More 'Ole Po (Monday through Thursday)

 The la'i logs soaked over the winter, have sprouted, but their wilting leaves are a signal: LOOK MORE CLOSELY!

The roots of the two logs have become entangled, strangling their 'ike, their potential for more growth requires attention. Yesterday, I slowly untangled the roots, making sure I didn't break them. The pitcher above is a larger vessel than the glass they'd soaked in for the winter. I added fresh lepo (dirt) to water and have the untangled roots and logs preparing to be planted, after the 'ole po have passed.

 The Blue Lake pole beans I planted last Mahealani are up. One or two planted around the 'ohe (bamboo) have sprouted. During the Ku po I soaked and replanted. Now the 'ole times are a good time to weed the small weeds in the garden.

 The old Gravenstein Apple Tree is filled with growing green apples.

 If you look closely, the small cluster of grapes is forming. I watched a bee circulating. That is a good sign ... pollinating.

 Above, the gentle breezes move the ao (clouds) slowly. This one i ka halawa (over my head) was fat ... but only for a few moments.

 Before I was pau noticing, and recording with these pictures, the clouds had dispersed. It is a dry time.

 Our building projects (a new bath and toilet hale) is coming along, slow and steady. Pete has set cement block floor after pouring foundation for the metal framework you see.

The inverted triangle 'prayer flags' the banner for HO'OMOKU is airing out, and slowly I add newly found 'treasure' from our local thrift shop to prepare for our Open House July, 10, 2015. Again, if you look closely, (click on the image for a bigger view) you'll see how the safety pin continues to be a vital part of our journey. Makawalu ... unfurling from the medicine of story, and my Ma's safety pins.

He hua li'ili' na'e koka 'io

The egg of the hawk is nonetheless small.

Significant things may arise from humble beginnings

-'Olelo No'eau

'Ole Po are good times for preparation, weeding, noticing the direction of your journey, the quality of your kuleana making adjustments as necessary.

'Ole Pau Berry time

 A sweet and cooling high makana breeze stirred the tips of the Tall Ones, with streaks of clouds high in the sky to add to the morning dance. BEAUTIFUL!

 In the bushes beside the Quonset the reward of that rain that soaked the forest is showing up in plump golden salmonberries. (Click to see the timing of the first salmon berries.) Funny how before the rain the small and hard berries gave what they could. And then

"Hahai no ka ua ia ka ulula'au. Rains always follow the forest. The rains are attracted to forest trees. Knowing this, Hawaiian hewed only the trrees there were needed. - 'Olelo No'eau. Mahalo na kupuna! Your wisdom is never-ending ('ole pau). 

The red and ripe Elderberries! They don't usually ripen till much later in the summer.

'Ole Pau (over the weekend)

From ma'uka where we live in the woods, Raven flew above us just before we left to do errands up island. He perched on a hemlock branch, turned to watch us ... for a long look at us. 

Our first stop was Greenbank Farms. The sky was clear, the weather malia...pleasant with a slight breeze, and warming sun. Geese on the other side of the pond grazed. We heard a pair 'call' and 'respond.' 

Dandelions and English Daisies filled the grass with color. We stepped carefully.

The reeds were a perfect raft for a Starling to drink water.

We continued north to Coopeville. First to the junk yards (they call 'em Recycling Centers now) looking for a used sink and a heater for next winter. We found them both for $20. Resourceful use of fossil fuel (to drive the car) and use the skills of know-how from a lifetime of fixing things rather than consuming new.

 (Hover over the map for the First Peoples' name for the island we live on.) The island we live on is the long irregular shape of moku with the "T" in the word "PUGET" on its lowest southern tip. 

An exhibit at the Island County Museum in Coopeville led me to a place where I could discover some answers to my questions about the songs of these moku, and this water.

Outside, on Penn Cove the winds had picked up strength, the tide was flowing in. Mid day. Ho'oku'i.
We are facing north east, the wind came from that direction.

The feathers of the gulls ruffled, the birds remained pa'a, steadfast.

What does the Earth ask?

These are the 'Ole Po (the three moons of reflection, readjustment, and asking questions). After an 'Ole Kukahi like this, the winds are high, strong, and bringing storm our way. We prepare: cook dinner early, batten down anything that might fly and cause harm, and ask the Tall Ones for protection as makani moves through.

Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer has a story upon which we could reflection. I discover it today, and share the gift.

