Huna po (yesterday)

Huna. The horns of Mahina are softened. The Moon fattens.

Libby Beach faces West on the North side of Whidbey moku. The Huna po (this shot taken just after the sun was at zenith ... around 1 PM).
Clouds were busy today. Low hanging and a mixed bag of shapes.

Waves! Small swells but long and sure.

The curl of white water

The kani (sound) of ocean playing with the pohaku (stones) at the shore. Beautiful.

So many families of clouds today

The colors of water and sky, land and sea

Back in the woods. Hina (and Jupiter which I couldn't find in my camera) were visible through a hazy gauze cloud cover. The shape of our vardo roof inspired by the curve of haumea and hina (earth and moon) ... we get to see their companionship here.

Huna and the La'au (tall trees of pine and fir)

Click on the images to see larger views.

'Ole Kulua

Notes from Pete's Journal

Large groups (named 'rafts, colonies, pods) of Sea Lions have commandeered the landings in Astoria, Oregon. (Not far from our Whidbey Island moku; and part of the Pacific rim. ) All the dock space along the Columbia River fill with Sea Lions, and are expected to travel up river hunting live food. Why the uncommonly high numbers? The unusually warm ocean temperatures are being cited. Global warming?!

Warm and sunny with a nice breeze; maybe in the 60's

One of the large resident Madrona is in full bloom in town (Langley)

'Ole kukahi (yesterday)

 When I was a girl growing up next to Yurie (Aunty Lily) Buffins, she would tell me, "God's taking his sheep home," when the clouds looked like this. Yesterday's 'ole kulua sky was an Aunty Lily sky.

Look closely and you can see the long(er) and snaking growth of the Bracken ferns. They are almost knee high now. Click here to see where they were last 'ole cycle. 

The salmon berry blossoms get bigger.

Ku Kolu and Ku Pau (yesterday and today)

Last night the clouds cleared just enough for us to see Ku Kolu puka through

Today, Ku Pau, Pete and his Good Cheer Garden pals prepped beds, set up irrigation and planted ... 

Tiny carrot seeds went in

Lettuce (down the middle) surrounded by pea starts

The wind was strong and constant today. The pollens spreading far and wide.

As I write, just before sunset, the Raven Clan is talking in complicated language (mixed sounds and utterances) high in the trees around our tiny homes.

Hummingbird and bees have been busy gathering nectar from the salmon berries outside the Quonset window. 

Ka Po Kukahi (Sunday, March 22, 2015)

Noon at Holmes Harbor, low tide

The wind was strong (see the stiff angle of the flag)

The usually floating dock is pa'a to the shore this noon

Layers of gray paint the skies

Deconstructing and Reconstructing the Universe with Kalei Nuuhiwa

Kilo Practitioner, Ethno-scientist Kalei Nu'uhiwa speaks from Waikiki about the Hawaiian Moon Calendar and the practice of PapakuMakawalu (deconstructing and reconstructing the universe) found in the Hawaiian Creation Chant 'Kumulipo.'. Kalei's kuleana has influenced me and my husband to 'count on the moon' (and the regularity of our ancestors) to make sense of contemporary life. It is Kalei who is organizing the Pacific-wide Lunar Conference ('Aimalama) on O'ahu in September, 2015. Pete and I envision being part of that 'aha (gathering) focused on sharing lunar practices throughout the Pacific as a tool to understand and address in real terms the climate changes happening on our island Earth.


This short video presentation gives new-to-Nu'uhiwa's mana'o (Kalei Nu'uhiwa's operational philosophy) a sample of the practitioner's energy.

Anahulu Ho'emi (the week) leading up to Muku (Spring Equinox and Lunar Eclipse)

The first Camelia are blossoming in the woods around our tiny homes. They hua much later than the Camelia in town which are already expended themselves, petals fallen in the past weeks.

Up-island overlooking West Beach on the Northend of Whidbey, the Kane tide is gently dancing leaving a small shoreline beach.

The heavens kiss the mountain range (The Olympics)

Winter has been dry. Only a scatter of snow caps the mauna. There is drought.

As Pete takes pictures of ke kai and the mauna beyond, Eagle hunts from the utility pole, turns to look at Pete. Pete retreats to the car.

