Ziemas un Saulgriežu kalnos

Šis ir gadalaiks pārdomām.  Tā kā sēkliņas un sīpoliņi un saknītes zem zemes gan atpūšas, gan reizē jau krāj spēkus un gatavojas nākamajam ziedēšanas posmam.  

Domāju arī par to, kā Saulgriežu laiki ir tik cieši savienoti viens ar otru.  Atceros cik biju pārteigta savos pirmajos gados Latvijā, kad dzirdēju ne vien vienu cilvēku runājam par nedaudz skumīgām sajūtām Jāņos, jo saulīte ir sasniegusi savu aukstāko punktu, un tagad jau sākās lejupslīde uz Ziemassvēktiem.  Es nekad mūžam šo nebiju izjutusi vai pat iedomājusies - Jāņi taču ir oficiālais vasaras sākums, ne jau beigas!  

Tomēr pēc vairākiem gadiem, pati arī izjutu rugti saldo savienojumu starp ziemas un vasaras saulgriežiem.  Vasarā esi jau pilnā plaukumā, bet vienlaikus labi saprot, ka tas nav un nebūs mūžīgi.  Toties ziemas tumsā, ir milzīga cerības sajūta un kaut kur dziļi sevī var jau izjust un pat sagaršot vasaras milzīgo gaišumu un enerģiju.  Tā jau viss plūst!

This is the time of year for reflection.  Like seeds and bulbs and roots underground, we rest and we simultaneously prepare and plan for the next cycle of blooming.

I am also thinking about how closely connected the solstices are to one another.  I remember how surprised I was during my first years in Latvia, when I repeatedly heard people talking about a touch of sadness which is an inherent part of the Jāņi midsummer solstice, because the sun has reached its peak and this marks the beginning of the recession into winter.  I had never felt this or even imagined this before - the midsummer celebration marked the official beginning of the summer, not the end!

But after several years of experiencing the seasonal cycle which is far more extreme in Latvia, I too felt the bittersweet connection between the winter and summer solstice.  In the summer, everything is in full bloom but at the same time you understand that this is not permanent.  And in the winter's darkness, there is a incredible feeling of hope and deep within you can already feel and even taste summer's monumental lightness and energy.  It all flows!

During winter and at the solstice, 

The sun and people climb to the peak of the hill - 

To look over and reflect on work completed

And to wait for all the new tasks which are coming.

Lai notiek tā!

Liec, Laimiņa, ko likdama....

 

Pats svarīgākais uz ko cerēt....

The most important things to hope for....

Place, Laimiņa, what you will

Under the green fir branches,

Place joy, place happiness,

Place good health!

Lai notiek tā!

Degt un starot tā...

Aizdedzinam pirmo adventes svecīti šodien par cerību....  

Today we light the first advent candle symbolizing hope...

We want to blaze and glow

Like a candle on the branch of a fir tree -

To stroke each passing hand warmly

And to say a kind word.

Lai notiek tā!

 

Mazās skrūvītes

Tā tas arī ir!  Cik skrūvītes pēkšņi nav pamanītas pandēmijas laikā!  Un vai mēs atcerēsimies tās pamanīt, kad atkal būs vietā?

Isn't that the truth?  How many little screws we all have suddenly noticed during this pandemic!  And will we remember to notice them, when they'll be back in place again?

'We only notice the little screws when they break and stop the whole mechanism.'

Lai notiek tā!

 

Sapņotāju spēks

Man arvien vairāk lien ārā Māras krusti un Māras līkloči, kas man sāk saistīties ļoti cieši ar darbību un rīcību. Esmu pilna idejām, bet kāds man reiz teica, ja tās tikai paliek ideju līmenī, tad tās tikpat labi  varētu nebūt, jo nekāds labums nenāk no idejām vien.  Savā zemzemes sīpoliņu sezonā, idejas netrūkst, bet turpat tas viss arī mīt.  Iedvesma var būt garīga bet rīcība nāk no paša cilvēka.  Sapņu realizēšana ir krustcele garīgiem spēkiem un cilvēka spēkiem - gars izsapņo bet cilvēks izcīna darīšanu.  Un vēlreiz atgriežamies pie nepieciešamības saglabāt cerību kā pašu pamatu, pat kad ar prātu neliekas iespējami, sirdij jāturpina ticēt.

