A Hummingbird, a Miracle and a New Tattoo!

VITA MUTATUR, NON TOLLITUR

About a month ago, I was sitting at my desk. I have a large window in front and slightly to the right of me. From out of nowhere, a hummingbird flew into my line of view. 

It hovered there in the middle of my open window while we gazed at each other for several seconds and it flitted off on its way. 

I have lived in downtown Vancouver for about 7 years now and I have never seen a hummingbird in my 'hood. In fact, I don't know the last time I ever saw one anywhere!

My Mom's birthday was on Tuesday. She would have been 63. For those of you who haven't been reading my blog for awhile, it has been a year since she had a pulmonary embolism whilst canoeing in the Yukon (kind of a trooper) and 9 months since we said goodbye.

I told her that she could visit me anytime she wanted after she passed, but NOT to be too dramatic about it! Thinking she might be behind this incident...I immediately started researching what a visit from a hummingbird represented..

The hummingbird symbolizes many different concepts. Because of its speed, the hummingbird is known as a messenger and stopper of time. It is also a symbol of love, joy, and beauty. 

Hummingbird is the creature that opens the heart. When the hurt that caused us to close our hearts gets a chance to heal, our hearts are free to open again.

I had been busily preparing for summer festivals and missing her more than ever. The reality of her physical absence was starting to hit pretty hard. Every little thing that happened in my life was immediately relayed to her via phone, text, email or Skype (she lived in a different province). She constantly encouraged me to chase my dreams and wholeheartedly believed in me. 

By observing the Hummingbird, we see they are seemingly tireless. Always actively seeking the sweetest nectar, they remind us to forever seek out the good in life and the beauty in each day. Amazing migrators, some Hummingbirds are known to wing their way as far as 2000 miles to reach their destination. This quality reminds us to be persistent in the pursuit of our dreams, and adopt the tenacity of the Hummingbird in our lives.

Some of you know that I was pretty ill since returning from SE Asia/NZ in late 2008. I didn't know why and excuse my language but spent a SHIT TONNE of money and time trying to figure it all out as I just kept getting worse with time. Of course my Mom was my rock through it all...always there to give me hope and just to listen. I was at the end of my rope come March of this year. I felt like I had tried everything and literally had a 'come to Jesus' moment of surrender. 'I need help' and 'I can't do this anymore on my own' were sent out to the universe, God, my angels, Buddha, Allah, Jesus, Mom...anyone? 

Someone was listening. 

Not more than a few week later, I discovered an elixir (you wouldn't believe me if I told you what it was) that worked and...excuse my language again...I have felt fanfuckingtastic ever since!

When my Mom was here, there was nothing she wanted more than to solve this mystery so I could get on with living my life. Do I think she worked a little magic from the other side? I've never been more sure of anything...ever. 

The hummingbird is able to fly backwards, teaching us that we can look back on our past. But, this bird also teaches that we must not dwell on our past; we need to move forward. 

The hummingbird also has a powerful spiritual significance. In the Andes of South America the hummingbird is a symbol of resurrection. 

It seems to die on cold nights, but comes back to life again at sunrise.

I honestly feel resurrected. Like a newborn babe. Every day that I feel human and normal is an absolute gift. Just being able to spring out of bed in the morning is a blessing to me. Being able to finally WORK consistently. Make commitments to people in advance. Engage socially! Make plans. TRAVEL!

When the hummingbird hovers over flowers while drinking nectar, we learn that we should savour each moment, and appreciate the things we love. 

With hummingbird consciousness, we learn the truth of beauty. Our life becomes a wonderland of delights in flowers, aromas and tastes. We laugh and enjoy creation, we appreciate the magic of the present moment, and the magic of being alive.

At the beginning of my journey through SE Asia in 2008, I purchased a brass bracelet from a hill tribe lady in Chiang Mai, Thailand. I knew there was something very significant about buying that bracelet, but had no idea what it was at the time.

Several months later, I enclosed a letter with the bracelet to my Mom on her birthday (August 2008) that told of all the adventures it had encountered with me: scuba diving with tropical fish in the Perhentians, rock climbing in Vang Vieng, surfing days and dancing nights away in Bali, watching the sunset with monks on Phu Quoc Island, jumping off waterfalls in Luang Prabang and cavorting with dragons on Komodo Island. To my delight, she cherished the hell out of it and never took it off.

She was adamant that I take the bracelet when she left and I continue to wear it every day. Being a little bit famous for losing things (my Dad always said I would forget my head if it wasn't screwed on!), I decided I wanted a permanent way to remember her where I wear it, JUST in case!

I discovered this latin phrase in my very dear friend's (Natasha M. Freeman) novel, The Story of Q. I wrote in the post following my Mom's passing how the book had resonated with me and in particular the following excerpt:

VITA MUTATUR, NON TOLLITUR: Life is changed, not taken away.

"In ancient times," Master Lael said, "the descent of the soul into the human body was described as a type of 'death' through which the soul lives. Not because the soul actually died, but because it became contained within matter...Sunset symbolized the start of human life for this reason--because in setting, the sun sinking below the horizon imaged a containment of divine light, the soul immersed in earthly matter. Sunrise, on the other hand, was the freeing of the soul from matter."

When I learned of the similarities between the phrase and the hummingbird encounter, I became absolutely sure that this tattoo was going to happen on her birthday. 

It is not commonly known that the fluttering wings of the hummingbird move in the pattern of an infinity symbol - further solidifying their symbolism of eternity, continuity, and infinity.

Life is not destroyed, but transformed.

In order to separate the beginning and end of the phrase, I placed a sun in between. The sun is symbolic of the fraternal aspect of guidance (yang) and the moon is maternal (yin). So I replaced the comma with a moon...matron of sea creatures and symbolic soul mate to water. The moon also represents potent change or renewal...a spiritual transition. 

