MALAMA I KA `AINA ... from the keiki eyes and voices

The malama passes, time moves, mahina moves.  Malama I Ka `Aina means caring for the land, caring for the place that nurtures us.  The place I leave behind, the keiki will carry.  How well we care?  The keiki will find out how well we did, and then move on from that.  From the website In Pono I found this video, and leave it as this part of our voyage ends.

Malama pono kakou,
Mokihana

Lono Moon

The last phases of the Anahulu Ho'Emi (the third 10 day week of the Kaulana Mahina) include two kapu moons -- reminding us contemporary kanaka, to give thanks for all the care given during the Malama (month) about to end.  Nothing ends, nothing dies, all is ever-recreated, but cycles pass and that is what study and practice with life in the flow is about.  From the coolness of the Quonset hut kitchen-writing place in the woods, the pot of water for washing dishes steams up:  the hot water is ready to do its work.  I will need to stop this story to wash dishes or turn the water off and do them later.  I'm feeling maluhiluhi.  My pace is reduced, resting and giving thanks for the malama, I've been horizontal more than up-right.  A few dishes left from the delicious French-toast breakfast I stirred together are what needs washing up so dinner pots and pans can fill with the fish stew I'm dreaming up.  So, the makua o'o's life is many things, an abundance of horizontals and up-right positions carried out with a variety of speeds.  The love for writing flows too as this work is hand work, real work carried out not by talking about it, but crafting it with the fingers and hands.  The same hands that need to do the dishes. 

Maluhiluhi.  Did you click on that link and read the definition or did you glean meaning from the context; or did you know already?  Glancing at the clock on the computer, I gauge the time between writing and re-filling my body with nourishment.  That French toast breakfast was many hours ago, the need for something ono and nourishing stirs.  To get from dirty dishes to fresh pot of fish stew will mean using the reduced level of energy wisely.  The steam still rises from the water on the burner, the stew will take less than a hour to prepare and serve, Pete will be back in a couple hours, my energy and this tale are in a complementary flow. 

Kaulana Mahina, the Hawaiian Moon Calendar and system of tracking the Moon's influences on Earth is such an inclusive and encompassing practice.  Tied inseparably with the Hawaiian perspective of the environment that includes ALL EXISTENCE (seen and unseen) the kahuna observed time, over the long time ... ho'omanawanui.  With diligence and regularity the observable became cycles upon which people counted.  Today and tonight, the Lono Moon is one where the gods of harvest and abundance are acknowledged, thanked and included in the whole of living. 

Pete is planting the three butternut squash starts this afternoon in our garden down the road.  Squash shaped like the ipu, the gourd are the shape and kinolau of the god Lono.  I consulted my written material, still practicing, and remembering, unlearning Gregorian counting (the calendar on your wall) and told Pete, "Yes, look Lono is a time to plant ipu-shaped food."  With that intent, we give thanks to the gods who sustain us, who malama us.  It is fitting that our well-ness include mahalo, thanks so more comes.  We notice, we feel, we look:  "Time to wash dishes.  Time to give thanks.  Time to plant."  The kupuna and kahuna did there work, time for me to wash the dishes.

Kane and Lono Moons ... time to give thanks

We are just back from a quick drive down the hill to the Farmers' Market at Bayview.  One of our favorite farming friend sells the 'lowest-priced'starts and had snow peas, a generous bunch of dark greens and butternut squash starts.  For less than $10 we have food to eat over the weekend and starts to plant soon (but, not quite yet) for a harvest of winter food.  Another local family are expert worm folks, the whole family gets into the marketing of their enterprise and we all benefit from the tiny creatures who churn the earth into compost and worm castings.  Before heading home we stopped at the Good Cheer Garden.  A band of students from Bastyr College (naturopaths in the making) littered the rows of vegetables weeding, mulching, planting.  In the mix of the energetic 'litter' the piped piper of the gardens was orchestrating assignments from her kneeling position.  This garden feeds a mission we experience:  "growing food for a hunger-free community."  Pete's a regular volunteer at Good Cheer Garden, doing everything from mowing to trench-digging, hauling and installing green house and whatever else needs doing. There's a small push mower in the tool shed that'll be just right for me to get the orchard grass maintained.  We stopped to ask after it.  Once Pete got here attention she said, "Take it.  We'll ask for it when we need it."

