On the Occassion of Meeting Adrienne Rich, Westminster College, SLC, 1993

We met on the borders
of our poetic landscapes
Redefined.
She,
wearing the final vestiges of life--
not how I imagined
Her frail body leaning into a lecturn
Betraying the strength of her words
Foundations of feminism I wore
Like a suffergette banner everafter.

Our meeting was brief,
For her,
meeting me was forgettable
But I remember even the cane
She set down
propped against a folding chair

While I returned to the wall
I helped hold up--

Same Club

The supreme water spirit Ocean
Covers the earth with clouds;
The rain in each place is different
But the spirit has no thought of distinction.
Likewise Buddha, sovereign of truth,
Extends clouds of great compassion in all directions,
Raining differently for each practitioner,
Yet without discriminating among them.
- The Flower Ornament Scripture, trans. by Thomas Cleary

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
--Matthew 5:45

I guess Buddha was a Christian...

or

Jesus was a Buddhist...

Same difference.

Same club.

ALA!!!

Hakima

God is Love

Two posts from a thread I started on the Daily OM prompted musings on my signature line, ALA-All Love, Always:


From "herbert lynch"

Hikima - you can spell the word your way and I shall spell it my way - to me it is ALLAH. Who is one of my Spiritual Guides.
My Spiritual Guide ALLAH and I wish to share this with you. From ancient times there was a beautiful cry called HU. This HU is repeated about eight times, in eight new breathes with vigor and strenght. It is referred to as a love song to our Creator or God. It works best when three or more are gathered together and cry the HU. I thought this proper to share with you - much Love and Loving Kindness.

and from my friend, Adikavi:

I think ALA has a different meaning than Allah even though they sound the same. Could be short for Alabama.

edit add: No disrespect intended towards either of them. Perhaps Hakima can explain if there is a difference and what they are.

and my response to what it means in the Hakima Pamela realm:

Thank you, Mr. Lynch for bringing up the subject and thank you Adikavi for asking for an explanation. Hopefully it won't be too long:

When my parents were young and in love, my father was starting his career in the Navy. At first he was on surface craft--did a surprise tour in the Bay of Pigs the fall of 1962--little Pamela was somewhat over a half a year old--then he served the rest of his career in the Submarine service. Much of their development as a young married couple was through letters. My mother saved every one of them and published them in two volumes which she and my father gave to their eight children a couple of years ago. Every one of my mother's signature lines was, "Love Always", which became the title of one of the volumes. The profession of their young love is among my most treasured possessions.

As I grew and understood the magnitude of the words "Love" and "Always", I was intrigued and began copying my mother. I am also absolutely committed to the notion of community and connection--the inclusiveness of unity and the meaning of the word "All". When I concentrated my spiritual life as a Sufi, I learned more about that Unity and inclusiveness. I also learned about the word "Allah".

In the Middle East, both Christians and Muslims use the word, "Allah" to speak of God. In those desert languages, where often the written word is not understood, sound becomes vital. This from one of my guides, Saadi Shankur Chisti (aka Dr. Neil Douglas-Klotz):

"(the sounds) connect to the most ancient names of the divine in the Middle East. These names use the root word AL (or EL), meaning the sacred Something, the ultimate Yes, coupled with the root LA (or LO), meaning the sacred Nothing, the ultimate No. People in the Middle east have used some form of this name for at leas four thousand years, from the time of the Old Canaanite Allat or Elat (a name of the Middle Eastern Goddess), to the Hebrew "Elohim", the Aramaic "Alaha" (used by Jesus), and the Arabic "Allah", used by both Muslins and Arabic-speaking Christians today."

"Traditional translations of this name include 'God' and the One and Only. The final H of Allah affirms that there is yet a divine secret, something not heard or pronounced, the life behind all life, without name and form and beyond all our ideas of the divine...As one Sufi writer commented "Allah" is really not God"; that is Allah points to a being that is beyond humanly construed images, ideals,and names. It (not the name) is the ground of Reality, the Only Being..."

La illaha illa 'Allahu

There is no reality but the One Reality

Mr. Lynch did you see the HU at the end of that phrase. It is the pronoun beyond pronouns. Listen to the wind. You can hear the sound "HU" whispering in your ear. Listen to the ocean, the cry "HU" resounds. Listen to your heart, "HU, HU"

HU is the cry of this Hakima-baby yearning for her Creator.

HU, HU, HU, HU
HU, HU, HU, HU

and they come with Everything They are:

All Love,

Always!!!

ALA!!!

