A common space for harmonic peacemakers

In Honor of the Virgen of Guadalupe

Poem for Lupe Lin Marie deVincent December 12, 2011

Madre de las estrellas
it was you, only you, solo tu
on the mountaintop
your cloak of stars enfolding the earth
diamond starlight cascading softly
como las lagrimas slipping to the ground
until roses sprang up and bloomed
ayer, hoy, esta noche, manana, para siempre
gracias por la luz y las flores

WHAT IF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE APPEARED TODAY, ON MISSION STREET IN SAN FRANCISCO, TO A TEEN AGE GIRL, WHAT WOULD LA VIRGEN SAY?

“I AM THE ONE AND ONLY GLIMMERING GIRL, AND A VIRGIN TOO. CHECK IT OUT.”

Yeah sure. You’re not real.

“LISTEN UP, YOUNG LADY, I WANT YOU TO GO TO THE MAYOR AND TELL HIM TO BUILD A MANSION FOR THE HOMELESS, NOT JUST A SHELTER, A BEAUTIFUL HOME FOR THOSE WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHO ARE LIVING ON THE STREET. FOR THOSE MEN WHO LOST THEIR SOULS IN VIET NAM, FOR ALL THE POOR WHO HAVE SLIPPED BETWEEN THE CRACKS.

AND I WANT YOU TO GO TO SACRAMENTO & TELL THE GOVERNOR TO RAISE A SHRINE TO PEACE & LOVE. THAT’S RIGHT, YOU GO GIRL, GET ON THE BUS WITH YOUR FRIENDS & GO SEE THE MAN, CUZ HE IS STILL IN CHARGE, STILL IGNORING THE HEALTH OF HIS PEOPLE. JUST DO IT.”

WHAT IF YOU WERE THAT TEENAGE GIRL’S MOTHER?
WOULD YOU LISTEN? WOULD YOU BELIEVE?
IF YOUR DAUGHTER SAID, “SHE WAS SHIMMERING WITH ALL THIS GOLD LIGHT!”
WOULD YOU ASK, ‘WHAT ? ARE YOU ON SOME ECSTACY DRUG?”

MAYBE, THE VIRGIN WOULD PUT HER HAND OUT, THE WAY SHE DID TO JUAN DIEGO, HE WAS IN A HURRY TOO, HIS UNCLE WAS SICK & MAYBE EVEN DYING, YET SHE GAVE HIM THE TASK OF GOING TO THE BISHOP & TELLING HIM TO BUILD A CHURCH ON THAT MOUNTAIN TOP.

JUAN DIDN'T WANT TO DO THAT. HE KNEW THE BISHOP WAS GONNA BE PISSED, AND HE WAS. THREE TIMES JUAN SAW THE VISION. THE THIRD TIME THE VIRGIN GAVE HIM ROSES TO CARRY IN HIS CLOAK AS PROOF OF HER APPEARANCE. THE BISHOP FINALLY AGREED.

MAYBE If SHE APPEARED TONIGHT SHE’D ASK EACH ONE OF US TO BELIEVE – IN MIRACLES? YEAH, SURE, THOSE SURREAL SHIFTS THAT BLOW OUR MINDS. BUT THE MIRACULOUS HAS TO BE FOLLOWED BY THE MUNDANE. GOING RIGHT UP TO THE BULLY’S – TO THE PERPETRATORS OF CONQUEST & TYRANNY, TO GET THEM TO LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE OF LOVE.

AT THE SECOND APPEARANCE OUR LADY SAID TO JUAN DIEGO:
“KNOW WELL IN YOUR HEART THAT THERE ARE NOT A FEW OF MY SERVANTS AND MESSENGERS TO WHOM I COULD GIVE THE MANDATE OF TAKING MY THOUGHT AND MY WORD SO THAT MY WILL MAY BE ACCOMPLISHED. BUT IT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY THAT YOU PERSONALLY GO AND SPEAK ABOUT THIS, AND THAT PRECISELY THROUGH YOUR MEDIATION AND HELP, MY WISH AND MY DESIRE BE REALIZED.” (VERSE 42)

TAKE YOUR SHOES OFF, YOU’RE STANDING ON HOLY GROUND.

THE EARTH IS OUR MOTHER, WE MUST TAKE CARE OF HER, THE EARTH IS OUR MOTHER, WE MUST TAKE CARE OF HER

WHEN JUAN DIEGO SAW THE VIRGIN HE FELL TO HIS KNEES IN ASTONISHMENT. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU FELL TO YOUR KNEES IN ASTONISHMENT??
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU KNELT ON THE GROUND?
MAYBE TO PLANT A SEED,
TO DIG IN THE DIRT,
TO MEET YOUR CHILD’S EYES,

MAYBE YOU FELL, TRIPPED OVER A STONE –
DAMN! YOU SAID, I DON’T LIKE TO FALL.
BUT MAYBE, WHILE YOU WERE DOWN THERE
YOU SAW SOMETHING YOU’D NEVER SEEN BEFORE!

ROSE PETALS IN THE SNOW.
A FOOTPRINT OF A MOUNTAIN LION.
AN OWL FEATHER

TAKE YOUR SHOES OFF, YOU’RE STANDING ON SACRED GROUND.

THE EARTH IS OUR MOTHER, WE MUST TAKE CARE OF HER.

WHAT IF WE PRAYED – WITH OUR FEET!

OUR HANDS REACH UP TO THE STARS - TO THE SKY GODS,
& THEY GIVE US LIGHT, & THAT IS GOOD.
BUT OUR FEET,
THEY FEEL THE EARTH.
FEEL HOW DELICIOUS & RICH SHE IS
THE EARTH IS HOLY.

THAT WHICH YOU DO UNTO THE SMALLEST OF MY CREATURES, YOU DO UNTO ME.

THE VIRGIN OF GUADALUPE IS HERE NOW,
IN THE WIND,
IN OUR BREATH,
BREATHE HER IN!

BREATHE IN THE SCENT OF ROSES IN WINTER

JUAN DIEGO IS HERE, HE IS YOU AND ME
WE ARE THE PRIVILEGED ANCESTORS
AFTER CENTURIES OF WAR, PLAGUE, DROUGHT, FAMINE
STILL GOING ON TODAY
ESTA NOCHE

LA VIRGEN MORENA, THE DARK VIRGIN, MOTHER OF THE GOD OF GREAT TRUTH, THE ONE THROUGH WHOM WE LIVE, THE ONE WHO COMES FROM THE REGION OF LIGHT, THE FIRE EAGLE.

HOW CAN WE CARRY HER MESSAGE TODAY?
TAKE YOUR SHOES OFF, YOU ARE STANDING ON SACRED GROUND

THE EARTH IS OUR MOTHER, WE MUST TAKE CARE OF HER