I've noticed that the Māras krusts (Māra's cross) and Māras līklocis (Māra's zigzag) are making appearances in my doodles more often, and I'm starting to strongly associate these symbols with taking action.  I am forever filled with ideas, but someone once said to me, if they remain at the idea level, they might as well not exist, because ideas alone don't bring any good.  During this underground bulb phase, I'm filled with plenty of ideas, but as ideas they remain.  The inspiration might be spiritual but action comes from the human.  Fulfilling dreams is the crossroads of spiritual energy and human energy - the spirit can dream it, but the human must struggle through the action.  And yet again, we return to the necessity for keeping hope alive as the very foundation of all action - even if it doesn't seem possible in our minds, we must keep believing in our hearts.

'Dreams are fulfilled for those, who fight for them.'

'And maybe therein lies the hidden strength of the dreamer, that they believe most passionately when there is the littlest basis for it.'

Lai noteik tā!

Kaut saknes neaizsalst!

 Kad puteņi sāk kūpēt

Un stumbrus plaisā sals,

Lai tevī viena rūpe -

Kaut saknes neaizsalst!

Var vētra zarus aplauzt,

Un galotne var lūst, -

Tavs koks no jauna saplauks,

Ja saknes dzīvas būs.

(Z. Purvs)

Ieturēt siltumu un dzīvību pašās saknēs, kas par skaistu un it kā vienkāršu mērķi.  

Tur kur mēs dzīvojam, šo pavasar pamodās niknas kodes, kuras izlien no zemes ik pa desmit gadiem.  Kāpurīši noēd visas koku lapas apkārtnē, tā lai plaukstošs pavasaris ātri pārvēršās par rudens ainu ar plikiem koka zariem.  Gandrīz visi kaimiņi salēcās un trakoti mēģināja visu, lai iznīcinātu kāpuriņus, bet pārsvarā bez sekām.  Ik pa laikam izskanēja nepopulārais viedoklis, ka stipri koki šo varēs izdzīvot, tas ir dabas cikls, un ja koks ir vesels, tam īsti nemaz nekaitēs, un tās visas indes visticamāk ir kaitīgākais dabai nekā paši kāpuriņi.  Lika aizdomāties, cik ļoti svarīgi mums cilvēkiem ir ārējais skaistums un cik maz uzticamies vai rūpējamies par iekšējo veselību un stiprumu.

Šoziem, piegriežam vērību un dodam spēkus savām saknēm....

To maintain warmth and life in our roots - what a beautiful and theoretically simple objective.

This spring, where we live, there was a nasty awakening of gypsy moths - part of a ten year cycle.  The caterpillars attack leaves on all trees in the area so aggressively, that a blossoming spring quickly turns to resembling autumn, with bare branches everywhere.  Almost all our neighbors panicked and diligently tried everything to destroy these caterpillars, mostly without success.  Every now and again, we heard the unpopular opinion that actually strong trees will survive this - it is a cycle of nature and if the tree is healthy, it won't be harmed in the long run, and all the poison being sprayed was likely more harmful than the caterpillars themselves.  It made us reflect on how important external beauty is for so many people and how much we trust our inner strength or concern ourselves with inner health.

This winter, let's turn our attention toward giving strength to our roots....

When blizzards start blowing

And frost cracks at trunks,

Let yourself have one concern -

That roots don't freeze!

A storm can break branches,

The top and tips can break, -

Your tree will blossom a new,

If the roots stay alive.

Lai notiek tā!

Sirdspukstu zilbes

 Ik pa laikam maniem dēliem arī ir tādi ieskati, ka nevar nepadalīties...  Šis bija pirms kāda gada, bet vēl arvien man saskrien zosādiņa par šiem vārdiem.  

Every now and again, my sons have such incredible insights, I can't not share..... This was about a year ago, but I still get goosebumps about these words.

'I think God talks to us through our hearts.  Every heartbeat is one syllable from God.  We just have to listen....'

Lai notiek tā!

Satin savu valodiņu....

Īpaši savā jaunā lomā kā trimdas bērnu māmmiņa, izjūtu cik silti un cieši jatur valodiņu.  Pirms gada par to pat nebija sevišķi jāpiedomā, bet tagad ikdienā, šis ir vēl viens mīļumiņš, kuru kopju un loloju.