Hakima

In a Name

Texas has been so very good to me...

http://www.chinapage.com/gnl.html

80. Utopia
Let your community be small, with only a few people;
Keep tools in abundance, but do not depend upon them;
Appreciate your life and be content with your home;
Sail boats and ride horses, but don't go too far;
Keep weapons and armour, but do not employ them;
Let everyone read and write,
Eat well and make beautiful things.

Live peacefully and delight in your own society;
Dwell within cock-crow of your neighbours,
But maintain your independence from them.
*********************************************

I live on Lake Granbury--I mean I LIVE on the lake--who's tributary is the Brazos River. The full name is Brazos de los Dios, which means "the arms of God" The above selection from the Tao is the standard by which I want to live my life. It is simple and not easily understood. It is not always easy. Here in this heart, it is paradise.



Ok, so I did it. I got a tattoo. The above is the image I have had inscribe on my delicate flesh. Some will be chagrined and not want to know. That's ok, read over this part. Some will want to know what it is--I will tell you--it's an artistic rendition of my spiritual name, "Hakima."

Names have been so much a part of my life. I learned only a few years ago the meaning of my birth name, Pamela Dawn--which is the name of this blogspot "Sweet Morning" WOW!!! thanks Mom and Dad. How wonderful to be blessed with the benefits of the newness of the day.

I was asked recently why I would want a new name. Why, indeed?!!! With such a name as Pamela Dawn, why would I? I don't know that I can adequately explain, mostly because I'm not completely sure myself. And those who ask are perhaps not wanting to be convinced. That's ok, too. *smiles*

When I was initiated a member of the Sufi Ruhaniat, I was given a guide who was inspired to give me a new name. The day of my initiation, I spent the day fasting and praying for guidance and wisdom. I read many names and came across one that caused a stirring in my heart. The stirring was one of fear. The name Hakima. Hakima means Divine Wisdom--a state of being that I more and more often seek, but know I will not attain. I depend on the Divine One for the Grace of Their Wisdom to supplement my foolish life. I was appalled when indeed, Hakima was the name chosen for me by my guide. As I expressed my trepidation, my guide turned me to some sources.

I discovered that Hakima is closely tied in Middle Eastern tradition to Hokhmah--Holy Wisdom:

Irat IHOH re'ashith da'ath Hokhmah wa-musr 'awiylim bazu.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
--Proverbs 1:7

The Power sent me.
I appear in the minds I make restless.
I am found within by those who look for me.
If I disturb your mind with images, why not look at them?
If you can hear me in a sound, why not listen?
Whoever waits for me--here I am, embrace me!
Don't deny you've seen me,
Don't shut my sound out of your ears--or your voice.
You cannot fail to "know" me, anywhere or anytime.
I am both what knows and what denies knowledge.
Be aware, this moment--
don't claim ignorance of this mind.

For I am first and last,
honored and dishonored
prostitute and saint,
experienced and virginal

I am the silence not grasped by the mind,
the image you can't forget.
I am the voice of every natural sound,
the word that always reappears.
I am the intonation of my name--hu-khm-ah (do you hear Hakima?)
the breath returning from form to its Source.

I am knowledge and ignorance,
I am timid and bold,
shamed and shameless.
I am strength.
I am fear.
I am war and peace.
Listen to me:
I am infamous and renowned.

Listen to my poor voices,
Listen to my rich ones.

Don't look down on me in the earth under your feet:
I compose the bodies of those who come after you.
Don't look away from me in the shit-pile:
I am the remnants of great civilizations.
Don't laugh inwardly at me when I am
disgraced, homeless, uneducated.
Don't isolate my voice as "another" victim of violence.
I am compassionate, but also cruel.

Be aware, this moment!
Do not indulge in obedience or self-control
because you love one or hate the other.

Do not turn your back on my weakness
or fear my power.
Why despise me when I am afraid,
or curse me when I am inflated?

I am she who shudders in all your fears and
who shakes in your moments of power.
I am the one in you who becomes sick and
I am the one in you who is completely healthy.
I am no sensation and I am the Sense,
the Wisdom of all.

(from Thunder, Perfect Mind, a translation of the Coptic Gnostic text)



and so I am

and so I aspire to be

Ya Hakim!!!

Alhamdulillah!!!
*may all I am and hope to be shout praises to the One*

ALA!!!

