National Aboriginal Day/Summer Solstice

Summer Solstice has always been a very special time for me, and as the years pass it becomes increasingly more significant.

Yesterday I heard a friend say he loved the Summer Solstice but it had a bitter sweetness to it. He expressed that knowing it's the time when there's the most hours of sunlight, and said he looks so forward to, but it saddened him knowing that the days and months to follow, mean there will be lessening hours of sunlight every day. I got the impression he thought it was very unfair. Perhaps he is right but life certainly can be that way. I've learned to remain hopeful and to have courage, in spite of the unfairness in life and have learned to thrive.



I thought about this and I understood the way my friend was feeling. At the same time, I know we can't have the light without the dark, and this is reflected in every aspect of our lives and it is all part of the life cycle.

On the Summer Solstice 37 years ago I married my soul and spirit partner, the late William Hackett. We met at the Young Street Mission in Toronto, Ontario. I think I fell in love immediately after hearing his laughter and when I laid eyes on him..

Bill was a writer, very much a romatic and "heard a different drummer."  We use to love to just hang out and roam around the city. On one such ocassion we wandered into a store with posters. Bill found this beautifully illustrated poem and bought it for me. I was deeply touched and treasure it always.

"Love" - Roy Croft

My late husband's mother was Cree. But Bill never talked about his Indigenous family history.  I have no doubt if Bill was living today, he'd be very engaged in his cultural heritage. He was not a religious man but a very spiritual, deep thinker. He had a great sense of humour, humility and a great love for humanity.

 Nova Scotia was very much his home in spite of being brought up in the heart of the Toronto. When we moved to my home in Nova Scotia, he absolutely loved it and felt a strong connection with the land and the peace it offered his soul.

I don't think it was a coincidence that we were married on the longest day of the year on Summer Solstice, National Aboriginal Day and there is much to be celebrated. As my friend said, Summer Solstice can be happy and sad, like many other celebrations that can be bittersweet, but today I choose the sweetness and to be very grateful.

Love

I love you,
Not only for what you are,
But for what I am
When I am with you.
I love you,
Not only for what
You have made of yourself,
But for what
You are making of me.
I love you
For the part of me
That you bring out;
I love you
For putting your hand
Into my heaped-up heart
And passing over
All the foolish, weak things
That you can't help
Dimly seeing there,
And for drawing out
Into the light
All the beautiful belongings
That no one else had looked
Quite far enough to find.
I love you because you
Are helping me to make
Of the lumber of my life
Not a tavern
But a temple;
Out of the works
Of my every day
Not a reproach
But a song.
I love you
Because you have done
More than any creed
Could have done
To make me good,
And more than any fate
Could have done
To make me happy.
You have done it
Without a touch,
Without a word,
Without a sign.
You have done it
By being yourself.
Perhaps that is what
Being a friend means,
After all.

Bill and Me - Toronto 1980

Keeping A Diary

Keeping a journal for so many years, I sometimes think, wow, what dribble. Intellectually I know this isn't the truth, and it's just my inner critic speaking, as I do believe and have experienced the creative benefit of journaling especially because helps me as an artist.

A journal for me is a confidante, best friend, therapist, archive, prayer, sometimes entertainment, my memory and reflection. It is a daily life story, regardless of how trivial, or mundane.

 When I have looked back over the 30 years of entries, I've on occasion hardly recognized myself, but I know this is my journal, and I wrote it. I write for no one but myself, so it matters not what the content is, my pen to pages.

Yesterday I read an interesting and affirming Brain Pickings article, about the thoughts of famous writers on the benefits of keeping a dairy or a journal. It's worth a read.

Separation and Friendship - Mr. G and Jelly Bean

Sometimes I have days when I think oh Lord, what am I going to write about today? I have been regularly writing this blog for six and a half years now, and have learned to let go of concerning myself too much with what I am going to write. I keep my ears and eyes open, simply trust my intuition, and let synchronicity happen, exactly what happened today.

This morning I came upon a post in a blog called Dragon, that I subscribe to, a compelling blog of great interest, on a variety of topics. Today's post was from the Guardian about photos from Frida Kahlo's personal photo album that I also wanted to share. The photograph's are of course in black and white, and I think they capture the essence and the strength of her soul, and are so intimate, beautiful and profound.

 There are many reasons I think I feel such an affinity with Frida Kahlo, and I'm certain if I had ever known her, I would have loved her very much. I can't however, exactly explain why it is, she never seems to be far from my thoughts. It's a odd thing that happens, when you feel such a bond with someone you have never met. I do know there are and will be, more women to come, who will identify with Frida Kahlo, as I do, and feel the same strong kinship with her regardless of having never known her personally, because of who she was, what she experienced in her life, and in spite of her death, her spirit lives on, because she lived her life to the fullest and thrived, not in spite of, but perhaps because of what she suffered, creating powerful, amazing art, and her legacy continues to mean so much to others.

Earlier this morning I found this same kind of meaning, after listening to an interview with Rebecca Solnit for a second time. She was talking about the death of her mother, and her most recent book The Far Away Near By. It is a book about suffering, and stories and a whole lot more. I have not read any of her books, but I certainly will now, after learning more about this talented, gifted, intelligent, wise and creative woman.

One of the many things that struck me during the interview repeated today, was when she quoted from French philosopher, Simone Weil, about experiencing separation from those we love through death or some kind of distance. When I reflected on this, I thought what a perfect explanation, embodying  the perfect definition of friendship, love and separation. This quote also gave me some insight into understanding how you can feel friendship with those you've never known, other then through what they have left behind, in the form of their creative work, or still feel deep connection with those we are separated from. Here is the quote.

" For when two beings who are not friends are near each other there is no meeting, and when friends are far apart there is no separation."  - Simone Weil

Another quote I found about friendship is from the writer I deeply identify with and love, Henry David Thoreau who was a naturalist, poet and philosopher.

" The language of friendship is not words but meanings." - Henry David Thoreau

I have come to the conclusion that we are all much more connected than we realize regardless if we have ever met and regardless of our distance for whatever the reasons. It's a comforting thing to know and gives our life meaning.