THE OFFERING ARRIVED
Qing Ming Jie, a dedicated day in early spring for traditional Chinese peoples to visit loved ones who have passed on at their graves and pay respects, was on a Wednesday this year, the day of Mercury. By custom, with the tombs freshly swept by the living, and the debris removed, the spaces consecrated as doorways to connect with the living dead were renewed at a minimum of each year. Even portals need cleaning.
THE END AND THE BEGINNING MET US
On the first Wednesday morning of the Year of the Rabbit, I received news that my Puo Puo (maternal grandmother) had a massive stroke the night before. The stroke left her brain and body irreparable. My mother and her siblings who live in the metro Vancouver area, as well as Puo Puo's grandchildren and great grandchildren were fortunate enough to gather with her throughout the Lunar New Year celebrations the weekend prior. Puo Puo, in her 90s, had been frail for quite some time, and she, who must have sensed a forthcoming transference of energy, asked her children to gather around her again Tuesday evening, and within minutes of their arrival to her home, the stroke occurred.
BY THE BEDSIDE OF SPLENDOUR
When our darkest beauties and darkest repulsions,
When our history and present moments, Aspirations and negotiations,
When all of these open fully and empty into the hungry earth and absorbing skies—
SPIRITS IN THE HOME
We live with and in parallel with many other beings, some visible to us, others not so much. As an animist, my work is to explore the conversations around decentering humans, and the practice we can engage in to be in relationship with the energies and consciousness that are in us and greater than us.
I WAS TAUGHT GIVING IS “GOOD”, AND RECEIVING IS BAD…
I was taught as a child (and throughout my life) that giving is “good” and receiving is “bad”. That sharing, especially as a host, is to be extended at lengths that can be defined almost as “at all costs”. Giving / sharing when expected to, when not expected to, as a form of not being able to feel what I feel, or to simply say “no” or even “wait”. I was taught to feel that receiving is greedy, shameful, weak, or that I’m “not good enough”.
Màn màn zǒu (Slowly, slowly walk)
慢慢走 Màn màn zǒu, they say.
Slowly, slowly, walk, they say.
Walk slowly, unhurried, easefully.
An expression commonly uttered by the living and by ancestors, the Unseen living.
Slowly, as our feet touches the ground tenderly,
Unhurried, as a blessing to be carefree,
Easefully, as each step is protected and guided.
As even walking is a devotional act of heart-mind-body, an act so ordinary and mundane for me, yet holy for my ancestors to care about.
Two Of The Greatest Lies
Perhaps two of the greatest lies are these: That you are born alone and you die alone.
ENOUGH TO TIDE ME OVER: Psychic Mediumship with Digital Spirits
As all children, my world was shaped by my reality and surroundings. We spent time outdoors in the nearby forest or playground with the neighbourhood kids, travelled in packs on our bikes with walkie talkies that only operated within fairly close range, but on a rainy day or when the days grew dark early, we spent time at home with the “real toys” and make shift ones.