Holding onto Dreams: Swimming with the Snakes

SWIMMING WITH THE SNAKES.  I dreamed I was swimming with two "good" snakes--companions. Then flying out of the water was this giant water moccasin with its mouth wide open. It was angry, and I was discombulated and yes, frightened. What does this dream mean? (c) art by Hallelujah Truth

Hallelujah for the darkness of night and sleep! Hallelujah for the visual quality of dreams! Hallelujah for our ability to rest, to dream, to swim with the snakes, and to mediate on their relevance! Hallelujah for our subconscious and conscious minds!

"Can water moccasins swim under water and bite you?"  was one of the questions that came up this past summer of 2016 in Albany, Georgia, at Jim Fowler's home and animal park. I was there with my Chiboogamoo in attendance with the Atlanta's Explorer's Club. A friend of Jim's was wrangling a rattlesnake he had found the day before and detained to show those of us who were visiting Jim's home for the afternoon and evening supper. The snake was released later, but it left a big impression on my psyche, for the snake has been one of my dream totems since 1988 when I was turning 30 years old.

"Anytime a snake shows up as a totem, you can expect death and rebirth to occur in some are of your life." Animal-Speak: The Spiritual and Magical Powers of Creatures Great and Small. 

When I was turning 30, my LIFE as I knew it was changing cataclysmically. Previously having earned my living as a writer, editor, and professional graduate student. Suddenly, I grew verbally silent. Then my thoughts started erupting in visual imagery--beginning with snakes! In my dreams, snakes the size of pine trees cluttered the pathways before me. Clearly, symbolic "death and rebirth" were taking place in my life! 

HOLDING ONTO THE DREAM. I like to explore what my dreams mean. They are a part of me and hold wisdom for my life. Dreams speak a universal language and our lives are enlarged by one another's dreamings. How does my snake dream expand your thoughts about your own life? (c) art by Hallelujah Truth

Instead of being grossed out, horrified, or intimidated by the appearance of the snake in my dream life, I embraced HER. Researching snake symbolism and significance in other cultures, I determined I was fortunate to have "Snake Medicine" in my life!

And, now, turning 58 years old (not far from 60), Snake Medicine is reasserting itself in my dreams. What am I to make of my "Swimming with the Snakes"? Yes, like most of us, I am always in the process of HEALING. And birthdays offer opportunities to review and assess where we are, what healing has taken place and what additional healing needs to occur.  

For now, thanks to SNAKE MEDICINE, I am going to play around with the following:

1. Releasing old perceptions no longer serving me
2. Opening my eyes to SEE anew
3. Continuing to practice trusting my feelings/intuitions
4. Looking more closely and directly into my own heart and that of others   
5. Being attentive to my excellent since of smell (Using aromatherapy to heal? Or discriminating if things "smell right" around me) 
 

TRANSFORMATION. Snake Medicine came to me in my dreams. I open myself to new keener sight. I release old perceptions. Thank you Dear Readers to be present with me here both by viewing my artwork and reading my meditations. (c)art by Hallelujah Truth

That's Coffee with Hallelujah! I invite you to SOUL BLOG with me and share your experience with dreams, understanding, and art making. What do you know about SNAKE MEDICINE?

Atlanta Explorer's Club, Albany, Georgia

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: Big thanks to my Chiboogamoo whose sense of adventure takes us to places like Jim Fowler's home in Albany, Georgia, and other places where people talk about water moccasins dropping into boats and places dinosaurs have roamed. Thanks to Donna Mazzola, who I met at the InterPlay Leader's Gathering in Racine, Wisconsin, and who is leading an online class on playing with dreams. As a person who has working ongoingly with my dreams since I was in my early twenties, I appreciate having my community widen through friendship with those who study their dreams. As a visual artist (since my 30s), I have worked with my dreams in isolation other than when my blogging and art work bring me into discussion with others. Gratitude to Cynthia Winton-Henry who supports so many of us in finding ways to connect with one another.

SNOW DECATUR, GEORGIA: Hallelujah for walking in the snow!

HALLELUJAH AND CHIBOOGAMOO. Decatur, Georgia 2014

Hallelujah for the snow! Hallelujah for being out in the cool winter air and the altered terrain of my southern village! 

PEDESTRIAN FUN. How amazing to stride down the middle of Decatur on foot! Yes cars are on the road but infrequently! (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

Today, I was able to lead my Chiboogamoo away from his work, preparing a talk on the fossil ichnological finds in Victoria, Australia. After a warm yummy breakfast, we ventured forth on foot, to experience SNOW DECATUR! I love my walkable city and the companionship of my husband!

