The one on the frig read "September" there were notes written in her curling print. A scheduled event that would not happen. An appointment that would go unmet. Hung with clothespins the three weeks of the moon faces depicted a month of a different kind. Some called this month Mahoe Hope, others say this is the month Mahoe Mua or Hilinama, She lived between the borders of both calendars, a Border Witch did that...roamed the betweens.
There were notes left on the side of the frig as well ...
Old Man's Beard
growing on the wild downed branches
a tincture in 6 wks
lung infection, colds & flu
St. Joan's Wort
Hypericum perforatum her Latin name
yellow roadside flower turns red in spirits
dropper full for sadness and virus
Mullein stalk and leaves
sought them out on a neighborhood walk
too late, Vine Maples are orange
other places; maybe exchanged for money
#1 for lung strength
replace worry and fear about SARS (Sudden Acute Respiratory Syndrome)
Root of Corn Flower
Echinacea during acute infection
never as prevention
Milk or cheese from Jude's dear goat
#2 for lungs Really?
The 'ole moons 7 each malama
4 before full
3 after full
Raven flew through the open window to the cottage. He had felt Pale's lele, her departure. From his side of things serving the common magic of tea and toast to their neighbors, the Silver-haired birdman recognized the shift, registered the loss.
"Couldn't you have stopped Ma?" Skeena knew better, but even the Initiated falter in their commitments and cling to loved ones especially when there was no moment of saying good-bye. He was no child when his mother stepped onto the shore with Kaimalama Noa. Skeena was fully grown and was as well a generation bred of Raven and Border Witch. But it was the child who mourned and wished for just one more funny story, and the sweet breath of his mother as she pressed her hand to his face.
The great silver bird, his father, embraced his son. Enfolding him in his strong wings Raven pressed Skeena into his chest. The smell of cinnamon strong and nurturing, the young man sobbed then heaved the grief of human emotion. Never did his father suggest otherwise. It was always Pale's humanness and vulnerability that gave her children grace under fire. The two men wailed. She, the physical woman, would be missed.
Skeena's twin sister, Aka waited at the doorway. Skeena had come a long way to be with their father. His work, as magician took him away from this forest cottage. It was his design, and he did this with skill and agility. Visits between were less frequent, but, understandable. Both mother and son were, are, storytellers and upon her backbone Skeena grew the legacy. Minoaka, Aka, on the other hand was a root woman. She remained close and raised a pair of quarter-birds not far from their homeplace. She remained intimate with her parents' daily lives.
Aka knew it was Spider Season they were everywhere and she was glad to see their consistent seasonal presence. Large Familiar Spiders spun their webs off the kitchen roof. They waited for food and were quick to ensnare. Other families would spin their hammock-like webs that dangled between the spikes of Huckleberry and Wild Blueberry. These in particular would catch water, from the sacrifice, Earth is giving up the water, marking the potential for slowly and consistently refilling the aquifers beneath the forest floors. It was true, everything is sacrificed. Ohiwai. Day in day out. Sun rose ... HA. The first deep stirring! ENA ... intensity. HAENA. And when the sun sank in the west, it was a slow and gentle, exhalation ... HA. ENA ... breath.
"Spider Season," Aka finally said quietly once her family released each other. The men looked at Minoaka and saw the reflection of the first and last breath. Haena.
Keep going ... (click here)
* If you are new to the medicine stories, and the life of The Border Witch and her community, there are episodes that describe the early times of Skeena and his twin sister Aka. Click here.
There were notes left on the side of the frig as well ...
Old Man's Beard
growing on the wild downed branches
a tincture in 6 wks
lung infection, colds & flu
St. Joan's Wort
Hypericum perforatum her Latin name
yellow roadside flower turns red in spirits
dropper full for sadness and virus
Mullein stalk and leaves
sought them out on a neighborhood walk
too late, Vine Maples are orange
other places; maybe exchanged for money
#1 for lung strength
replace worry and fear about SARS (Sudden Acute Respiratory Syndrome)
Root of Corn Flower
Echinacea during acute infection
never as prevention
Milk or cheese from Jude's dear goat
#2 for lungs Really?
The 'ole moons 7 each malama
4 before full
3 after full
Raven flew through the open window to the cottage. He had felt Pale's lele, her departure. From his side of things serving the common magic of tea and toast to their neighbors, the Silver-haired birdman recognized the shift, registered the loss.
"Couldn't you have stopped Ma?" Skeena knew better, but even the Initiated falter in their commitments and cling to loved ones especially when there was no moment of saying good-bye. He was no child when his mother stepped onto the shore with Kaimalama Noa. Skeena was fully grown and was as well a generation bred of Raven and Border Witch. But it was the child who mourned and wished for just one more funny story, and the sweet breath of his mother as she pressed her hand to his face.
The great silver bird, his father, embraced his son. Enfolding him in his strong wings Raven pressed Skeena into his chest. The smell of cinnamon strong and nurturing, the young man sobbed then heaved the grief of human emotion. Never did his father suggest otherwise. It was always Pale's humanness and vulnerability that gave her children grace under fire. The two men wailed. She, the physical woman, would be missed.
Skeena's twin sister, Aka waited at the doorway. Skeena had come a long way to be with their father. His work, as magician took him away from this forest cottage. It was his design, and he did this with skill and agility. Visits between were less frequent, but, understandable. Both mother and son were, are, storytellers and upon her backbone Skeena grew the legacy. Minoaka, Aka, on the other hand was a root woman. She remained close and raised a pair of quarter-birds not far from their homeplace. She remained intimate with her parents' daily lives.
Aka knew it was Spider Season they were everywhere and she was glad to see their consistent seasonal presence. Large Familiar Spiders spun their webs off the kitchen roof. They waited for food and were quick to ensnare. Other families would spin their hammock-like webs that dangled between the spikes of Huckleberry and Wild Blueberry. These in particular would catch water, from the sacrifice, Earth is giving up the water, marking the potential for slowly and consistently refilling the aquifers beneath the forest floors. It was true, everything is sacrificed. Ohiwai. Day in day out. Sun rose ... HA. The first deep stirring! ENA ... intensity. HAENA. And when the sun sank in the west, it was a slow and gentle, exhalation ... HA. ENA ... breath.
"Spider Season," Aka finally said quietly once her family released each other. The men looked at Minoaka and saw the reflection of the first and last breath. Haena.
Keep going ... (click here)
* If you are new to the medicine stories, and the life of The Border Witch and her community, there are episodes that describe the early times of Skeena and his twin sister Aka. Click here.
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