As we drove back up the hill Pete was singing, "Back in the saddle again..."  It's what he's feeling, and obviously the many people and places that are touched by his hands of doing and makin' benefit from him being back in the groove.  Work and resources flow into our lives as we settle into our individual saddles.  We malama that seed of ourselves and Na Akua, the gods answer with our asking.  Today/tonight and tomorrow are the moons of recognition and thanksgiving to Kane and Lono.  These are the sources of malama unseen if one is unconscious of his-her connection and home-ness.  The rain, the air, the growing plants, the plants and animals that share their lives for our thriving.  Gods of health and harvest, these gods have many names and all attach to the source of malama ... care. 

Prayer and offerings

We have much to offer in prayer, Kane and Lono

• mahalo for the place that offers us time and softening ... we plant seeds
• mahalo for the patience to weather the waiting ... hoomanawanui
• mahalo for the company of people who are different ... we are different, they are different
• mahalo for the healing beliefs that are more frequent and choosen more often ... we change
• mahalo for the evolving nature of our relationships with family, community with our self
• mahalo for the abundance of help that we attract to make our home more comfortable
• mahalo for the work of writing and knotting together pieces of story from there, there, there and here ... blogs are the best!
• mahalo for harvests, planting, and cultivating ... ideas, food and our own nature
• mahalo for the recovering that takes place for my brother after a harsh period of chemo-radiation
• mahalo for what comes next

Mahalo are prayers the gods eat up. 

After 'Ole: refreshed and decisive?

"Am I Lined up with who I am (always miraculous) ?" 

Today and tonight, we are in the moons of Kaloa.  Counting from our 'X' Mark Post, where the phases of Mahina clearly looked (and felt) to be on her way to 'Ole Moons, today is Kaloakulua (the second Kaloa moon).  The Kaloa phases of Kaulana Mahina are good times for planting plants with long, straight stocks like bamboo.  Intuitively, this feels right based on the shape of Mahina's illumination.  To check myself, I pull the evidence to this post and read again, and look again.

1. Here is the link to the "X-Marks the spot Post:  ttp://countonthemoon2.blogspot.com/2011/05/ole-kukahi-starts-sunday-may-22-2011-x.html
2. Click here for the clearer view of the Hawaiian Moon Phases  http://www.huimalamaokekai.org/hawaiian-moon-phases.html

Why read again, and look again?

Study and practice, practice and study.  Re-align and refresh the lessons still newly planted in my soften ground (my 'aina ... the soul of my being).  I'm writing standing up (funny, ha!)  Sitting at the laptop hurts, I feel pinched off while I sit to write. 

Here's the story ... the 'ole moons just past began with resting part of Sunday though I felt responsible for a project that I have begun so I allowed another to push me to do what was difficult.  I felt the need to 'show them' I am responsible.  Pollen season is in high-season with one particular bloom (Scotch broom) challenging me.  To persist and maintain forward movement requires an oxygen tank, a face mask and homeopathics, and an attitude of belief and allowing.  My plan to persist included two-and-a-half of four things:  oxygen, face-mask, one of three homeopathics, and a shaky belief-and-allowing.  I did my job, enjoyed the process and felt good for the accomplishing.  The day and night moved slowly forward and I rested most of the evening.

Monday, I asked my body and soul to go forward again.  This time, I chose to get in the car again and ride south to Seattle to gather with the group of people who have helped us while we were in the early stages of adapting to life with MCS.  We see these folks less and less, and live two-hours away from them now.  The desire to see them, and share our progressed lives fueled the choice to go to the city.  We had other errands, following through on processes begun in previous months.  The gathering happened, and the lessons for me are these: 

1. There are things and people that aid in the process of getting to now, but are not necessary to go from now to the future: being with these folk, I heard and felt the vibration of staying sick and knew it was time for me to move on.
2. 'Ole days and nights are times of rest, and not times of responsibility to others:  I crashed into the futon and felt the broad spectrum of feelings closer to disease and sorry.  Not enough reserve energy I drew energy from the bone.

