Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween/Samhain

The word Halloween means hallowed evening; hallowed meaning sacred.

It is a time when the veils between the realms are thin. And we can connect the ancestors who have passed.  In my Native heritage the ancestors and their wisdom are honored always as ones to aid us.

Thus in the Celtic Samhain celebration the dead were honored not feared. Knowing they are just on another level of existence.  Death was not seen as a negative but as change. A time of community and celebration where the new ones born during the year were formally introduced into their community.

It was custom to leave food for the elders or for the fae so they would not pull pranks, hence the “trick or treat”. In other traditions costumes and mischief making singing and dancing was the way of this night and they would go door to door offering prayers for treats.

Jack-o'-lantern comes from British origins and means man with a lantern.  Also called will o’ the wisp which refers to the neat flickers of light in wetlands at night said to be fae or ghosts pranking. So, such has an appropriate place in the Halloween celebrations where they are generally outdoors lit by candles. 

Bobbing for apples has been seeing in many ways but one that I think is neat. It was said that If one caught an apple when bobbing for apples they were to peel it carefully and to slowly circle their head with the peel thrice and then throw it over their head.  The letter shape that appeared would be the first initial of the individuals’ true love.

No matter how you look at the day be it from a stand point of ancient traditions or of a day of fun and merriment. Let it be one of joy.

© Lisa Ann Ulibarri

Autumn 20012

Happy Autumn Sept. 20012

Photography and words By

Lisa Ann Ulibarri

In the most ancient of times with various peoples the seasons were honored in the symbols; hieroglyph’s; way the homes were build; and how other special elements were placed.

Stonehenge is one of the most well-known places showing this, in the amazing stone columns that others rush to see so they too can feel that touch of the divine. But alas many other sacred places exist around the world.

So to this today many honor the seasons. Today the return is being honored. The day and night are equal, the bounty of the harvest, or as with the pagans (country dwellers) this is part of their wheel of the year of celebrations.

What box?

My life has not been about labels one even told me they did not think I even knew there was a box. I don't. I don't need to look at others as a race, a color, or a lifestyle. Nor do I need to stereotype.

Let not our world be about divisions but about appreciation for one another.

Let not our world be about fear but about wonder.

Always makes me think of a childhood experience of mine. I was visiting my aunt in the city with my mother. all week long I had played with the neighborhood children. All of a sudden one of the childrens mothers would not let him play with us saying he was sick. He wasn't he snuck to the window saying as much.

I told my mother about this and she told me his mother was being prejudice. I had no idea what she meant. She explained that his mother did not want him to play with us because we had different skin colors from him. I looked at her with my face scrunched in confusion and said, "that doesn't make any sense." Out of the mouth of babes as they say.

Thanks mom for teaching me to be good to others and for not teaching me about prejudice.

Also makes me think of my good friend Jig (Jason). One never knows what lovely color would end up in his hair, or what fun look he would be inspired to have. Many would label in a certain way... he really doesn't he just knows who he is. You rock my "Silly Dragon".

 I feel individuality is frowned upon because their is no predictability in it. In a world the demands strucure it creates fear. Those of us who are free from this are labeled rebels,..anarchists. The majority  of us just desire the truth, justice, and honor of days gone by. Is it truly gone though? Not as long as there are those who live it.

I don't see your boxes and I don't mind... maybe its time to burn them. don't they smother?

Leave things better then you found them

When I was a child my mom would always tell me I should leave things better then I found them. I took this to heart.

Always leaving my Mother Earth more glorious then before. Removing the litter, adding flowers... one cannot have too many flowers.

When moving from a residence. Giving it a new paint job,... Yes more flowers in the yard too! Besides the fairies like a well kept place as well.

show your respect in the world and not just take what you need give back in honoring.

Giving is contagious

I have always been the sort of person who loves to give to others. The benefit of my experience, aid, ..

What I have found with it is that you can create a wave of giving.  There are many who have not had this open giving in their life and when they do it first astounds them and then motivates them to do the same.

This means all giving. Not just of the solid variety but of the feeling variety as well. Love, caring, ...

Yes, even the babies will do this and should be encouraged. Do not refuse the sharings of the babies, the smiles, the shows of effection, ... Return them.

