shroud

The patadyong is more than just fabric - it is a woven story of resilience, tradition, and artistry. As we continue to support and celebrate this heritage textile, we honor the craftsmanship of Filipino artisans and ensure that this cultural legacy enchants countless generations. 

I have collected patadyongs since I had the consciousness to pick out my own clothes. In our coastal island home - they were the perfect piece to throw over myself. 

Panubók Embroidery

As I hid from the sun on a blisteringly hot day. As I stepped out of the water - by the pool, on the beach, or off a boat. As I was caught in a flash by a passing thunderstorm or grew chill up among the clouds on the towering slopes of Kanlaon volcano. 

When I left for university in the big bad city - I had a difficult time selecting a mere half dozen that would come along with me. To comfort and cocoon me far away from home, as I was leaving for the first time. 

Through graduation, several boyfriends, and decades later - my all time favorite, a bright splash of acid colored psychedelic swirls - made it all the way to another life all across the world to the US of A. 

sarongs, malongs, patadyongs

It had served as sleepwear, towel, bedspread, curtain, tablecloth, picnic blanket, full skirt, and off the shoulder stunner - among its many incarnations. I had it before Mahala and I have it still - both such truly beloved, lovable companions. 

It remains vibrant and vivid to this day. It has served me well in life. I am saving it for one last service as my cremation shroud. 

*Now available on Medium and Substack as well.

some patadyongs of my own

eclipsed

Change is inevitable - no matter how much it surprises or how we resist. Around the world the Ring of Fire has been restive. 

Also referred to as the Circum-Pacific Belt, is a path along the Pacific Ocean characterized by active volcanoes and frequent earthquakes. 

Seventy-five percent of earth’s volcanoes - more than 450, are located along the Ring of Fire. Ninety percent of earth’s earthquakes occur along its path, including the planet’s most violent and dramatic seismic events. 

Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park on the island of Java, Indonesia

In Negros Island where I was born and grew up, Mount Kanla-on had been spewing volcanic ash and shaking the earth since September 2024. Folks have been displaced and evacuated from its vicinity. Farms have been abandoned and left follow under sulfur fumes. 

fly free, soar high

What if freedom wasn’t about external circumstances but about the liberation of your own heart and mind? ~ Sandra Ingerman 

Often, we tend to define freedom in the doing - what we can do, where we can go, what we can achieve. Yet true freedom is not in the outside world - it lives within each of us. 

salve for our soul

On February 25 the Philippines celebrated the 39th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution. While it was a celebration of ousting then dictator Ferdinand Marcos - the bitter realization of not having done enough weighs the country down still. 

Current president and Ferdie's sole male heir, Bongbong Marcos tries in vain to sell us the fictitious retelling of his parents as savior and hero of the Filipino. While their family have bought their way back with the ill-gotten wealth they looted as leverage - no one is really buying their bullshit. 

As the month winds to its end, Donand Trump's second term as president of the United States of America has been a royal shit show. How on earth such a spoiled dodger and loser could have gained this seat of honor is a truly regrettable mystery. 

Caught between Marcos in the Philippines and Trump in the US, we are hard pressed to keep our love light tended and thriving. And yet we must - so we turn within to liberate ourselves from all these chaos and challenge. 

It is not in the doing where freedom exists but rather in our being. It is in who we are that our independence prevails. When we nurture and nourish this spirit, then we live on our terms and not by those imposed on us. 

May we always remember this and may it always be enough to sustain us. 

drive the dark away

The Winter Solstice is the longest night of the year, when the Earth tilts furthest from the Sun, creating a powerful energetic pause. 

The Winter Solstice has been celebrated for centuries across various cultures as a symbol of rebirth and renewal. 

an iconic Yuletide poem 

It represents a time when the darkness reaches its peak, marking winter's turning point. Days slowly begin to lengthen again, signaling the return of light. 

season's spirit

“If ‘I think, therefore I am’ is true, we are people who are. We are, and we stand on this ground. If you deny us ground, you are denying us our ‘I am.’ Isn’t that negation of our existence? We are here and we are you and we are yours.” ~ Patrick Fealey, The invisible Man

Too true for all humans - badly needed and sadly lacking in our overwrought world. On my second year after closing up my apartment and locking my few must haves in storage - this definitely strikes a raw nerve. 

descent of the holy spirit mosaic - image by Holger Schué 

My innate Cancerian nature requires a homey nest to keep me warm and cozy. I've relocated halfway around the world - going and coming, moving every two years, easily settling in, happy to call myself a global citizen. 

My own space is a sought-after sanctuary at all times - however temporary or simple. As easy as it is for me to claim a place, its removal or lack can easily displace and cause concern. I value my solitariness and have worked for years to claim it absolutely. 

