Making adjustments, moving the safety pins

This has been a summer of great challenges, new ones, and familiar ones, the process has required making changes. The many forest fires in the Pacific Northwest this year have left large swaths of trees burned, and still more burn. Thousands of Oxygen-makers have been lost. Such grief. Such ash.

Living with MCS, means my body is often taxed by the usual fragrances, chemicals and products of contemporary life. The forest fires' smoke has added to the challenges, and I am humbled and set back. I was glad to have done one storytelling event early in the summer, but no more than that.

So I have practiced the art of my safety pin life, and made adjustments; affixing the remedies and enclosing myself in smaller areas of safety works for me. Slowly I recover. This is just a note to say that, and let any readers know what goes on with the teller and writer of medicine stories from The Safety Pin Cafe.

Fall approaches. The seasons are definitely changing. Hope you are enjoying the harvest time, appreciating the stories that are your life. All the best.

Mokihana

The Safety Pin Cafe Opens for the Summer: "A Gathering of the Animals"

If you're a Whidbey local, or visiting in early July ... come join us as we open the doors, pitch the tent for "A Gathering of the Animals" (Chinese Zodiac-style!)

When: SUNDAY, JULY 12, 2015
Where: South Whidbey TILTH Farmers' Market
Time: 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM (give or take a little time either way)

A colorful story about Rooster, Centipede, and Dragon was re-told and read aloud by all who gathered. Sharing in the storytelling, the energy of community filled the space. The South Whidbey Tilth is flourishing with that vigor, the energy of The Green Goat/Sheep/Ram.

We gathered 'the animals of the Chinese Zodiac' in February ... and beat the pans to clear out the old and welcome the new. 

Join us midway through the Year of the Green Goat/Sheep/Ram. Check in and make your 'animal' presence know. Help refuel the mana (spirit) of all animals together. Have fun, and leave with a Red Envelope and a penny to dance with.

Come fragrance-free please so we can get close to you!

Let's make island! ... HO'OMOKU

Pete and I open the door to The Safety Pin Cafe, where story is at the heart of service, and expand the menu for our community. The tables welcome the community in a journey based on na waiwai Hawaii, Hawaiian values. With the poi bowl readied, the 'aumakua (ancestors) welcomed with 'oli (chant), and the families of this Tscha-kole-chy (Whidbey Island) community seated and welcomed, we ask for permission to share/teach and learn what we need to learn. "Let's make island!" is the rallying chant and rough translation of the Hawaiian word HO'OMOKU.

Beginning in July, 2015 small groups meet once a week for 4 weeks. In July Session One focuses on MALAMA (caring for land, sky, sea, and beings). August's Session Two focuses on 'OLELO (Hawaiian vocabulary, and poetry). Session Three focuses on KILO (observation) and our Tscha-kole-chy (Whidbey Island) community links up with a Pacific-wide Lunar Conference held on O'ahu, Hawaii. Session Four focuses on ULU (thriving and growing). This session will take place sometime during the Makahiki Season (usually late October/early November - February)

 HO'OMOKU is a vision made solid, just as a coral reef becomes solid, one polyp one step at a time. A coral reef grows into an island. The words of our kupuna tell us that,  "He puko 'a kani 'aina." A person beginning in a small way gains steadily until he becomes firmly established. With the values of Hawaii in tact from head to toe, Mokihana grows Hawaii where she is today on Tscha-kole-chy (Whidbey Island) with a wish to grow a community curious, and passsionate about Hawaiian values and how these values contribute to our Island Earth.

HO'OMOKU has its own site here.  

Coral spawning in Washington

The Full Moons of April (April 1-4, 2015) and Lunar Eclipse

We practice counting the moon using the Hawaiian Lunar Calendar. In line with that practice we count 4 full moons, beginning with the Hua Moon, followed by Mohalu, then Hoku and finally Mahealani. 

Tonight the moon will rise before the sun sets. If you click on the link provided you'll see the times for Moon Rise and Sun Set (from Greenbank on Whidbey Island). Friday is the Hoku Moon. Tomorrow evening Moon Rise is thirty minutes after Sun Set, most people will call Saturday's moon the Full one. Mahealani is the name for that phase in the Hawaiian Lunar Calendar.

Astrologically there's a Lunar Eclipse along with the Full Moon...

"By the end of Friday night, the Moon is nearing full. It opposes the Sun and squares Pluto with Uranus and Jupiter involved. Keep your bearings and remember your goals if out and about. Even if you are on your game, you may find that others are not. Be prepared for explosions and meltdowns and you’ll be pleasantly surprised if they don’t happen!This full moon is about one on one relationships, and it is very volatile. If you’re concerned about volatility, I’d take things as they come, with patience and good humor. It’s possible to see some real growth and change happen, to see old structures disintegrate. Responsible and generous, straightforward talk is totally possible. But the only control one has is over oneself..." - read the whole post

We're dealing with a back injury(Pete's) with all its bubbling and boilings. So we may be moon watching from the woods where we live rather than drive out to the Tilth or Sunlight Beach. Maybe one of you all will make it to these spots.

It's Spring Celebration time this weekend as well. Happy Easter, Happy Passover, Happy Spring

Thank you Terri Windling for permission to reprint this dear Bunny girl from Bumblehill in Devon, UK

The Safety Pin Cafe 2015 Event Calendar

CHECK OUT THE NEWLY PUBLISHED 2015 Event Calendar.

Like the tides

Slowly and in movement much like the tides we are finding ourselves in sync with what and who is important. That's a photo of our friend Prescott and Pete on the night of Mahealani (one of the full moons according to the Hawaiian Moon Calendar). I have many words written on my other blogs, here and here. If you are interested in what that slow and tide-like activity is like, please go to my other blogs.

The Safety Pin Café, born as a myth, on a day in winter only a duck could love is feathering into a story with feet and a good heart. Pete and I grow older and root in a community with room for us. We give back and the story grows. As Spring Equinox approaches (March 19th) we look forward to more light and honor the darkness that is responsible for growth.

Enjoy your today!

Welcome to The Year of the Green Goat/Sheep/Ram, Chinese New Year Celebration

Pete and I celebrated our community of South Whidbey Island and shared our version of Chinese New Year last Saturday, February 21st, 2015. A collage of photos and a few words are posted on my other blog, Makua O'o. (Our computer has a bug that does not allow me to load photos using this software ... so please forgive the indirect connection!)


To see the fun we had and read those few words about the celebration PLEASE LINK HERE.