Leisurely Day Bicycling

The perfect day to bicycle around the island
Will take my sketching things in my tote bag and have a leisurely day.

Golden Flowers

Golden Flowers
Originally uploaded by FranSb.

Today the priestesses on our island
have been weaving sunlight and green
A quilt of gentle warmth in hope
that the Gypsy queen will come once more
dance with them her graceful saraband
and rest at midnight under the white moon

Gift of Solitude

A 'view' of Owl Island
Actually taken near the Antarctic by unknown photographer

We all need time alone. Even those of us who are social butterflies need some time to ourselves. Solitude is necessary for meditation and quiet reflection. We also may choose to isolate ourselves when we are busy and need to meet a deadline. We may cherish time alone when we want to give ourselves over to art or music, lose ourselves in a good book, or delve into a personal project. Having time to ourselves allows us to focus completely on our yoga practice or get into the zone while running or strength training. Sometimes we need to be alone to simply do nothing but enjoy the sound of silence. Our alone time revitalizes and replenishes us, grounding us in our own company.

Yet, too much isolation, especially when our intention is to hide, withdraw, or not deal with the realities of our lives is not physically, mentally, or spiritually healthy. It is during moments like these when being in isolation takes us away from our lives, rather than enhancing it. If anything, too much isolation can create a buffer whereby we don't have to deal with our problems. Sometimes, pushing ourselves to deal with our issues and be in our lives, rather than isolate, is one of the best gifts we can give to ourselves.

Also, just as it is important for us to have our "alone" time, we need to remember that as human beings, we are by nature social creatures that thrive on human contact. Our lives cannot occur in a vacuum, and we cannot fully live in this world without interacting with others. Consider using isolation as time spent for rest, reinvigoration, and personal growth. Isolation can then not only empower you, but it can allow you to return to your work and your relationships restored and ready for life. from Daily OM

Two of my favourite books are Journal of a Solitude by May Sarton and Gift From the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindberg. I have been enjoying the 'solitude' of Owl Island where I have been sketching and spending quality solitary time.

This week consider escaping from the madness of society, take some 'alone time' and share your thoughts and feelings here, at Riversleigh, lwithin the sanctuary of the Lemurian Hermitage or in the Salon du Soul.

Out and About on Owl Island

I have been out and about with my sketch book and visited the big bollards near the jetty and White Owl Farm. It was the most lovely day out. I had my bag, with some sandwiches and a drink tucked inside and slept to the sound of the ocean pounding near the bedroom window when I finally got back to my hideaway retreat.

squirrels' evening

squirrels' evening
Originally uploaded by FranSb.

This is the photo of our ancestors that we keep in the storeroom. George and Tiny

George and Tiny

George and Tiny

There they are,
see their bushy tails, but wait,
where are they now?
They move so fast,
are there one moment
and gone the next—

oh, I see them, high up in that old oak,
on those highest branches,
see, they’re looking down on us
and chattering as if we’re to blame
for whatever it is that bothers them.
Cheeky little devils that they are—

I can’t help but admire their
carefree life, or is it as it seems?
They have their foes
just like we have enemies,
but they seem, somehow,
to manage better than we do—

despite our sophistication,
our weapons of mass destruction,
yes, we have them, too.
The squirrels though,
despite their size and their seemingly
carefree lives, know how to make the most—

of play … it’s all a game, you see,
the hunting and gathering of seeds and nuts,
though deadly serious, it is a game
to be played often and every day.
So, George and Tiny, thank you,
thank you for inviting me to share your tree,
and wonder if you don’t have it right
with your tiny brains and bushy tails—
yes, I think you have it right.

Vi Jones
©March 21, 2006

Vi's plumbago quilt

Vi's plumbago quilt
Originally uploaded by FranSb.

Vi's quilt for the hammock beneath the wide tree
where George and Tiny have promised to welcome her

Squirrel Antics

Lois, this one is for you….

Squirrel Antics

Oh, to be a squirrel—
to race up and down
and round about—
high up in the trees,
noisily acclaiming
your presence
from the branches—

then down again to gather
nuts and seeds for your stash,
and hiding them in haste
here and there and everywhere.
Chasing one another,
chittering and chattering,
flicking that gorgeous bushy tail—

to see the humans
ooh and aah,
and little children
delighting in your antics,
for though they chase you,
they can never catch you.
You have not a care, or so it seems—

though I know you have
unfriendly neighbors like
owls on silent wings, hawks, too,
and foxes, but you’re at home
in wilderness or park, and
I would give a sack of gold
to be a squirrel for a day.

Vi Jones
©March 20, 2006

Squirreling away

Squirreling away
Originally uploaded by FranSb.

Please don't let the owls know that we are hiding on their island. I hope one of the dear visitors will hang her hammock On our tree and keep our store room safe. We promise not to chew the ropes or drop from the branches onto your quilt. Tiny says you can have two of his best pecans for your desert. Signed Tiny and George, residents.

