Sretan Bozic.

A most joyous season to you whether or not you celebrate the tradition of Christmas, Ramedan, Hannekah or other spiritual traditions. It is a time of year when many of us are celebrating something - for me it is honoring the winter solstice. Today the tilt of the earths axis away from the sun reaches its furthest point. But in the short, cold windy days ahead, the earth continues in its swing around the sun and the days get longer.

Whatever your tradition is - or isnt - enjoy this season. It brings us an opportunity to reflect, regroup and rebuild while waiting for the warmth of spring.

TRAIN TO SARAJEVO ...

The train trip to Sarajevo is a quietly beautiful one.The train is utilitarian but the views captivate the imagination, and the dark, grey scenes with mist settling around the valleys and lakes offer mystery and richness to inspire the most reluctant writer.














between long dark tunnels,the scenes change from grey misty vistas to high risky plateaus in mountain tops...









...but very quickly the scenery and weather changes as we leave herceogovina, eventually emerging into lush pastoral hills ... land that seems ageless with people doing what they have done for centuries here; and the sun reflecting off the wet grasslands and fence posts through the mist adds the eloquent mystery that shrouds the Balkans...




Old graveyard markers reflect the sun ....







New graveyard markers do the same... these are all dated 92 and 93.









Approaching the centar of Sarajevo...and the remarkable hills that surround it.









cheerfully snuggling houses everywhere...









and its almost time to disembark into the crowded streets.

What IS Behind the cross?

On a quiet November day, my colleague and I walked up the backside of Hum to the Cross that watches over Mostar.

















Leaving the busy Bosnian roads behind...we see a side of the mountain usually hidden from view.





















But as the urban thrash became less part of the landscape, we realized you are never really alone! The goat in the middle came out to challenge us... and we thought land mines were our only problem!















There were the usual cross markers along the road to show us the safe way ...
















... other markers to show the treacherous way...














.. a beautiful sky to add a surreal touch to the journey.










...until the cross comes into view!











but we decide to continue further because there are a few extra metres to the top.










...but all we find is a large pit, more crosses and head stones.

















So now we are behind the cross..


















...and under it.




Antonietta stays to take pictures and I follow a road that leads to the backside of Hum....





I tread carefully ....




These land mine signs fortify the need for treading with care on this back road and unexploded mines can be washed down with the heavy rains. This hilltop with the bunker in the background, provided a steep cliff for bombs, grenades and other weaponry to be hurled down onto the Blv. below the front line. (In 2004, I lived directly under this bunker)

















Here you can see two more bunkers. The road goes further, but my curiosity will have to wait for another day - my boots arent made for walking.










Amazing luck! A civilian plane bound from Zagreb beads in on a landing at the Mostar airport. It is rare to see a civilian plane in this area because the air space over Mostar is heavily regulated by NATO.







We saved the spectular view for last.













For a few moments, contemplation comes easily because we are alone at the top of this particular world. The huge price the Balkan citizens pay for this 'innocent' unexploited playground, is having not having a society that understands the concept of service to others as well as themselves. I bless this and curse it at times, but for now - no cursing. The scene is sublime and without neon signs to spell everything out - or noise to clutter my senses - the imagination can play...or rest, as it needs. Sushi, hamburgers and fries belong to another time and place. And for now, a spiritual stake - albeit a decidely catholic one - claims the purpose of this hilltop, as it did 11 years ago when armies with terrifying weaponry ruled Mostar.




Our walk was not interrupted by another soul until we started down in the late afternoon. Surprisingly two women wandered up as though they were going shopping - absorbed in their conversation and barely noticing the vista around them. Coming back to traffic, coffee bars and a different Mostar than the one we left in the sunny morning light - we review the dynamic day over a well deserved dinner and a glass of wine!

TAPESTRY 2005 -

TAPESTRY 2005 - a year very different from 2004. I had thought that the incredible brilliance of my first year in Mostar overshadowed anything that could follow in 2005. I was so wrong. The year began with a snowball fight in a Mostar parking lot - a curious forshadowing for an unusal year. And it was - The pictures from TAPESTRY - beginning with MOSTAR reveal a rich texture of many experiences in many new places that I touched down in - Sweden, Denmark, Budapest, Dorset, Devon, Cornwall, Belgrade - and of course the forever stunning Adriatic Coast in Istria! Please travel with me to some of these places beginning with MOSTAR ..... and feel the fabric of these images.

Stari Grad in January 2005-my first day back from Christmas break in Canada.  A rare snowfall made everything feel different. 

Skiing at Bjelenica in February with Juliane

Phil's eye for lighting captures moods and textures of Mostar...

T E X T U R E S…..

At night the old town picks up a charm and ambience that leave you feeling you are in a fairytale. 

Lunch  at the source of the river Buna

Old Town Market area

It was the summer of 2005 and Phil and Lei joined me for their first adventure in the Balkans. 

Selected Poetry from THE DARKNESS OF DREAM TIME

2005 was a mix of intensity, movement, brilliance and darkness. Thank goodness for pictures, because in looking back through them, I realize how much wonder is in my life and how little I have to worry about! Photographs usually highlight the joyful and the reflective moments, but in the lulls or turbulent periods, I often turn to poetry. So here are three poems - two were written in 2005: And for you curious types - no - there is no one person in any of the poems. I used my creative dream 'muses' and other experiences to reflect and symplify the complexity of it all.

Be Still and listen...

Be still and listen--it beats within. . . .

The embrace of love, two hands that meet;

a kiss between two strands of hair;

the wind upon a lonely face. . . .

