December Flying Carpet 2016

In December the Flying Carpet

Spiraled  into memory of 

My Blue Heaven
Indigo Japan

At Kenrokuen Garden in Kanazawa

gardeners  installed poles
 

to keep the heavy snow
from breaking the tree branches

On Teshima Island
the spiders had done an installation for
the Setouchi  Triennale  2016

We arrived at Koya-san Buddhist Monastery
at sunset
A monk rang the huge temple bell...
the air vibrated...
the maple leaves shook

Walking amongst
the ancient cryptomeria trees
and the monuments
of the Okuno-in cemetery...
in the light drizzle...
the glowing moss...
the pilgrims

Daitoku-ji Temple... Kyoto...
Maeda Sensei tells us,
“The way I show gratefulness
is taking a deep breath.”

Koto-in temple...
the blessing of rain...

the blessing of simplicity...

Yoshio Mori in Yasu
Indigo dyer in my indigo heaven

Kurama Temple...
the Jizo gaze benevolently
at travelers and children
and those in transitional times

and the world can transform into
a Japanese print before your eyes

Special thanks to Ritsuko and Susan

my dear Japan sisters

November Flying Carpet 2016

In November
the Flying Carpet
experienced the perfection of Japanese fall
while the rest of the world 

was shifting on its axis...

Dearly Departed Leonard Cohen once said,
“There's a crack... a crack in everything...
That's how the light gets in...”

 In Japan there is an 

 appreciation and acceptance
of that which is broken, aged, flawed

Things are patched and repaired
with great care...

Kinsugi is the repair of broken ceramics
with lacquer mixed with gold.
The broken place becomes a golden seam
beautiful in its embrace of the imperfect.

What are we called to do and be

in the world of this moment?

Special thanks to  Steve, the catalyst...

Nancy for countless hours and deep knowledge

Andy for exquisite calm and kitchy goodies

and all the most wonderful travelers

October Flying Carpet 2016

"In Tea ichigo ichie is frequently heard. 

It means "one time, one meeting." 

Each tea gathering is an opportunity

for an experience

that will never occur again in one's life."

--Tea Life, Tea Mind by Soshitsu Sen XV

...as is each exquisite fall day...

...and you will have to admit 
that my new diet has worked wonders

 Happy Halloween

&

Happy Harvest 

September Flying Carpet 2016

The Truth Revealed...
Flying Carpet meets Flying Saucer 

in Roswell, New Mexico

 The Flying Carpet 

has never told anyone before...
but now as the Carpet has become threadbare and a bit dusty
it’s time to come clean...

Yes... there has been a close encounter...

the unreality of it all
I see it now as if in a dream
the ghastly green glow 

of my diminutive captors

and now the town of Roswell 

attempts to seem nearly normal

but aliens are everywhere

Roswell has built a UFO museum
that looks like
an elementary science fair exhibit

Please don’t ask any probing questions
The trauma still lingers

Special thanks to my protector, Z

August Flying Carpet 2016

In August the Flying carpet
“...sailed off through night and day...
to where the wild things are...”

Through the Wardrobe to
“the power of positive mechanics”
“acts of shamanic anarchy”

“Through the Looking Glass”

“Let’s go in party world!”

Filmore Fun House...
“Go ask Alice”
“Dried Angels...
take 1 wing at a time by mouth”
 

The Usual and Unusual suspects 

“2nd to the right
and straight on to...”
“Exit Through the Gift Shop”