Hakima



"The prophetic soul must of necessity rise so high that it can hear
the voice of God, and at the same time it must bend so low that it
can hear the softest whisper of the beings on earth."
Hazrat Inayat Khan

This is my latest chain maille creation. It's copper jumprings with ocean jasper and pink moonstones. It's called Ygraine's Yearnings, named for the mother of King Arthur. It has some fundamental flaws, but I'm not holding back on my art. We all get to see the imperfections of the artist and that's the beauty of the space between a creator and The Creator. I am learning, Inshallah.


This was taken from the back porch of the home of one of my clients who lives at Pecan Plantation, one of the exclusive gated communities in the Lake Granbury area. The Brazos River can be slightly seen through the trees. The Brazos is one of the largest rivers in Texas and is the tributary for Lake Granbury. The original name of the river is Rio Brazos de Dios, which means the Arms of God. It's a nice image to be wrapped in the arms of the Divine One. Alhamdulillah!!!




Pecan Plantation is a beautiful place. Unfortunately, it's a gate community and not accessible unless you have permission to access. It is a sad commentary on the state of this world that people have the "need" to shut themselves in and the fellowship of the diversity of humanity out. I find it to be a false security and one that will surly have karmic ramifications. The deer, however have no respect for gates or homeowners' regulations and roam freely eating whatever they can devour (ala this dwindling althea). Residents of Pecan come into the nursery regularly bemoaning the behavior of the deer--never mind that the deer were there first. The only thing that seems to deter the deer is a product we sell called Liquid Fence. It stinks to high heaven and I recently discovered why: it's comprised of rotten eggs and garlic. So the residents at Pecan may have beautiful gardens, but they stink. HA!!! Perhaps karma is closer than one might imagine.

I am well, Suban Allah! and pray that all who enter the realm of these words are too.

Blessings and

All Love,

Always!!!

Hakima Pamela

Brunch

I'm a thief. I stole the pics and captions from my friend, Preston (missing from both because he's taking the pics--yes! Preston IS Renoir, reincarnate). Not our best sides (except for rookie's *wink*)--next time pose us please, Mr. Wizard.



Brunch at Nancy's








Renoir: Luncheon of the Boating Party

just not as many people... not as much wine

Update August 20, 2007

Sunrise over Lake Granbury.



"Caterpiller" chain with lampwork bead.

Victorian watch in copper with pink freshwater pearls.




The entrance to Guerin's Nursery, where I work. About a month before I arrived in Texas, Tommy and I had been here. I mentioned that it would be a fun place to work. Then about a week before I arrived, I was looking online in the Hood County news at the jobs section--lo, and behold, there was an ad for a job at Guerin's. I called them and hustled my resume over the email and via Tommy. The day after my plane landed, I had an interview and started working the day after that. It's less hours, it's less money and harder physically--that's ok, since I needed the exercise. I'm getting side jobs planting customers' gardens and some landscape design. The next job I do is fairly large and requires a tiller--didn't have one before, but I found a good one yesterday and made an investment. It will pay for itself, I have no doubt.


More Guerin's


The cowboy said, "Ma'am may ah help you into ma red dodge pickup truck?"

The sign says, "I am crazy in luv wit mz Pamela."

The transmission is gone in the truck, but the sign remains.


The cowboy at the helm.

This is me in early June on Lake Granbury. Red, red, red!!! Texas has been good for me. I'm tanner, touger and about 60 lbs lighter (we'll see how long that lasts). The garden nursery job and the side jobs seem to keep me in shape. YEEEEHAAAAA!!!

The entrance to Guerin's Nursery, where I work. About a month before I arrived in Texas, Tommy and I had been here. I mentioned that it would be a fun place to work. Then about a week before I arrived, I was looking online in the Hood County news at the jobs section--lo, and behold, there was an ad for a job at Guerin's. I called them and hustled my resume over the email and via Tommy. The day after my plane landed, I had an interview and started working the day after that. It's less hours, it's less money and harder physically--that's ok, since I needed the exercise. I'm getting side jobs planting customers' gardens and some landscape design. The next job I do is fairly large and requires a tiller--didn't have one before, but I found a good one yesterday and made an investment. It will pay for itself, I have no doubt.


More Guerin's


The cowboy said, "Ma'am may ah help you into ma red dodge pickup truck?"

The sign says, "I am crazy in luv wit mz Pamela."

The transmission is gone in the truck, but the sign remains.


The cowboy at the helm.

This is me in early June on Lake Granbury. Red, red, red!!! Texas has been good for me. I'm tanner, touger and about 60 lbs lighter (we'll see how long that lasts). The garden nursery job and the side jobs seem to keep me in shape. YEEEEHAAAAA!!!