Spiral Jetty!

Txucarramãe

“On the warrior’s path, it is up to you to discern which threads have been woven by divine hands and which have been woven by human hands. When you begin to discern the difference, you become a Txucarramãe -- a warrior without weapons. Threads woven by human hands are alive with traces of their spirit. These hands create all kinds of things. Our hands and thoughts create many things to defend ourselves from the external world. When you discover what you have been doing with your life and how it is you dance through the world, little by little you let go of your weapons, those creations made to kill creations. Suddenly, you discover that when we stop creating enemies, we extinguish the need for weapons.”

(Kaká Werá Jecupé)

Journey to Makrinitsa

Our Journey to Makrinitsa was quite exciting! We left Axladitsa with light hearts and spirits ready for adventure. Packing 8 people into the small car and 14 people into the van, we learned various songs on the 2 hour ride through the beautiful Pelion countryside. It is said that the Pelion Peninsula was once inhabited by the centaurs. As I looked out the window my imagination began to wander...

We stopped along the way to take a breath of fresh air and enjoy a snack of cookies and icecream. yumm.

Continuing through Volos we began a steep incline up a windy mountain road. Here the trees got more dense and the scenery was quite lush. Every now and again we would spot the view of Volos and the Pagastikos Gulf below us. They grew smaller and smaller as we climbed and climbed and climbed.

We stopped at the village of Portaria for lunch where we sat under a huge 800-year-old tree. Shammi bought loquats to share. Melissa's bag almost got stolen by a playful dog. I guess he thought it might be a fun toy so he snatched it right off the chair. We all ate wonderfully delicious meals. I can almost remember it perfectly. I had a vegetable pie that was rich with many herbs between a filo crust. Afterwards we were so satisfied we could hardly move. Shammi gave the owner of the restaurants some earrings and in return she gave him a CD of local music which we listened to on the rest of the way to Makrinitsa. It sounded like woodland music with its soft flute rhythms

Makrinitsa's houses looked as if they were clinging to the mountainside for dear life. It amazed me that they didn't all just tumble down the slope and crash into Volos. But there they were with their stone rooves and white walls, soaking up the sun and watching the blue water stretch into forever and become the blue sky.

We were glad to finally arrive in Makrinitsa. There were no cars allowed in the main area so we all piled out of the cars and explored this quaint village that is also known as the balcony of Pelion. Sakhi, Annie, Melissa and I decided to wander away from the touristic strip along some narrow cobbled pathways that wound around the houses and neighborhoods. We met many old ladies taking a stroll whose faces would light up when we greeted them by saying "Kalispera" (I think that means good afternoon). Soon enough it was time to leave and we met the others back on the main road. We had not seen the main square, so we ran back to take a quick look around. It had a beautiful central area with a huge hollowed out tree, a water fountain, and a Shrine. It was breathtaking!

Finally it was time to say good-bye to dear Makrinitsa. Day turned to night and we were all exhausted but happy when we finally reached Axladitsa.

I would like to thank the drivers Susan and Bob for making this great journey possible!!!

Sakhi's Blessing

Something stirs from deep within

Everything has its perfect time and perfect place
I trust the magic that makes me tingle
when I see majestic mountains
encircled in swirling mists
or feel ancient waters
like liquid light
awakening wisdoms within me


Inspired by Filiz and her experiences

I heard a whisper... 2006

I heard a whisper... 2006
Originally uploaded by arianemates

Dionysus

Song,
it touches my heart
and sends my thoughts
fluttering,
flying
through these narrow streets.

The smell of spice
the taste of a fleeting kiss.

His dark eyes
meet mine
through a crowded night street.

He is Dionysus.

Evening in Athens

I have danced these streets before,
this mystery is mine.

Mine is the wind at my heels
mine is the winged song of Isis,
this accordian rhythm,
this deep mountain voice.

I have seen,
I have heard,
Pan's pipe and hooves of centaurs.
I have heard the sacred hiss of slithering smoke that touches the soul,
wings outstretched into Acropolis stars.
I have stood still as a Sphinx,
guardian of powerful wisdom.
Wise is kept secret.

Wise is a whisper,
that flickers

like a flame in the wind.

The Guardian

Lullaby

Here I have been reborn
Axladitsa, Axladitsa

A small white moon
at the bottom of a spring
it is me, it is me

A little frog jumped off the daisy edge
as I sang a song of riverbeds

This gentle land, this gentle land
Cradling the sea

India's Song

Axladitsa Avatakia

I found two sister stones,
they smiled at me,
they smiled at me,
I found two sister stones,
down by the blue Aegean Sea.

This land holds stories,
this land, it speaks,
in flowers and stone,
in olive groves,
in the meeting of two streams,
in that space in between.

One slipped from my hand,
round as the full white moon,
slippery it sang,
like a newborn babe,
"leave me here
by the bubbling source,
a spring so pure,
along the pathway to the sea".

Along the pathway to the sea,
the wise old oak tree grows,
hollowed by time,
its spirit lies with the land.

This wise ancient land,
of circles and stone,
of pirates and gold,
of a history buried,
of stories untold.

Athina