Autumn Light

a.Foley Image 2009 ananda@jeffnet.org

ooo... it's coolin' down at 9,318 ft

Time to load some photos for you...

here are just a few of many breathtaking images that have beckoned me to shoot artfully these days ... it's meditation.. sweet and always educational. Mountain aspen are doing their thing and it is... stunning! See for yourself... they did all the work... can't forget the light... the Light too...

David-ji invested in a good camera when his father passed beyond his own photo-craft this life... and occasionally I could get my hands on the great gadget. Now of course it is his gift and it is allowing me to put together a little portfolio. Ive always loved photography and now it could create livelihood.... another wink from the Light, David and Ed i know it...

Making fires each morning to take the edge off early cold and then the day warms up. Snow only in dustings yet. Aspen sisters are finding the change too. With winds and sun strong this week, the combination made for billions and billions of yellow shiny fluttering sparkles cruising through the air over head, then fly around my feet speckling the earth... And the orange color trees do GLOW))) God is good, good and everywhere.

Life in Silverton right now is all about wood... cuttin', loadin', unloadin', splittin', reloadin', unloadin', stacking... carryin' inside, creatin' magic, later haulin' the ashes...

This year Im "alone" in this wood dance. It dawned on me today, like everyday (again):

he's gone.

From the woodpile, ... today, ...in this moment. It's just me and the woodpile.

My mom has been doing big jobs here, today she was editing the i Ching book tending her cold... and I did have help from my neighbor who supplied the fallen trees and we've worked together... but I feel how "alone" I am now.... as a state of being I must travel through ... a real place I must visit, all-the-while, Im held and provided support for too

My spirit is sad

I miss him... and he wont be coming back, in the way I so often want to see him

... at the same time much is good

and I'm sure he is coming to me as light most often now

My attention lately is on: suiting up for winter (will spend first months here, then journey out); filing postponed taxes for both David and I (my favorite) ; attending mail, probate and negotiations for bills (uh huh); involved in daily decisions about the edits for the republication of Hymn of Changes, David's I Ching book (my mom and Devin do the hard stuff); teaching a weekly yoga class in Silverton (sweet); what else... oh, and objects objects objects... moving, sorting, deciding, stopping at times to feel the joy-devastation- off-gasing from all the memory in each object... then time to head back outside to do more wood.

My mom plans to head back down to Arizona this weekend... a transition we are both feeling in big ways. She's been a rock for me during the hard moments, a gem of a grandmother, in the honoring of the archetype rather than the literal... She has just plain "stepped up" and Im forever enhanced and grateful for her help. We go out together for these beauty blasts, each with camera in hand. A beloved balance for our ongoing list, the tasks that get crossed off and the ones that don't...

with love, Ananda

a.Foley Image 2009 ananda@jeffnet.org

a.Foley Image 2009 ananda@jeffnet.org

a.Foley Image 2009 ananda@jeffnet.org

Heart of Longing chant Cd

Heart of Longing Cd

Thanks to recent orders on the umya site for Heart of Longing i was inspired to carve time to make a batch ... with cover art and printlabels David designed this year and I found the liner notes with descriptions/ meanings of each chant; included too.

$17 includes shipping base rate

ananda@jeffnet.org

A. Foley po box 542 Silverton 81433

Photo from Aug 26, 2009

Margie and me, matchy-girl-ing. Aug 26, 2009

Just in from Punyavati, thank you for sending Nachiji!

Yosemite Veteran Pilgrims

Paul & Carol Hwoschinsky, your care and holding as elders, as friends, is a delightful gift to my life... plural gifts... your knowing presence, concern for my wellbeing, creative thinking in terms of the republication of the I Ching book and finances, family ties. Thank you for bringing your light to Yosemite, all of us in your own big back yard... Ananda

Photos just received, taken by Lisa McLaren, aka Punyavati, aka Arunachala Swamiji, thank you! From Lisa: "Anandaji, Fine to post by me - I know the resolution on the iphone pics isn't very good so don't know how that will work but... And thanks SO much for all your communication. I read and contemplate and it's as if the replies are sitting in the wine cellar of my soul needed to mature..... xoxoxo PAL"

a "Glimpse"

Ananda, I was heartened by this recent "Glimpse" and felt that David experienced this reality. I thought it might comfort you as well. Love, Charlie

The moment of death is a tremendous opportunity, if we understand clearly what is happening and have prepared well for it in life. For at the actual moment of death, the thinking ego-mind dies into the essence, and in this truth, enlightenment takes place. If we familiarize ourselves with the true nature of mind through practice while we are alive, we become more prepared for when it reveals itself spontaneously at the moment of death. Recognition then follows as naturally as a child running into it's mother's lap. Remaining in that state, we are liberated.

