Dia de los Muertos

courtesy of: http://www.snapscot.com/archives/photos_holidays/

Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) takes place on November 1 and 2 throughout Mexico to honour and celebrate loved ones who have died.

To celebrate, Mexicans put on calacas (wooden skull masks) and dance. Wooden skulls are also put on top of altars dedicated to the dead. In addition, sugar skulls, engraved on the forehead with the name of the dead person, are eaten by relatives and friends.

This indigenous ritual has been practiced for over 3,000 years. Despite merging with Catholicism after the arrival of the Spaniards, el Dia de los Muertos still incorporates Aztec tradition, such as the use of skulls. Skulls symbolize death and rebirth.

Apparently, the indigenous people who celebrated this tradition did not fear death. Instead, they saw it as the continuation of life and embraced it. To them, life was a dream, and only by dying did one wake up.

Calligraphy

courtesy of: http://www.robertamos.com/calligraphy.html

I met Victoria artist Robert Amos today at the Fairfield Artists Studio Tour in Victoria. He paints and writes books, but his most fascinating works to me are calligraphic exerpts from James Joyce's novel, "Finnigans Wake", that he paints on ceramics.

Calligraphy means beautiful writing. Chinese calligraphy ("Shu Fa") is believed to be the most abstract and sublime form of art in Chinese culture.

To the artist, calligraphy is a mental exercise where the mind and the body harmonize to choose the best technique to express a message. Since it is very relaxing but also requires a high amount of discipline, calligraphy is said to be good for one's physical and spiritual well being. Historically, many calligraphy artists were famous for their longevity.

-Alix

Banana Slug

courtesy of: www.johnkane.com/Images/2001/2001-08-08-DSCN6134-EricaAtButanoAndPescadero-Crop-Thumbnail.jpg

Spent the past few days doing biological fieldwork in the Tsitika valley, about five hours north of Victoria on Vancouver Island. The trip was amazing. Overhead the sun was scorching and we were surrounded on all sides by snow- topped mountains.

Saw enough wildlife to feel as though I were on an ecotour: 3 Black Bears (one only 20 m away from me), Bald Eagles, Ruffed grouse, Roosevelt Elk, Black-tailed Deer, Red-tailed Hawks, North Western Salamander and Pacific Tree Frog egg masses, Blue Grouse, and... a baby Banana Slug!

Banana slugs are one of the most beautiful animals, if you take the time to get to know them. They are the second largest slugs in the world and can grow up to 25 cm long. As well, they play an important role in the forest as decomposers, dispersers of fungi and seeds, and as a food source for other creatures.

I'll leave you with this:
Q: "What did the slug say as he slipped down the wall?"
A: "How slime flies!"

-Alix

Biophilia

courtesy of: www.jrsfilm.com/ gaudiAptBldg4.asp

Biophilia-the study of the human response to the natural environment and the relationship between humans and natural systems. This is an area that is getting increasing research attention. In particular, there is little known about biophilia and the built environment, especially architectural design.

Do we feel a sense of place in the buildings where we live, work, and play? How does building design affect our moods, our decisions, our interactions?

Anyone who has spent any time in the University of Calgary's Biology labs or a windowless office understands well enough the importance of their surroundings on their peace of mind.

Any thoughts?
-Alix

Happy Birthday Einstein!

courtesy of: http://www.th.physik.uni-frankfurt.de/~jr/gif/phys/einst_b.jpg

Albert Einstein says, "The years of searching in the dark for a truth that one feels but cannot express, the intense desire and the alternations of confidence and misgiving until one breaks through to clarity and understanding, are known only to him who has experienced them himself." Sigh.

It was his birthday a few days ago and I wanted to pay a little tribute to him here... thank you Einstein for all the great quotes.

-Alix

Anna's Hummingbirds

courtesy of: http://www.dereila.ca/na_nature/Anna1.jpg

Today my cousin Grant and I saw two hummingbirds mating in a cherry tree. I did a little research, and found out that they were either Anna's Hummingbirds or Rufous Hummingbirds, the only two species found in Victoria.

Some interesting hummingbird facts:

• They are only found in the Americas
• They can hover and are the only birds that can fly backwards and upside down
• They weigh about as much as a penny
• They use spider webs as glue to attach their nests to trees
• They eat every 10 minutes

For more hummingbird info, see: http://stores.wbu.com/northolmsted.

Peace,
Alix

el Papa

courtesy of: http://stirlbot.pragmatic.ca/pope.jpg

So the Pope is dead eh? Even I, who have my head buried in the clouds as far as the mainstream media goes, have heard the news.

To be honest, I don't really know or care that much about the Pope. I saw him waving from his window in Rome a few years ago while I stood below in the pouring rain. That was about the extent of our relationship. I just wanted an excuse to publish this picture.

-Alix

Rain

courtesy of: thegutter.splinder.com/ archive/2004-01

It's grey and rainy today; typical West (Wet?) Coast weather. The ravens are flying outside the third floor window of the apartment where I am staying, carefully pulling twigs off the blossoming trees. The wind is warm, and I am wrapped in a fleece blanket, dreaming, dreaming...

Dead bunny

photo courtesy of: www.makeshiftmiracle.com/ Artwork/Rabbit.jpg

Ex-UVicers might be interested in this:
"One of UVic’s familiar furry friends came under attack again last week. On Wednesday, March 23, a white rabbit was found hanging outside Village Greens, the vegetarian and vegan cafeteria in residence... "

For the full-text article, go to: http://www.martlet.ca/archives/050331/news4.html

Fire

photo courtesy of Kari Minchin

The world is on fire
Embers stinging my eyes
I can’t see through the smoke
I can’t breathe, I can’t speak
The blind stumble past me
Through hot doors swung open
I’m burning outside
Dying inside
No one to hear my cries
Lost in the chaos
Disintegrating around me

-Alexandra Link

Beginnings

Well, hello there. I figured I'd better get started on this blog, now that I have some spare time. I'm not quite sure what the point of it is, but maybe that is the point- that there is none. Let this be a space for creativity of expression, and if you feel like adding to the mix, please feel free.
Peace,
Alix

Winter in TO