Start Shining!

A beautiful pledge for our Waking Planet during these times of great change.

Imagine for a moment what our world would look like if people everywhere pledged allegiance to our earth and to all life on it. We would be well on our way to creating the heaven our earth was meant to be!

Are you ready to commit to bequeathing a liveable and more loving world for our children and all future generations? How could we do anything less?

The world needs you right now. If you are having any doubts that you can make a difference, I hope you will read the following and remember that we are all here at this crucial time for a reason and that the world needs the gift that only you can give.

I leave you with one of my old time favorites, "Everybody Is a Star" by Sly and the Family Stone.

 

Everybody is a star
Who can rain, chase the dust away
Everybody wants to shine
Ooh, come out on a cloudy day
'Til the sun that loves you proud
When the system tries to bring you down
Every hand to shine tonight
You don't need darkness to do what you think is right

Ba pa-pa-pa ba pa-pa ba ba ba pa-pa ba pa-pa ba pa-pa ba ba ba,
ba-pa ba-pa ba ba, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh

Everybody is a star
I can feel it when you shine on me
I love you for who you are
Not the one you feel you need to be
Ever catch a falling star
Ain't no stopping 'til it's in the ground
Everybody is a star
One big circle going round and round

 YOU are a star! Sending you love on your path.

A Sign in the Sky

              

                 

I woke up this morning thinking of that first photo and the need to share it here. After shooting from the car's front window, I was surprised to see that the clouds had formed a spiritual symbol on the left (how many rectilinear clouds do you see?). Do you see it?

I love this photo, because it feels not so much a message about one religion- Christianity- but rather as a recognition of the spiritual nature of all life- around us and in us!

If Jesus were alive today his message would still be all about love. He would still teach acceptance, compassion, justice and peace. And he would still be telling us that we have the potential to do all of the things he did and more.

For me, the true second coming is the recognition of the Divine within each of us. When we connect to the divine in nature (and we thank her for sometimes giving us special signs) we can more easily see that all is whole and holy- and that we are a part of it. We remember our intrinsic beauty and goodness.


"I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in."         George Washington Carver

The signs may not always be so obvious, (all of these photos were shot from the car on the NYS Thruway on that same trip) but there are always subtle reminders all around you of the sacredness and interconnectedness of all life. For me, love is always pouring out of the natural world to restore and renew us- and help us to remember. You just need to look, open your heart, appreciate and surrender.

 The nature spirits are waiting for you.

"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better." Albert Einstein

Ghana Photo Chronicles

The 100 ft high, swinging rope bridge at Kakum National Park, is held by cables attached to the biggest trees.

Joakim making his swaying way. After awhile, all you could do was marvel at the amazing perspective it gave you.

Next time, I plan to sleep in a tree-house the park offers and take the canopy walk at dawn when the forest is filled with birds.

My favorite tree- I have no idea what it is

One of the most unusual trees I have ever seen

With its dread-like seedpods

Closer up

From Elmina Slave Castle in Oguaa (Cape Coast). This is where Europeans first made contact with- what was to become the Gold Coast- then Ghana

The University of Ghana in Legon

In Kasoa- this image stays with me.

Buying smoked fish at the makola- the vendors were very friendly- mostly Ga like Joakim

Slice of life in Accra

This one cracks me up. Could the guy look any more desirous? This very popular movie series is described as "sexy, sassy and full of wahala"- which is pidgin for "trouble". Note the sign for church organist training below it.

The makola in Accra- multiply this 100 times and add loud music coming from multiple directions to begin to get a 360 degree sense of this thriving marketplace.

Kente cloth, native to the Akan people of Ghana and Ivory Coast, decorates a roadway.

This is the scene from the Cape Coast Slave Castle- which I will write about in the future. A beautiful beach, but tragic story.

These are the last photos from Ghana I will be posting for awhile. Working now on some video! Stay tuned.

...as someone on FB recently said-
"My favorite new, flower teacher"

Queen of the Night...

Ghanaian Portraits

Joakim Lartey- Best Life Partner!

At the marketplace in Kasoa

The matriarch, Emily Lartey with adopted son Evans and his fiancee Patience

Near Shai Hills- When the kids saw me they took my picture so it was easy to ask if I could take theirs.

Jamiles, Joakim's brother-in-law Tony and his daughter Naana

Jamiles, his Grandma Emily and Joakim

Joakim's sister Naadu with Jamiles

Kids in Accra

En route from Kasoa to Accra- This was the reaction after I waved

Joakim's niece, Naana- as someone called her "The Future President of Ghana"

 The Patriarch, "Over to You!" Joe Lartey- respected and beloved by Ghanaians everywhere!

Selected Flora and Fauna of Ghana,West Africa

These photos start and end with the Queen of the Night- an amazing flower we had the honor of seeing on three different nights. Each flower blooms for one night only. All that exquisite showiness for a few sweet hours. They certainly reign in the night!

I also caught some baboons, unidentified pink flowers, a beach path, a tiny owl (Elf Owl?) with a mouse, ostriches, an Agama agama (the brilliant lizard), a termite hill, a fresh almond and a crock! I was going to add trees to this, but decided the amazing trees of Ghana deserve a separate post!

A word on the owl. I got that shot on our last night at the beautiful, ocean-side, eco-resort Kasapa Center, outside of Accra. Proprieters Kofi and Susanne are good friends and true visionaries. They began creating this green, sustainable "village-like" resort about ten years ago. They combine traditional African architecture with the latest technologies, such as solar electricity, a bio-dynamic sewage system and modern hygienic compost toilets that work great.

The beauty of the place is only matched by the attentive and caring staff. Everyday, we ate delicious food under a big open air, thatched roof pavilion. One night when Kofi alerted me to the presence of the owl, I left the dining table to get this shot. When I  came back, I mentioned that I knew some African people were afraid of owls. My dear sister-in-law, Naadu said, "All of them are!"

At that point one of the staff looked over my shoulder at the picture. "Oh my, was that taken in our country?" she asked. "Yes, I just took it right over there." She let out a shriek and ran to the kitchen laughing. Susanne and Kofi said they are seeing their night visitor in a new way and are enjoying catching glimpses of him. So I hope I helped rehabilitate the image of the owl a little bit.

We felt blessed to spend our last few days at Kasapa, a slice of heaven, where the Queen of the Night flower presaged the emergence of the true Queen of the Night!

All photos and artwork by Barbara Upton
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