Tag Archives: generations

seven generations.

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At the Omega Institute near Rhinebeck, New York, a striking assemblage of metal figures stands on the grass beside the library. You look through the hollow in each to the last, and smallest, figure, which contains an unborn child. This sculpture set was created by the artist Frederick Franck to honor the traditional teaching of the elders of the Six Nations of the Haudenosonee, or Iroquois, that we must be mindful of the consequences of our actions, down to the seventh generation beyond ourselves.

‘In Iroquois society, leaders are encouraged to remember seven generations in the past and consider seven generations in the future when making decisions that affect the people.’

-Wilma Mankiller

 

*Wilma Mankiller (1945-2010) was a Native American activist and the first woman elected as Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. She served from 1985 to 1995 and was a strong advocate for the rights of American Indians and women.

generations.

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for those who came out

in support of our march

big, little,

and in between

the spirit is strong

across the generations

 passed on from one to the other.

‘the future belongs to those who give the next generation reason for hope.’

*pierre teilhard de chardin

*Pierre was a French Jesuit, Catholic priest, scientist, palaeontologist, theologian, and teacher. He was Darwinian,  progressive in outlook and the author of several influential theological and philosophical books

 

 

 

Ann Arbor, MI, USA, July 2025

 

warmth.

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after yet another unique and powerful winter storm

with lots and lots and lots of

heavy, wet, beautiful, pure white snow

i woke up early to a power outage

spending my morning in the library

with coffee, power bars, and locals

powering up, reading, talking, and writing

watching as a lovely grandmother

kneels down to her young grandson’s level

as she very patiently and quietly

teaches him and then lets him

check out each of his very own books

one by one

gently guiding him as he goes

only when he needs it

 when he proudly finishes his work

he loads each into his own little backpack

she helps him

put on each woolen mitten and zips up his coat

he holds onto her leg as she slowly stands

 they very naturally cradle their hands together

as they make their way out of the library

 back out into the world with beautiful white snow

what a simple yet powerful act of love

that warms me

more than this comfortable and welcoming building ever will

it’s always the people within who do that.

“if a family has an old person in it, it possesses a jewel.”

-chinese proverb

music is only love looking for words. – lawrence durrell

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come sit a spell

drop in

to our

friendly irish pub

everyone is welcome

bring what you like

your

fiddle guitar heart voice spoons steps drum

join our circle

stay a bit

teach

your spoons

and

your magic tunes

to a

future musician

pay it forward

and

the music

will never stop.

music is the movement of sound to reach the soul

for the education of its virtue.

– plato

 

how sweet the corn.

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four generations in one place at one time with one common purpose.

dinner.


a family is a unit composed not only of children but of men, women, 

an occasional animal, and the common cold 

– ogden nash