Curve-billed Visitor♡

There has been a curve-billed Thrasher visiting me for the last couple of weeks. I had never seen one before? He is a beautiful, big bird and loves to chat with me. Hope he stays a while!

Bird Lovin’ Sistas

My sista loves birds and unfortunately, some people are mean and she couldn’t keep her bird feeder and bath cause of some heartless neighbor. Why people gotta steal other people’s happiness is my question? Well… sista loves me and knows imma fellow lover of birds, so a few weeks ago, she so kindly gave me her stuff. Clearly Kobe likes the new set up. Pups been working on the backyard all summer too.

“Do not allow any negativity or ugliness in your surroundings, or anybody at all, destroy your confidence or affect your growth as a blooming flower. It is very normal for one ugly weed to not want to stand alone.”

•-Suzy Kassem, Rise Up and Salute the Sun: The Writings of Suzy Kassem

Watch “Beth’s Bird Can Boogie!” on YouTube

I told Beth when she brought her parrot to the gym… “now we gotta get him some weights. I’ll get him a toothpick with some marshmellows! Shhhh… don’t tell Palden.” That’s her personal trainer. lol

Beep Beep

Oneiroi Dream

just one
so faint
I taste it’s core
it never went away

lingering
a sullen scent
night swallowed
by the day

one dream
wrapped up
in distant stars
burning memory

drift away
go far from here
though the dream
shall set us free

by Felicia Lujan
11.15.2016

In Greek Mythology, “the Oneiroi were the dark-winged spirits (daimones) of dreams which emerged each night like a flock of bats from their cavernous home in Erebos–the land of eternal darkness beyond the rising sun. The Oneiroi passed through one of two gates (pylai). The first of these, made of horn, was the source of the prophetic god-sent dreams, while the other, constructed of ivory, was the source of dreams which were false and without meaning.” Source: theoi.com

Flight of Faith

“The reason birds can fly and
we can’t is simply because they
have perfect faith, for to have
faith is to have wings.”
-J.M. Barrie, The Little White Bird

It has been beautiful to see these little ones prepare for flight. I’ve been watching their parents give them lessons from my kitchen window… going back and forth and forth and back. What great teachers. I know I should let them be, but I just love them and want them to be safe. I’ve been so worried one of them will fall onto the cement and die attempting to fly.

Today it struck me just how brave they need to be when the first time comes. What courage it takes to spread your wings, not knowing if you can truly soar. This evening I whispered to them and said “it’s really windy out here. Don’t try. Just wait.” I fear that soon I’ll go to check on them and they will be gone… in flight… living an amazing life.

Ravenous

•Digital composite by Felicia•

hungry still
consuming black
feeding on the
nightmare of your
moon drenched kiss
a blood filled bite
now wishing time
would stop or stay
with broken things
ravenous dreams
like burnt up stars
for satiated beasts

by Felicia Lujan
2.23.2016

Ocypete

•
Hound of Zeus
Bring fourth the wrath of God
•
Snatcher of darkened souls
Carry evildoers off to Erinyes
•
Wind spirit
Swiftest of the Harpies be
•
Ocypete
Vicious and cruel with heavy wings
•
Agent of harsh punishment
Removing those devoid of light
•
by Felicia Lujan
11.11.2015

New Site Theme: In Another Dream

In creating my new site theme and gravatar I cloned images of a dream catcher I made almost two years ago. It is the only dream catcher I have ever made and it was very special. The piece was completely laced in gold as that is the most precious metal. It took me several hours to make. I felt inspired to create it.

Looking back at the photos of my catcher last night made me sad because I actually broke something I put my full heart into. Only the trinkets I so carefully picked out for the golden web remain, one of which was a tiny jar of wish dust. One day I will make another… when I muster the courage to dream again.

In Another Dream

"In Another Dream" -- Digital composite and dream catcher made by Felicia

★∆•*..DREAMS ARE NEVER MEANT TO BE KEPT IN DRAWERS..*•∆★

“I have dreamt in my life,
dreams that have stayed
with me ever after, and
changed my ideas; they
have gone through and
through me, like wine
through water, and altered
the color of my mind. And
this is one: I’m going to
tell it – but take care not
to smile at any part of it.”

