Raven Do Fly Where He Wills

When I started this blog, I was tricked by my own ambitions. I had no idea how hard it would be to post consistently – much less daily. I was pretty good for a couple of weeks, but then it got harder and harder. Over that time of blog blockage, I had continued with my Raven’s Mud Project (see postings here or the links on Trickster's Way in the left column) which seeks to recycle, refurbish, and distribute old computers with Linux and open source software installed. I have a friend and compatriot who has a computer consulting business who has aided, encouraged, and joined with me in this project. Always stretching my capacities, Dale Moore has helped me make this project a livable and enjoyable activity for a retired English teacher.

Quite nicely, all of this lead me back to my Blog, which has morphed from Trickster Comes for a Visit to some sharing with the Raven’s Mud project. This widens the blog to reflect my interests even more – trickster, recycling, open source computing, open source spirituality – trickster, recycling, open source computing, open source spirituality, and the others frailties to which I am heir.

So if the trickster reflection meant anything to you, come on back for more stuff on the widened interest. I don’t think I will ever be the kind of blogger who changes the world, but it will change me and my relation to the world – so that is a good thing. In trickster fashion, learn the limits of appetite, reduce your footprints on the planet, and find the joys of the skies.

Dauber

Primium non nocere

Raven's Mud Story

When the Creator first made the world, it was only water and no land. The only creatures were those of the sky and the water, and one day Sealwoman asked her husband, Raven, to make some land so she could rest with her children, feed them and protect them without continually having to swim.

Raven went to Otter for help and asked him to hold a turtle shell on his belly while Raven dove down to gather up bits of mud to stack on the shell. Finally after at time, when the mound of mud of tall enough, Raven asked Otter to take it to the shallowest part of the waters and place it on the bottom. The mud barely stuck above the water, but Raven kept diving down and bring up bits of mud to add to the mound and eventually he made the land world where all things could grow.

The Creator saw what Raven had done and smiled. The Creator asked Raven to continue making the world; so Raven stole the sun and moon placed them in the heavens, he stole the stars and scattered them across the sky. He scooped out the rivers and piled up the hills and mountains. He flapped his wings and stirred the air to make rain and thunder, and the land world he made grew and prospered. He then brought up pieces of mud and shaped them into the various plants and animals that we know and finally he shaped Firstman and Firstwoman, and as the Creator’s vision had taught him, he gave them the earth to cherish, love, and maintain forever.

Daubers forever!