Poetry Break: What If

The following poem, “What If” was written by Ganga White at the Rainforest Benefit, NYC April 1998, and he was kind enough to grant me permission to post it here. Please share what it evokes for you, Dear Reader.

What If?

What if religion was each other?
If our practice was our life?
If prayer was our words?
What if the Temple was the Earth?
If forests were our church?
If holy water—the rivers, lakes and oceans?
What if meditation was our relationships?
If the Teacher was life?
If wisdom was self-knowledge?
If love was the center of our being
What if God was oneself, and all?

By Ganga White, from Yoga Beyond Belief
(c) 2007 www.whitelotus.org

Love and Blessings,
~Antonia

Autumnal Equinox and Fall Begins

When summer gathers up her robes of glory,
And, like a dream, glides away.

The Autumnal Equinox is upon us, and so begins the darker half of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, as the Sun’s strength diminishes bringing with it shorter days and longer nights. As the temperatures cool, the sunshiny days lie behind us, and Lovely thoughts of flannel sheets, soft sweaters and cozy boots console me as the energy around draws down and inward, mirroring Mother Earth herself, as she prepares for a well earned rest. At 11:09 p.m. EST the Fall Equinox, also known as Harvest and Mabon arrives, which is a time for turning inward to assess and give thanks, a time of Gratitude for both the Blessings brought forth in the year, and also for the tests we’ve passed through. Since many of us probably moved through some challenging times as well, it is time to take a breath and honour the season’s change by compassionately turning inward.

The winds dance across mountain tops, sweeping down to share secrets with the valley floor. The vibrant greens make way for the bright golds, oranges and reds, as the last grains are harvested prior to first frost’s bite. Having served their purpose, plants return to Earth again, forces of death completing the endless cycle. Scattered on cool breezes, the seeds are sent forth for the next year. And, we too can allow for the falling away of that which no longer serves us, sowing new seeds to answer the heart’s calling.

In the garden, Autumn is, indeed the crowning glory of the year, bringing us the fruition of months of thought and care and toil.

Reflecting inward, we can look at what the seasons past have brought into our lives, honouring the gifts brought forth. Hopefully this season’s change finds you with much for which to give thanks, Dear Reader. Perhaps there were challenges along the path this year, as well. Following our passions sometimes requires extra work we wouldn’t always wish for ourselves, don’t you find? But, because we took hold and chose to move through it, we shall find this Fall Harvest all the much sweeter. We give thanks for our community, for their support also assists our successes. We have gatherings to look forward to, as we Joyously come together in upcoming Holidays. Of course we also give thanks to those who have come before us, the treasured ancestors who paved the way for us. Happy Autumn! For what do you give thanks this Fall Season?

Love and Autumnal Blessings,
~Antonia

The Artist, My New Tattoo, and the Meaning Behind It

Readers of this blog may recall previous posts about The History of Tattoos and my Love of the Art and The Stories of My Tattoos also commonly referred to as a ‘tat’ or ink’. I have been ready for a new tattoo for awhile now, but have really taken my time in deciding which Artist I would use, an important process which should not be underestimated with permanent artwork. I’d been 90 percent certain that it would be a local Northern Californian talent, whose gifted work I had seen on a few people, and whose portfolio had impressed me. I got the extra push the other day when I asked the guy behind the counter at the local bakery which Artist he’d used for his tat, which was clearly well done. He looked at me and replied in a tone ripe with the implication that I should already know the answer, “Nate!” Ahhh, yes, of course. So, off to Nate Daugherty of Ukiah Tattoo Company I went for my tattoo, an ink project for which I had been unable to find an image in existence, but could see clearly in my mind.

Fortunately Nate enjoys custom tattoo work, and was happy to sit down with me to draw out what I had in mind. I learned that Nate has been drawing and making Art since he could hold a pencil, and had attempted to do his first tat at the age of 14. Recognizing that he should be getting professional experience, he began working for a tattoo studio about ten years ago, where he learned everything about tattoos, the importance of safety procedures, and the cleanliness needs of shop and tools. His favourite images to tattoo are black and grey work, traditional Japanese work and anything custom. It was inspiring to listen to him talk about tattooing, as he clearly Loves it and is living his passion. When asked what inspires him he replied, “My daughter. My wife. And, my business partner.” He recently opened Ukiah Tattoo Company with fellow Artist Brant Dobson, who is also gifted, and together they motivate and push each other to exceed at their Art.

A few months back I had dreamt that I had gotten a tattoo on my right foot, and awakened knowing that it would be the next body part to get ink. I didn’t realize that it has become trendy to get feet tattooed, but Nate tells me that trends seem to lean more towards specific locations more than actual designs. “People were getting a lot of nautical stars a couple of years ago,” he explained, “but mostly it’s about location more than it is an actual tattoo image.” As I am about to begin Graduate school, I felt that a tattoo on the right side of my body (the masculine side of the body representing being out in the World) seemed appropriate to me. Combining my favourite symbols into a mandala (a geometric pattern representing the cosmos metaphysically or symbolically) was an idea which evolved after the foot tattoo dream.

I LOVE my new tattoo, and am Grateful to Nate for his willingness to combine the images I wanted. I wanted the center of my mandala to be a heart, in which I kept seeing an aum (also written om) symbol ॐ which is a Hindu symbol representing the vibration of the Supreme and the manifestation of God in form, without beginning or end, encompassing all that exists and embodying the very essence of the Universe. Around the heart is a green circle, which is surrounded by an eight petaled purple lotus. Purple is the colour of spirituality, and the eight petaled lotus represents cosmic harmony. I asked for spirals (another image I have always Loved) to be inside four of the eight lotus petals, and incorporated all of the chakra colours within the mandala. I am very pleased with the outcome! Thank you so much, Nate, for my Awesome new tattoo!

Love and Blessings,
Antonia