The Owls Return

I’ve missed them.

Since moving, I accepted the fact that the two owls that we used to live by — the selfsame ones that had inhabited many of my dreams as well as my waking life — were to be memories. Though we’ve only moved about a mile from where we used to live (when I say “we”, I mean the dogs and me…for some reason, my friends have decided that I have a secret girlfriend about whom I only refer to in the third person), it was only logical that those owls would not follow us.

Apparently I was wrong.

While out with the pups at 3:30 a.m. yesterday in the wonderful rain, strolling in the dark along the path that follows the creek near our home and taking in the amazing scents that rain brings out, two owls began calling to each other in the treetops.  As the three of us moved along, the calls followed us from treetop to treetop.  After several minutes of this, I was able to catch sight of them on their separate perches, silhouetted against the night sky like feathered gods.

In the old neighborhood they’d do that, too…follow us along our morning route.  The pups would scare up quite a few rabbits, voles, and sometimes a fox or two.  The owls were interested in the dogs doing the work for them, and they’d swoop down, dinner served.

One of the owls is quite large.  By that I mean HOOJ.  In flight, its wing span is easily four or five feet across.  Its got that deep in the belly call that large birds have. The other is smaller, but no less impressive.  I know they nest in a tremendous cottonwood tree near our old residence, as I’ve seen them.  I also know that these are the same two owls that used to follow us on our walks around the old neighborhood.  Part intuition, partly because the markings on the larger bird are the same.  There’s a wicked intelligence in its eyes that I swear is hearing my thoughts.

Last night, I dreamt I was one of them, on the hunt, watching from above the man and his two dogs enjoying their morning walk.  It was an amazing feeling of exhiliration and freedom, and has renewed my knowledge that the owl is my totem animal.

Here is some wisdom on the Owl as totem:

Owl sees and knows the truth. Its ability to navigate through the darkest night and bring back nourishment for itself and others is the foundation of this essence. When you have lost your way, owl essence will guide you back to your proper path and wisdom.

Death and rebirth, releasing that which has outlived its benefit and usefulness in your life, actual physical death transition. Clearing a home or land of negative energy. Starting over in a new life or releasing the ties that kept you bound to the old one. Enhances clairvoyance, clairaudience, communication from one’s Master Guides and Totems.

Owls have long been associated with both death and wisdom. In Greek mythology an Owl was sacred to Pallas Athene, the Goddess of wisdom, because it sat on her shoulder and lit up her blind side. Their association with death comes from their peerless ability as hunters of the night, they are able to navigate through the most densely forested areas in order to seek out and capture their prey. Crows will mob Owls when they are near their territory for they know that when night falls, Owl becomes a formidable predator that will return to the Crow’s nesting areas in search of a tasty Crow dinner.

Yet even so, the Owl provides a vital function in keeping bird, rodent and insect populations in check; too many of any species is detrimental to the balance of all. So it is with other things in our own lives, for if we have too many possessions, too many projects, too much of anything, it limits and restricts our ability to move freely through the different areas of our lives and the resu lt is stagnation which leads to the death of joy, happiness and abundance. Owl medicine then becomes crucial in helping us to clear out that which is no longer needed or wanted. What may seem like a death to us in the giving up of something may be for another the birth and manifestation of a dream. We are most likely to lose our way when we become enmeshed in the “shoulds” and “must haves” in life, most of which come not from our inner selves but from the opinions and beliefs of those around us. We can spend so much time listening to others about what we should want (and the commercials on the telly and radio are prime examples of this!) that we ignore what we really want. We find ourselves spiraling downwards into the darkness because we have become so busy thinking we must pursue this or hunt that, most of which provides very little, if any, real nourishment.

Think for a moment what your life would be like if you were able to jettison anything that did not speak to you on a Soul level. What would remain? What then would you “hunt” because it provided for you on all levels? That is what Owl medicine teaches us to do. We find that as we begin to move through the process of what we truly want, clearing the old to make way for the new birth of the Self that is close at hand, we find that other obstacles, limitations, fears and anxieties also begin to “die” in our lives. They no longer have the hooks to remain attached to our energy fields and without our support, they must die.