Tuesday, the pattern of wobble rather than rest kept me mis-aligned and responsible.  I rested the day, and then cooked food for five and gathered with a new-to-me-friend who is newly widowed.  We gathered at the picnic table Pete has newly built.  The friend was freshly washed, but scented, so my misaligned self gave from a place of emptiness.  The night and the next two days have been catching up on the missed 'ole.  Blessing?  Yes.  Difficult?  Yes.

The compost of the lesson

Each month is a time of 'malama' and I believe it is not accidental that the meaning of the 30-moons month in Kaulana Mahina is the same word as "care."  Over and over again, the miracle of worlds-planets-suns-moons-stars-asteroids orbit in paths that allow each and all to be without destroying.  In much the same way I get a chance to be a miracle on my own path.  The orbiting Mahina lights up because the Sun's reflection casts clarity, more and more, a little at a time; and then in reverse the darkness comes more and more, a little at a time.  The 'Ole Moons are purposeful and meaningful only if I attend to their value:  notice and allow the beam to reflect that light or dark INTO me. 

To be ready and receptive of lessons is a self-pacing experience.  Force-feeding a change in belief usually results in projectile vomiting.  Today, as I stand to complete this post I note the phase of Mahina, and feel the up-rightness of my being.  Standing at the sink where the chopping block hangs nicely as a table, the Ki log (ti leaf) stands in the bottle of water.  I talk to the sacred plant, welcoming it to our home; change the water daily to keep the water fresh; notice the slowly budding eyes along its upright length.  Soon, but not yet, I hope the Ki will sprout greens and set roots.  My son sent the Ki logs just after the first 'Ole Moons of this Malama.  "We could use some of that protection growing around us here," I told him.  Without fanfare and much attention to agricultural regs, the logs arrived in a plastic ZipLock inside a Priority Mail envelope. 

I study and unlearn and teach through example.  The lessons of malama i ka `aina are lessons of life lived in the moment, with the moon, sun and Others.  I'll keep checking for sprouting green and setting roots and plant myself when the time is right and the wobble pau. 

During 'Ole to whom are you responsible?

'OLE Kukahi starts SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2011: X marks the spot

For the record, the three phases of 'Ole in the Ho'emi Anahulu (the third week) starts tomorrow, Sunday, May 22nd.  We're still in that unlearning-learning-marking a spot-checking it out ... repeat process.  But, there we are on the page it goes with X MARKS THE SPOT.

Some things to consider with this 'Ole Cycle

• The sun moves from Taurus into Gemini on Saturday, May 21st.  The shift and change from grounded earthy Taurus is happening.  Air-sign Gemini will shift thinking.  What is changing in your thinking?
• The moon heads into Aquarius (more air) and will stay there for most of the three 'Ole Moons

Clues for the blessings of these 'Ole Moons

Gemini's purpose is to listen

from Elizabeth Rose Campbell's Intuitive Astrology is this question for Sun in Gemini:  "As the interpreter of my life story, what experiences do I routinely go to, to clarify that story?"

Aquarius's purpose is to liberate

from Campbell's Intuitive Astrology again, this question for Moon in Aquarius:  "How am I guided toward nourishing relationships with authentic people with whom I can be free as well?"

'Ole Moons purpose is to rest, review, restore

How do those clues translate for you during the 'Ole Moons?

Translating Gregorian Calendar to Kaulana Mahina

"E, we going?" ... Pidgin, a mix of Hawaiian and English
"E hele kakou?" ... Hawiian
"Are we going?" ... English

Translations.  How do you hear things, see things; what do you believe?

If there's a lesson for me in the sharing of Mahina's influences in Earth life it is the translation that take place between a system of viewing and defining time, using the Kanaka, the Hawaiians' cosmology.  The translation is a process.  Pete and I had a rousing discussion centered around "What dates line up with the names/phases of the Hawaiian Moon Calendar?"  This whole month has been one of becoming more aware of Mahina's Phases, and not, necessarily, the phases defined by the Gregorian Calendar.  That slight difference, like translating the question above sounds and feels different.

