Oshun, African Goddess carved by Robyn Gordon
OSHUN the African Goddess of beauty, love, prosperity, order and fertility.
Her name is synonymous with transformation.
"She is widely loved, as She is known for healing the sick and bringing fertility and prosperity, and She especially watches over the poor and brings them what they need. As Orisha of love, Oshun is represented as a beautiful, charming and coquettish young woman".
Read more about her here and here.
Initially I was drawn to Oshun because she is the mother of the birds and the fishes. Fish (my husband is a passionate angler) and birds feature highly in our lives. At first I knew only a smattering of facts gleaned in books but later the internet provided a deeper knowledge of her qualities and I became even more intrigued.
I have a Brazilian friend living in the States who knows her as Oxum. With the African diaspora Oshun was introduced to the Americas. Her name changes slightly from country to country but no matter where she is, she is loved and respected.
Oshun, African Goddess carved by Robyn Gordon
Exquisite nature photography by Mary Jo Hoffman. See more here
During the festive season
I made time
over a slow cup of coffee
to think about
what I consider to be soul food.
Food for MY soul.
Nature photography by Mary Jo Hoffman. Click
This is my LIST OF TWELVE:
1. Nature
Taking a few moments to observe nature raises my spirits and restores my energy fairly quickly.
"The goal of life is to make your heartbeat
match the beat of the universe,
to match your nature with Nature".
- Joseph Campbell
2. Wilderness
Knowing I will be going into the wilderness once or twice a year goes a long way to keeping me happy. It's something we look forward to and plan from one holiday to the next. This category covers beach combing, pebble gathering, toe dipping, walking walking... walking, forest languishing, mountain perching and generally immersing ourselves in nature and the beauty of our surroundings.
"Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out going to the mountains is going home; that wilderness is a necessity ... " - John Muir
Caroline Rannersberger. See website here
3. Space
Not only the wide open spaces of the countryside but also head space to hear myself think, to muse and to dream.
"When you recover or discover something that nourishes your soul and brings joy, care enough about yourself to make room for it in your life." - Jean Shinoda Bolen
4. Stillness
Without stillness in my day I can actually feel myself wilt and it is just something I have to make time for or suffer the consequences. In quiet solitude my art blossoms. There is nothing more calming and replenishing than the quiet time spent carving.
5. Nourishing books
While it has been so hot I've managed to get through a pile of books.
My three favourites :
i) Every Day Sacred by Sue Bender
ii) Plain and Simple by Sue Bender
iii) Travelling Mercies by Anne Lamott
6. Poetry
"Good poetry begins with
the lightest touch,
a breeze arriving from nowhere,
a whispering healing arrival,
a word in your ear,
a settling into things,
then like a hand in the dark
it arrests the whole body,
steeling you for revelation ...... "
- David Whyte (The Lightest Touch)
7. Art
Immersing myself in my own art or wallowing in the glorious art of others. Pinterest is a good way to store art images..... and yes I do spend waaaaaay too much time there, but looking at the beautiful art on my boards is food for my soul. Follow the link and see for yourself.
"Whenever you are creating beauty around you, you are restoring your own soul." - Alice Walker
8. Writing
Forgetting where I am while writing my heart out.
9.The ritual of tea and coffee
A pause to catch up with oneself, family and friends.
Thomas Bucci. Website here
10. Discovery
New ways of seeing .... new ways of thinking .... new ideas ..... new places.
11. Laughter
Good rolling-on-the-floor belly laughs with my daughter and husband.
Infectious laughter circulating around a room of friends like a Mexican wave.
12. Blogging friends who share and understand my connection to all of the above
"There was a dawn I remember when
my soul heard something from your soul
I drank water from your spring
and felt the current take me." - Rumi
Nature photography by Mary Jo Hoffman
I hope you will share what you consider to be food for your soul.
Driftwood Christmas Trees. Click.
I always enjoy Neil Gaiman's Christmas/New Year message. This one is last year's message ... in case you missed it :-)
"I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes.
Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing your world. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're Doing Something.
So that's my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make New Mistakes. Make mistakes nobody's ever made before. Don't freeze, don't stop, don't worry that it isn't good enough, or it isn't perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family life.
Whatever is is you're scared of doing, Do it.
Make your mistakes, next year and forever." - Neil Gaimen
Wishing all my blog readers
Everything of the Best
and thank you
thank you !
for reading my blog.
I'm taking a blog break over the holiday season
and will be back in January.
Penny (Back Valley Seasons) commissioned one of my small niche carvings recently and asked me to do a post with photos showing where I find the objects that go into them.
Many times it's a case of 'the early bird get's the worm' so we set off to weekend markets at the crack of dawn.....
.... to arrive there when stall holders have just set up their wares.
Our favourite market is just under an hour's drive away and begins at 6.00am.
Sometimes I find small or unusual pieces on street vendors tables...
.... at scrapyards and junk shops throughout KwaZulu Natal
Vintage furniture dealers out in the country...
Wherever we go we are on the look out for shops that sell old bits and pieces, though it's becoming harder and harder to find the bargains. We live in hope...
Beach gathering is my favourite pastime. Husband goes fishing on three coasts..... North, South and the most beautiful of all, the Wild Coast in the Transkei. When I can I will tag along and we holiday at the Wild Coast at least once a year.
Up at dawn to catch the ferry across the estuary ....
to the other side where I spend the whole day walking....
.... sifting through shells
searching for solitary cowries in sand hollows and pools
collecting driftwood
... and pebbles.
