Category: Guardians

Yep! I’m there, again! New inspirations becoming real. Old patterns becoming less useful. Lots of waiting and anxiety. Lots of not-yet-knowing. And a whole lot of reminders that a thing that many of us find harder even than change would be no hope of change!

Now, I’m going to guess that – if you’re still reading – you’re at least curious, which is an excellent place to start!

This weekend was full of reminders that change is, indeed, happening.

Four beloved paintings delivered to Scan Camp and entrusted to Uncle Barry for a week of photo shoots and singing around the imitation camp fire. (It’s a good bet there will be lots of Joan Baez involved!)

I feel like somebody kidnapped my teddy bears!!! Those paintings were specifically hung in places where it was easy for them to inspire/nag me! Fortunately, they all have space in my phone, too! And they seem to be full of ideas for museum quality prints to have on hand for the Decatur Book Festival on Oct. 4.

The #Filters cards – aka Grammy’s MetaMod Wisdom Cards – have been ordered from Greenerprinter! (On recycled paper!!!)

If you’ve known me for a while, you probably realize that tap dancing naked is not high on my list of desirable activities. (For many reasons!) That is, however, a handy metaphor for how I’m feeling in this moment!!!

I suspect doing things that matter deeply feels like that for many of us, if we’re being honest. I’m not quite sure if it’s a context thing, or an astrological thing, or even an age thing. What I do know is that there are things inside me insisting on being let out of their crates and into the world.

Now, I don’t know much about astrology, though I hang out in places where I’m learning. One of those places is a yearlong journey known as Red Madonna. This year we’re focusing on Mother Nature… ReBirthing and ReWilding. Part of my role is contributing Crone Moon posts. Here are a few of the things that snuck in through my #Filters this month, as I was exploring the digital universe…

This phase (which is now-ish) is all about introspection, release, and clearing the path for new beginnings. It encourages us to reflect on what needs to be released from the past cycle, embrace the wisdom gained through experience, and prepare for a fresh start. Focusing on health is also encouraged.

All of which sounds at least potentially more helpful than swearing at the news!

ps… the photo at the top, which doesn’t, perhaps, seem to have anything to do with, well, any of these words, is actually the reason for all of my learning and creating and sharing. I have two grandteens and that one’s about to be a senior in high school. In this world. Now.

pps… what matters to you? Enough to – you know – claim the next right thing? Let’s talk! 45 min. My gift. You bring your journal, a cuppa, and your readiness to take a step toward the place where you are called. And, I have a super-special, offer if you’d like some company on the path! Hurry and click here and the calendar elves will hook you up!

ppps… Atlanta area friends… digitalartsstudio.net is a great resource for scans & prints of your fabulous art!

Greetings, Dear Brave Ones!

I am Destiny Joan, also known as, Sue’s Muse. I know you’ve seen me around some, lately. Today, I have a big story to share with you!

Let me explain, first, what my job is around here. Then, we’ll talk about why you may not have met anyone like me before. Okay?

In the simplest way, my job is to break the kind of worldly spells that keep us from being who we are meant to be. You see, there are those who want us to stay small. To believe that we have no magic for making change. To think that their rules are the only things that are – or can be – true.

I know more! And I want to share that with you. First, though, let’s talk about where I come from.

Some people would tell you I don’t exist. That there have never been beings like me. That somebody just made us up.

Other people would say that I am half human and half mythical. Mythical is a word that is sometimes understood as meaning “made up” but can also mean “is hard to explain, especially for children, without stories.”

I like that second notion better! And I’m going to tell you the story I learned from my Grammy. It goes like this…

Once upon a time, a very long time ago, there were beings known as Melusine. They were understood to be half human and half magical. They looked a lot like mermaids and often had “tails” that curled in both directions. Like two halves instead of just one.

Many of us came from the place we now know as France and from Celtic areas like Scotland and Ireland. Long, long ago, people told stories of us as magical beings of feminine power, and as guardian spirits, near sources of fresh water which, as we’re learning again in this moment, is very important for our world.

Mostly, though, we didn’t fit into people’s  thought boxes! In fact, one of the most powerful things we did is to help people consider more possibilities! To get out of  either/or thinking. To learn to hold the power of both/and  thinking… and of stories that are bigger than our personal experience.

Sue says that feels important to her because she has two grandteens trying very hard to grow up in this world, now, where way too many people are afraid of stories different from their own.

If you look carefully, you’ll see a mark in the palm of my hand. That’s Sue’s “secret code” for her grandteens! Just above there, and a bit to your left, is another of our favorite symbols.

It’s the star-sign for the constellation called Pegasus, or the winged horse. As you’ve probably guessed, horses with wings surprise a whole lot of people!

One of Sue’s favorite stories is about two famous authors – C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien – talking about a Pegasus. One of them said, that they’re not well-trained regular horses… they’re whole different creatures!

I feel that way about Melusine! Especially the Grammy-kind! We’re not well-trained. We’re whole new possibilities! And we’re open to whole new possibilities!!!

After all… that’s what Muses do!

