memorial weekend shenanigans

True to its weather history, this Memorial Day weekend is wet and wild. It started to rain late afternoon on Thursday, May 27 and it hasn't let up at all. Temperatures dropped from highs at mid 90*F to lows of mid 50*F, with constant rain, chilling winds, possible hail even, coastal flood alerts, and small craft advisories. 

Geroge Washington Bridge off in the milky murky distance

Not to be deterred, wonder | wander | world celebrations this year are with family who just arrived from far away Philippines. We are all finally gathered together in our home away from home in Edgewater, New Jersey. 

Hugs and kisses all around now that we've all been vaccinated. Our true cause for celebration - especially since we have not been together under one roof since COVID-19 shut us away in our isolated bubbles. 

home altar with fresh cut blush peonies

In time for Memorial Day tomorrow. We offer prayers in deep gratitude for those who have made freedom in our lives avaible through their honorable sacrifice for our country and families. 

Happy glorious Sunday folks! 

Pentecost Prayers

Pentecost is a feast celebrated by many Christian denominations. It commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ while they were in Jerusalem celebrating the Feast of Weeks, as described in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 2:1–31).

The term Pentecost comes from the Greek Πεντηκοστή (Pentēkostē) meaning "fiftieth". It refers to the Jewish festival celebrated on the fiftieth day after First Fruits, also known as the "Feast of Weeks"^[i] and the "Feast of 50 days" in rabbinic tradition.

Ancient map of Jerusalem

This 1472 map of Jerusalem notes the place of the Pentecost - Ubi apostoli acceperunt spiritum sanctum - at the location of the Cenacle.

embodied epiphanies

The Underground Railroad, a ten-part limited series out this week from Amazon Prime Video, offers Moonlight director Barry Jenkins’ interpretation of Colson Whitehead’s acclaimed work.

Featuring South African actress Thuso Mbedu as Cora, Aaron Pierre as Caesar and Joel Edgerton as the slave catcher Ridgeway, the adaptation arrives amid a national reckoning on systemic injustice, as well as a renewed debate over cultural depictions of violence against Black bodies.

Available on Amazon Prime Video

Jenkins—like Whitehead in the series’ source material—adopts an unflinching approach to the portrayal of slavery. As writer Camonghne Felix details in Vanity Fair, Jenkins refuses to allow Black trauma [to] be the guiding vehicle of this story. Instead, his narrative is one of Black victory.

LOVE our Mother

wonder | wander | world celebrate motherhood, maternity, maternal bonds and the influence of mothers. 

We do not inherit the planet 

from our ancestors,

we borrow it 

from our children.

~ Native American Saying ~

brazos de mi madre - Porfirio Jimenez, 2014

Goddess Gaia guides women (and others) to reexamine their relationships - fierce traits like hunger, anger, ugliness, ambition - entwined a woven with softer ones of kindness, nurture, maternal nature.

She teaches us to embrace a new image of the female hero. An all knowing monstrous wonder with the agency and power to match. Definitely no shrinking, shy, feckless female.

art by Lauren Lee

Mother I feel you under my feet, Mother I feel your heart beat. 

A glorious Mothers Day to us all!