'OLE MOON GIFT: Teachability

'as if looking through a curtain'

Retreat

Sometimes I forget how the seasons flipflop on the Earth.  I don't think about how water goes down the drain in my neck of the woods, but then I read this line, "In Crosswicks the bath water runs out clockwise; in Australia, widdershins."  (I am, at this very moment, writing with a copy of a book balanced on my left thigh... not a common thing -- reading a book for me in recent years, as I reassembled my life with MCS.  The book was a thriftbook treasure for 35 cents, and it said to me, "Maybe, now."  I listened and took it home with me.  The title of the book A Circle of Quiet written by one of my all-time favorite writers Madeleine L'Engle.)  Today, the 'Ole Kukahi is a sweet mix of tender time and quiet stretches.  I have had time with Madeleine, and JOTS my favorite cat friend.  An email thank-you cheered me to know a small gift had reached its mark.  The sun is spending a lot of time with me and all the others on Whidbey today.  I am sockless and I wore a bright, deep pink Camelia in my hair today.  A supper of lamb tidbits with yam and oranges and steamed broccoli is waiting to be cooked up, later.  JOTS is asleep across the Quonset bathed in sunshine and shadows.  And from the retreat of the 'ole moons a spritely story found its way into my writing fingertips.  Stories are like that, they just need to be told!  Click here, and read the comments for a peek at that story.  What great company, and contentment. 

Review

The blessings of emptiness is the subtitle for this workhop, and to record these small treats of experience are indeed the stuff of moon blessings.  In addition to the 'ole moons, Mercury stopped its retrograde movement and (apears) to moving forward again.  Communication is often effected when Mercury backs up.  I have had to be more careful of what I think and say during the weeks.  Miscommunication is likely, and that has been the case for this old gal. 

Let me unfold the story:  The passion that fuels the creation and sharing of Count on the Moon was a god-thing.  A directive.  I did hear that call, and I put things in motion.  The Aries Moon has fired my actions and fueled me with new beliefs and energy.  Boy is it being wonderful!  The other night Pete was looking at the phases of the anahulu, counting and measuring things the way he does.  From our vantage point in the forest it's not always possible to SEE the moon.  Unlike the position of the Islands of Hawai'i where the horizon is broad and the view of Mahina unobstructed, it is easy to be 'tricked' into believing without seeing ... and believing something different than what it really is.  Pete was seeing a difference in the phases.  At first, I didn't like the implication:  was I wrong?  I left him to his investigation, and from the vardo steps, I realized the subtle yet real possibility that I have been counting wrong. 

Easter evening I had a lovely long chat with my son (the man who helped put together this moon calendar).  It was a winding that covered things wide and deep, shallow and silly.  I asked him late in the conversation, "Is the New Moon MUKU or HILO?"  "MUKU."  He said.  OMG.  He then condensed a version of the original kuka (discourse) that went into the creation of the Hui Mauli Ola Moon Calendar.  In essence, it was very much like the discourse that the kupuna went through when deciding how to determine when a day begins.  Does it begin when the sun rises and sets?  Does it begin when the moon rises and sets?  Add to that the myth-making of Mauli (the moon before Muku) who sometimes steals Muku ... leaving the night without a Muku and you have the point:  VARIATION AND INTERPRETATION.  Where do you start?  What do you use as your marker? 

OUTCOME:  "New Moon" on a Gregorian Calendar is not "New Moon" on a Hawaiian Moon Calendar.  Auwe!  A mistake has been made, and it was mine.  I interpreted the 30 moon calendar and mixed Gregorian with Hawaiian.  The subtle second-hand of time moon time, a phrase the Pete came up with this weekend, was an example that my son says, "You practice being in the moment."  A second is gone before you notice.  Another one passes quickly forward.  So sorry for the criss-crossed interpretation.  CJ, my friend, your query of the 'ole days earlier on was probably a 'yellow' light I sped through while counting on the moon.  I am humbled by the error, and keep practicing being teachable.  Adjustments need to be made as we complete the final anahula.

Rest

We had a rainy Monday yesterday, and all three of us JOTS, Pete and I enjoyed lots of quiet restoring rest.  Remembering that the Southern Hemisphere is now in a season of harvest here's a link to a harvest from the land where bath water goes down widdershins and April is Autumn.  Raven Moon is a gal with gloriously creative expression filling her life.  Where we in the just-spring Pacific Northwest have bees just arriving to spread apple pollen, Raven Moon has preserved fig jam and other treats in glass jars wrapped under colorful cloth caps.

http://ravenmoonmagic.blogspot.com/2011/04/harvest-moon-goddess.html


What Moon Gifts visited or revisted during the three moons of the 'Ole?