orange desert mallow

orange desert mallow, red dunes with verbena  sassafras, yucca stalks glow starlight, wallflower & sego lily, evening primrose, rice grass, salt bush and rabbit brush, a bouquet I picked I picked with josh for Eileen

An Early Ohio Epistle 9th month 1818

An Early Ohio Epistle  9th month 1818 by Sister Charity Rotch

From our Yearly Meeting of Women friends, held in Mountpleasant, by adjournments, from the 7th of the 9th month to the 12th of the same, inclusive, 1818. To the Yearly Meeting of Women friends to be held in Philadelphia
Dear Sisters,

As "deep calleth unto deep" so we can feelingly acknowledge your acceptable Epistle with others read at this time have been like a renewed call on us to dwell near the Fountain of Truth, that will cleanse and purify all our efforts to promote the welfare of Zion and "the enlargement of her Borders."may acknowledge that the precious union and fellowship which we have felt in the Bond of Peace have proved strengthening and encouraging to many of our minds; and though some have been ready to say in doubtful dismay, "who is sufficient for these things," yet we are sensible that as the day of trial and baptism is pateiently abode under, the unslumbering Shepherd of Israel will arise for their help. , Oh that these tried ones may be enabled to say, "Wash me, make me clean"; "let not thy hand spare nor thine eye pity, till thou hast brought forth judgment unto victory," till thou has cleansed not only from the dross and the tin, but also from the Reprobate silver. 
 have had to view with solemn awe the high profession we are making in the world; and earnestly desire in that spirit which wisheth well to the whole human family, that our lives and conversation may adorn the doctrines we profess, that we may become as a light to the people, and an ensign to the nations, that none may be dwelling as it were in their ceiled houses, saying to themselves, "We are Abraham's children," and thereby become a stumbling block to those who are inquiring the way to Zion. 
We feel drawn tenderly and affectionately to salute the rising generation, the hope of succeeding times. May you not, beloved young sisters, suffer your minds to be deluded by the vain allurements and fascinations of this world, which passeth away as a shadow;nor too much of your time engrossed by these pleasures and pursuits which may be termed comparatively innocent - but as a means of alluring your attention and unfitting the mind for the reception of substantial good, and consuming the precious moments which never can return, are inimical to your progress towards the land of Promise.The safe design of the Enemy of your souls is answered if he can beguile by the very least of his baits.But the earnest breathing of our spirits is that the Shepherd of Israel may watch over you, and keep you as within the "Garden enclosed" where no hurtful thing can enter; that you may yield now in the morning of your day in submissive obedience to the visitations of the Father's love made known in your hearts; and there be qualified to fill the places of those ancient Worthies, many of whom have been removed from works to rewards.
Our annual assembly has been large; and though we have not, as heretofore, had the company of many of our friends from distant Yearly Meetings, one from yours has been acceptably with us. And we trust the Master has been graciously disposed to bless the few loaves and fishes to our strength and support.

We remain your affectionate Sisters,

Signed on behalf of the Meeting,
Charity Rotch,
Clerk this year.

BajaArizona

BajaArizona, salt river/Gila/Agua Fria bioregion, tracing water from white mountains black river, through the black Canyon white river, forming the Salt/Gila/Agua Fria watershed. Spirituality localized in place, spiritual geography. Spiritual place: ponderosa pine flowing into saguaro, standing people,
walking howling Arizona grey wolf walking persons, elk eating grass running people, riparian willow and flowering people, always the land, our earth singing us in this way. Drinking snow melt and lightning rain, hail and obsidian, creosote and prickly pear, cholla and mesquite standing, swaying in the wind people. Our country in the landscape, a geography of place, knowing earth, walking. Listening watching for a song

Climbing San Ysidro peak

    Robert Levi Cahuilla elder and bird song teacher died September 2007. I dedicate this poem and piece to him. I asked Robert Levi when I met him in Borrego Springs, CA in 1990 if it was OK to talk about Mukat and Temayawet, he said it was and so I do. I heard him shake the rattle several times and sang the songs he taught them so they wouldn't die. I think about them today like wise so I won't die. I want to live and living is a song.


     Mukat and Temayawet were brothers, twin brothers, so I a Gemini also found affinity for them. They like my brother and I fought and struggled to gain dominance. Coyote of course was involved and stole Mukat's heart, the red sand, the red rocks all these places we know and love are his doing. The Cahuilla believed in dreams and song and stories as I do. I likewise beleive and have found to be true that power, which they called ,""?iva?a" is vital to health prosperity and balance. How I can find it of course is a struggle and challenge, one that often eludes me.

     Ruth Murray Underhill wrote books about the desert people, she lived 1883-1984, 101 years, good years with many changes.In her books she communicated the importance of song, power and balance.

Climbing San Ysidro Peak



by Paul Manski



Robert Levi said it was ok

To tell of Mukat and Temayawet fighting

arguing and struggling their own

In that these mountains born

Shaking, trembling they rose up

To meet the blue

Now they block the wind-with-rain

Coming from the ocean



Um'nah'ah, with golden eagle circling around

They circle boundaries, up there Um'nah'ah

You feel it strong, clear meeting sky

Making rain



Dark and cool before first light

Creosote, cheese bush, burro bush, indigo

with croton and buckhorn cholla

You people the desert floor

Making home with mesquite and ironwood in the wash

A swept out depression in the sand

Cleared with soft grey red white fur

This is Jack Rabbit's bed

Seeing with big ears waiting listening for the last moment to run

Coyote's partner and friend



Along the dry wash snaking the canyon

desert willow and lavender follow

Covey of Gambel's quail scatters up the slope

Varnished desert boulders



Up the ridge into ocotillo, agave, barrel cactus

First ray of sun reflecting off Salton Sea

Getting into jojoba, cat claw and juniper

Mule deer and desert Big Horn share a spring

Drips and seaps below the flat

2000 feet below Fan palms green the bottom

with long brown skirts never burned



I lay down on a bed of pinyon needles

For four years I watched the sun disappear behind San Ysidro

Single leaf pinyon nuts crunch between my teeth

Sticky yellow pine sap all over my fingers.