Quote of the day

All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become.

-The Buddha

Symbols

The butterfly.

A symbol of the transformation of the soul. Due to it's progression from catepillar to butterfly, ancient civilizations (i.e. Greek, Aztec, Central Asian) used the butterfly to signify great change, using it in many myths as well as on tombs of their loved ones.

The Lily.

It is generally accepted that the lily is the symbol of motherhood. In greek lore, it was said that the lily was created from the breast milk of Hera. It also is a symbol for high eroticism and sexuality. A short while later, the white lily began popping up in Christian art. Christians believe that the lily symbolizes chastity and is often associated with the virgin Mary.

So why do we do this? Why is a butterfly not just a butterfly or a lily just a lily? I believe it is a testament to the nature of the human race. It is our desire, for things to not lie quietly on the surface, but for life to have a deeper meaning. We are not fulfilled to see just the butterfly, we must be able to see the possibilities the butterfly represents. A lily is not just a flower but holds some mystery for us to unravel, lingering beneath what our eyes register. Symbolism is our way to attach meaning to the seemingly meaningless, to express what our intellect cannot see but our intuition cannot deny. How we interpret the rest, is a decision for our perception.

Quote of the Day

"And the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time."

-T.S. Eliot

Live List

So Megan, my beautiful sister-in-law,commissioned those who dared, to create a list of activities that they would like do during the summer. A list of things that were a tribute to living life, not just watching it pass by on the couch. Here it goes...after much careful consideration...this is my list...

1. Have a picnic in the park.
2. Visit the Portland Art Museum.
3. Pick wildflowers.
4. Write poetry beneath a shady tree.
5. Visit a ghost town.
6. Go to Joe's favorite german restaurant in P-town.
7. Have a bbq with my family.
8. See an opera.
9. Go to the Saturday market.
10. Visit the coast on a sunny day and fall asleep in the sand.
11. Go to OMSI.
12. Float on the Willamette.
13. Cherish the sunshine.

That's it for now, hopefully I can do it all. A protuding belly and swollen ankles may get in the way, but I hope for the best.

Quote of the day

'But I don't want to go among mad people', said Alice.

'Oh you can't help that,' said the cat. 'We're all mad here.'

Cosmo Vs. The wolf

Okay, Okay wolf pup. And they were just playing. But it was amazing to see evolution right before my eyes. The wolf, an ancestor of the dog, playing jubilantly together on a sunny day in March. Needless to say, I was in heaven watching them together, the subtle variations in body language, the constant communication of intention, I could have been there all day.