Especially in my new role as mother of Latvian children living outside of Latvia, I feel the responsibility of holding the Latvian language with warmth and snugness.  A year ago it wasn't even something I had to particularly think about, but now, our language yet is seedling that I nurture and care for.

Wrap your language

In a white woolen shawl.

Frozen and tired.

Not deceased, not ever.

Lai notiek tā!

Laiks un laime

Par laika izjūtu un mūsu paša laimes mijiedarbību....

On the relativity of time and the link to our own happiness....

Time is a numeric representation of movement and happiness is the sense/feeling of our movement.

...I know moments the length of a day and days the length of a moment....

Lai notiek tā!

Par lielām un mazām laimītēm

Šie divi atsevišķie Ziedoņa teksti tieši pareizi mijiedarbojas man tos lasot.  Lasu pirmo, domāju - nē, man tomēr ir bijušas vairākas milzīgi lielas laimes!  Nav tā, ka tādas nebūtu, bet pat lielās laimes ir tikai īslaicīgas un tad jau tiecamies pēc nākamās laimes.  Lasu otro, domāju - jā, apstirpināts!  Laimes ir visādas, un galvenais laikam neaizķerties bet turpināt plūst uz priekšu, un labi apzināties, ka ne vienmēr varam dzīvot lielos laimes mirkļos, mazās laimes arī ir zelta vērts.

Saruna ar Austri, mājas staigājot no skolas (jāzina, ka šis ir bērns kurš trakoti mīl Ziemassvētku laiku un šī mums ir ikgadēja saruna): 'Es vēlos, mamma, ka katra diena būtu Ziemassvēkti!  Dzīve būtu tiiiiik forša!'  'Bet ja katra diena būtu Ziemassvētki, tad tas vairs nebūtu nekas īpašs.  Tad mēs jau meklētu kaut ko citu īpašu un interesantu.' 'Nu labi, viena diena gadā var nebūt Ziemassvētki, bet pārējās lai būtu!' 

These two separate quotations from Ziedonis connected perfectly for me, as I read them.  Reading the first I thought - no, I *have* had big moments of happiness!  It's not that these moments don't exist, but they are short-lived and then we are already seeking out the next happiness.  Reading the second, I though - yes, exactly!  There is all kinds of happiness and I suppose the main thing is not to get stuck but to keep moving forward, and to recognize that we can't always live in the big moments of happiness, but the small moments are also golden.

A conversation with Austris, walking home from school (you must know, this is a child who loves Christmas wildly and this has now become an annual conversation): 'I wish, mom, that it would be Christmas every day! Life would be amazing!'  'But if every day were Christmas, it wouldn't be special anymore.  Then we'd be looking for other exciting and interesting things in life.' 'Ok, one day a year could not be Christmas, but the rest could be!'

And big happiness doesn't even exist.

If anyone wishes you that, then know - this is nonense.

There are only small happinesses.

There is only small everyday joy.

***

I don't need a lot - I only need a little.

Because everything big that has been, will disappear.

Only the brief moment will remain.

Lai notiek tā!

Paauklē, sasildi, apmīļo....

Patriotiskās nedēļas izskaņās īpaši izjūtu kā dzīve Latvijā man iemācija ‘apmīļot katru ozola zīli’ ar savu skatienu, kā ievērot un izjust, mīlēt un cienīt dabu pa īstam.  

This is the tail end of ‘patriotic week’ in Latvia, which kicks off November 11th on Lāčplēša diena (Latvia’s Remembrance Day) and continues through November 18th on our Independence Day.  My social media pages have been filled with photos, videos, poems and songs in Latvia’s honor.  The words of this song have been my earworm for a couple of days and I’ve been reflecting on how Latvia taught me to love/hug (‘apmīļot’ literally translates as ‘wrap love around’) every acorn with my eyes, how to notice and feel, love and respect nature genuinely and sincerely.

Cuddle, dear sun, my land,

The north wind has a strong hand…

Warm, dear sun, my land,

The north wind has cold breath…

Love/hug, dear sun, 

Ever acorn

On my land…

I plant an evergreen tree of hope

For my homeland….

Lai notiek tā!