~~•Emily Brontë
~~•Wuthering Heights

Refuge: The Intricate Art of Valerie Rangel

On March 6, I went to the opening reception of “Refuge.” The exhibition was artistically engineered by my friend, the papercut artist, Valarie Rangel. Her most recent papercuts are featured in the Fogelson Library on the campus of the Santa Fe University of Art and Design (SFUAD), where Val also teaches. Her work is more than amazing and I would encourage people to explore the work of a talented woman. To read more about this fascinating papercut artists, you can visit her search feed on my web site.

“The viewer is invited to explore different realms of retreat by viewing the interwoven places of refuge within nature, while simultaneously exploring the inner sanctum of the mind and spirit through positive and negative cut imagery. Just as birds in nature retreat to places of shelter and protection when threatened or endangered, man flees into the haven of music, imagination, delusion, and love.

The intent of this installation is to give an experience of looking out from the inner refuge of the animal kingdom as well as explore the dominion of human emotions in a discourse of private asylum, introspection, visiting static and dynamic, illuminated, and shadowy places of retreat.”

~~~~Valerie Rangel

Visit Val’s Facebook page to see more of her amazing creations!!

Flightless

~Today we moved the final books out of the Tony Hillerman Writers Conference bookstore. While I loaded my 4runner, I noticed this tiny bird. The bird was sitting very still in the middle of the road. I think he was sick. Feeling sorry for the flightless creature, I gently moved him out of harm's way. I didn't want him to get run over, even though he was dying. I wanted him to be comfortable so I moved him to a sunny, quite spot.~

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“You do not have to be good. You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting. You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves. Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.”
~~~~Mary Oliver

