Lesley Magwood Fraser TOTALLY GETS ME!

[Thom Courcelle]

Lesley sent me some mail art that incorporated some native phrases I shared with her from the Algonquian language--the native tribes that my family is affiliated with back east (New England, United States). WOW...I can't tell you how touching this is to me paired up with your AMAZING portrait studies, Lesley!  THANK YOU!!

Unfortunately, I can't type the original Algonquian here, because there are characters that don't exist in modern typset. Closest I can get is: sa'ah naagháii bikh'eh hózh´q.  It also doesn't translate directly, but can be variously interpreted as: 

"In old age, walking the trail of beauty."

or "According to the ideal may restoration be achieved."

or "According to age may it be perfect."

I like this phrase because it advises and states a Zen-kind of acceptance of the circle of life and our path within it. There is no "fighting against," or disillusionment, or struggle against what is the natural road of right relationship [to every other thing]. Everything is in its natural order and as it should be--as it is.  We are all beautiful in exactly the spot where we exist.

This philosophy informs another native saying--how we greet one another: "Thank you for being."

 

Lesley--Thank you for exploring this phrase through your art and finding meaning in it, and then sharing it with me! And thank you for being.

[Yvonne Neldel]

Wow! Great!!!

[Katerina Nikoltsou (MomKat)]

It is "perfect"! Amazing art by Lesley, and so perfect for the Algonquian phrase, Thom! "In old age, walking the trail of beauty"....will have that in mind each morning as I walk the seaside road. Thanks for sharing!

[Nancy Bell Scott]

This is lovely.