 

Kalnā kāpt un otram dot

Ir kalni, ir lejas.  Tas viss ir vajadzīgs mūsu takās, mūsu izaugsmē.  No tā nevar izvairīties, bet nevajag arī iestrēgt ne vienā ne otrā galējībā.  Virziens uz kuru tiecamies, pat ja tur šobrīd vēl neesam, ir noteicošais.  

Nesen saņēmu rāmu un viedu atgādināja no sava tētīša: ‘Dod, Dieviņi, kalnā kāpt, ne no kalna lejiņā.’ Maigs mājiens, lai neiestrēgtu.  Kad ir pārāk ilgi dzīvots kūniņā, aizsargājot sevi un savus spēkus, ir bailīgs tas izšķelšanās mirklis.  Tomēr tā jau ir, ka kūniņas noder uz savu vajadzīgu brīdi, bet tur gan nevar mūžīgi apmesties.  Ir drosmes mirklis atkal kāpt un dot.

There are hilltops and there are valleys.  We need both on our journeys, in our growth.  We can’t escape it, but we also shouldn’t get stuck in one extreme or the other.  The direction of our intentions, even if we aren’t there yet, is what matters.

Recently I received a calm and wise reminder from my dad: ‘Give, God, that I climb to hilltops, not from hilltops to valleys.’ A gentle nudge to not get stuck.  When you’ve lived in a cocoon for too long, protecting yourself and your strength, hatching is a scary moment.  But of course, cocoons serve their purpose in the necessary moment and we can’t reside in them permanently.  It’s a moment of courage to climb and give again.

Give, God, that I climb to hilltops, not from hilltops to valleys.

Give, God, that I give to others, not kindly asking from others.

Neviens manā vietā to nedziedās

 Šī telpa ‘Mans spēks manās saknēs’ ir izveidojusies kā rituāls, lai ‘savāktu sevi’ no rītiem (skat. 12. novembri par Ziedoņa ieskatu sevis savākšanā). Ir apritējušas četrsimtsčertrudesmitčetras dienas, kopš vairs nedzīvoju Latvijā un ar katru dienu izjūtu cik ļoti mans spēks un degsme ir iesakņotas un izstaro tieši no latviskā dzīves skatijuma.  Latvijā tas brīvi virmo, to ierauj un atkal palaiž ar katru ieelpu un izelpu.  Tas nenozīmē, ka ikkatrs to izjūt vai pat pamana - tur arī dzīve taču strauji rit uz priekšu un ir tik viegli pārpeldēt tam visam pa virsu - bet kad apzināti pamanam un rāmi ļaujamies, turpat arī atrodas spēks un gudrība, kas ir tik silta un patiesa, tā jūtas kā mājās nākšana.

Pietrūkst šī dzīvā saikne ļoti, bet saprotu, ka tas paliek manā ziņā, kā es to tālāk kopju un loloju, jo kaut tas tagad mīt tālumā, tas nekur nav zudis.  Katram ir savs ceļš, kas visātrāk savieno un visskaidrāk uzrunā.  Man ir daba, man ir dziesma, bet pāri visam mani aizkustina viedie spēka vārdi sastopami mūsu bagātīgās tautas dziesmās vai īpašos latviešu rakstnieku trāpīgos vārdos, kā arī latviskās spēka zīmes, kuras tik viegli un dabiski iepazinu caur vecmāmmiņas un māmmiņas bagātīgo rokdarbu pūru.

Kad pietika jau gadu justies kā izmesta no kuģa (nu labi, zinu, ka pati apzināti izlēcu…), tapa šis rīta rituāls, kas ir ļoti noteikti par procesu ne produktu. Pie sveču gaismiņas un rīta kafijas palasu un pielaikoju dažādus spēka vārdus, meklējot īstos šai dienai. Ļauju tiem dziļāk ieplūst un izplūst caur mani, rotaļājoties ar otu, flomāsteriem vai tintes spalvām, veidojot vizuālu tēlu atspoguļojot kā šie vārdi rezonē un izfiltrējas caur mani.  Katra krāsa un spēka zīme ir īpaši izvēlēta un izjusta. Apsoliju sev, ka vienalga cik nepilnīgs gala produkts man liekas, savu radijumu ievietošu šajā manā spēka telpā, neņemot vērā kā mana skaļā un uzstājīgā perfekcionistu balstiņa pretojas.  Tulkojumi arī ir aptuveni, un nosacīti izlaistu caur filtru, kas esmu es.  Mums katram ir sava pieredzu piegarša un sava ceļa nostaigātās iespaidu pēdas.  Šis ir mans skatījums un manas sajūtas.  Šie ir tikai maigi viļņi, no tā, kas izplūst caur mani rīta meditācijā.  Citi to noteikti nepiedzīvos tādā pašā veidā, kā tas ir izplūdis caur manis, bet ja jebkas no šiem vilnīšiem rezonē vai apgaismo kādu citu pasaules stūrīti kaut vai uz mirkli, tad tas jau ir daudz.