Dreamcatcher Tutorial

I had to share your tutorial. It’s a perfect gift. It takes a long time to make a beautiful catcher. I hope yours comes out nice. Your friend must be special to deserve a handcrafted gift. They are not easy to make. I used golden thread in my first to symbolize something I valued. I also used many symbolic things in the creation of mine. It made it truly unique. Put positive energy into your piece. I hope your friend appreciates you. 🙂
~~~Felicia

sit back, relax, and enjoy the blog

If you’re looking for a cute and thoughtful present to give someone, then look no further. Dreamcatchers are said to catch the bad dreams and let good dreams come from the center of the dreamcatcher, where they land softly down to you. I’ve always been intrigued by them and loved all the different designs they came in, so I decided how would I go about making one. The idea of making your own dreamcatcher is definitely a thoughtful present and lets you be creative. You can create all sorts of patterns and add all sorts of charms and beads. It only requires several materials, time, and effort to make a unique dreamcatcher that will last forever. After watching this tutorial, I decided that I will try and make one for my friend’s upcoming birthday. Everything looks simple enough and it let’s you be as creative as you want. I’m very…

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The Flight of Circe

~Digital composite by Felicia~

On my way home from work, many thoughts raced through my busy head. My brain was like a swirling pool of black uselessness. Approaching 599, the state highway, I was still deep in thought when I saw a very large, white and brown, spotted, dead bird in the middle of the road. Her lovely feathers were being roughly shoved about by the wind and my heart broke to see the majestic creature deprived of life and flight. I screeched off of the road with burning rubber and instantly forgot about all of my thoughts. All that was important in that moment was getting the bird off of the road. Five o’clock traffic raced around her and I wanted to save her from being smashed under tires by all the other people who didn’t care or have time to stop for her.

I pulled over and then I noticed another car followed. It was a woman. The bird was a huge Red-tailed Hawk. One woman jumped out of the car, while her angry mother glared at me through the windshield. There were three large dogs in the hatchback. The woman had a big fast food bag ready and didn’t seem like a good person. I felt like choking her out…frankly. She ran into the road and scooped up the bird before I could blink. She spurted out over the racing traffic…”indians use these,” while she tossed the beautiful bird in the hatchback with three dogs. Indians? Dogs? Really?? So cultured and thoughtful! At that point, I seriously felt like wrestling her to the ground. I told her that she better call BLM because the bird was protected by state and federal law. I’m not sure if she knows it’s illegal to possess a dead raptor. Hopefully, she did the right thing.

When I drove away. I realized the raptor was a sign for me. I could have not seen her or pretended not to see her and just driven over her like everyone else. Why didn’t I? Why was I awakened from my pool of useless thoughts? Well…because I believe in magic. The hawk is a very symbolic bird. She is a messenger. She is a power animal with a powerful totem. Ina Woolcott once wrote that “hawk’s gifts include clear sightedness, being observant…magic, and focus.” She also said… “Hawks have a broad vision, allowing them to see what the future holds. In man this is a symbol of prophetic insight. If this gift is underdeveloped, it is common for people with this power animal to have a tendency of over analyzing everything.”

Maybe I need to see things clearly? You know? With hawk eyes. Tonight I read the “Wildlife Notes” publication put out by the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. I learned that “the eyesight of a hawk is 8 times as powerful as that of humans” and that hawks “have excellent color vision extending into the ultraviolet range so they see more colors than we do.” I guess it would be easier to see illusions that way? The hawk is my new totem. Seeing in the ultraviolet range? It sounds magical doesn’t it? Ahhh…yes. Back to magic. Last night I posted “I Believe in Magic” and coincidentally, there was a hawk show at the Renaissance Fair while I was there. Magic. Yes. I believe.

When I thought of the symbolism of the hawk and her magic, the first woman who came to mind was Circe. In Greek Mythology, Circe was known as the Goddess of Magic and her name means hawk. She was a bewitching nymph who was the daughter of the God of the Sun, Helios. Her magic was based on herbal potions. She was the daughter of the light in the sky. We see clearly in the daylight right? Finding the beautiful hawk was a sign. Call it the “flight of Circe.” I need to wake up and open my eyes. I need to look to those who actually cherish my magic. I am a magical being and deserve to have that in my life.

Woolcott’s symbolic interpretation of the hawk “denotes union with All That Is.” She says “the hawk is a bird of the heavens, arranging the changes necessary to prompt our spiritual growth. Having this power animal can be bitter sweet. When accepting its presence in your life, you will be asked to surrender/give up anything that doesn’t honor the integrity of all life. Whether its an idea, feeling or action. Although hard work is involved, the rewards to be reaped are great, far outweighing this.” I accept this majestic creature as my totem. I am willing to put in hard work. “Work” is my middle name. “Magic” is my last.

“Flex” that Muscle

An important part of living a fit life is being flexible. I finally have no excuses not to hit it and I love it! My career is important to me, but so is fitness. There was a time a few years back when I would get really upset if I couldn’t workout. That mindset was making me miserable so I had to change it. Now I do what I have to do to get my workouts in. I’m flexible. It works!

Now I know it’s not the end of the world, and it’s not going to ruin my day if I can’t make it to the gym. On those days, I opt for an outdoor workout. I like to have a safe, secure place to workout when I do abs, pushups and detail work. Because of recent circumstances with workers around my building, I had to flex yet again. Some days I can’t run in the open because there are shady peeps lurking around.

Today I hit it on a secure roof top of my building. It was an awesome place to workout. It was a sunny day, there is a beautiful tree out there, and the birds were chirping happily. Wish I had thought of this last summer! Since you have to badge in and out of the area, there was literally zero traffic! Just a sweet ladybug! Ooooo…maybe she will bring me luck? I also had a nice view of the world out there from the balcony.

When it comes to feeling good, making real changes, and pushing yourself to the limit, you have to be flexible. Flexibility is important professionally and physically. Anthony Lawlor once said…”flexibility, as displayed by water, is a sign of life. Rigidity, its opposite, is an indicator of death.” So true!

#nodaysoff
#noexcuses