Working Log

Ongoing posts of my work, and a few thoughts now & then.

Nov 30, 2009 2:43pm

Wabi Sabi, m/m on book, 2009

Nov 30, 2009 2:41pm

Blue Hourglass, mixed media on book, 2009

Nov 30, 2009 2:39pm

Night, m/m on book, 2009

Nov 30, 2009 2:34pm

Twice in Flight, m/m on book, 2009

Nov 30, 2009 2:28pm

9 White Books, Revised, m/m on 9 books, 2009

Jun 27, 2009 12:00am

The Hare’s Dream [Vol. 1]
Acrylic, graphite and mixed media on discarded book, 2009

The Ancients used to tell a story about the Hare, or, as we should say, the Jack Rabbit. The Hare was being chased by his enemy, the Hound. He ran as fast as he could, bounding so high that the sky showed beneath all four of his feet at once. The Hound couldn’t keep up. His tongue was hanging out of his mouth, he was panting hard. Finally he fell to the ground gasping for breath. The Hare kept on running until he came to a big meadow covered with sweet, new grass. The sun was warm and bright and standing there was the Animal Mother Herself. She was wearing her flounced skirt and golden crown. Her feet and her breasts were bare. On each wrist twined an emerald green snake with jeweled eyes. These were the signs of Her divinity. The Hare lowered his ears and touched the ground with his forehead. The Animal Mother opened the palms of her hands and said, “A lucky star shines on you today, my child, ask of me what you will.”
“Great Mother,” said the Hare “please tell me whether I will live long and happily and die a peaceful death, or if I will die soon and painfully.” She answered, “In this meadow grows a vine, and on that vine is a ripe fruit. Eat the fruit, but spit out every seed and you will live a long, happy life and die peacefully. But if you eat even one seed or take even the smallest bite of the root of this vine, you will live a brief, painful life and die a painful death.”
The Hare said, “Whether my life is short or long, I will die sooner or later. Great Mother, what must I give the ferryman to take me across the bitter water?” She answered, “You speak wisely, for all my children die. Give the ferryman one black hair from the tip of each of your beautiful ears and he will take you across the water.”
“When I come before the Fearful Judge, Great Mother, tell me how will he judge my soul?” “He will weigh your soul against a Finch’s tail feather. If your soul is light it will fly upward to join the golden sparks that light my palace, but if your soul is dark and heavy it will sink into the earth and you will live again, a miserable life, chased by your enemy, the Hound.”

The Hare touched the ground with his forehead and said, “Mother, please give me this gift. Let me remember all my life each of the words you have spoken today.”

“I cannot give you that gift; but I will send you a dream of our meeting in this beautiful meadow. Let the dream rest in your heart as as a guide as long as you live.” And she raised up her arms and vanished.

Jun 26, 2009 11:58pm