On Muku nei this morning, hei (spider webs) have begun to gather the potential of raindrops

Evidence of a northearterly makani (breeze) ... very gentle. But it has brought the smell of some hewa from the forest. Later, we would discover the source. Slash burning of a new logging project. Man is making way for more storage units.

The Kaloa Po (Kaloa phases March 14, 15, 2015)

On the road near Useless Bay, new pony and on her feet.

Cherry blossoms are fully open and the songs of bees filled the air when we visited Tahoma-san/One Drop Zen Monastery in Freeland

Garden site is worked up and mulched, prepared for later plantings

The 'ohe (bamboo) are abundant at Tahoma-san/One Drop, we were there to harvest a couple stalks already cut.

Nettles are prolific, already calf high

A beautiful place to be

The weekend was wet, heavy rain especially Sunday. Big puddles of rain all around our tiny houses, no sounds from ravens or other birds.

Our solamente henny has been expanding her free-range territory. She showed up on the vardo porch this weekend; lonely for company.

'Ole Pau (March 12, 2015)

The winds were strong moving clouds swiftly; tree tops danced

'Ole Pau was also a powerful time for healing work at a very deep level. A visit with my medicine woman reminded me (that is what 'ole po can offer us) of the sacrifices our ancestors and our 'aumakua make for us. The medicine in action led me to remember: 'Mahalo na aumakua' every day. My 'aha (altar) has been expanded by one.

 

The Bracken ferns begin makawalu (unfurling) on the woods' trail

'Ole Pau (the third 'ole po ... 'ole done or neverending)

This is an excerpt from the Opening Ceremony (2011) and first post on this blog. I thought it would be a good one to republish, and offer as a link. Click here to read, listen and watch the foundational values for Counting on the Moon. 'Ole po are times of review, times for weeding and repairing nets and tools; a good time to consider the condition of your journeying.

Listen to Kumu John Keola Lake chant "E Ho Mai"

Watch and Listen to Sam Ka'ai speak about kuleana

Read navigator Nainoa Thompson's stories that influenced his journey as Hawaiian wayfinder

" ... IN CONTEMPORARY native villages, one might posit today that all people actively engaged in the land—hunting, fishing, gathering, traveling, camping—are naturalists, and say that some are better than others according to their gifts of observation. Native peoples differ here, however, from the Gilbert Whites, the Darwins, the Leopolds, and the Rachel Carsons in that accumulating and maintaining this sort of information is neither avocation nor profession. It is more comparable to religious activity, behavior steeped in tradition and considered essential for the maintenance of good living. It is a moral and an inculcated stance, a way of being. While White and others, by contrast, were searching for a way back in to nature, native peoples (down to the present in some instances), for what-ever reason, have been at pains not to leave. The distinction is important because “looking for a way back in” is a striking characteristic of the modern naturalist’s frame of mind..."  - Barry Lopez, excerpted from the article "The Naturalist" Orion Magazine, 2001

'Ole Kukahi (just barely or was it still 'Ole Kulua?)

At 3 A.M. on an 'Ole Kukahi or 'Ole Kulua morning, the two la'au nui (large family trees) framed two very bright lights. Planets?

Mahalo to the kupuna of the internet ... the bright lights I was seeing were Saturn and Antares. Saturn rules the astrological sign of Scorpio ... to see it so clearly on an early 'ole moon. WOW! A big visual dose of understanding.

Pete and I have been studying and practicing 'counting on the moon' for seven years. The years have been fruitful, difficult often, challenging on many levels. And, as with so much of what I experience there are more than one strands being braided into the place of true wisdom ... pulling the floating knowledge (mana'o lana) from the sky (both metaphoric and literal) and making it a living experience (mana'o 'i'o) internalized knowing.

The Strands

1. the nights of po ... the moon phases
2. astrology
3. ancestral wisdom and aumakua (guardians and animal messengers)

RAVEN have been visiting and being very close in the last few weeks. Yesterday and today were no exception. They have so much to say (if we listen!). Since I was no longer sleeping at 2 AM, I let the cyber librarian lead me to where I needed to go. There was a story that needed to be told, and I was all ears.

