For much of my life I have moved forward along a path I thought I was supposed to be on, with little mindfulness toward my intention. I chose careers, relationships, and ultimately a lifestyle that resulted in a general feeling of discontent.
Arent you excited? someone would invariably ask when I was in the midst of one of those big milestone events were told were supposed to be excited about - finishing college, getting a new car, planning a wedding..
Of course, Id reply, while wondering what was wrong with me that prevented me from conjuring up the least bit of internal enthusiasm.
Ive been on a new path the last couple of years, becoming a professional, albeit struggling, musician and eschewing the conventional expectations I put on myself. That discontented feeling has dissipated as Ive started living more intentionally.
The tattoo on my back is a reflection of that intention. The Zia sun symbol is the state symbol of New Mexico, where I grew up. Originally, thats why I chose it...I wanted a cool tattoo that meant something, and that symbol showed my affinity with the place I spent most of my life. The scent of pinon, the turquoise jewelry sold on the sidewalks of older parts of town, the luminarias at Christmastime, the view of the Sandia mountains out the living room window, the taste of green chile on my lips...all intrinsic parts of my upbringing in the Land of Enchantment. As I did some research, though, the meaning of the symbol became so much more rich.
The Zia sun symbol is an ancient symbol of the Zia Pueblo, and it reflects their philosophy that everything in the universe exists in basic harmony. Four is the sacred number of the Zia, and the sun symbol consists of four straight lines radiating from four points around a circle. The sacred number is manifest in the four directions of the earth, the four seasons, the cycle of the day (sunrise, noon, evening, night) and in life (childhood, youth, adulthood, old age). The circle binds everything together; a circle of life, without a beginning or end. The Zia also believe in four sacred obligations of the individual; to develop a strong body, a clear mind, a pure spirit, and a devotion to the welfare of others.
To me, this just makes sense. When my breath is taken away by the sky at sunrise or twilight, when my van and dogs and I head out on a journey in one of the four directions, when the wet winter days seem like they will go on forever, when my niece is born or my friend finds out she is dying, when someone tells me a song I penned has touched their soul...the Zia sun symbol is a framework to help me make sense of it all.
Arent you excited? someone would invariably ask when I was in the midst of one of those big milestone events were told were supposed to be excited about - finishing college, getting a new car, planning a wedding..
Of course, Id reply, while wondering what was wrong with me that prevented me from conjuring up the least bit of internal enthusiasm.
Ive been on a new path the last couple of years, becoming a professional, albeit struggling, musician and eschewing the conventional expectations I put on myself. That discontented feeling has dissipated as Ive started living more intentionally.
The tattoo on my back is a reflection of that intention. The Zia sun symbol is the state symbol of New Mexico, where I grew up. Originally, thats why I chose it...I wanted a cool tattoo that meant something, and that symbol showed my affinity with the place I spent most of my life. The scent of pinon, the turquoise jewelry sold on the sidewalks of older parts of town, the luminarias at Christmastime, the view of the Sandia mountains out the living room window, the taste of green chile on my lips...all intrinsic parts of my upbringing in the Land of Enchantment. As I did some research, though, the meaning of the symbol became so much more rich.
The Zia sun symbol is an ancient symbol of the Zia Pueblo, and it reflects their philosophy that everything in the universe exists in basic harmony. Four is the sacred number of the Zia, and the sun symbol consists of four straight lines radiating from four points around a circle. The sacred number is manifest in the four directions of the earth, the four seasons, the cycle of the day (sunrise, noon, evening, night) and in life (childhood, youth, adulthood, old age). The circle binds everything together; a circle of life, without a beginning or end. The Zia also believe in four sacred obligations of the individual; to develop a strong body, a clear mind, a pure spirit, and a devotion to the welfare of others.
To me, this just makes sense. When my breath is taken away by the sky at sunrise or twilight, when my van and dogs and I head out on a journey in one of the four directions, when the wet winter days seem like they will go on forever, when my niece is born or my friend finds out she is dying, when someone tells me a song I penned has touched their soul...the Zia sun symbol is a framework to help me make sense of it all.
posted by Kate Mann at 6:49 PM
4 Comments:
Its so easy for us people to become lost in our day to day lives. Most of us just seem to rush forward (or do I mean backward) in our mundane lives and work. I am reminded again, tonight as I watch your show, that the spirit of music and expression, rhythm, communication, each other, This is what we need. It means everything. I can't wait for you to guide me (us) on another journey.
Bring us together. Thanks Rich 6v6
What a wonderful story--and it is so very clearly echoed in your music.
I'm also on a path of intentionality, and I recognized it in you immediately. It's a powerful way to live, free and real. I wouldn't do it any other way. :)
Everything intense that happens to me turns into a song. They are all stored in my head, since 1973. I am recently trying to record them just like I hear them in my memory---to share them with the world. I only started this project on Oct. 4! I have been contacting musicians only since a few days ago. Musicians are "my" people, who understand me.
miss ya kate! best of luck!
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