TA DA IN ADAIR PARK. Yes to tracking squirrels in the snow and seeing if they travel in twos chasing one another! Tony Martin expresses his exuberance at being an ichnologist outdoors! (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

 Let me share the images I collected while we were out and about.

NO MAIL DELIVERY TODAY (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

THE RAPTURE. (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

YES THIS IS A SKIER! (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

RUNNING INTO FRIENDS. Our lovely town of Decatur gives us many opportunities to run into friends when we are out walking. Here is my good friend and fellow artist/blogger, Cecelia Kane. (photo by Tony Martin)

SPEAKING TO STRANGERS. This cyclist on a "fat bike" asked me if I wanted to try riding it after I laughed at his appearance beside me while I was walking down the middle of the street. I declined. (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

JAVA MONKEY. Open! (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

OUR PUBLIC LIBRARY. How cool is it that we can walk to our library? This is something my honey and I do often. (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

WARMING UP. The snow is melting as I write. Good-bye snow. (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

That's Coffee with Hallelujah! SOUL BLOG with me!

DANCING IN THE SNOW. I love the snowy Adair Park, next to where Chiboogamoo and I live. (photo by Tony Martin)

STRONG PERSONALITY. Sapelo, our beloved female feline, insisted on going out in the snow but was not happy once "in" it. (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

SNOW DECATUR, GEORGIA: A state of being we are unaccustomed to in the southeastern United States

SNOW ON PONCE DE LEON. Photographed from the center of a major artery in the city Atlanta. Few cars out on Wednesday morning, the second snowpocalypse of 2014. (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

We are unaccustomed to snow and ice in the southeastern United States. Here in the Atlanta metro area, we are experiencing our second "snowpocalypse" this winter and only two weeks apart. This second time, the entire Atlanta area shut down, closed its schools, colleges, and many businesses--ahead of the snow/ice event. On Tuesday, it only rained, and the nation laughed at us for our precautions. But today, Wednesday, it is all ice and snow and it is a good thing that we are huddling in our homes, and for the most part, not moving around in our cars. 

Hallelujah Truth (selfie)

Today, February 12, I bid my love Chiboogamoo good-bye as he hunkered down at his computer to prepare his 15-minute talk for an important paleontological conference that meets infrequently at five year intervals. He leaves Friday to go to Florida. Meanwhile, late morning, I stepped out into the beautiful city of Decatur, a highly praised community for its easy joyful living. Being pedestrian friendly is one of the primary reasons our city is loved. The snow and ice did not stop me on a snow day!

Instead, I became an adventurer in the streets of Decatur blanketed with virgin snow! Here are the photos I collected on my walking spree. No cabin fever for me! Enjoy!

NOT OPEN FOR BUSINESS. Many Decatur businesses were wisely closed.

CITY WORKERS. Towards the end of my morning snow walk, I was surprised to city workers laboring to clear off the front of Decatur's City Hall.

CVS WAS OPEN FOR BUSINESS.

THE SQUARE PUB OPENING FOR BUSINESS

HALLELUJAH AND CHIBOOGAMOO

This snow and ice may be something we are unaccustomed to experiencing in Georgia, and I am concerned about those without power and housing. Some how though, it is wonderful when our ordinary lives are altered and we leave what is routine to walk through cities draped in snow. 

That's Coffee with Hallelujah! SOUL BLOG with me and tell me what you think of my city of Decatur! Where are you and do you have snow right now? And, me, I will continue to appreciate my honey bug, Chiboogamoo! He is a wonderful companion on a snow day!
 

Let's  hope this changes soon, but as I have been writing this blog, schools have been cancelled for the third day in row. Shut down for another day tomorrow.

AUGUST MOON 2013 (Day #2): Transitioning into a new season

TRANSITIONS.  Along the north end of St. Catherine's Island, Georgia, you can see a relict marsh eroding out of the beach. Contrast this with a green living marsh in the background. All of us are changing all of the time. (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

Hallelujah for TRANSITIONING into a new season of self. I am SUMMER ever so tenderly tiptoeing into FALL. I'm the perfect--mid-fifties--to proclaim a seasonal TRANSITION.

"How do you intend to transition into the new season?" --August Moon '13 question from Kat and Meredith (blogging for 11 continuous days).

