Extinction (and Tattoos, Grieving, and Health)

Health in the Garden.

I often get asked what my tattoos mean, so I decided to blog about them.  I'm going to start with the latest and in the future will write about some of the others...

A similar tattoo to the one found on the Ice Maiden, one of the most elaborate and well preserved tattoos found on an ancient person.  Read more about this interesting story here.

On my last visit back in April, I chose to get 3.  This was to make up for lost time since I hadn't gotten a tattoo since getting Lyme back in August 2011.  I hadn't gone that long since getting my first in 1995 and they form a special ritual for me; their mark being permanently on my skin as a representation of my life at the time is important to me.  It felt good to be well enough to do it.  So these tattoos represent that to me too.  They represent life and health in the midst of extinction.

The Extinction Symbol.  I like that I have it where I would have a watch because THIS is what time it is and it reminds me that NOW is all that matters.  Be Here Now.

And I say extinction because we are in the sixth greatest mass extinction right now.  Not only are insane numbers of creatures going extinct daily because of us humans, but we will likely follow suit before it's over.  This is a big deal and I mourned and grieved for years about it.  I feel I am now on the other side of that for the most part and now "simply" attempt to be in the moment, find joy, do what is important and good, and prepare as I can for the coming collapse.

'The Dancing Shaman' - a 10,000 y.o. cave painting - also representing Dance and Art in this time of needed Shapeshifting.

I felt the extinction symbol went well with the two other tattoos that are tied to primitive peoples as I think those peoples have a lot to teach us and that we will have to return to a more primitive way of living in the world to be sustainable, especially considering Peak Oil and other Peak resources.  We will need more community, more egalitarianism, more simplicity, more frugality, ....and less greed, selfishness, and shortsightedness.  I'm not sure that it's not too late; but I nonetheless do what I can, just in case. 

I hope you will join me.

​"At the stillpoint of the turning world

there the dance is.

And without the point

that stillpoint

there would be no dance

and there is only the dance."

- T. S. Elliot​

Collage from the Archives

Matthew 10:16  2010

"Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves, 

be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves."

"It is ironic that, while concentrating on the defense of our country from enemies 

who would destroy it from without, 

we should be so heedless of those who would destroy it from within."

​                                                                                              - Rachel Carson​

~

Near Term Human Extinction

Short of an immediate and complete sessation of ALL industrial processes planetwide
(which unfortunately is not going to happen)...

In dealing with this, I have been collaging.  It's a hard thing to come to terms with, and a hard reality to live.

The collaging has helped; what do you do?  I have worked through much thought and emotion and cathartically come to a better place in the production of each of these, a month or so apart.  I offer collaging workshops, here in northern Virginia.

'Dichotomous Balance'

"You were born in a human form, and you find joy in it. Yet there are ten thousand other forms endlessly transforming that are equally good, and the joy in these is untold." - Chuang Tsu

'Stardust in the Eye of the Beholder'

Overall, I think the point is to find joy and to do what we can to help the Earth, as She will be here long after we are gone.  I have a Facebook group to this end.

Giving Thanks...

... and realizing there is more to do than give thanks. We all need to acknowledge the grandness of the gifts we are given, the true gifts, and respond with right action to truly show our thanks - not just blindly consuming and only caring about ourselves and "pleasantries" and convenience.  Our actions need to be ones of true appreciation based on understanding of the ALL.

A message for today and everyday.













What can YOU do?

This means not using Round-Up because it's convenient, disregarding destroying the water and soil...

This means supporting Organic farmers who respect the soil...

This means living in harmony with all of life: humans, animals, plants, the air, water, soil...

This means not supporting large corporations, who do not care about the people, like Wal-mart and McDonald's...

This means recycling and re-using, conserving resources...

This means acting for the good of all and not just for personal greed...

This means not wasting food, building materials, clothing, etc...

This means not buying meat that came from a factory...

WE are the ones...




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