I’m making this brief post primarily as a placeholder for the photographs I took yesterday of the collection of Caddo pottery at Henderson State College in Arkadelphia, AR. The collection of artifacts, donated by the Hodges family to the school, is impressive and well worth a day trip. It contains powerful energies. Look to the left as you enter the campus and you will see the Caddo Center, now the admissions and financial aid offices. Parking is on the right. A bonus in 97 degree heat and thick humidity was excellent air conditioning. I felt called to come see the pottery, because the incised patterns for me are echoes of phase shifts, topology, knots, labyrinths, and physics. Many of the ornamental pieces were used as burial objects. The Caddo people, who also lived in Oklahoma, east Texas, and Louisiana were a mound building people. Settlements of affiliated tribes included 250,000 people before the arrival of the conquistadors. Read more about them here and here.
The feature photo is a double rainbow over my house. After seeing the pottery, friends and I took a small hike out to the Hernando DeSoto Bluff overlooking the Ouchaita River (the one that was dammed to create multiple lakes), and had a lovely picnic in the log pavilion there. Highly recommended. After, we swum at the Caddo Bend Beach on DeGray Lake. A bonus is that state parks in Arkansas are free for day use. We saw migratory sandpipers, button bush, mallow, and ate popcorn in the shade of the pine trees. Several turtles eyed us up from the distance, but no nibbles. Yay. Dropped in at a rural health food store on the way home, just in time for drenching evening rains, which my garden loved.
I am so grateful. I am so grateful. I am so grateful for landing here in this special place with so many fascinating stories and so many deep, caring people.
If you missed my July 4 update on youtube. You can watch it below – a manageable 40 minutes.
Nice to see you in my inbox again, Alison. Yes, I, too am so grateful in my own life,
for my own reasons. It appears Arkansas is a good fit for where you have arrived in
your life.
That portion of humanity which is awakening perhaps sees a little better the
underlying fabric which is so heavily over layered by illusion. ‘Through the glass,
darkly’… I find it a rare treat when I occasionally stumble across little ‘artesian
wells’ of ideas, bubbling up amidst the general, mind numbing clamor. I have
much gratitude for these sources, which help me rethink and reframe what I
seem to be experiencing around me- and this gratitude extends to you as well,
for the very interesting space you were led to explore in- and share. I am much
the better for it all.
A personal decision I was inevitably led to was to make a conscious effort to
begin anew, networking locally with others ‘of my tribe’. Even here in my rather
somnolent, blue environs, I have been able to find many little sparks, signs of life…
For this I am most grateful indeed, ‘my cup overfloweth’. My hand was forced by
the times I inhabit.
David in Maryland
I am glad you have found a way into co-creation with the Marylanders. It is a participatory universe and a glorious opportunity once we can come to grips with it. Thanks for your thoughtful comment. It is appreciated.
Thank you for sharing. Love the Caddo pottery!
So happy you’ve found a new town that fills your heart with friendship and curious adventures, Alison!
I too have landed in a new home in Whitefish, Montana with a new community of truly wonderful people and truly stunning scenery.
I likewise have amazing rainbow photos that fill the sky!
I feel humbled and blessed to wake up every morning to what I would consider “Heaven on Earth”!
Cheers to your new life!!!