I found and watched a story on YouTube that needed to be told. For some reason there is a problem loading the video. But here's a link to that YouTube ... While that problem irons itself out, I found this link to this written story: THE SPIRIT OF THE WHALE, or Raven and the Whale.  I have asked for the stories that I have permission to tell. This one is the latest, and one from our Inuit family. I mahalo my ancestors for the guidance to such big and beautiful medicine. 'Ole Po ('ole phases) are fitting times to reflect on the quality of ones journey as spiritual being living in human skin.

A beautiful medicine story.
 
Link here to read 

'EKOLU 'OLE (Three Nights of 'Ole Moon) March 10-12, 2015

There is a very gentle breeze this morning in the woods. A very subtle angle to the lucky fish wind sock.

RAVENS shout at me "Come outside!!!!" I do, I talk with them scanning the trees for their location. They trick me, out of sight. Then, they fly quickly through the treetops. I try to catch their movement. A'ole! Not possible.

The 'Ole Po (the 'ole phases)

These moon phases are times for rest, review, and restoration. These are not (generally) good times for fishing or planting; they are good for weeding, repairing nets and cultivation (getting the ground ready for planting).

These 'Ole Po are named: 'olekukahi, 'olekula and 'olepau.


Personally, I am going through the process of attending to seasonal allergies. The early onset of growth here in South Whidbey has triggered old and recurring sinus and bronchial congestion. My remedies include: rest, lots of liquids, hot tea (nettle) and huge bowls of Chicken and Long Rice soup made with lots of shredded fresh ginger root, and sleeping with heated pohaku (rocks) wrapped in wool socks.

NOTE: A Super Moon/New Moon in Pisces/Equinox approaches March 20, 2015. There is great potential for healing and transformation with a New Moon. Add to that the period of Equinox, and the Super Moon (when the Moon is very close to the Earth) and there is a whole lot of IKA (strength) available for us all!

I am considering these 'ole po, and the upcoming SuperMoon/New Moon/Equinox as a time when long-held patterns of coping and responding to my environment (including the pollens and bombastic arrival of new growth) could be released. There is the potential. I pray for the opening, the willingness, the curiosity: E Ho Mai.

Here's a link to a YouTube about that Super Moon. If you're curious ... GO HERE.


RAVEN is out of sight, but their presence as my guardian and trickster animal reminds me to stay connected to the wildness. Their voice, their watchful eyes became part of the medicine that works common magic in my life. I write the stories to keep the myth alive. The medicine story The Safety Pin Café began during the winter and RAVEN was present, part of the magic.


 



La'au Pau (yesterday, March 9, 2015)

This is from Pete's notebook yesterday. He recalled his busy La'au pau day in South Whidbey...

EARLY MORNING: fog from Useless at Bayview. Wet grass about 9:00 A.M.

NOON: Clearing, allowing Ka La (the sun) to warm things up

UPPER LANGLEY: warm, then northerly breezes off of Saratoga Pass cooled temperatures down

BACK IN THE WOODS AT HOME: warm and clear skies in the early evening

MAXWELTON VALLEY: Around 4 P.M. Quade Road warm and sunny; Ewing Farm ... spotted 20 Canadian goslings warming themselves on the grassy patch by the pond.

MIDNIGHT: Hina very low in the S.W. sky

La'au kukolu (today)

The temperature is warming, a little. We left the la'i (ti plants) out overnight. In the background is the Rose of Sharon (Purple Hibiscus) that I bought for my brother David's memorial last May. It's slowly sprouting new growth.

We woke to a foggy morning. This shot mid-morning Ka La (the sun) is breaking through the remnant fog. The lucky fish wind sock is still; no breeze this morning.



Wana au ... the shaft of light

BIRD SOUNDS: While I park here at the keys, I hear the work of the woodpecker, Flicker or Red-Head? Raven is also very close (they usually are) making galumping sounds in the trees. Sparrows and Towhees are busy in the huckleberry and wild blueberries. They have been feasting on Pete's sprouting winter wheat berries. The birds think the berries are for them, never mind the humans who think the tender greens Pete will juice is for them:/