. Indeed a "Cloud 9" experience. As I wrote the title of the post, I wondered about that phrase 'Cloud Nine' and where it had originated. I came across many different sources of explanation - most of them similar, but some quite different from others. I like this one which gives it a Bhuddist slant

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CLOUD NINE QUESTIONS

1. When last did you have a Cloud 9 experience?

2. Have you had a Cloud 9 experience yet for the day?

3. Does something you have planned for today have the potential to put you on Cloud 9?

4. Does a Cloud 9 experience have to be a big event? Or can it be small and simple?

5. Can you give someone a Cloud 9 experience?

6. Can someone give you a Cloud 9 experience?

7. Can a Cloud 9 experience be planned or must it be spontaneous, serendipitous and unexpected?

8. Will Cloud 9 ever be the shape that it was a second ago?

9. Is it possible to capture Cloud 9 and bottle it (and would you want to)?

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Elspeth

*Astral visit*

In last night's dream I went to visit a friend who lives abroad. She had sent me (by e-mail) a beautiful aerial photo of a sailboat on open sea with the subject heading "Hope". It was a large white sailboat with brilliant white sails - and the sea around it was frothing like white lace. Beyond that, the open sea was a dark grey in stark contrast. The feeling I got from it was freedom and strength. It felt like she was saying that she had made an escape yet discovered home in one blow. In the dream, when I visited, she did not look like herself. Her eyes were brown and her face was different, but it was her. When I was in her apartment, I touched something in the kitchen sink and suddenly there were little transparent fibres (like how fibre optic cables look in microscopic close up shots) stuck to my fingers - almost as though they were growing out of my fingertips. I couldn't get them off. The more I tried to pull them off, they became transparent, rubbery globules encased around my finger tips. I eventually managed to peel them off quite easily, as though they were a second skin. I'm not sure why ... but I woke up feeling extremely at peace and very still internally, as though I had been given some kind of power and assurance of the supreme but simple knowledge that everything that happens is for the greater good.

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Elspeth

3,6,2,1,5

In the spirit of a haiku, etc., I have chosen some random numbers to form the syllabic structure of the spontaneous poem I will now write:

I am here

In this place called Knowhere.

I am

here

In this place called Love.

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(Try one)

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Elspeth