Owl knows that all apparent manner of death is in fact a liberation into a new life. Something must first be cleared away for anything new to be born. When a person moves, leaves a job or relationship, has a baby, adopts a new animal friend, something in the old way of life had to die for the new to be created. At the time it may seem incredibly painful because we have been taught that death is an ending, not a new beginning, and that what is in the process of being born is always more beneficial than the old. The pain and grief is extended and heightened when we try to hang on to what was because we believe that s the best we would ever have. The unknown can seem dreadfully forbidding, how will we cope, who will be there if we stumble, what if we fail?

Owl can take us beyond those thoughts and fears, for Owl sees far into the future and knows that even after the darkest night there is a new dawn that is approaching. It is as inevitable as babies crying and of buds bursting for th from plants in the spring. From every death something new must emerge for life is ever renewing itself. The Crow that was taken by an Owl last summer may reappear the following spring as a nestling. The Berries that were eaten by a Bear one year may reappear the next as a bird, an ant or a human being. All of life is interconnected and we are all part and parcel of the same fabric that wends its way through the stories of our own life and death. Death then becomes not a loss but a new adventure to be explored with great abandon and joy.

Christian’s Condo Chronicles IV

Owie.

Hand cramps.

Our critique group was cancelled Sunday as everyone was involved in “summer projects” and weren’t focusing so much on writing.  So everyone agreed that it was silly to meet if no one was bringing work to be appraised.

I breathed a sigh of relief, as painting was taking a bit longer than anticipated.  The off-white I chose to cover a lot of the pink was going to require two coats.  So the four hours during which I was going to have been working with my writing partners on our novel projects were spent instead painting.  And painting.  And painting.

Don’t get me wrong.  I’m not complaining.  I absolutely LOVE painting.  Especially when the “before” and “after” is so dramatically different.  There had been a little bit of self-doubt about the colors I’d chosen, but once they were on the wall, I realized that I have a knack for this kind of thing. To never doubt my own intuition and vision.

So on Sunday I painted for a non-stop eight hours.

Hence the hand cramps.

When I could no longer hold a brush or roller, I knew it was time to stop.  I’m not good with holding things between my toes.  Besides, that tickles.  Hand cramps do not.  However, several friends invited me to their house to paint for them since my hand was semi-permanently formed into the proper position for holding a brush or a roller.

The claw! The claw!

In the meantime, the pups are wondering what the hell’s going on, as our living room has turned into a box farm.  Sheesh, I have a lot of books.  The movers are not going to be too thrilled.  *sigh* I suppose that’s why they charge so much, eh?

Christian’s Condo Chronicles III

Let the colors begin!

My friend Joanna thinks I’m a bit daft, though she hasn’t yet said thusly in so many words.  Or maybe she has and I’m too daft to get it.  Why?  Because the other day I sat down and created a Word document that plans out my weekends beginning from this past Saturday until the end of the month.  Not just a “to-do” list though.  This list would be a wet dream for Monica Geller.  (Friends)  It lists, hour by hour, exactly what I feel I want to be doing so that I can get the new condo painted in time for move-in day on the 23rd.  This way I don’t forget anything, which sometimes I do, creating more work for myself.

This past Saturday, good friends Susan and Joanna showed up to help christen the new place with the paint I bought.  We went on a “we hate pink!” crusade, eradicating the sickly, industrial pink that the previous owner had liberally vomited up doused the place with.  The change is dramatic, and wonderful.  At one point, I said to Susan, “It looks like ‘Miami Vice’ painted this place!”  I can’t wait to get some new photos to post, which probably won’t happen until after I’ve officially moved in, hung the art, arranged the furniture, and basically made the place my own.

The cinnamon brown looks simply fabulous, and the white oak contrasts nicely.  We decided to paint the closet doors a deep, dark chocolate color to set them apart from the walls.  This past weekend, we managed to get the dining room, living room, hallway, and bathroom finished.  Next weekend will be the bedroom, laundry room, and closets.  I can do the kitchen whenever, as there’s no furniture to move. Only the Laura Ashley wallpaper border to scrape off. And that’s it!  Then it’s home to pack and ready the old place for the movers’ arrival on the 23rd.