Šodien Latvijas 103. dzimšanas dienā esmu savākusi drosmi palaist šo augošo telpu ‘Mans spēks manās saknēs’ plašajā pasaulē. Šī ir mana dienišķā pateicība un mīlestības vēstule mūsu dārgai, vienreizīgai Latvijai.  Padalos neatkārtojamo un īpašo latvisko dzīves skatijumu, tā kā es to izjūtu, un lai tā mēro tik plašu ceļu, cik tālu tā vien aizies.  Daudz laimes, mīļā Latvija!  Saules mūžu!

This space ‘Mans spēks manās saknēs’ (my strength in my roots) has evolved as a ritual to ‘collect myself’ in the mornings (refer to November 12th for the sentiment behind ‘collecting myself’).  Four hundred and forty four days have passed since I no longer live in Latvia and every day I feel acutely how rooted my strength and wholeheartedness is in the Latvian heritage and outlook on life.  I move and radiate most brilliantly from this space.  In Latvia, this energy, this perspective and this wisdom pulses and ripples freely.  It is drawn in and released with every inhale and exhale. This doesn’t mean that everyone feels it or even notices it - life steamrolls forward there just as it does everywhere else in the world and it is so easy to skim the surface of it all - but when it is mindfully noticed and reverently yielded to, therein lies a strength and wisdom that is so warm and so true, it feels like nothing short of coming home to oneself.

I miss this living connection terribly, but understand that it remains in my power to keep and nurture this treasure, because even though this concentrated energy resides halfway across the world, it certainly hasn’t disappeared.  Everyone has her own path, that which connects, resonates and speaks to you most loudly.   For me it is nature.  It is song.  And above all it is in the wise words of strength encountered in our rich folksongs or the particular insights offered by notable Latvian writers, as well as the strength and power in Latvian symbols, which I came to know so easily and naturally through my grandmother’s and mother’s beautiful and vast assortment of Latvian handiwork.

When I understood that a year was far too long to continue feeling like I was lost at sea (and yes, I acknowledge, it was a choice to jump ship…) this morning ritual was born. It is very much about the process rather than anything product-oriented.  With candlelight and my morning coffee, I peruse and seek out words of strength until I find the ones that resonate with me that day.  I let them flow through me more deeply through my doodles with a paintbrush or markers or pens, creating a visual image reflecting how the words have resonated and filtered through me.  Every color and symbol is thoughtfully chosen and felt.  I promised myself that I would share each creation in this space, regardless of how imperfect the final products may seem or how loudly and insistently my inner perfectionist may be clucking her tongue at me.  The translations are also rough and very definitely a product of passing through the filter that is me.  We each have a distinct essence that is the product of our one-of-a-kind collection of experiences and the impressions of the footprints that make up our unique journey.  This is my view and these are my feelings. The products are only quiet ripples of the process that is my morning meditation.  These ripples may resonate in others very differently than the way that they flowed through me, but maybe something within these words and doodles will resonate or light up another corner of the earth, if only for a moment. 

Today on Latvia’s 103rd birthday, I have gathered my courage to share this growing space of strength ‘Mans spēks manās saknēs.’  It is a daily love letter of gratitude for our beloved, treasured Latvia.  I share the unique, distinct Latvian heritage and outlook on life, as I experience it and feel it, and release it to travel out into the world as far as it might go.  Happy birthday, dear Latvia! Saules mūžu! (A salute which directly translates to ‘The duration of the sun’s lifetime…’)

These words are from my nation

And my song is also from them

And I know nobody is going to sing it

In my place

Lai notiek tā!

