Carol A. Hand
Venus glowing in the western sky
the only light visible as clouds pass by
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***
Known as Ikwe-Anang – “Women’s Star”
rising in the east just before dawn
and lighting the west just after sunset
in a nine-month repeating cycle
the gestation time for human life-givers (1)
reminding me of the Ojiwe Midewewin code
“Honour women;
in honouring women, you honour the gift
of life and love” (2)
***
***
Sources Cited:
(1) Annette S. Lee, William Wilson, Jeffrey Tibbetts, and Carl Gawboy (2014), Ojibwe Sky Star Map Constellation Guide: An Introduction to Ojibwe Star Knowledge. North Rocks, CA: Lightning Source: Ingram Spark.
(2) Basil Johnston (1990), Ojibway Heritage. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press, p. 93.
Another resource link:
http://linearpopulationmodel.blogspot.com/2016/04/ojibwe-star-map-constellation-guide.html
***
Voices from the Margins 
Beautiful, Carol…
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Thank you for your kindness, Bette. ❤
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Wonderful post. I really liked your photos of Venus. Mars is also very bright right now. I am going to try to find a copy of Ojibwe Sky Star Map Constellation Guide: An Introduction to Ojibwe Star Knowledge. Thank you for posting. Bob
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Thank you for your kind words, Bob. When I saw the bright light shining, I thought it was a plane at first. The airport is just over the ridge. But the light didn’t move. I couldn’t figure out what it was no matter how much I squinted or repositioned my glasses. I ran inside and grabbed my iphone, hoping I could magnify the light if I looked through the camera lens. I snapped a few photos while I was there and then walked down the alley in hopes I could see the light more clearly. But it was gone, hidden by clouds! Exploring the mystery light online, I discovered a wonderful resource for local night sky news.
(The photos reminded me of impressionist paintings, the best my skill-level and equipment can do. 🙂 But I love the light centered between tree branches in a space that looks like a profiled face looking upward.)
Please let me know if you need help finding the book. I also have another you might like – “Talking Sky: Ojibwe Constellations as a Reflection of Life on the Land,” by Carl Gawboy and Ron Morton (2014). Duluth, MN: Rockflower Press.
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Thank you Carol for your reply. I think I will buy the book online. It is doubtful I will be able to find it in a bookstore (my preferred way of buying books).
Your photo does look like one of the impressionist painting. I am glad you just had to squint and adjust your glasses instead of taking a shot of absinthe. 🙂
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“Honour women; / in honouring women, you honour the gift / of life and love”
~ What a different world that would be!
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Thank you for your thoughtful comments, Rosaliene – So true! ❤
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brightly i am now
feeling feeling
all women
are stars 🙂
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Ah, David, such a lovely comment. Thank you. ❤
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Though I possess some very unorthodox information regarding the existence of misogyny on planet earth, I still fail to comprehend why anyone, but particularly the male of the species, would not automatically honour a woman, all women. Do women not hold up half the sky, as the saying goes? Is there a single man on this world who does not have a mother and likely also a sister, a female friend, female lover, female child? How can a man, any man, not be aware of his connection to womanhood? That he owes his very life to the woman? *I will never “get it” and perhaps I do not want to “get it” either.* Your pictures of Venus are powerfully evocative.
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Ah, Sha’Tara. Thank you for your powerful comments. I share your amazement that men fail to at least acknowledge and honor the women who gave them life! (And thank you also for your lovely comment about the photos. ❤ )
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Beautiful poem! Deep words, the closing line is my favorite.
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Thank you so much for your lovely comments, Sana. ❤
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We must encourage a return to that code, a wonderful call out Carol
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Thank you so much for your thoughtful comments, Paul. I agree that there is much wisdom in honoring those who give life. ❤
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Yes, soemhow we must continue to influence that end in all our creative ways. Thanks Carol.
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Very nice dear Carol❤️
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Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Laleh. ❤
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My pleasure ❤️
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