'Your soul, like the sun, is pure light, and contained within your soul an even brighter light - the light that lights the way through your human experience.' 

- The Story of Q.  

I wish she could be here physically to enjoy with me my newfound health and the exciting things that have been happening. But I know she is always here...in lieux of the phone, texts or personal visits, she whispers and guides me through the wind, the flowers, the trees...and the hummingbirds.

That ain't so bad:)

Love. Joy. Beauty. That's my Mom.

I love you more than all the flits that all the hummingbirds have ever flitted..in the world!

Tootsie

Hummingbird Symbolism Source: http://mara-gamiel.blogspot.ca/2009/09/hummingbird-symbolism.html

Are you dreaming?

So I've just finished Harmony Arts Festival in West Vancouver and I am happily knackered! It went for three days this past weekend and four days the weekend before. I hadn't spent a lot of time in West Van but if I may make a sweeping generalization: what a pleasant bunch of lovely, sweetly aromatic, art lovin' people living over there! 

Some new additions to my display were some oversized postcards promoting my photo jewelry on one side and the other, my fine art and travel photos. My wicked amazing and crazy photogenic bestie Amanda, modeled the jewelry down by the beach for me. She is officially the spokesmodel for Hugger of Seas Photo Jewelry...she really didn't have a say in the matter:) I also found some branches to put in a vase and make a jewelry tree! It was an art in itself arranging the necklaces so it wouldn't tip over and poke out an eye, but I think I managed to avoid any lawsuits. 

I haven't officially unveiled my logo, so voila! It is here!

I named it this obviously for my affinity with the sea and many of my images are oceanic in nature. Since I didn't pursue my OTHER dreams of becoming a Marine Biologist or a pro surfer (ha ha), then making sea-themed jewelry is perhaps the next best thing! I am also all about conservation and contribute monthly to Greenpeace and also support Paul Watson and all of Sea Shepherd's endeavours. Yes, I hug seas. 

The weeks leading up to the festival were maniacal as always. Designing and ordering new promo cards, business cards, hang tags, banners, stickers, labels, signage etc. And then of course figuring out how many prints to have and how much jewelry to make!

I arrived at 10 AM on Friday morning (Aug. 3rd) and had 4 hours to set up...and as per usual, I put out the last piece of jewelry just in time, as the clock struck 2! The weather could not have been more perfect and I had a moment of, am I really living this? I remember when I was about 27 visiting my friend Kelli on the island and saw artists selling their wares by the water. I thought to myself, I want to do that someday! And well, there I was with an ocean breeze, the sun shinin' and live music too even?!

Yes that elephant bum has sparkles on it...living in the West End has rubbed off on me! It was also Pride weekend:)

Morning commute.

Live music by the sea all day and all night!

Shadow Love.

Closed up shop by 930 most nights to have just enough time to catch the final light of the day.

View of West Van driving home across the Lion's Gate Bridge.

Snuck out of my booth to watch one of my fave local bands, The Matinee, playing 'The Road'! Such good stuff...one of those tunes you never get sick of and makes you want to roll down the windows and belt out 'this old rooooooad, this dirty rooooooad'! My apologies to anyone who has had to bare witness to this.

Find them on FB and Twitter. 

My friend Kris Brownlee, aka A Cagey Bee! One of the most talented artists in the city in my opinion. You can find her at all the major markets with her original fanciful paintings, prints, lockets, wood blocks and other splendid things! 

My paintings of big-eyed girls and soft, furry animals have a sweet quality, the muted palette evoking the feeling of a vintage storybook, but there’s often a touch of sadness there too. Like all of us, they struggle to fit in, to find their place in the world, to grow up. As they stare out from the canvas, there is a sense of longing in their curious expressions, as if they are asking to be remembered.

Find her on FB and Twitter. 

Amanda Parker, also a fave artiste living in the area was there with her glass art and jewelry line, Mariane + Hazel. Her art and display were breathtaking. Clean. Fresh. Good. But she describes it better below: 

All of these images transcend the turmoil that is happening in the world reminding us of the importance of familial history and to cherish it. In archeological terms, textiles and paper have a limited life span degrading over time and often disappearing altogether. Rendering these works in glass gives them an archival quality while also using the inherent properties of glass to highlight characteristics such as fragility and transparency. Putting these images and items in a new context gives them a layered meaning that surpasses the actual memories themselves.

Find her on FB and Twitter. 

I walked by Jacob Rolfe's booth, an amazing illustrator and screen printer from Toronto, several times on my daily coffee run and couldn't stop thinking about a certain print...see bottom of blog to SEE! 

Check out his work at The Floating World.

And last but not least, there was Dawn Walnoha-MacKechnie, my market neighbour and fellow creative master minder! When there was the rare lull, we brainstormed about things we were going to make post market, told stories, threw our heads back in fits of laughter and just had an all around great time hangin'. Dawn makes felted dog leashes...made out of pure wool, super strong, washable, stretch and hang to dry. Ask me anything...I know the whole schpiel! She also makes beautiful shawls, scarves, purses and laptop cases.

This is her website: The Leash Lady!

And then..it was over. 

This is the Subaru on Sunday night, jam packed with all the stuff. This car is da bomb! YAY SUBARU (and thanks again Papi for making my life so much easier with this generous gift!).

Thanks to all my friends who came to visit and support. And to all who purchased my jewelry or a print...it just fills my heart with joy that people are drawn to and resonate with my work.

And so here it is...my one and only purchase from the market. Obviously I love that there is a cat in it but most importantly that big 'Dream Drop' going into the 'Creation Box' reminds me TO dream. I had one 10 years ago...me living by the ocean and selling my art:)

Are YOU dreaming?