'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 

Mahealani Moon (March 5, 2015)

From our vardo in the woods it was easy to believe the hazy cloud cover would cloak Mahealani. We lingered, hesitant to leave the warm futon. According to the chart the moon would rise at around 6:20. The cellphone read 6:05. "Let's go," Pete finally said still holding his favorite deck of cards. He had quietly wanted, and waited all day long for this rising; "Mahealani is the most beautiful name."

Mahealani rises just after the sun sets. We couldn't see any sign of ka la's set from our wooden canopy of a home. But we climbed into the Subaru dressed for cool temperatures and hoped that the sky would be clear.

Mahealani rewarded us with this ...

Our friend Prescott and Pete. The temperature was cool, probably high 30's or 40 degrees. There was lots of kehau (moisture) in the grass, my sandaled and sock-covered feet were chilled before the watching was over. 

In the sky along with the Mahealani moon we spied the triple conjunction of Jupiter, Mars and Uranus in the sign of Aries. Orion's belt appeared quickly western sky as well. Makali'i (The Pleiades) was with us as well; I waved to my Ancestors there.

A great dark and open sky opens above the land here at The Tilth. This is our ma uka (upland) moon spot. The Sunlight Beach shore, our ma kai (at the beach) spot.

Through our farmer friend Jody Crane's farm stand the glazy halo of light around Mahealani framed the common magic of a moon rising ma uka (up mountain) at the South Whidbey Tilth grounds

 

Mele Helu PO (Hawaiian Moon Phase Names)

As we begin again journeying in the cyber wa'a (internet canoe) guided by the phases of the Hawaiian Moon, this YouTube is such a fun way to learn the thirty names.


NĀ PŌ (HAWAIIAN MOON CHANT)

Kamali’i ‘ike ‘ole I ka helu po
Little children who cannot count the nights
Muku Nei, muku, ka malama
Muku is here, Muku the dark moon
Hilo nei, kau ka Hoaka
Hilo, followed by Hoaka
‘Eha ku, ‘Eha ‘ole, eae
Four ku, four ‘ole
Huna, Mohalu, Hua, Akua
Huna, Mohalu, Hua, Akua
Hoku, Mahealani, eae
Hoku (“star”- full moon) Mahealani
Kulua
Kulua
Ekolu la’au, ekolu ‘ole, ekolu kaloa, eae
Three La’au, three ‘ole, three kaloa
Kane, lono, mauli eae
Kane, Lono, Mauli