Visapkārt un vidū

 

Visapkārt gaisma ausa,

Vidū saule ritināja.

Visapkārt zelta jost,

Vidū mani augumiņš.

Drosmes mantra - just sauli sev visapkārt un just sauli sevī iekšā!  Saule ir visas dzīvības māte.  Saules nelokamā spēkā caurvijas gaišums un siltums un beznosacījuma mīlestība pret visu dzīvu radībiņu.  Lai izdodas to izjust un izstarot!

A mantra of courage - to feel the sun all around and to feel the sun inside!  The sun is the mother of all life.  The sun’s steadfast strength is interwoven with light and warmth and unconditional love toward every living creature.  May we feel this and radiate this!

All around light dawned
In the middle the sun was winding (as a ball of yarn)
All around a golden belt
In the middle is my stature.

Lai notiek tā!

Par tumsas priekšrocībām

 Par tusmas priekšrocībām....

About the advantages of the dark.....

"Nothing is as easy as finding your way in the dark.  In daylight your are tormented by doubts.  You rely on other people's footsteps, other tire treads, signs left by others, and you think for a long time: to trust? not to trust? to go there?  or not to go?

Have they been wiser, those who have gone there? You don't know. You believe the well-worn path, but in a few kilometers it turns back - see, everyone has believed in it, this well-worn path, and everyone has been disappointed.  It didn't go anywhere.

Daylight is the misfortune of cross-roads, the indicator of doubt, disintegration of falling drops.  I go at night, and nothing is as easy as finding your way at night.  I rely on my feet, I rely on my eyes - I don't have anything else to rely on in the dark at night.  What is day?  It is other people's experience.  The path is other people's experiences and trails.  But night is my experience and only my trail."

Lai noteik tā!

Dārga mana dvēselīte

Māras zemi staigājot, ir būtiski pašu svarīgāko nosargāt, jo materiālā pasaule mūsu acu priekšā reizēm liekās vienīgā un 'īstā' un spiež uz priekšrocību.  Rakstnieks Iain Thomas tik trāpīgi atgādina: "Un katru dienu, pasaule vilks tevi aiz rokas, kliedzot 'Šis ir svarīgi! Un šis ir svarīgi!  Un šis ir svarīgi!  Tev ir jāuztraucas par šo!  Un šo! Un šo!  Un katru dienu, tas paliek tavā ziņā paraut savu roku atpakaļ, pielikt to pie savas sirds un teikt, 'Nē.  Šis ir tas, kas ir svarīgi.'

Walking Māras land (the physical world), it is essential for us to protect that which is most important, because the material world in front of our eyes seems like the only and 'real' one, pushing for precedence.  Writer Iaian Thomas so eloquently reminds us: "And every day, the world will drag you by the hand, yelling, “This is important! And this is important! And this is important! You need to worry about this! And this! And this!” And each day, it’s up to you to yank your hand back, put it on your heart and say, “No. This is what’s important."

I went to the sea to sew coins

I carried my soul in the palm of my hand

The sea's coins are valuable

My soul is valuable

All the white coins of the sea

Are not worth my soul

Lai notiek tā!

Kā skudrītes siliņā, tā māsiņas pulciņā!

Sen nebiju ar māsu izrunājusies, vakar tā kodolīgi izrunājāmies no sirds (jo tomēr bērni mājās atgādina, kā māmmiņām reti kad laiks pieder tikai sev pašām).  Kaut īsi, savienojums bija tik spēcinošs.  Jūtos pateicīga par visām savām māsiņām, un it īpaši par vienvienīgo ģimenisko māsu.

Had a lovely catch-up with my sister last - even though it ended up short, sweet and to the point (because our children still remind us that a mother's time rarely belongs solely to herself), but it was heartfelt and just what was needed.  Though concise, the connection was powerful.  I feel so grateful for all my sisters, especially my one and only familial sister.

Like ants in the woods

Pulled together a large anthill

So sisters in a group

Completed big tasks.

Lai notiek tā!

Ir mīlestība visu uzvaroša

Sev atgādinu šo vēl un vēl un vēl, jo ticu tam.  Bet tas prasa daudz to dzīves mezglainos, pinkainos ceļos neaizmirst.  Tā kā slavenie Beatles dziedāja: 'Viss ko vajag ir mīlestība!'

