Finding the magic

It's Spring Equinox. Stop, drop, and OM.

  My last post http://thedelightist.blogspot.com/2014/03/year-of-wood-horse-talisman.html got me reminiscing about some of the other ba-jillion times I seemed to randomly find something absolutely brilliantly symbolic and/or metaphoric, causing me to say to myself, "wow, I'm up to my tits in deep magic here."  Being that we're right on top of Spring equinox, I thought I would share the story of the artwork pictured above(and below)and how I created it.

  It all started about 5 years ago, a few days before that year's Spring Equinox.  I was walking through the neighborhood with Ruby when she was at an age when she was constantly finding "treasures" on the ground that were very important and I absolutely had to save them in my purse.  A purse that was starting to bulge with pinecones, stones, bottle caps, and other cool detritus that a five year old finds fascinating and collectible.  Anyhow, as we were crossing the street she bent down and picked up the letter "O" pictured above. In case you didn't recognize it, it's one of those linking toys for babies and toddlers that one could use to make a chain and perhaps attach a pacifier to the stroller. It was a little worse for wear but into the purse it went where I promptly forgot about it.  
  Until two days later, on the Spring equinox when I was walking in a completely different neighborhood and I looked down to find an "M" shaped linking toy.  I didn't even know they made M's!  I thought they only made O's.  But how else are you gonna spell OM? Right?
  Anyhow, to commemorate this juicy gift of symbolism from the Universe I had to incorporate it into an art piece.  Ever since I became a busy mom I've been making my artwork by starting out with second hand paintings.  Just a little time saving trick I came up with.  A couple of weeks before, my neighbors happened to be getting rid of this velvet beauty with the maiden and the wolf.  So I painted the frame bright blue, glued the OM and some other tchotchkes to it, and added some painted polka dots for good measure. 
  Looking at it I am reminded to stop, drop inside, and go to the OM place.  Or the HOME place. Stillness. Balance.  Like the equinox. The balance between the play of seasons and day and night.  To me there is always a magic about the time around the equinoxes.  The stillness feels still-er but somehow fuller too. Like a deep, deep pause and preparation. Renewal. Connection. Unconditional.  Love.

year of the wood horse talisman

I actually found this piece of driftwood on the beach with a hole in it and the letter "H" bored into by an insect apparently cosmically attuned to symbolism.

  So when I was in Mexico http://thedelightist.blogspot.com/2014_01_01_archive.html a few weeks back, taking my daily walk on the beach, I looked down and boom, there was this sweet little piece of driftwood.  The fact that it already had a perfect little hole in it was what initially caught my eye.  Upon closer inspection I noticed that it also featured a number 4 engraved into it (no doubt by a very talented bug).  But after it rode around in my pocket for awhile, the dust and sand was jostled off and the 4 turned into an "H".  Well, huh (?), I thought.

  These cool, cryptic communiques via found treasures from spirit are par for the course in my world but I was a little stumped this time. (Also par for the course.)  It wasn't until I returned home and back to my internet surfing habit that I was barraged by articles on the Chinese New Year and the impending Year of the Wood Horse. (Starting January 30, 2014) Here's a good overview from Mystic Mamma: http://www.mysticmamma.com/happy-year-of-the-horse-2014-astrology-and-insights/. To be honest, I'm not a big follower of astrology. Not that I'm against it, it's just usually information overload for me.  So to "randomly" find an actual piece of wood with an actual "H" on it, just days before the start of the year of the wood horse, well, maybe I should pay attention.  It sounds like I (we) may be in for some fun, freedom loving, action oriented, hold on to your hats, creative energies this year. But for god sakes stay grounded.  And buoyant.  Let's not forget buoyant.  Like my little driftwood friend out on an adventure that found itself on a pretty pink lucky necklace and the star of a blog post.  I just gotta stay in the saddle and hold on to the reins.  And by reins I mean intention and gratitude.  That always keeps my horse pointed in the right direction :).