AT THE WHEEL OF THE GATOR. The vehicles for researchers on St. Catherine's Island are these small green open air cars called "gators." Here I am commanding the open unpaved roads in the maritime forest. (photo by Tony Martin)

JOYFUL and CREATIVE TRANSITIONING.
As I TRANSITION into the autumnal season, I intend to move creatively and joyfully. As a woman in the prime of her life, I am a seasoned driver. With all my experience and skills, the future excites me. I plan on dancing each and every day of it as I make use of my wisdom.

 

DANCING EACH AND EVERY DAY. St. Catherine's Island allows many opportunities for dancing joyfully. (photo by Tony Martin)

WHAT IS MY DESTINATION?
When considering  a TRANSITION  into a new season, part of my reflection includes the question, "What is my destination?"

For the FALL of my life,  I plan on my destination being a deepening of my SOUL and an expanding connection with my community through meaningful interactions. And I will test the hypothesis: DO WHAT YOU LOVE AND THE MONEY WILL FOLLOW.

GRATITUDE.  I am so grateful for the beauty and peace that nature brings. Thank you St. Catherine's Island for all aspects of your wilderness and life giving forces.(photo by Hallelujah Truth)

WHAT WILL KEEP ME ON COURSE?
As I journey from SUMMER to FALL, I need to remember to enact the following practices: 

1) Embrace the fear. Be curious. Learn from what frightens me.  
2) Move creatively. Listen to "what my body wants" and do that!
3) Seek the pleasure in each event. Where is the fun in this?
4) Reflect
5) Experience and express gratitude
 

SUN SETTING ON THE SUMMER.  Endings are often sad, but I am so excited about this TRANSITION of seasons in my life. (photo by Tony Martin)

AUGUST MOON 2013: Intentionally being FULL as a pleasure seeking creative!

PLEASURE SEEKING CREATIVE, ST. CATHERINE'S ISLAND, GEORGIA, USA, AUGUST 2013 (photo by Tony Martin)

Hallelujah for the FULLNESS of the blue August moon 2013! It is full, and so am I! Two bloggers, Kat and Meredith, have challenged those of us in the blogging community to blog for 11 consecutive days at the FULLNESS of the 2013 August moon.

BLUE AUGUST MOON 2013, ST. CATHERINE'S ISLAND, GEORGIA. How thrilling it is to be on a barrier island on the Georgia coast with my husband, Chiboogamoo and his colleague and student during a full moon. How amazing it is to be starting a new creative project with the island ornithologist, Jen Hilburn. (photo by Tony Martin)

The first prompt begins today, August 21st, by asking "How have you treated yourself this year?" and "Have you kept your intentions?". Thank you Kat and Meredith! Let's get started!

During 2013, I have cultivated the following vision to direct my intention: 

I AM A PLEASURE SEEKING CREATIVE DANCING "YES" TO THE FLOWING CENTER OF THE CYCLE OF LIFE."

The phrase, "pleasure seeking creative," was an addition to my vision mid-year 2013. I added it in June when I began trying to solve this question: "Should I leave my job of almost 20 years to cultivate other skills and discover new arenas of connectivity and meaningfulness?"

As I am a SPIRITUAL ART PILGRIM on a joyful journey (that is what my blog, Coffee with Hallelujah, is all about), I find it imperative to experience joy. Therefore, in response to the prompt, "How have you treated yourself?", my answer is that I have sought pleasure and to increase my FULLNESS of life by jumping into the void of the UNKNOWN. I leave behind beloved colleagues, a supportive and creative director, and the most engaging and dedicated international students.

"Have I kept my intentions" (the other part of Kat and Meredith's prompt)? The answer is a resounding, "YES." My strongest intention for 2013 in addition to seeking pleasure, is TO KEEP MOVING, and I have....

WARMING UP WITH THE DANCING FLOWERS FOR PEACE. The Dancing Flowers invited me to their warmups on Saturday mornings before their rehearsals. Their creative movement is a gift as well as their warmth and generous spirits. (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

I have been dancing with Five Rhythms, attending Dance Church, and doing creative movement with The Dancing Flowers for Peace. And, then, drum roll, I have consciously engaged with InterPlay after learning about it. More to follow about InterPlay in future blog entries. 

My FULLNESS associated with this FULL moon occurring in August is a result of seeking pleasure and consistent persistent movement. Hallelujah for blogging and reflecting which is allowing me to relish the ALL of my life. My life is AWESOME!

That's Coffee with Hallelujah! SOUL BLOG with me and tell me about how you have been treating yourself in 2013 and have you been following your intentions.

BLOGGING WITH THE FULL MOON.  The FULL moon of August 2013 can be seen to the right of the photo, peeking over trees. How wonderful to blog about FULLNESS inspired by the FULL moon! (photo by Tony Martin)