Finally a real start - finding my centre...

 

With an ocean of thanks & appreciation to all who came before & all those yet to arrive who have inspired me, & continue to inspire me in ways that will never truly be known I am finally at a place where, for the first time since I was seven, I have a real start at  discovering, forging, journeying & being with my true center - mai true centre...

At different points in my life, the centre of me has taken different shapes & forms - manifested needs & survival/coping strategies in different ways - beautifully captured in the photos above and below of the photos I took around this year's National Aboriginal Day activities in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, featuring an inspiring art installation by Alan Syliboy created through the coolaboratively collaborative efforts of the Ship Harbour Deanery & Common Roots initiatives & their partners...

Today, the way I am seeing it, my centre begins with a dot.  This dot is a speck, a particle not big enough to be considered a shape, but important enough to demarcate the formal beginning of my existence.  Like all living things, my existence began with a union of changes - a series of actions & reactions, catalytic conversions & changes that turned the inertia of me into the intention of me.   The way I see it, the speck of mai existence is represented by the dimension & mathematical variable of x.  We all know the famous expression of X marks the spot... Well, x also marks the speck of existence - the point of change between living & not living.  This is, has been & will continue to be captured through the ages in a diversity of ways, shapes, forms & stories.  Stories help us understand who we are...

Looking back, my parents were married in 1967 & honeymooned at Expo 67... Perhaps part of the reason Canada 150 commemorations have been so special to me :)  Looking further back, there are decidedly rural & First Nations connections.  I have always felt very connected to First Nations & Aboriginal traditions & art that are so rooted in the languages & cycles of  nature.  I particularly admire the work of local artist Alan  Syliboy.

Many moons ago back in 1997 when my husband & I got engaged to be married, we each selected a Red Crane  t-shirt designed by Alan Syliboy.  The one I chose I believe was entitled "family"... I have always known family is important to me.  I was lucky to be born & grow up in a family of unconditional love.  Not everyone is so lucky.

Family is my centre.  I am most well when I am with my family, wherever we happen to be together.  The nest we share is not one particular place or location, it is the space we inhabit together & the nest we create together, wherever we happen to be...

Family is my centre, but my family is also mai centre... I should explain my liberal use & interchanging of the words my & mai -  It was only in my recent past that I was introduced to the ancient Sanskrit word "maitree" which means loving kindness.  I love the connection & similar sound of the word "maitree" & "MY TREE"... to me, & others around the world trees represent family, life, learning & hope... I extend the application of MAI to other words to extend the notion of "loving kindness" as well...

I certainly meant no disrespect by laying down on this beautiful art - however, my favourite kind of art is the kind that can be touched, interacted with, & further engaged with to help promote collaborative apprenticeship learning, journeywork teaching & shared understanding of the different aspects, facets & perspectives of life... Taking gentle care, Sue 8)  -...S(:8:)3...