I remind myself of this again and again, because I do believe it, but it asks a lot of us to remember it on lives knotted, tangled paths.  Like the Beatles sang: 'All you need is love!'

Love wins above all - 

In its magical circle the heart rejoices:

Where it opens -

a thousand suns shine.

Lai notiek tā!

Sevi vākt kopā

'And I started collecting myself together.  That was harder than exploding.'

Lai notiek tā!

Dzīvojiet un nesaraujiet....

Cik tuvu tas man ir pie sirds, iztēloties ainu kurā dievišķais caurvijas mūsu pasaulei, it kā būtu milzīgs audums apvienojot fizisko ar garīgo.  Dzīvojam viegli jo viegli, lai nesarautu smalko izstrādājumu!

It is such a warm image for me to consider that spiritual energy and divine presence is interwoven directly with and throughout our physical world.  This reminds us to move gently and tread carefully, so that we don't snag the delicate weave.

Draw, Laimīte, a golden net

Over our whole yard

So the weave/pattern is in harmony/alignment

Throughout our lifetime.

Golden warp and silver weft (the two directions of thread in weaving),

Laime herself is the weaver.

Live and don't snag

Laime's delicate weaving.

Lai notiek tā!

Dievišķā gaisma un spēks

Pirmdienās rītos Pārdaugavas Valdorfskolā noskaņojāmies nedēļai ar šiem vārdiem.  Vēl noslēdzām ar vārdiem: Gaisma debesīs, gaisma manī un caur manis uz zemes šeit.

These words carried us into the new week every Monday morning at Pārdaugavas Waldorf School.  We finished by saying: light above, light in me and through me, here on earth.

In your divine love

Like a seed I fall into the ground

And sprout toward the light

With every new morning.

This light whose shining

Night's blackness doesn't diminish

This light that doesn't know

Neither shadow nor end.

This light for whom like a miracle

Souls get up and climb.

This light from which even the sun and sky

Draw strength.

Lai notiek tā!

Labi būs!

 Vienkārša formula visam labam!

A simple formula for all things good!

Think good,

Do good,

Speak good,

Believe in good.

Wish good,

Give good and take good.

All will be good!

Lai notiek tā!

Cerība un palaišana

 

Par to, lai sāktu dienu jūtoties spējīgi, cerības un gaišuma pilni.  Par to, lai dienas beigās to palaižam un piedodam savu cilvēciskumu.

On starting the day feeling empowered and filled with hope and brightness, on finishing the day by putting it to rest and forgiving ourselves for being human.  

Rise, Sun, early in the morning,

Rise with God's help,

In the evening, as you are setting,

Take away our balderdash.

Lai noteik tā!

Sudrabiņš

Folkloriste Janīna Kursīte māca, ka sudrabiņš tautas dziesmās ir dievišķā gaisma un tās spīdums.  Tā tad dievišķais gaišums un gudrība mīt tur, kur lietutiņš un saulīte mijās.  Dzīves paradokss, ka vissulīgākai dzīvošanai ir vajadzīgi abi pretstati, un tur kur tie saplūst kopā mīt dievišķais.

Folklorist Janīna Kursīte teaches us, that in folksongs silver symbolizes divine light and its radiance.  So divine brightness and wisdom resides in the place where rain and sunshine meet.  This is the paradox of life - the juiciest living requires the extremes, and where they intersect, that is where we encounter the divine.

A birch tree grew at the side of the road

With three leaves at the top.

Through one, it rained,

Through the second, the sun shone.

Through the third leaf,

God poured silver.

Lai notiek tā!

Vilnīši

Maziņš mans augumiņš

Grezna mana valodiņa.

Speru soli, zeme rīb

Saku vārdu, meži skan.

Atkal par tiem daudziem šupulīšiem Māras istabā un mūsu spēju iešupot viens otru pat ar vissīkākām kustībām.  Lai cik mazi esam, mūsu vārdiem un kustībām ir milzīgs spēks un nevaram neietekmēt citus caur mūsu ielīgotajiem vilnīšiem.

Again about the many cradles in Māra's room and our ability to rock each other even with the most subtle movements.  No matter how small we our, our words and actions have tremendous power and we can't not impact others through our ripples.

Small is my stature,

Rich is my language.

