Are we up for it?

Siblings 

Oil On Canvas 120cm x 80cm

An Acacia Erioloba in Hwange National Park,not far from Ngweshla, these trees are magnificent the way they mould themselves into the most unique shapes ,they epitomize nature to me in all its glory.This particular one is joined at the base , but looks like two separate trees of similar shapes, like brothers perhaps - joined at the hip .Seeing trees like this one and the many other wonders of the wild  that i have encountered makes me wonder 

Who will pass judgement on us all for what we have or havent done to conserve, Have we forgotten to listen to our inner voice, one that is almost definitely full of doubt at the way things are currently, or have we simply just chosen to ignore it. 

The important things in life funnily enough are things that cannot be bought with money,

 Take a moment and consider the consequences of ecological collapse, the preservation of nature is in our hands and we need to take heed of the changes happening around us, the pressure is on!

 And now our role as conservationists will be called upon, ask your self will you stand ?

Deep in the jesse of Zambezi Valley, the elephants walk along tried and tested paths,visiting the sites that the generations before them taught them about, their trust in the way of things is inspiring,their knowledge of the bigger picture evident in their actions.Perhaps they are the judge and Jury on our actions from here ?Will those of us close to this, stand the test of time here?,and when we look back , will we be able to say we did our best , we got involved?

Spare a moment for those at the rock face ,Parks ,Operators and Volunteers , every initiative counts here.

Listen - the drums are beating !

Will

contact Bush Life Support Unit laraengland70@gmail.com

Tashinga Initiative lynne@thetashingainitiative.org

Zambezi Sentinels

Spirits of the Valley

Oil on Canvas 

120cm x 80cm  

The heat is on in more ways than one in The Zambezi Valley, the temperatures are rising, it could get oppressive out there and draw the very life out of your lungs. As I write this - somewhere out there in this dry harsh environment , dedicated people are working around the clock ,volunteering to  go out there and safeguard the elephants and the wild in general.This week alone there have been a number of incidents where people have been working hard, facing danger trying to protect what we all should be protecting , and I thank them for their incredible dedication, and drive in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds .

Whilst we cant all be there , we can help ,we can be a part of this worthwhile effort supporting those at the rock face , those who know what is happening .Initiatives are out there to help with this ,operators have joined together and with Parks and wildlife in a new un precedented synergy, its time to listen -

"the drums are beating "

..... Perhaps we just subconsciously work on the basis that we are in fact timeless ?or the fact that things will exist like they are forever !Soon we will see that like the vast bulk of Africa ,our elephants will disappear in the onslaught of poaching that is taking place  

Life  is something we build each day at a time , like a painting , each brushstroke is an experience we live with  , these brush strokes are the wisdom we grow in !

Time is nothing but a measurement that we use  as a way of shortening our lives and putting limits to it –  we live by it – we plan by it – and we box everything up in to it – and yet in the face of Nature and its immeasurable majesty , we are humbled

As the temperatures of the valley take our breath away these old trees Like sentry’s , watch and monitor all life around them,watching us like the judges of our path from here   – quietly living each moment as it is .Their trunks anointed with markings and messages from generations of elephants , they are the notice boards in the thick Zambezi Valley Jesse .

There is an aura that exists even to us insensitive humans when in the shade of these great trees  – it has a healing ability to the mind – slowing the pace we exist at and above all giving us perspective !.

This painting has been modeled on three trees , some where deep in The Zambezi valley , hidden away in the jesse , they have been meeting place for the great grey Giants for centuries .Set in the hazy afternoon sun ,elephant dung- scattered around the trees  – creating an atmosphere of its own .The aroma of the dust and sweat creates an ambiance – so typically Africa!

These are the spirits of the valley  !

Will Maberly 

Maybe its not Good bye !

Maybe it isn't Goodbye !

My father once said , you will know who you can trust from their eyes , even with animals he was a believer in the eyes , "they tell you everything" he would say , they show the mood of an animal and their temperament.

Recently Eve ,our  mother left us, and went to join him beyond the horizon , her wisdom swirled around her like an invisible  energy affecting those she knew, gentle ,intelligent and very worldly .Her eyes said it all - she saw through it all and commented and laughed as she gently guided and nudged us along the way .