A week ago, the condo association held a BBQ in the quad just outside my new place.  I wavered on whether to attend or not, and ended up going.  I told myself I would only stay an hour or so, then head home.  I met so many amazing people who live there (an opera singer who attends the University of Colorado at Boulder, ten miles away; a song writer and musician who specializes in the Australian didgeridoo; a professional editor…and every single one of them live with dogs!).  Needless to say, I ended up staying for four hours, chatting and getting to know my new neighbors.

On Saturday, Michael (the didgeridoo player) stopped by with his dog, Oko.  And I met Derek, my upstairs neighbors and his two pups, Chance and Burton.  I met Bobo, the Chihuahua across the way as well, and his human, Johnna.

Also, I found out very quickly that the woman who owned the condo before me was not at all liked.  In fact, a few of the neighbors threw a party when she moved out.  Apparently, she complained about everything.

Anyway, it’s great to be appreciated, and to know that such amazing neighbors are just waiting to befriend me and the pups!

Huzzah!

Christian’s Condo Chronicles I

So, you’ve been reading and now know that I took the plunge this past month (actually, the process started back in June, but that’s just splitting hairs) and purchased a home.  We signed the closing papers this past Friday, me with a mix of sheer exuberance and excitement mixed with equal parts trepidation and commitment-phobia.

Friday night, though, I slept very well.  It was good to get the whole legal part of it past me so that I could move on.  I’ve already blogged about how, as soon as I knew I was serious about buying property, began the creative process and built a color palette that I wanted to use to feng shui the place.  (is feng shui a verb?  I guess it is now…)

Yesterday, I awoke with a renewed sense of purpose.  I own the place.  I can do whatever I want (within reason) to it.  I took the dogs so that they could be introduced to their new home before we moved all the furniture in.  They like to absorb all the smells first and basically begin making it their own.

The previous owner, a sweet “little old lady” type (she reminded me of ‘Granny’ from the Tweety & Sylvester cartoons!) took excellent care of the place after her husband passed away (she’s 74).  I believe that all she did all day was clean and garden.

Back Patio

However, it’s funny the things you notice once the furniture and the occupants are all moved out.  For instance, the current color scheme.

Pink.  Many shades of pink, like dusty rose, and pale pink.  I’m not kidding.

Pink!

I’m not a big fan of the color.  At the closing, she asked me if I was going to paint, and it was all I could do to keep from gagging at the thought of leaving the place pink.  I’m more of an earth-tone guy myself.  Pastels are so nineteen-eighty!

Here is the palette I’ll be working with:

Cinnamon Accent

The accent wall, which is an extension of the hallway, will be Cinnamon, a mellow, rich, brown that will set off the White Oak that I plan to use as the base color throughout.  I have several art prints that will contrast this wall very nicely, and which I’ll get into more detail about a bit later.

I’m considering using this color also for the wall in the entryway, which is the Dusty Rose color in the second photo.

White Oak

The kitchen will also be White Oak, but one of the more hidden walls will really blaze with this color:

Emperor's Gold

I wanted to capture the color of autumn, so the accents throughout the living room (including the artwork) will match this vibrant hue, and which I think will be very eye-catching against that warm brown.

On the plain white wall, I will hang this print in a clear frame:

Oranges

For the bedroom, I wanted cool colors, and blue has always been my favorite.  Specifically French Blue.

French Blue

The accent colors for this will be Navy Blue, Sage Green, and Buttercream Yellow.  I already have all the accent colors assembled.  Again, the base color will be White Oak.  The accented blue walls will contrast nicely with the Cinnamon as well, which will be visible through the doorway.

For the bathroom, I’ve chosen one of my favorite shades of green:

Peapod Green

For this space, I will experiment with a little texturing trick I learned from one of my aunts.  In her house, she painted the walls in an eggshell finish, but then added wide vertical stripes (in the identical color) in a flat paint finish.  This gives the illusion of texture, but also gives the walls more height.  I may also use this technique on the Cinnamon wall, but don’t want to overload the senses with too much design.  I want my furniture and accent items to do that. Since I already have a frog theme going in my bath, this color will add nicely to it and make a nice backdrop.

Now you know what I’ll be doing with my weekends for the next several weeks.  We officially move at the end of the month, and I want to have the walls completed before the first box gets transported.