Lastly let our giving be of the positive variety for we do not want the negative variety to become contagious.

Honoring our elderly

Dedicated with love to my Grams and Gramps 

Today I stumbled upon this poem. It is my understanding that it has been making the rounds on the web inspiring many along the way mostly as 'anonymous'. Be it truth or not it is now being said that it came from a grandfather who passed away in a geriatic facility in Australia. No matter the source it is a poem that could have come from many and the message deserves to be passed on in the world.

Cranky Old Man.....
What do you see nurses? . . .. . .What do you see?
What are you thinking .. . when you're looking at me?
A cranky old man, . . . . . .not very wise,
Uncertain of habit .. . . . . . . .. with faraway eyes?
Who dribbles his food .. . ... . . and makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice . .'I do wish you'd try!'
Who seems not to notice . . .the things that you do.
And forever is losing . . . . . .. . . A sock or shoe?
Who, resisting or not . . . ... lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding . . . .The long day to fill?
Is that what you're thinking?. .Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse .you're not looking at me.
I'll tell you who I am . . . . .. As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, .. . . . as I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of Ten . .with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters .. . . .. . who love one another
A young boy of Sixteen . . . .. with wings on his feet
Dreaming that soon now . . .. . . a lover he'll meet.
A groom soon at Twenty . . . ..my heart gives a leap.
Remembering, the vows .. .. .that I promised to keep.
At Twenty-Five, now . . . . .I have young of my own.
Who need me to guide . . . And a secure happy home.
A man of Thirty . .. . . . . My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other . . .. With ties that should last.
At Forty, my young sons .. .have grown and are gone,
But my woman is beside me . . to see I don't mourn.
At Fifty, once more, .. ...Babies play 'round my knee,
Again, we know children . . . . My loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me . . . . My wife is now dead.
I look at the future ... . . . . I shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing .. . . young of their own.
And I think of the years . . . And the love that I've known.
I'm now an old man . . . . . . .. and nature is cruel.
It's jest to make old age . . . . . . . look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles .. .. . grace and vigour, depart.
There is now a stone . . . where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass . A young man still dwells,
And now and again . . . . . my battered heart swells
I remember the joys . . . . .. . I remember the pain.
And I'm loving and living . . . . . . . life over again.
I think of the years, all too few . . .. gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact . . . that nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people .. . . . .. . . open and see.
Not a cranky old man .
Look closer . . . . see .. .. . .. .... . ME!!

 Since I was a small child I have always been told to respect my elders and I have. Taking things a bit further by calling them grandma's and grandpa's.

Memories of my own grandpa always make my heart happy. He is a man whose love for the outdoors rubbed off on me. I spend many a weekend with him and grandma as a child and, he never neglected to take time out of his busy schedual to teach me something, or share something with me. he gave me this rock with lots of cube shaped gold colored pieces in it. One of my special treasures. Though he is not in this realm anymore I know he is with me all the same. Especially when I need that hug.

Grandma, likewise, has been that amazing presence in my life. Some of my fondest memories were of her and I in the kitchen making cookies,  and tortillas. The gingerbread man cookie cutter was pulled out for me to make tortilla men. It always made me feel so special. She would always make me milk gravy as well a big bowl of it that I loved to eat with the warm tortillas. Ahhh.. comfort food.

When I spend time with my grams now I am bursting with excitement bubbles seeing her smile and laugh. I know I will always make her smile and laugh. I am glad she appreciates my humor.

She shares stories of our family that I hold in my heart so that I some day can tell them to the younger ones. One of my favorite stories is of my great grandpa, who at times would talk in Apache, and his sister who felt so connected to this side of our heritage that she wore tradtional Apache clothing. There is also a story of how she saved the babies from drowing. The men sat at the side of the water taking off their boots and she jumped in clothes, shoes and all. Again excitement bubbles!

Introspectively I look at self. No matter my age I still feel like me. not a number. What matters to me matters always. As I get older I will find those young ones who want to listen to my stories and I will share them with the fire in my eyes that is me... and they will never see me as a number. And maybe just maybe they will be filled with excitement bubbles at my stories too!