There are some new matriarchs now in our herd , they are strong women , cut of the same cloth , powerful intelligent , wise  and above all committed .They are the core of our herd and will guide and cajole all around them in the right direction, they have been incredible in their strength over the years

Through the haze of life I can see the generations fly by - time is an enigma , a fantasy - everything is now in this minute -and when life is hectic we have little time to be in the now , if we are honest with ourselves - we are seldom here , the greed and agendas of this world capture us and take us prisoner from the present and before we know it we have lost direction, only becoming  aware of this in many cases too late .

Two weeks ago some of us who could, gathered to say good bye to Eve , and as the sun was setting low over  a incredibly beautiful place , we read stories about what she did , and spoke of our memories of her and who she represented to us, perhaps without saying it we were saying Goodbye in one sense, and yet in another sense we were welcoming her to live on within us  , her habits and gestures show through in the next generation, her wisdom picked up and her legacy a goal to aim at  .Like that Herd of Elephants I spoke about at the gathering , the knowledge and wisdom has been passed from generations through , an instinct of maps to follow ,the bonds flow deeply - way beyond the perception of this life which is merely part of the journey.

All there is is here and Now , carpe diem , seize the day , revel and  take in the aromas and the sensations of life , feel the heat and the breeze as it touches your soul , and above all enjoy the moment 

Ambuya

 

 I wrote this , and then wondered how to actually introduce it , I decided perhaps that for me the connection to nature that we as a family have ,and especially Eve was important ,her fascination with making things grow and going to all sorts of extraordinary lengths to do so –

 Today as we gather here in the late afternoon, perhaps its fitting its  that time of day ,the shadows are lengthening again , and soon the sun will slip from the sky beyond the horizon and in that moment  the colors will transfix us as always , bringing us to  the present .

Somewhere far away in the evening light a group of elephants wander toward a spring , their leader the Matriarch guides them on instinct, an instinct that has been passed from generations -Her very being is centered around her family group and has been for ever ,her trust in her instinct is absolute , there is no room for doubt

Each day she lives in the present and as she ventures to the spring ,the very source of all life and she guides and cajoles her children and grand children , teaching them , her wisdom clearly visible in her eyes.

For her there is no time as we know it , life is now , there is only night and day and perhaps she understands more than we do about the cycle of life and death .She knows that what she has passed on to her children will be all that matters so she does it unconditionally.

And today as I gaze across this beautiful and fitting setting I think of another Matriarch ,one that impacted so many lives ,Eve .

She was the one that led us to the spring , and taught us what we needed to be in life .The one that cautioned us and disciplined us .Her abundant wisdom was apparent in her beautiful eyes ,and she gave freely of it .

`She taught us the roads we should travel and gave us life in the best way possible unconditionally.

In your latter years ,your battles with agility were overcome with that indomitable  determination and spirit we loved so dearly  and your dignity and elegance shone through

Now I see you there Mum , in the grey , I see you through the haze among the Baobabs you loved so much ,

I see you at last walking freely where the elephants walk around those great trees .watching over the sunsets with Ted and Sim , watching over this one, watching over us .

The tapestry of your life and what you did will fit comfortably over our shoulders for generations to come , the patchwork of stories and amazing achievements will swirl around us like the breeze , and we will be inspired as we breath it in .And while we may at some point forget some of the words you said we will never forget the way you made us all feel .

One small smile and you were mine 
An irrational love that strengthened through time
Always there to hold my hand
Your steady presence , my world, my land

Through tears and triumph , you stood by my side
And when courage did leave me , you let me hide
Taught me to be brave ,  to stand up and fight
So that even if I lost - I'd still be alright

And as I grew older, I tried to make you proud
To be myself - to stand out from the Crowd
And when I messed up or felt alone or got lost
You were there every time no matter what the cost


You taught me to work , that you earn what you get
Yet you gave  it freely , both love and respect
You listen when I speak and respect what I say
This on itself - a debt too great to repay

You guided me through life - taught me to stand tall
It's from you that I learnt to get back up when I fall
You showed me the world both the bad and the good 
And I'll always be grateful that I got you 

Hamba Gashle Ambuya !   

Zambezi Valley September 2016

 

Africa Untamed