So surely beats the rhythm

in the chaos of senseless sound

that the God in every man might hear

the heartbeat of THis child. . . .

Can fear distort a rhythm so pure

Or deeds deafen heart's inner ear?

Could truth be robbed for lifeless death?

And the Goddess soul cries out in pain

for withered petals after lusty blooms

and passion born from fragile guise;

remembering the pulse of love

lost in a whirlpool of forgotten dreams.

Despair is the voice for a world lost

beneath the whisper of Her breath.

And still we do not hear--so cannot know

the heartbeat of Her soul.

Copyright ©2002 Alpha Mae Woodward

************

In The Darkness of Dream Time

..for my dream muses Black Cat and Bunny.

When I wake in the night

with you beside me

dreaming in your quiet lullaby breath,

the soul of night time rests between us.

We were together in your dream

before I left to watch you now,

and part of me is with you still,

because I know you feel me there...

And when in the day you turn your mind to mine,

you touch me as deeply

as when your quiet dream voice

steals into my soul.

My heart cannot now rest in empty light.

Its conquest was in the dark,

and it beats for you in the daylight hours

waiting for another dreamtime.

Copyright ©2005 Alpha Woodward

***************

Just For Once.

Just for once my heart does not beat

for only you.

Just for once my mind does not think.

It rests from you.

Just for once the memories fade

and I do not remember you.

Just for once you do not live.

There is no you.

It must be the souless sound of the wind

that breaks my heart in two.

Just for once my will is firm

You cannot enter now.

Just for once I do not feel.

It is not your touch upon my brow.

Just for once I do not listen

It is not your voice I hear.

Just for once I do not see

It is not you that is standing there.

It must be the souless sound of the wind

that breaks my heart in two.

Alpha Mae Woodward

Copyright ©2006 Alpha Mae Woodward

Planes, Trains, Automobiles...and a lost bus.

Although there was a great deal of movement, and intense focus in this very short period it was really about the people that I am fortunate to have in my life at this time, and the treasured moments of this very focused trip. I hope you get a sense of the many special moments amidst a furious schedule. This is the Toronto CN tower taken from the shuttle bus on the way home! But let us begin at the beginning....











CHISWICK, LONDON .... 1st after leaving the Balkans


Ruth Waterman is a lovely, vibrant woman and a brilliant violinist who's home I stayed in while passing through London. Her playing captures my heart even with its dazzling uncomplicated virtuousity ... I highly recommend her CDs - especially the Bach Sonatas for Violin and Keyboard (Volumes 1 - 4)!













Part of Ruth's warm hospitality - a lovely walk through this park, a home cooked dinner and a chance to stumble around on her grand piano!













...love at first sight! He had soul - what can I say! ..and so he is a keeper - one of my special people and stuff.














A quiet Sunday morning.... and a classic english bridge complete with young lovers .... yup, they are there - we passed them in their own world... totally unaware of us.














what a beautiful time to visit England. Chiswick is exceedingly lovely...reminds me of a similar picture I took in Blagaj two months ago. (see emerging from the chrysalis of winter)














Native american indians had a sense of spirituality that 'soul' - or 'spirit' existed in everything and, so - must be honoured. In the busy travel of this week, Ruth's back yard provided such 'spirit' - and the moments to appreciate it.














Later that same day, I was MONTREAL, QUEBEC




Had to have the flags.... fleur de lis, maple leaf and the even the british one...


















Odd... i started to see 'spirit' everywhere....




















It was happy synchronicity that my itinerary brought me to Montreal and Tiffany who volunteered for us in Mostar last year. Tiffany helped me spend a lot of money! You can see she is pretty focused about anything she sets her mind to... which is why I ended up broke, but with GREAT sandals... and a GREAT dress... and....
















WINDSOR, ONTARIO



Early the next morning, after intense shopping and talking and dining with Tiffany in Montreal, I caught a train et voila - 8 hours later I was in WINDSOR, ONTARIO!! This was my ultimate destination where, together with my former colleague Brian Harris, I would present our work to the national conference for music therapy.



That would be Detroit as seen from the Canadian perspective - and once again a river!









Brian Harris, my colleague from Mostar - and I on our first night in Windsor - at the speakers reception. I was very anxious about our presentation the next day, but I dont think it is showing.















While planning our presentation, Brian grabbed my camera and spontaneously took this shot of me - and since he is now a professional photographer, I thought ... well, maybe it might be worth something.
















Ellen Lindau, another Canadian music therapist who had worked in Mostar prior to both Brian and I came to our presentation. So it was great to have this connection - the three of us. And yes, our presentation went very well - to a full room of interested people.











TORONTO, ONTARIO




- which is a city I was surprised to be impressed with. Old and new mix together comfortably and artfully. Everything is intentional in this city - and it shows that mankind's need for aesthetic sensitiblities were part of that. I have never experienced 'space' and 'spirit' in the overall architecture of the business centre of a large city.
















MOSTAR - again (after arriving in London one day after my announced arrival time... resulting in anxious messages around the globe that I was lost!... but there is more...)



This most amazing journey ended in an extraordinary way - a routine bus trip from Dubrovnik to Mostar ended up in a medium-high adventure through unknown territory, lost luggage - a private small auto packed with 3 confused bus drivers, (none of whom spoke english) - me and another traveller - and a curious rendezvous on the roadside with a bus that had our luggage - and my meeting with Meral Abay, an attorney from Istanbul who ended up being an overnight guest in my home... and another story...