I take a step, the earth rumbles,

I say a word, the forest resounds.

Lai notiek tā!

Tu augšām, es zemē!

 

Bijība un pateicība par silto, stipri savīto mijiedarbību starp garīgo un pasaulīgo....

Reverence and gratitude for the warm, closely intertwined interaction between the spiritual and the earthly.... 

Opačā (just an expression - in other versions this is is also 'Op op'), dear God,

You are above, I am down on earth!

You gave me barley and rye 

I fed my horse.

Lai notiek tā!

Ar sauli

 Viena no manām mīļākām rakstniecēm raksta par 'spītīgu prieku', tā kā heliotropisms, kas liek ziediem turēt sejiņu pret sauli.  Saule, gaišums, vieglums, mīļums, siltums dod mums dzīvību un izaugsmi.  Nepagriežam muguras pret to.

One of my favorite author's comments on 'stubborn gladness', like heliotropism which is the response that causes blooms to keep their face toward the sunshine.  Sunshine, brightness, lightness, kindness, warmth give us life and growth.  Let's not turn our backs on it.

https://www.elizabethgilbert.com/stubborn-gladness-a-friend-of-this-page-made-this-for-me-and-its-so-lovely/

With the sun blossoms bloom into flowers,

With the sun maturity comes into fields of crops;

With the light one heart gives to another

The seeds we sew into eternity will flourish with greater richness.

Lai notiek tā!

Laimes kalējs

 

Viens no mana vectēva mīļākajiem sakāmvārdiem.  Vienmēr, vienmēr noderīgs atgādinājums....

One of my grandfather's favorite proverbs.  Always, always a helpful reminder....

Everyone is the blacksmith of his/her own happiness/fortune.

Lai notiek tā!

Dedzi, dvēsele, dedzi!

Mana dvēsele ir nogurusi.  Man ir grūti pateikt cik no tā ir pandēmijas un lielās, nepārtrauktās neziņas dēļ, kas virmo pa pasauli, un cik no tā ir pusmūžas mezglu izārdīšana, bet tas noteikti vairs nav fizisks nogurums.  Pēdējās nedēļās it īpaši izjūtu cik svarīgi ir neļaut cerībai izdzist un cik ļoti atbildīgi esam par savas dvēseles liesmas kopšanu.  Šis mani īpaši uzrunāja, jo jūtu ka pelni ir sabiruši no manas pašas cīnīgās degšanas.  Jāuzticas, ka fēniksam, ka būs iespējami vēlreiz celties.  

Ugunskrusts simbolizē dzīves enerģiju un degsmi.  Dedzi, mana dvēsele, dedzi!

My soul ir tired.  It is hard to tell how much of that relates to the pandemic and the constant looming uncertainty enveloping the world at the moment, and how much of that can be attributed to unravelling the knots in my mid-life path, but it is definitely far greater than physical tiredness.  In the past few weeks I've especially noticed how important it is to keep fueling the flame of hope and how very responsible we are for not letting our soul's light flicker out.  These words resonated with me in particular because I feel like my ashes have accumulated from my own belligerent burning.  It's time to trust that like a phoenix it is possible to rise again.

The Ugunskrusts (fire cross) symbolizes life energy and zealousness (which is Latvian translates quite literally to 'burning/blazing').  Blaze, my soul, Blaze! 

Blaze, my soul, blaze!

Blaze and always remain fervently glowing.

Even if ashes cover you -

May you blaze anew as a flame.

Lai notiek tā!

Darbs par viņu runā

Manas domas ir pārpilnas ar radošiem projektiem, ko vēlos realizēt.  Bet kamēr es vēl tikai par to visu domāju, tas nevienam nedod labumu.  Es zinu, ka ir laiks rīcībai, bet jūtu lielu izaicinājumu, lai sāktu darboties.  Ceru ļoti, ka šie vārdi mani saviļnos un iekustinās!

I have a plethora of thoughts brewing - creative projects I would like to bring to life.  But as long I as I am just thinking them, they are not doing anyone any good.  I know it is time to take action, but am finding it challenging to really get moving.  Hoping this quote may work a little magic to kick me into gear!

'S/he who doesn't work, talk about work.  S/he who is uncapable of work, criticizes work.  S/he who does work is silent, and the work speak about him/her.'

Lai notiek tā!