Thursday, November 15, 2012

wise child

It turns out that the same medicine that's been healing my heart seems to be calling to my youngest. Creative self-expression and plenty of time interacting with our land are powerful doses of just what's needed. I've witnessed her over the last few days quietly tending (and mending) bits of her soul through the process of fortifying and beautifying her sky tipi. She's let me know in her own words what very important and serious work it is. This was not play. And it was her "project" (her process).

First came additions of new sticks to strengthen the frame. Next, a floor was made of soft White Pine needles gathered by the armload. A single feather from one of our Buff Orpington's was tucked into the top. Later stones filled an old red wagon and circled the base. She's hoping to add several layers to make a "solid foundation". 
 More feathers from our molting hens were collected, and log seating for two was added. 
  The most recent touch... bouquets of russet colored magnolia leaves. 


As I watched her adding new elements each day, I marveled at the incorporation of so many significant pieces of this year's story. I don't think it was a coincidence. 
-Our chickens, which we adopted in the spring to represent new life, hope, and abundance.
-Leaves from our beloved little Magnolia tree that symbolized just how connected we were to nature's cycles and earth's weather patterns. 
-Logs from the wood shed that signified strength, security, and pride.

Our children know so much more than we give them credit for. Their wisdom doesn't come from life experience, but inner resources and a connection to intuition that hasn't been taught to doubt yet. Our job as parents is to nurture those innate abilities of theirs so that they don't lose it along the road to adulthood. Well, that's what I believe, at least.









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19 comments:

  1. Maya - I've been reading your blog for quite some time - don't know that I've ever commented before but I do love your perspective on creativity and living fully. How fortunate your children are to have you there to encourage them so! I'm a mother to two young adults and grandmother of two, and like to think I raised my own children with some of the same values. When you write about your daughter, it reminds me of my 8-year-old grandson who is full of imagination and enjoys creating. Again, love your blog. Just signed up for your newsletter, too.

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    1. What a lucky little grandson to have you for his own, Pammie.

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  2. that is the sweetest post i've ever read on a blog...a beautiful art installation she has created

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  3. I'm another long time reader, first time commenter - I have to admit, your blog is one of the reasons why I've decided to start my own. Thanks for the lovely peek into your life!

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    1. I love hearing that, thank you. It has been a journey I could never have imagined and forever grateful for. I hope a practice of documenting your world is fulfilling for you, too.

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  4. Oh, beautiful, and make me think. Also, I think you have wisdom, to recognize this.

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  5. What a beautiful creation your daughter's tipi is. I'm sure that you have been guiding her well and with you as her role model she is finding, figuring out and creating. I love feathers on a tipi! :-)
    Victoria

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    1. I know! Those feathers. I was cleaning out the coop and stashing all the pretty (and clean ones). She spotted them right away and knew where they were going.

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  6. Maya, I am blown away by this. When I was at Squam I realized for the first time the ways my son was reaching out for meaningful symbols to express (and protect) his own soul. Instead of causally saying, oh yeah my kid like wolves, I was able to see that he was seeking wolf imagery because it was expressing things he very much needed. I came home and read his poems again and was shocked that he had expressed his soul in his words and I hadn't recognized it. This is clearly a deep process for her and you are recognizing and protecting her need for it. It's very beautiful.

    I'm also realizing that as mothers we so badly want to protect them from emotional harm but there is almost always a challenge that runs deep. For some children in my extended family it has been suddenly (permanently) loosing their homes due to the hurricane, for others it is an inborn challenge, like my son's anxiety, for others it is the kind of change separation and restructured families bring, for another it is bankruptcy. Children need to be helped and protected and nurtured through these challenges, but I don't believe anymore that they can be completely avoided. They come. To all of us. And they do call up both our and our children's innate resources, and teach us who we are as mothers as well.

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    1. Oh, your words mean so much to me. Thank you deeply. I think it's easy, no matter how thoughtful a parent we might be, to overlook the subtle language of soul expression from a child. Perhaps it's only when we are fully awake as adults that we can recognize this language. Trauma and stress break us open and are the perfect opportunity to peer through the doorway of greater perception... to see life clearly- and our children. I, too, always tried to shield my babies from the woes of the world, but am learning how important it is to let them experience it... with my guidance and support. It's so hard, but yes... it is teaching me who I am, as well. Thank you so much for joining me in this conversation, Ann.

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  7. A wonderful post, I will come back to read it often. Children never cease to amaze and inspire me. Thanks you.

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  8. A touching and inspiring post. Your observations are so thought-provoking, and although I have already raised a son (and tried to do it mindfully) I realize how much I missed and how many mistakes I made. There's always room to grow, and I guess that's why it's so rewarding to be a grandparent!
    Thanks for sharing, and extend my thanks to your children for letting us peak at their lives too!
    Loved your posts from SF, since I am in the Bay Area.

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  9. Children keep the magic alive, her Sky Tipi is pure connection with the natural world around her.

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  10. This is just so beautiful...it brought tears to my eyes. There is so much to be learned from our children, wise souls that they are, if only we pause to listen.

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  11. I wish I had you in my life ..so I could learn side by side...I fear I crush my children's spirits...xx

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