The magic, the mystic, the kaona, the multiple meanings of words, story, the heart beat of the culture

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Sunday morning, this morning Pete and I enjoyed a delicious breakfast of freshly cooked eggs and toast with wild blueberry jam.  The eggs were our three-hen gifts, the toast a favorite sprouted bread I eat all day long.  In the coziness of a warm, dry vardo we listened to one of our favorite radio programs 'New Dimensions' and heard a man re-tell the value of ancient story (Fairy Tales ... Grimm Brothers Fairy Tales in particular).  Being storytellers ourselves, the hour-long interview was the perfect third part of a perfect Sunday breakfast.  Through the radio waves I listened to the value of story, storytellers and stories that teach and was refreshed of my love for the magic, the mystic, the kaona (multiple meanings) of story.  One of the key points of the interview was:  look to the original source of story for wisdom, rather than the Disney version of tales which offer saccharine.

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?