Deep In Winter

Deep in winter.

I have nothing else to offer, really, 

but views of a world gone white,

and to tell you that somewhere in the depths, 

the seeds are stirring. 

I was moved by the outpouring of emails and your heartfelt words and 

remeberences at the news of Pasha's leaving. I'm still getting comments from folks 

who have just wandered by and read the news. It is lovely to feel so supported by folks I have never met, or who have never commented here, but felt they must now. I felt 

somewhat shocked out of my own grieving, when, a dear friend who has been a rock of support through my recent grievings, had the most horrible loss of all - 

the death of her son in an accident. Just as I began to feel a shifting towards a place of grounding, the shocking call came, and off to her side I flew, to be a support, 

not at all sure I could be a rock to her in the fragile state 

I felt myself in. It has been an intense, intense time. 

There has been no time - and frankly no desire - to visit my little studio. 

Truth be told, there is an inkling, but I have needed rest, and really good 

self-caring, and herbal potions and massage and deep dreaming and a book 

or two by the fire. I feel distant from my work, and yet, 

this is the work of the moment - the healing. 

After the arctic winds let up a bit, the storms have come, 

bringing layer upon layer of snow, and flocks of birds to the 

feeders, and little scurring creatures just below the surface. 

Dark and stormy days are followed by sparkling, blue-skied days, 

and late afternoons of red cardinals on green hemlock boughs 

covered in snow crystals and ice.   

Then there are the full moon nights,
 when I need to work at sleeping, 

lest the call of the wild forest prove too strong, 

and I am drawn out to the freezing, cracking wood...  

the squeak of cold snow 

beneath my feet.

"Night", watercolor, Vclaff 2008