In the 15 years away from and the last 15 back - there have been shifts and surprising realizations. Space can open up or shut down. Folks can accommodate or adjust, resent or be threatened. There are several pros and cons either way. 

Family, friendship, connection, community - come under strain and are tested. Much is unearthed and revealed in the exchange. A migrant, an immigrating immigrant - what does it all entail? A refugee seeking refuge, a transplant being relocated, shelter and asylum. 

Even when planned for and prepared success is not a given, countless concerns and challenges are faced, others along the way may not welcome or care. We exist and are in a world grown tense and tight, fearful and lacking. 

Making it harder to hold and manifest, grasp and work our magic. May the spirit of the holidays come alive in our hearts and homes. 

festival of light & life

As we celebrate All Hallows Eve and the veils between worlds thin - folks around the world, according to varying practices, beliefs and cultures - prepare altars for our ancestors. This is important work that has been passed on through generations. 

Now more than ever, we can all use that supportive energy - as we recall and honor our ancestors who have paved the way and supported our survival. I celebrate an accumulation of 38 years - from when I first started my shamanic practice and apprenticeship all those years ago. 

clay diya lamps - © Uma Shankar sharma

It is also the festival of Diwali (Deepavali) - when myriad little clay lamps (diyas) light the way to remove darkness from the face of the earth. The dharma of fire illuminates wherever it falls - giving light and warmth. 

sacred reciprocity

As the Aries full moon rises, it invites us to embrace the energy of intensity swirling around us. This lunation may bring feelings of tension and the urge to release pent-up emotions. It’s a perfect time to confront what’s been bubbling beneath the surface and create space for new beginnings.

Observe all the change happening around you and embrace it within. 

supermoon blessings

This full moon is asking you to be brave, bold, and authentic. Your dreams are within reach, and now is the time to go after them with everything you’ve got. Embrace the changes coming your way and trust that they are leading you toward the life you’ve always wanted. ~ Alex Myles

To help you navigate this transformative period, call on the healing power of bloodstone to partner with the vibrant energy of the Aries full moon.

Bloodstone is known for its ability to enhance vitality and freshness, making it a perfect companion during this time of emotional release. 

Emotionally, this Full Moon can feel like a rollercoaster. Aries’ fiery energy may stir up tension, especially if you’ve been bottling things up. Let yourself feel these emotions, but don’t let them control you. This is also a time for deep emotional healing. 

The Full Moon shines a light on the areas where we need to grow and release old wounds. It’s time to forgive yourself, let go of past hurts, and move forward into a more empowered version of yourself.

Ultimately, this full supermoon in Aries is a powerful reminder that you are in control of your life. It’s time to release any fears or doubts that have been holding you back and step into your power. 

The Universe is supporting you, but you have to be willing to take that first step. Trust that everything is happening for your highest good, even if it feels challenging right now.

Now is the time to harness the energy of this moon and work through those difficulties. Bloodstone holds the power to empower our journey, helping to clear the way for honesty and authenticity.

Embrace the energy of the Aries full moon and be guided towards clarity and courage to connect with our inner strength. 

#ActForHumanity

World Humanitarian Day takes place every August 19 to raise awareness of the plight of civilians around the world who have become caught up in conflicts, and to honor and support humanitarian workers who risk, at times lose, their lives to help. 

As the United Nations explains: "No matter the danger or the hardship, humanitarians venture deep into disaster-stricken regions and, on the front lines of conflict, strive to save and protect people in need."

#ActForHumanity. JOIN THE CAMPAIGN

World Humanitarian Day was established in 2008 by the United Nations General Assembly and was first officially celebrated in 2009. The date of 19th August was chosen as it marks the anniversary of the bombing of the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, an event in which the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Sergio Vieira de Mellothe and twenty others lost their lives.

Lammas | Lughnasadh | Loaf Mass Day

The 2024 dates for Lammas | Lughnasadh | Loaf Mass Day are August 1 to 12. Many cultures celebrate Midsummer - this week we also mark 8:8:8 Lion's Gate as well as the peak of the Perseids meteor showers.

We are halfway through the summer in all its glory - with its COVID spreading county fairs, backyard barbeques, political rodeos, and Olympic upsets. 

image c/o National Today

At Lammas we honor the past with a feast of bread to celebrate grain from ancient cultures. Because of its association with Lugh - warrior, king, master craftsman, savior - it is also a traditional time of year for craft and music festivals. Folks gather and feast as skilled artisans showcase their workmanship and sell their creations. 

migrants' maps

Aristotle believed. . . .the regions centered around the equator -

too hot to be inhabited -

he dubbed them the torrid zones. 

We know them today as the tropics -

both share the equator as one of their boundaries. 

The north torrid zone extends to the Tropic of Cancer.

The south reaches the Tropic of Capricorn.

visit the equator