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In honor of Earth Day, I thought I'd post this painting of the Poudre River as it flows between Taft Hill Rd. and Shields. The river is running with spring run-off, and a fresh blanket of wet snow covers the ground. This is early spring along the Poudre River! Framed in antiqued black frame. This piece is in the silent auction to benefit "Save the Poudre" (www.savethepoudre.org) The fundraiser is:

JUNERISE CELEBRATION & PADDLING FILM FESTIVAL
Thursday, April 30, 6 pm happy hour & silent auction; 7:30 pm National Paddling Films
The JuneRise -- the start of boating season on the Poudre -- is just around the corner, so we're having a fundraiser and film festival to celebrate!
Where: Avogadro’s Number - Back patio 605 S. Mason St., Ft. Collins
Tickets: $10, available at the door
Come watch great paddling films from the National Paddling Film Festival and enjoy great food & drink with all your Poudre-loving friends! Shop at our Silent Auction.
For information, contact Gina at [email protected].

The Heart of Bear is the second in a series called "The Heart of..." which explores the twelve birth totems. The first one I finished was The Heart of Raven.

August 22 - September 22: Keeper of Unconscious Knowledge

Bear seeks honey, or the sweetness of truth, inside the hollow of an old tree, and enters the cave, or womb, to hibernate, and to digest the year's experiences.  Bear seeks answers while hibernating, or dreaming, and then is reborn in the spring.  Bear teaches us that to accomplish the goals and dreams we carry enter the silence within.  If we choose to believe that there are many questions to life, we must also believe that the answers to these questions resides within us. ~ excerpts from the "Medicine Cards" by Jamie Sams

As Birth Totem Bear, you are an individual whose outer personality is one of quiet observation. 

Bear teaches us to respect our natural hibernation cycles.  Just as Bear rests during winter and reawakens during spring, we need spaces of rest and rejuvenation.  Bear calls us to awaken the potential within ourselves and the power of our unconscious mind.  Bear reminds us there is a time for playfulness and a time to be assertive.  The power of the Bear Totem is the power of introspection.  The answers to all our questions lie within us.  Each of us has the capacity to quiet the mind, enter the silence and know.

Bear's medicine includes solitude, wisdom, change, and communication with Spirit.  Bears are associated with trees, which are natural antennas, linking the Heavens and the Earth.

The Bear is the Keeper of the Dreamtime, and stores the teachings of dreams until the dreamer wakes up to them.  People with Bear Totem will be quieter during the winter months.  However, they must awaken in the spring and seek whatever opportunities are around them.

Bear is not one to make snap decisions, or be forced into any position.  Bear takes in all available information, takes it into his quiet place, studies that information carefully, gives it careful thought, and then reaches his own informed decisions based on the facts at hand.  Bear is the one who says:  "I have to think about this. I'll be in touch later."  You can rely on opinions coming from a Bear person as being well thought out and thorough, and based on the facts given.

When Bear shows up in your life,  pay attention to how you think, act and interact.  Use discernment in all that you do and discriminate with care.  Bear teaches you how to make choices from a position of power.

Learn more about having Bear Totem here.

This is the Kestrel painting I blogged about a week or so ago. I did a little more research on kestrels as totem animals and came across this wonderful description at http://www.sayahda.com/cyc.html

"The kestrel is the smallest member of the falcon family.  Like all birds of prey it is strongly connected to the accuracy of movement.  Speed and grace in hunting are its strongest attributes.  Kestrels perch themselves high above their prey.  When the timing is right they swoop down, hover in the air and attack.  Hovering is uncommon amongst most birds and symbolizes the ability to use flight to its fullest advantage.  In a person this advantage plays out through the creative imaginative mind strengthening ones intuitive agility.

Kestrel medicine people often have the desire to site or be placed in a position where a wide range of vision is possible. They also enjoy high places with an expansive view.  Their need to spend time alone is strong and a sense of independence is necessary in order to maintain healthy relationships. They do well in any type of work that requires planning and make excellent strategists and diplomats.

The kestrel teaches us how to discover our personal rhythm and respond to it accordingly.  As we expand our personal energy field and awaken our sight into a broader perspective we learn when to act and when to retreat.  The power of the kestrel is mental concentration, patience and precise action. It recognizes opportunities and acts upon them at the correct moment.

When the kestrel appears it might be asking you to stimulate your mental faculties and move quickly and gracefully into your desired future.  It teaches you to listen to the  rhythm of each situation and commit to your actions for the greatest success."

So having this bird come into my life encourages me to ponder what opportunities may be presenting themselves to me and to be prepared to swoop down and carpe diem!

“The Heart of Raven” is the first of a series of twelve paintings depicting the twelve birth totems. They will be posted on my website and displayed at the Collective until the series is complete. When all twelve are finished, they’ll be for sale as a complete set of 12-10x10 originals. I may also have limited edition hand embellished canvas giclées available for individual purchase if there is interest.

The birth totem embodies the innate characteristics of the dominant forces operating in nature at the time of your birth. The animal aspect of the totem acts as a guide or teacher. Its a good idea keep something representing your birth totem animal in your home so that you can meditate on its characteristics and so learn how those same characteristics help shape the person you are meant to be.

This series came about because I was called to create it when meditating on my birth totem guide, Raven. When I started painting “The Heart of Raven” I had no idea I would end up writing words on the canvas. As I painted, the words came to me as clearly as if Raven herself were speaking directly to me. As I continue the series, I will try to let the animal speak both through my painting and the words that are written.

These are the totem animals that will be in the series. Look for your birth totem painting soon!

 21 March - 19 April - Falcon - Awaken.

20 April - 20 May - Beaver - Grow.

21 May - 20 June - Deer - Flower.

21 June - 21 July - Woodpecker - Rhythm.

22 July - 21 August Salmon - Ripen.

22 August - 21 September - Brown Bear - Harvest.

22 September - 22 October – Crow/Raven - Create.

23 October - 22 November - Snake - Transition.

23 November - 21 December - Owl - Silence.

22 December - 19 January - Goose - Renew.

20 January - 18 Febuary Otter - Cleanse.

19 Febuary - 20 March - Wolf - Evolve.