Page 146 - Dark Matter Women Witnessing

When I am with animals I can feel their essence as

sentient beings whose unique purpose deserves to

be considered. It is a deep connection, both visceral

and soulful. I have been calling animals kin for many

years and actually feel a greater affinity with them

than with humans. I don’t understand the inherent

coldness and cruelty I see in people and feel safer

surrounded by my animal companions and art.

There are times I feel a parallel existence. My life

carries on with the quotidian – working in my studio,

feeding my dogs, running errands, reading, going to
Image: Into the Mystic.
She walks into the sunset with

her leopard companion, living

each day to its fullest.
the kitchen

for food.

The predictable. The usual. Simultaneously,

I can feel the dry heat of the savannah

where my kin, the elephants, are traveling to

the next water or food source. I can hear the

pounding of their feet, the earth trembling

from their weight. Surrounding them are

human predators who will take their lives for

the ivory of their tusks, murdering their

young or leaving them to die of broken

hearts. They are not safe, these big

majestic creatures. There is so much pain

and sadness in this reality. I know all

Image: The Art of Living a Fine Mingling of elephants carry this betrayal with them. I

Letting Go and Holding On.
wonder how long it will take the collective to
We fear to let go too soon or to hold on for too

long... the choice between the two is one of the rid itself of the circus. This is just one
great lessons of life. Our Lady of Guadalupe,

queen among queens, enfolds us with maternal
protection as we choose.