Glimpse of the Day from www.rigpa.org

Thank you

Thank you Melanie Smith and Steve Wolf; Becky, Paul and Quinn Joyce. Your selfless service during one of the hardest stretches was a vital nourishment line to me. Thank you for the countless tasks you muscled and surrendered through, but even more so...

... for being there...

At Ginny's table, Boulder CO. April 15, 2009

June 7 2009

David during the stage your help was daily, hourly, minute-to-minute with me ...closely...

I could not have done it without you

thank you

Thank you Dani Antman for your skill and holding my grief, your natural love for David and myself, for your work organizing and tracking details with me and holding ceremonial space for the Yosemite memorial. For welcoming my mom and I into your home for a break, getting us to the ocean and sharing your joy for your new California life and for spreading your healing work into the world.

David the Wrestler

Remember Ginny's eulogy of David as a Mandala?

She wrote so beautifully of the various beautiful expressions of him and his life, it was a stunning piece in terms of the content, and even more so for it's quality of writing and deep connection to David's essence. Some days before the Boulder memorial I was thinking about this mandala and remembering that Ginny's description would be read aloud as part of the ceremony. Inspired, I flashed on the idea: what if we invited a pass of the talking stick where the mandala is filled out even more... David the Healer, David the Mystic...

I knew we might not actually do it, and we didnt, but when I shared the idea with Diane Hullet, she growled "David the Wrestler" and described the time he tackled her and helped shift a looping pattern she was in. It was just the right medicine at the time and she would definitely name that side of him if filling out the mandala from here.

Later the next day, Brenda Zellner shared an important time in her memory of David, when he called the same fierce push-back from her in a wresting match... and so I told her about her shared sisterhood with Diane. Here's Cynthia Yoder's photos from a Hawaii retreat for your wresting-watching pleasure. Go CYNTHIA!

Maybe you too brought out this side of David...?

Maybe you can think of a mandala component not yet named...

Happy On-lookers: Dani Antman & Andrea Luchese

Cynthia and family that same week. Mahalo for sending your photos

Reflections from fellow bard, David Lynn Grimes

Hi Ananda, thinking of you all in Yosemite enacting David's memorial service, and me here in solidarity in Alaska to the north at the intersection of Prince William Sound and the Copper River, two powerful pulse beats of Mother Earth. David's adventures with me in these realms was profound, and so you can be sure that these earth organs are also sending their respect and admiration for David's great spirit at this time.

I particularly remember the summer of 1989, during the Exxon oil spill, when David and I travelled thru Prince William Sound on the magical spirit vessel the Orca II--which David had been instrumental in helping bring into my life. Knight Island, the heart of the Sound, had opened its fjord arms to the flowing oil, and indeed more oil covered the shores of Knight Island than any other place.

In the spring, about a week after the spill began, I had been imagining the oil as some monster out there killing everything in the darkness--whale and otter, eagle and loon. But suddenly I had a revelation: what if the oil was as frightened as we were? Black blood of the Mother, drilled up out of its home deep in the earth and spilled onto a cold ocean, and where did it go? Straight into the open arms of the Heart of the place. That spring, when the oil was a foot thick on the beaches of Knight Island, you didn't know if you were walking over rocks or dead birds.

Late that summer, after David and I and others made a pilgrimage to Knight Island on the Orca II, David had a dream. In the dream he was rising up through a mist above the beautiful island, and the mist was the spirits of all the animals that had died. They said to David, "It's true, we haven't left yet because we have a message to deliver. And the message is love."

