Climbing the Grande Roche

Yes…I just figured out why in mountain climbing movies they never show the trek back down. …YIKES!!!!!!!!!They don’t tell you what you have to see on the return trip.
Going up was not that hard when you could concentrate on your step and gate.
I loved the Eiffel tower …going to the top the view etc and the coming down was a breeze. But then you “knew/imagined” you were safe.
And all the gorges,caves, mountain ventures for tourist is put under extreame safety features in the US .One assumes and gets used to this. Climbing this mount was at your own risk. No railings…. not sturdy rocks(some slipped and slide imbedded only in soil as steppes. And one step to the side could be a fast way down.
Veronique was our guide. She ,her husband Christian and their son had dinner and apararatif with us first. I suggested that we do the climb before we had a large dinner and too much wine. But the dinner came first. So …full and tipsy we began the climb.With the confidence of a wild deer Veronique sprinted up the first steps leading to the trail.
I already felt the effects of a sumptuous chicken marinated in olive oil, garlic, and local herbs,newpotatoes loaded with garlic and butter,salmon,cheese,stuffing.fresh bread and of course some of the most exquisite wine……..oh my
Anyways
In spite of a bronchitis I have been fighting off this week and way to much internal luggage we slowly trudged on. As I entered the first steep struggle a bee gets caught in my hair. And of course I am doing the bee dance long before they help me get it out without any of us getting stung..
I take pictures as we ascend each level , careful to make sure I have additional pic for when we get to the top. All I can say is that for this Florida woman, I had forgotton what climbing is all about.
With much determination we followed Veronique to the summit.She encouraged us to walk to the edge but it took about 15 minutes before I could stand to take pictures. It was awesome. Once I got my feet to move I took some pics of the surrounding seascape. Veroniques husband was way over on the beach and he called her on his cell phone. She wave her scarf to motion where we were. He said yes he could see us. I was surprised because I could not see him that far.
There is a deep cave on the side of the mountain that they do not permit anyone to enter.It seems that a small bat lives there that they say it is almost extinct. But according to Veronique ,they allow people to enter once a year. I asked her exactly where was it located. Well she made my heart jump. She leaned over the edge and said over here on the side but it is dangerous to get to. I took her word for it and did not have the courage to look over the side without handrails.
Maybe after I climb this spot several times I may acquire a confidence to look.
I had to chuckle to see a couple in suit and dress walking along the path as if on a Sunday stroll.Yes they must be a regular.
Getting past the minor terror and relaxing into the awe took a bit of time. But once we relaxed into the view it really was awesome. And the thought of how many in the past must have stood in this spot long before the rocks have begun to fall and fold. I wonder what the shape of the structure was then.
On top there is a huge stone with a square hole in it. I need to ask her about that
After many pictures and musing over the beauty we decided it was time to return .Veronique told us the tale of how on the full moon the dragon comes out of the mountain .And that that is a good time to come to the summit. I cannot imagine climbing it in the dark but then maybe.
Well coming back down was very scary . You could see the height and the edge but it was ok if one did not panic. And seeing children running up and down with no fear encouraged us to continue and not call for helicopters.
I do have to admit that we slide down the first 22 feet er so…..on our butt. Then regained our courage and walked as if we had been there before.
Oh and that darn bee found my hair again and got caught in it again. I tried not to do the bee dance and calmly freed him from the tangles..
I am posting the best of the pics. I am not posting the ones that we look like tourists from florida who have never climbed a little mount.
Now to continue the pathworking

“All my life
I took this path
But all along
I walked alone
What can I say
To be here now
What did I think
What did I know
When I am gone
Don’t follow me
Unless you seek
This loneliness
What can I say
To be here now
What did I think
What did I know

From “Prayers of St. Brendan the Journey Home”

-----------
Faint and far
The strains of music
Siren's song
The strength of tomorrow
As seen through the eyes
Of future forms
Never imagined in mind
Or present presence
This faint distant sound:
Startling strains of present past
Movements swift past curious eyes
Meant only to cast witness
To the wave of a hand
The turn of a glance
The urgency of lovers
In furious passion
Pivoting on the point
Of said potential
This form can only guess
Speculate and ponder
The deep held breath
The long sought sigh
The firm embrace
Of long forgotten song
The song
That once created soul

golden mean and alpha dream

P
Pi
Phi
la
lay
line
fee
fae
fi
tea
take
time
what is most unimaginable is how we feel
or imagine we feel
in any set circumstance
or placement
on our little planet
...and the multitude of endless imaginings
after all
in the end
all
we
have
is memory
....re
membering
...bisous

