Through this vessel for storytelling wonderful lessons come from weaving 'once upon a time' with the time we are living with each moon's passing. The real stories come with all flavors of life. Working on this post this afternoon the radio is bringing me sounds of the 'Coconut Wireless' Radio Show. Playing now is the beautiful and kaona filled sound 'Kaulana Na Pua' ... song of resistent, activism and sustaining love for the Queen Liliuokalani. For two hours each Sunday afternoon we get a dose of Hawaiian music in the Pacific Northwest.
Between the early morning radio program refueling me with inspiration as a storyteller and the 'Coconut Wire' Pete and I ventured from the woods out to the Sunday Farmers' Market at the Tilth. Inspite of the rain, Pete and I hoisted the silk banners beckoning our neighbors and passing visitors to buy farm fresh organic veggies; visit with neighbors and friends; eat a cranberry scone and a mug of fresh coffee. I've taken on the bathroom clean-up duties at the Tilth, bringing fragrance and chemical practices to a place that is our favorite local hang-out.
The small, authentic parts of our Sunday are the details that make for the story lessons. Today, tonight, Mahina grows in her illumination counting ironically on the glow of Ka La, the Sun, to appear bright in a dark sky. We are into the Anahula Poepoe (week of being full). By the Gregorian Calendar, the Full Moon in Scorpio is late Monday, early Tuesday. Astrologically, it is a complex sky. So, bits and dabs of our Sunday make for a story of life being lived. Below is a wonderful snip from the liner notes of Kapono Beamer's c.d. Pana Aloha. Reminding me of the inseparble nature of story, poetry, and mele in the culture of Hawaii.
Pana Aloha
From the liner notes of Kapono Beamer's c.d. Pana Aloha ...
Hawai’i’s last King, David Kalakaua once said, "The Hula is the heartbeat of the Hawaiian People". At the heart of the Hula is the Mele: The chant, the poem, the song. The pulse of the Hawaiian heart fills the senses with love. Love for the land, love for special places, and most of all love for special people.
"Mahinalani" Composed by Kapono Beamer
Featuring the "Ohe Hano Ihu", the Hawaiian nose flute. Old Hawaiians had a system of "stewardship", a system whereby the King would give a chosen family the care and nurturing of a parcel of land called the "ahupua’a". This land was for the family to live on for their lives, and they were expected to take care of and nurture the land ("aina") which was sacred to the Hawaiian. The land would extend from the top of the mountains all the way down to the ocean edge. Kapono imagines the "Mahinalani" (Heavenly moonlight) as it shines in the ahupua’a making us more aware of our sacred oath to care for and protect our precious Hawaiian lands ("malama i ka ‘aina").
Kaulana Mahina has four full moons. If you are able to look skyward into a dark sky, look for Mahinalani. What story can you tell by her light?
once upon a time there lived a little frijole. and the frijole was perfect in every way of her existence. she had her parents, her brother, her house, food, everything a little frijole needed to live a perfect life.
ReplyDeleteas she got older she became bored by the perfection in her life and wanted a struggle or two. secretly she prayed and hoped somehow a struggle would come her way. when nothing came, she pounded the ground and disrupted her whole world, she created earthquake.
when her world shook, everything fell away and there she was left alone to find her way. she was excited...scared, but excited more than anything.
her WHOLE world was now different, she recognized no one, and no one recognized her. this was fun until the darkness came, and then she realized she didn't recognize darkness either.
quietly she would cry. she would go to the forest and beg for a miracle of comfort, of familiarity, of strength. .. but nothing.
time went by, she was a little frijole, a bean, she didn't really understand time, but she understood what malama was, what connection was, and the little frijole held on to that hope. she walked from the bottom of the mountain to the top.
the more she walked she began to feel connection, she began to feel comfort, and a sense of familiarity. she could see her road a little more each night...until finally when she reached the top of the mountain, the little frijole saw it ALLL!! her family, her heart, her love.
by the light of the moon, she found her way in darkness.
the end
Frijole! These are the stories that build worlds, the moon reflecting that Scorpio-sun makes powerful worlds. Oh how great and now I see an entire field of frijole.
ReplyDeleteMahalo your story has made my day! M.