Tapping on my chamber door

An owl came tap tapping at my chamber door

Owl Island Walking

To walk on Owl Island is

like a dream, things

are wild and untamed.

The seagrass whispers

secrets and rustles with

intrigues...

the water is salty

and invigorating,

colour of the sun,

following you up

the beach,

in friendly waves.

The wind is

like a fairweather

Muse, calling...

copyright Monika Roleff 2006.

Come to Illustrate Life on White Isle Island

I have come to White Owl Island to retreat for a couple of weeks. White Owl Island is one of the islands on the Lemurian Archipelago, a short boat trip from Duwamish Bay and a popular destination for anyone needing time to recoup. Like Lindberg who wrote Gift From the Sea I have come to experience the solitude, to sketch and draw and to document some of the life on this island.

As I lay meditating upon the ocean outside my window White Owl herself appeared at my door. I could not resist her urgent tapping and let her in. She has offered to be my guide and rest with me awhile.

All I bought with me were some supplies so that I would not have to return to the mainland and my sketchbooks and journals. I am illustrating a journal. No words appear on my pages for it is the sketches which will tell the story of my days on this island.

This is what I saw as darkness fell on White Owl Island.

Morning Hibiscus

Morning Hibiscus
Originally uploaded by FranSb.

Not to be outdone
our youngest priestess with the help
of twenty tiny owlets
gathered hibiscus blossoms and made
this thick comforter for our latest visitor
the Secretary and the Great White Owl

Among the white owls...

After a frenetic week, it is wonderful to lie back in my hammock and inhale the peace of White Owl Island.

Even when you know it is going to happen, moving house is a chaotic business, but it is worth it - our new home is on a hill overlooking the river and the countryside around our village. We are in the `French quarter' where all the streets have French names, and it is incredibly peaceful and pretty, the air is so clear you can taste it like fresh spring water and on most days, no matter how hot, we get a breeze.

I have started work on the garden - it has been somewhat neglected but the `bones' are good. But the business of packing and unpacking and running back and forth between the old residence and the new has been exhausting, and every time I get home the piles of unpacked possessions reproach me.

So I have slipped away to the peace of White Owl Island, with a long cool drink and my hammock overlooking the bay where seals play. I have a small feathery white companion - a beautiful white owl called Yenna, who has befriended me and has been telling me stories of the silkies - she assures me that these are no ordinary seals, but the silkies that leave their skins behind on moonlit nights and dance on the sands.

I grew up with these legends in Ireland, but never was fortunate enough to see the silkies out of their seal skins. Yenna tells me that if I stay here tonight, I will see them, because there is a full moon in Pisces.

``That's a celebration time for them," Yenna hoots softly. ``Pisces is the sign of the sea, ruled by Neptune, and tonight there will be music and wild dancing on the sands."

I roll over in my hammock, and sip my cold drink. I know I have so much to do at home - but Yenna's invitation to stay and watch the silkies with her is irresistable.

Will I really see them at last, those mysterious creatures that filled my childhood dreams? As if in answer to my question, there comes a strange music born on the breeze, a sweet but melancholy piping...

``The piper comes already," Yenna whispered. ``He is calling all the silkies to dance on the shore."

My mind made up, I lie back in my hammock and breathe a contented sigh.

On White Owl Island

Priestesses quilt

Priestesses quilt
Originally uploaded by FranSb.

In the quiet afternoons
the priestess gathering
makes quilts. This is the pattern
they call bouganvillaea for it is made
from blossoms gathered at dawn
and sewn with delicate precision
into gossamer
to cover you as you sleep.

Hoot

I hear her call and am drawn further along the path
I pick my way towards the sound of her wise voice

"Hoot", she said.

I just needed to see her
Soft feathers against the dark, black night sky

I just needed to be in her presence
And soak up the waves of wisdom radiating off her

I draw close and I can see her now
She turns her head and looks down at me with her big, clear eyes

I blink and see her intelligence reflected there in those eyes
I yearn for her to speak to me

"Hoot", she says.

All of my questions become still in my mind
As I gaze up at her loveliness

We look at each other and suddenly I know
I don't need her to tell me what to do

I have a wisdom all of my own

I grew stronger on my journey here
I learnt things I would never have known if I'd remained at home

I continued to stare into her clear eyes
As she continued to stare into mine

"Hoot", she said.

The Egg

le Enchanteur and Raven have been left tending 'The Egg'. Should give me a rest for awhile. Perhaps I will string up a hammock on another part of the island.

She Oak Hammock

I love this nest, and it

reminds me of a hammock, so

I will rest in it on Owl

Island.

copyright Monika Roleff 2006.

Welcome back to the Island

Owl island again jpg
Originally uploaded by FranSb.

A hammock has been set up
for each of you
who come to visit
The priestesses wait
to whisper wisdom
and the Great White Owl
will watch over you
while you find gentle sleep