Pidgin:  "E, we going?" is a question almost always seasoned with facial and body language, and intonation.  To the purely English-speaker, the question may sound rude or incomplete; "Where are we going?  Who are you calling "E"?

Hawaiian:  "E hele kakou?"  To preface an action verb there is the "E".  The plural kakou could mean any number of people involved in the action.  No rudeness, a general inclusiveness. 

English:  "Are we going?"  A question that invokes a 'yes' or 'no' answer. 

Kaulana Mahina and the naming of 30 changes of the sighting of the moon is a translation that requires a process of UNLEARNING to LEARN something new, something different.  In the first month of study and the COUNT ON THE MOON Workshop, a basis for learning began with getting a feel for the culture ... feeling the heartbeat of the Hawaiian culture.

• 'Oli (chant) opened the venture, E HO MAI ... come and reveal the secrets to us we implored.  Assuming a posture of humility we launched an exploration.
• Story through Internet posting ... always there has been storytelling, listening with the whole body, these workshops translate oral tradition into words on a cyberscreen.  Still, the listening is what tunes the melody of the art form.
• Respectfully calling ... inviting the past to be present with us; introductions through the passing of POI BOWL; we come to know one another
• Naming ... people, phases of the Mahina,
• Doing ... practices and work that accompany each phases
• Resting ... 'OLE MAHALO, noticing and feeling the periods of non-action, reflecting on what has been done

In other words, the tools of the Makua O'o are at the base of this venture, and vital to the translation process.  Over and again, the maturing adult will use the tools again and again, and in different ways because somethings change, while other things stay the same.  See? 

TODAY is La'au Pau

1. La'au Pau is the last phase of Anahulu Ho'onui(the full moon week). 
2. La'au Pau is the last phase of good planting moons before the 'Ole phases start.
3. By the Gregorian Calendar today is Saturday, May 21, 2011.

WHY is it important to notice and name today?

1. We need a MARKER , in our venture of translation between English-Gregorian Calendar/Moon Phase Names and the Kaulana Mahina/Hawaiian Moon Phase Names.
2. La'au Pau ends the Full Moon Phases for Kaulana Mahina and gives us a clear count forward through this month.
3. This MARKER also gives us a way to note the 'OLE MOONS (the Quarter Moon Phases).  'OLE MOONS (three of them) begin TOMORROW, Sunday, May 22nd.
4. This MARKER will give us a look at how the Hawaiian New Moon (MUKU, May 31st) is different than the Gregorian New Moon (June 1st)

Translating is interesting, a full-body/mind/spirit sort of work and play.  Unlearning, and counting more and more (at whatever pace is yours) on how the SHAPE OF THE ILLUMINATED MAHINA reckons the definition is learning a new language.  It's not English/Gregorian, it's sorta like a pidgin English because there these similarities:

• there is a NEW MOON in both calendars, BUT they are NOT the same "phase" or shape/illumination in both calendars 
• there is FULL MOON but in Kaulana Mahina, there might be 4 full moons, not one
• there is a QUARTER MOON phase, but as in the full moons of Kaulana Mahina, these Quarter Moon Phase(s) are our 'OLE MOON CYCLE of 4 moons (as the moon is getting bigger) and  3 moons (as the moon is getting smaller).

The knowledge and application is in the noticing, and the noticings lead (eventually) to being able to feel and sense the subtlety of time/change/moods/action.

So, this is our MARKER POST.  From here we will make our way, and check again to see how we do when the next NEW MOON, according to MAHINA, and not the Gregorian Calendar moves us forward.

Clear or muddy?  Well, we're into the sign of Gemini (airy thinking, change is probable) today.  Questions?

Play

I can slip too easily into serious.  But, there's time for other conditions in Malama.  Here's something ...
http://makuaoo.blogspot.com/2011/05/ukulele.html

Wishing Heidi a wonderful time being 'olapa as she dances we smile and send her vibes of fun and celebration.

Taking it easy today,
Mokihana