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* Bio * Resume * Reviews * Writing & Lyrics * Images * Events * Links * Contact * The Froglady's Trip to IMAGINE by Bekka Fink When I walked out of the plane at 1 am, returning from my FROGLAND band tour in New York City, I had no idea that today, March 8th, 2003, I would see peace in Afghanistan, in Israel, in Iraq, in Palestine, in India, in San Francisco. I took the shuttle from SFO to my sister, Deborah and her fabulous husband David's house in the Haight. I snuggled up in their warm bed. I was full of inspiration, love, and fearlessness. I woke up at 7:30 am to prepare for Spiral Muse and Gather the Women's event--IMAGINE--in Golden Gate Park. It was to take place at the fountains near the Aquarium that was often a destination for my Berkeley family trips as a child in the 1970's. My family loved to go there to see the Abbigators, the starfish, the big snakes and the fishies. I was set to be at IMAGINE at 8:30 am to build a mandala for Peace, organize the open mic, and create thrones for our element queens, who were there to honor the four directions. I dressed in my green froggy boots, and started my walk through the park, guitar on my back. When I arrived, I was greeted by mandala muse, Veronica- whose dream was the inspiration for IMAGINE. Deirdre, Jerry, and Tony- our manifestation, publicity, and action team- had just arrived with a truck full of goodies, Ishmael was already hard at work, King and Queen gatherers, Kristy and Scott, came soon after with greenery and other delights for our IMAGINE mandala, Robert and Naomi set up their food from Fill Up America. Beautiful faces, strong bodies, and a clean canvas. We created the mandala, ironed-on our IMAGINE t-shirt decals, found places for earth, stones, shells, flowers, and sand. We prepared them to take their sacred places in the mandala. They were to be brought and placed by the hands of children and human beings of all kinds. We watched as Timothy Crowe set up his electronic music-making machines, and sumptuous drums. More trucks arrived with earth and flowers and food for the people. Ribbons were weaved through the gnarled trees, leaves were swept. I was given the job of Mistress Of Ceremonies. We were at play together. The muses at work. Guests began to arrive. Mothers and daughters, four-legged barkers, bicycle-riders. Marcella played at the Spiral Muse table, building our community. Mel greeted our guests. Kathryn brought her ideas for planning. We decorated the stage, piled the dirt, created lines of earth and flowers to connect our element queens to the mandala. We hugged each other, and dressed our medicine woman-singer, Christine Silva, in her pelts and rattles and braids. The day was beautiful. Sun radiating down on people in shorts, in summer dresses and flowing hair. Throughout
our IMAGINE there were hundreds of visitors,
mandala-builders, interviewers, video-makers, and magical visits
from a hawk and falcon
spirit. Many souls shared their feelings, their art, their
stories, in our open mic. Karen Rae brought her songs of light, Michael
Ann shared
the story and beauty of her peace blanket, Ben and Sherene sang and
played their drums, Ishmael silently radiated his strength and open
heart, Scott
gifted his song, Eleonore took us on the raunchy war-tale of Lysistrata,
Hyla offered her brooms and her mothering, Penny created As we neared the end of our day, the drummers became one with Timothy's magic electric sounds, and we gathered our many-colored souls together, circling around the mandala- This was the symbol that had brought us together, that we had created with our hands and our spirit. The energy was ecstatic, clean, and alive. I stepped up to the microphone and allowed my voice to open, surrender, to the tune of the divine channel. A tremendous gift. I let the notes, the sounds, the words, flow from inside me. All
the people The bodies began to swirl in a circle. There is a real answer The circle became a spiral. A gentle, powerful source. We all chanted together: All
over the world there is peace The
spiral became a dance. An amoeba changing, curling, curving. We could see
one another. Eye to eye. Spirit to spirit. I, Bekka, daughter and messenger
of Mother Earth, speak and sing and set
free the story of our ancestors, the history of this sacred San Francisco
land, the presence of my mother, Doris Caroline Levi Fink, the beauty of
all these souls, intentions, All over the world there is peace I
fully opened my being, my eyes, and SAW Peace. I saw it rising above us,
travelling floating molecular motion, dancing. Silver particles like leaves,
like snowflakes, a lifeforce of compassion, love, and understanding. A
celebration, a rite of passage. I saw the silver sparks travel to Iraq,
and drop, sinking
into the desert land. I saw them travel to Israel and Palestine, falling
at the foot of the Kotel (Western Wall), and then land on the rooftops of
Palestinian homes. I saw them This was our IMAGINE. I am so blessed to have shared it with all of you. I am grateful. I am loved. Aho Mitakuye Oyasin and Amein.
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