At the party on Saturday evening I had made plans with Veronique to climb the Gran Roche the next day. But in typical Breton weather…it poured all day and into the next. So Our climb did not happen.
Perhaps this week.
Cheryl has been ill with sinus and fever and has slept most of the past two days. As for myself, I have been in a neutral zone. Reading French magazines and watching American movies on the computer.
Neutral zone is just that. It’s as if the computer goes on standby, processing nothing, no upload or download, but suspended in the place between an inhale and exhale. All urgency, angst, joy or pain is absent, and mild ritual of necessary functions are all that is left: eating, bathing, grooming, sleeping. All the while one is vaguely aware of an undertone, a mild vibration as if the current flows undetected, forever present even in the bland events of the everyday. And it’s only upon reflection of the past two days that I remember and witness this.
Tonight we are going to a couple’s home for dinner. They have invited us over to sample their hospitality. They own a restaurant here and have asked me to create some paintings of the Breton landscape, buildings, sea, etc for exhibit in their restaurant. This would be my pleasure. They saw the murals I painted on the walls, cupboards, and table in Cheryl’s home and suggested that it would be nice to show an American’s view of the area. I will have to return to America to complete other jobs but in the meantime I can produce some inventory while the experience is still fresh in me mind.. And in a few months return with the paintings for exhibition.
__________________________________________________--
:

the weathered cool of passing rain
inspires my heart to rise
to float and stretch and tease a cloud
to shift and clear the skies
the night of sound and floral scent
descends upon the sea
and in response the tide advances
seeking destiny
suspending breath I pause to feel
the presence of the breathing land
inhaling once I know the worth
inhaling twice I feel the birth
....
you may find it sweet surprise
where portions of the soul resides
….in sleep
from out of that deep secret place
from out of where i see his face
generous portions meant to quench this mounting thirst
generous gifts
but what use….what care
what choice is in and of the earth
i remain the child…show me…tell me
in discipline i remain in silence
in nature i pace the restless knowingof the soul’s potential

Fae:

“come sleep in silence never turning restless in the night
come sleep with me in one embrace away from all that’s light
in all your wild imaginings you never had a clue
that all your dreams and fantasies are from the dream that’s you
come bring your need to rest and sigh
bring memories and names
come sleep with me in one embrace
we’ll make them all the same”

……
in the night awakewithout the expectation of desire
his voice is mine
and mine his
a means for silence
stillness
emptiness
surrender
all those things that was thought to prepare………
yet gravity prevails
and sends this solid subtle form toward distant stars
of even graver solid form
.....matter holds me here
....a fact
i know this well
as well as life is certain
as well as dreams and visions
as well as all illusion
one only needs to turn....that's all
a simple gesture sought by master mage and hu man
that fiercely gentle gesture
that permits the longing's greatest blessing.........nothing


as much as I may coax thee from the silence
knowing that if you should then descend
…your sound would soon destroy
the fair frail grasp one holds on the eternal now

a child once touched the All in unison
three times retracing all the steps
but then your words fell blindly there before my eyes
as if by choice
the mathematics of desire
under those sweet hands of God’s enfoldment
you too
would have worshiped that mere essence of a truth revealed

It’s only by Creation’s will
that past and future
are no longer in the now
and that still part of me
now prays
(as spoken and instructed in the dream)
that you would never fall to darkness
if the promise was fulfilled…
love keeps a promise
without judgment

responsibility has been assigned
to redesign
the impulse of destruction
into an act of creation
the vision is clear
the formula: two sparks of creation
must relinquish all given gifts(faint fare again…perfected by intent)
eyes down an offering by dual placement
both as knights upon the land
and each will standin center facing hand to hand

twins upon the mare
knights upon Giea
creating sacred spirals
towering to the heavens
to echo all the source designs…………now reassign
creation’s ebb and flow

soft breeze from feathered wing pass close
and find my timid heart to beat again
the rhythm
changing
as i look into the eyes of Ra

spiral magic from the sea
turn my fair flesh gray
form sleek sides
raise the tide
carry me away
my breath will raise the waning moon
toward the stars I sigh
the vision I have left behind
reflects within these eyes
the gifts have all been laid and spent
the love both grand and fine
what’s left for me
is of the sea
reclaiming what is mine
taste of the earth
salt of the sea
only these things will remember me

lv
pi

Partying with friends

We started out inviting a few friends that helped with the work and ended up with many who helped with the play:).
It was a great time to have them all over and thank them for being there lending a hand or encouragement in the making of a house to a home.
There is no reason to think one would have to be alone if one was to visit the area. Everyone was friendly and helpful the whole time we were here.We both were extended invitations to others homes if visiting again.
One couple that runs a restaurant here has asked me to create some inventory of paintings of the area to display in their restaurant. i will work on them while I am home and bring the when I return.
It's been an incredable journey and I am going to miss them all and the house when I leave.

