Returning Home: Part VI – Silver and Gold at the Magic Gardens

Here is the latest chapter in my Returning Home series, where I explore the portals towards self-realization. I am reposting this on a Pisces day with a Scorpio moon. While editing, I noticed that this excursion to the Magic Gardens occurred on a Scorpio day with a Pisces moon. Ahh, my friend synchronicity never fails to quicken a heartbeat or prompt a smile… I took me some time to realize that South Street contains some powerful energetic gateways. It certainly did not hurt that this recent visit was spent with a dear childhood friend.

Make New Friends, But Keep the Old, One is Silver and the Other’s Gold ..

Anyone remember this Girl Scout song about friendship? Apparently Hillary Clinton did when she was recently interviewed about surrounding herself with old friends throughout her life. She goes on to explain that she has made many new friends and then referenced the song. She expressed her fondness for longtime pals, including a friend she made in the 6th grade. I was a girl scout and also remembered the song. Its mention was timely since I would be meeting up shortly with my friend from 8th grade, Arlene. I think it is okay with her that I use her first name here. If not, this will encourage her to learn how to leave a comment here. ( She does read my blog, which makes me smile).

We got together yesterday and it is fall at its finest. The leaves are now close to peaking and I savored their beauty on my drive back and forth from my home to South Street. What a rare day it was with a clear blue sky, cool weather, and endless sunshine. The focus of our trip was the Magic Gardens. We both benefited from some magic in our day.

Yesterday was that rare astro combo I am so fond of: Scorpio Sun, Pisces Moon. Since it was a void of course moon to boot, the day was emotional, creative, free-flowing, and quite mystical. I had not been to the Magic Gardens before, but was eager to visit. I had read about the gardens years ago and was transfixed by its sparkly goodness. It is so much better in person, I can assure you. I took plenty of pictures, but I urge you to see it for yourself.

The experience was surreal as we lost ourselves in the mystery of the exhibit space, climbing steps up and down and slowly exploring the nuances of beatific wonder, tiny and huge, whimsical and deliberate.  Stained glass, mosaics, paintings on tiles, curious word puzzles, intuitive use of space, the value of  “disposable ” items.

 There are no limits here. 

Our time together was precious as I introduced her to some of my favorite haunts that still remain, like the amazing South Street Souvlaki. We had a delicious meal and created new memories to accompany the old ones. According to their website, the restaurant has been around since 1977. We have been friends even before then !

Sharing great food and experiencing fabulous art is especially awesome when it is with someone who loves the same things with equal passion. It is so refreshing and rare to find someone who understands my taste for both the old and the quirky and finds joy where I dwell ( books, travel, creativity, ethnic food, music, etc.)

We get each other and leave judgments behind. Compromise is not really compromise and laughter comes so easily.These Magic Gardens and this stretch of South Street did morph into another power place for me, a mystical portal where the light is shimmering and all is well.Perhaps this has always been the case. I am not certain.  What I do know is that we all can benefit from following our dreams and inklings, no matter how fragile or subtle they appear to be. The interplay between living and blogging was evident as I scrambled to take pictures and delete old images to free up memory to capture something new.

I wonder: aren’t we always scrambling to stay in the present and deciding which thoughts to erase in exchange for something sparkling with new life?

http://www.phillymagicgardens.org/

I relish the melding of old and new and blog about this often. I dig the chance to explore new places with an old friend. I also delight that my old friend is engaged with my newer ones through this blog. The added bonus of my “astro-twin” commenting on my Magic Gardens FB post after I mentioned her to Arlene earlier in the day seemed Divinely guided. She is a talented artist that uses recycled items in her work.

For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.

This biblical quote is the theme of the day. While my health has been troubling and I did not even think I could visit my friend, grace prevailed and a heartfelt reunion happened. What I take from the quote is that all is restored when one is in proper relationship to oneself and with others. Maybe the magic garden is within and all we have to do is excavate it with love and trust in its existence. There lies both the silver and the gold.