(slb, ® 7/30/25)

ps… #Filters class was wild today! Here’s a peek… complete with the beginnings of fingerprint prayer dot hair! It’s what’s new! She’s all about walking the path to the place where we are called and, now, she has a name, too! Darah Pearl which is pretty close to Pearl of Wisdom!

She’s been one of my heart favorites since she appeared early in the Covid crisis when the Mexican border became a hotbed of family separation.

I stayed home and sobbed through the news and painted.

She, who was a Red Madonna adventure, has about 40 coats of paint. Once, in her Elvira phase, she was, indeed, bright purple. Let’s just say it didn’t quite fit! Then, one day, my mask and I were wandering around my favorite collectible shop – it’s exercise! – and I spotted a garden statue. And I knew.

So, home to aged clay colors which, I’ll admit, felt better than the purple. Lots of practice shading and glazing. And then, I dreamed them.

She was sheltering all those weeping children from the news under her protection. And they appeared as prayer dots!

And then, I heard the voice. Walter Brueggemann…

Our job is believing for others on days when they can’t quite believe for themselves.

And, yes… I made more dots. Then, about two years ago, I looked at her one day and realized who she is! Mary Magdalene!!!

Yesterday, as you may know, was the Feast Day of Mary Magdalene. A time, for those of us who feel her leading us still, to celebrate. To light candles and pray. And, for me, to re-commit myself to believing for others when they can’t quite believe for themselves. That means more dots, for sure.

It also means a contribution to a local food bank on a day when a kind soul offered to quadruple all donations!

Today is going to be a bit more hectic than usual. An important Zoom call – about the Magdalene – with my Red Madonna friends. #Filters to lead. (It’s one-line being day!!! Trust me. It helps our brains be more creative!)

So, I fixed myself a cuppa and sat down to begin this while paint dried on the lion. (For real!)

She, our painting, hangs where she can watch over me as I write. I turned and looked up at her, as I’ve done millions of times and I saw something new!

Do you see it? The baby, inside her halo, watching over her… and me… and you, if you’d care to be included.

The obvious first question was… How could I not have seen it before???

The next question was… Why now?

And, as you may have guessed, I heard the answer in Walter’s voice... more help believing on those days we can’t quite believe for ourselves!

I’ll take it! And, gladly, share it!!!

For now, though… as I head back to Aslan and Matilda, my very challenging works-in-progress, here’s a tiny peek:

ps… the Legendary Husband, btw, said he’d never seen the baby before, either.

pps… a dear friend just gave me a panda drum. (Me, the one who’s still getting over a life-time of being told I was the most non-musical one in the family, ever!) Looking for summer camp music. You know, Joan Baez, James Taylor… Any hints???

I grew up at summer camp. I met people I wanted to be like at summer camp. Environmental camp, in the beginning. Led by my chosen shero, Jean, who introduced me to Red Thread and taught me about the notion of the web of life.

She braided my hair every morning when I had poison ivy all over most of me. She let me walk down the path with her when she blew Taps on her bugle at lights out, and hugged me the first time we encountered a bobcat and I was so thrilled, I cried.

I had a job back in those days, when we were all about saving paper and online music didn’t exist. I was in charge of remembering all the words to all the songs from one year to the next!

Late 1960’s – mid 70’s… Peter, Paul, & Mary. Joan Baez. Mellow Peace and Justice music, some of it from Woodstock. Fortunately, I was much better at remembering the words than I was at carrying a tune!

We made art. We picked trash out of the dustpans when it was our turn to sweep the dining hall, and put the dirt back outside.

Eventually, I was Senior Staff, much involved with stories and, one summer, with being the ‘possum’s foster mom! I’ll never forget the chilling sound of Florida panthers screaming in the early mornings at the edge of the water, or the year we swam with Manatees!

It’s interesting to note that the things we were learning – and teaching – are things our world so needs us to know, now. If I had to roll it all into one word, it would be inter-connection.

What I didn’t realize, back then, was that it was also me, being me.

Last night I dreamed I was at camp, again. Perched on a fallen log, swatting mosquitoes, and singing We Shall Overcome. (A detail I might have left out in my postcards home!)

The journey looks different these days. Partially because my body has gotten really attached to the magic chair, as opposed to fallen logs!

Red Madonna is beginning. A year long journey with Mother Nature. With relatedness and balance. With a global group of women looking for connectedness and the Divine Feminine. We’d love to have you join us! Paint, writing, community, growth, ceremony… kinda Camp for big kids! And cool music in our circle calls!!! Here are all the details…

#Filters has also just begun. The next steps on a journey to the place where we feel called, each in our own way. Complete with safe community, medicine painting for beginners, and even wisdom cards with animal guides! Everything is recorded so you won’t be behind, and I’ve requested some Joan Baez for this week! Chocolate & marshmallows are welcome!!! Just click here…

This, by the way, is the place where #RedMadonna and #Filters join hands! Where a new story about ancient, intentional mark making connects with claiming our journeys to the places we are called. Yep! One red thumb print. And a whole lot of opening hope! You’ve got this. Really!!!

ps… Daphne, who probably lived in the woods at Camp, back in the day, so hopes you’ll check out our book! Perfect for summer reading with your Littles!!!