The time here is passing. We are already preparing to finish up the best we can, jobs not yet tended to. All the wallpapers has been removed and walls painted with light pastels. That is except one room that we painted a burgundy. The floors have been stripped and sanded and varnished. We found that most rooms had originally had fireplaces. So we opened up one for the living room. Moved gardens , mowed lawns ,planted trees, painted ceilings, painted murals of Bertagne village up the staircase, gardens at the upstairs, Bretagne people on kitchen cupboards and gardens in the toilette room. A lot accomplished in just six week.
We have had a chance to learn a great deal about the area and have met new friends. They have helped us find what we need and get our bearings. The difficulties with language is never a real hindrance . The lovely woman across the street visits us daily and we sit with our French /English dictionary and converse freely. Yes much is lost in the translation, but it is amazing how much is understood with gestures, a little imagination, and a dictionary.
It’s been great fun.
I did not get to do some of the thing I had expected to do. But then I have seen and found things I did not expect.
Living by the sea has been so healing and restful. I just walk out the door, across the highway and the mists of Avalon settle in over the cliffs and sea scape.
I never really got used to the cold though. And the sun has seldom shown its face.
They promise a sunny day tomorrow. If it happens I will be at the beach. Even if it is 50 degrees F. Last night I took out my map and sure enough….we are as far north as Canada. No wonder this Florida girl shivers…chuckle.
Before we leave we are going to visit Mont St Michel …on the border of Normandy and Brittany. I posted a bit about that earlier. I also want to visit Gingamp.The only black Madonna in Brittany is there.
It will be our last couple day trips before returning by train to Paris for our flight back to the USA. I have some work waiting for me when I return, and plans to make if I want to return to France in a few months.
I had originally planned to visit some friends here in France but the circumstances did not work out this time. But that gives me more reasons for a return trip.
There was an article in the local newspaper that someone was bit by a viper and died in the next town. We have been warned to be careful walking in the woods. But I have not seen any snakes….or squirrels or foxes or any animal. I have been told that there are wild boars in the wood. I am beginning to think there are no animals left. And the variety of birds is still so few. Perhaps their return is just later here.

Alchemical gardens
Curious gestures
Mudras of the seed
Upon the rock
Mustering some tiny sprout
Encased / cacooned
Given and received
Knowing that each step upon the water
Leaves an imprint
Fog and veil
Condensation for the mass of
Hungry ghosts
Dismissing memory of place
Upon the wheel in ages past
And how the hand of giants
Bless or smash
Forgetting all the gods have gods
Turtles on turtles on turtles
Give me the
“Cup of wine and Thou”!!!
I leave the structure of all created realms for later dreams
…..For now lets water
Watch
And hold
The Marigolds in high esteem
While setting on the edge of Giea’s dream

Comte de Razes

Vivian's house and Merlin's tomb
All these stones are the only real and historical relics of the "Forêt de Brocéliande".Vivian's house is a chest made od schist of the neolithic era surrounded by a double facing of stones.Merlin's tomb is the last relic that remains of a stonecovered path. It became through the times a real place of worship

___________________________________________

a glass of wine,
new century’s eye stares back
at me with cold indifference
letters beneath these hands
waiting for the coaxing of a tale
of ancient wills and course comings
in such a space of time that one might not achieve
significant slumber
my heart in wonder
found its best desire
a means to hold the dream of ancient myth
that haunts a spirit dream
perhaps someday i’ll truly understand the makings of a heart
but at this time
it’s death throws falls to silence
as i write these words
the long trek has but ended
with the pilgrimages set to fore
there’s so much more than meets the single eye
repentance in the ways of man finds no relief
incessant prayers becomes a burden for the gods
they oft complain
receive your love and find the one who knows your name
your promises of 2 have yet to be
why can’t you find and hold the sacred see
and in response within this incarnation
speak i this to claim
in hours of same each day
the thirteen gate
I pass alone
and there in arms of stone
with hope
to crystallize such forces
of destiny
one cannot tell him of the fate to be
it ‘s viewed as vain pursuit
and mocked as longing of a child
if spoken in the words
concordance came and went
with time so lovely spent with passion and consent
a knowing
for a momentthere ….i saw the spark of knowing in his eyebut with a smile and gestured wavedismissed the vision as illusiononce againand turned awayall matter was transformedthe senses all had in one truth revealed :the lifting veil
but
looking past persona was the key
and now i muse and wonder of these things
that come and go


this i know
that i stood here and there
as uther on the edge of Camelot
wanting what was not mine to have
willing to trade at any cost
but knowing that no Merlin present to create
my longing its completion.
she reprimands me for the wanting
but if there never was this desire
how would creation find the first step toward completion
with confidence, i gaze in dreams
on that sweet face that hides behind the masks
the face that holds the promise of all future forms
he knows me more intimately than any form of matter on this earth
he knows my cause and why i came to be
what made him think i would not bring all times before
in all the words i formed our present past
to open once again
remind him of the task at hand
one promise left
a promise to the earth
one rose to fast return the plates unto the place of source design
the river, ancient flow, floats just above this earth
awaiting for the touch
to break the surface tension
so that waters of creation
can descend
to fill
the underground streams



pi