Adventures of the Blue-eyed Bear

The Blue-eyed Bear made a trip to Delphi to consult the Oracle about what is the best strategy for living in 2022. Now the Oracle is known to be rather enigmatic with her prophecies. The Bear interpreted what she said as “Brace-up, take your medicine, do your best, be kind, and know thy self.” Good advice at anytime.

December is one of the times during the year when we humans and Bears remember and celebrate that we are part of something greater than ourselves. No matter what you believe or don’t believe look up at the stars and sing!!!!!

The Blue-eyed Bear had a recent encounter with Badger; no worries they’er friends. Bear found that Badger, or Brock as the Celtic people called her, can be a determined traveler and has great love for her family. Bear wishes Brock peace and a safe return to her home burrow soon. See archive Oct 2010 for initial meeting.

Bear Food for Thought

What is the meaning of the protruding tongue? It is common in the Native Tlingit style of bear imagery. Below is the blue-eyed bear version of the Native bear as portrayed by Alaskan artist Julie Thompson.

There are many cultural meanings to the protruding tongue from just plain silliness to the rude or erotic in western culture. For the Maori People of New Zealand the gesture reflects strength and ferocity as part of their war chant. In Tibet it functions as a greeting and a sign of respect. The gesture is definitely an attention grabbing nonverbal display. A bear’s open maw can be intimidating but with no teeth showing the Bear suggests it can be a gesture of imparting wisdom.

Last Night While I Was Sleeping. A Poem by Antonio Machado (translated by Willis Barnstone and Coleman Barks). Illustrated by the Blue-eyed Bear as perspective on her spiritual journey.

Last night while I was sleeping
I dreamt -blessed illusion-
a fountain flowed inside my heart.
Water, tell me by what hidden channel you came to me
with a spring of new life
I never drank?

Last night while I was sleeping
I dreamt -blessed illusion-
I had a beehive inside my heart,
and from my old failures
the golden bees
were contriving white combs 
and sweet honey.

Last night while I was sleeping
I dreamt -blessed illusion-
a fiery sun glowed inside my heart.
It was fire, giving off heat
from a red hearth.
It was the sun throwing out light
and made me weep.

Last night while I was sleeping
I dreamed -blessed illusion-
that it was God I held
inside my heart.