The oil spill happened on Good Friday, a traditional day of sacrifice. And after sacrifice comes resurrection. What truer way to remember David and his past and present and future incarnations: the message is love.

-- David Lynn Grimes

www.davidlynngrimes.com

Boulder Memorial Saturday, Sept. 12

Hi All,

Photo of at least a few of us who were still around when I got around to taking the picture. Thanks again to all of you for making this such a special gathering. The weekend was a treasure. Love, Randy C.

more photos of memorial in recent posts, scoll down

thank you

On Sep 16 2009, Julie Pigott wrote: Dear Madame- Please keep me on the list of wild ass women seeking deep spiritual connection through the cosmic vehicle containing in part, chocolate and caffeine!!

Much love to you in the weaving & untangling & creation of your lovely life. Blessings, Julie

From: ananda@jeffnet.org

Subject: Re: Yes!!!

Date: September 16, 2009 11:50:17 AM MDT

Hello deep heart, your love and magic are with me more than you know. I include some colorful love photos of you to show you how much your being fills a space with beauty and prana

I will never ever be able to thank you for all you have brought to my life in this hard transition... coming with Ben to Boulder, providing for our living set up so David wouldnt have to move sooner than it was correct, holding the beings in Yosemite through artistry as well as power-clean-up, offering your midwifery thru sound, music, CD sales support, your overall mama-quality holding my process in the midst of your own loss of your dear friend and teacher...

I hope you know you will continue to be my soul sister and mango-dripping from chin goddess
Bless all that is you! Ananda

Large Mailing List Letter

Subject: Blog for David La Chapelle

From: ananda@jeffnet.org

Date: September 16, 2009

To: Large mailing list

Greetings
This quick note goes out to you from Ananda Elise Foley, companion to David La Chapelle who passed away July 21, 2009 in Durango Colorado due to cancer. Please forgive my short note if you are hearing this news for the first time. If you are receiving this is it because your name is on a very large data base I created for David 6 years ago when I first began supporting his work

Im writing to invite you to visit a blogsite created for collecting thoughts, sentiments, memories, stories and photos celebrating David's life and contributions. As I used to write updates via emails; first with information about upcoming retreats and, later, about David's health; I have now switched my format of communication to the blog, where you may go online any time to check in and contribute if you like (reminder you can comment anonymously as well).

You are also being contacted to request your help in cleaning up my contact list of exactly 772 email addresses. My role and responsibilities are transitioning so enormously and quickly and I hope to be a crisp as possible contacting only people who wish to be. So please take the time to bounce an email back if you would prefer to be removed from my lists for announcements or from the database altogether. The blog will be an easy way to find me and relevant announcements in the future if you ever change your mind and wish to be added again.

From here I will be focusing on compiling much of David's artwork, as well as some collaboration offerings with my own work; his teachings and publications; photos and timelines to deepen the expression his work brought to the world. His website www.umya.com will be undergoing some construction and will remain a marketplace for these works.

Thank you for being a part of a dear, rich unfolding
...or sharing with us the care of your service, if you've been part of our lives thru business matters

In grateful heart,
Ananda Elise Foley
Creative Artist, Energetic Midwife, Facilitator/ Instructor

PO Box 542 Silverton, CO 81433
ananda@jeffnet.org
www.umya.com
http://celebratingdavid.blogspot.com

Boulder Daily Camera Obituary

David La Chapelle

Posted: 09/10/2009 02:47:07 PM MDT

Daily Camera, Boulder

David La Chapelle, nationally known author, teacher and healer, passed away on July 21 at the age of 56, due to cancer. David co-founded Wellspring Partners in Health, Boulder's first holistic medical clinic. He became widely known in Boulder in the 1980's for his profound spiritual/psychological work with individuals and groups, including teaching at Naropa Institute and September School.

David taught nationally, including leading hundreds of wilderness retreats. He was an initiate of eastern spiritual traditions and of John Fire Lame Deer, Lakota Medicine Man. David's spiritual insights, unique healing abilities, and deep caring for his clients and students created a profound legacy of three decades of service. He was also a gifted artist and the author of many books.

David is survived by his devoted companion, Ananda Foley. A memorial service will be held in Allenspark on Sept. 12^th. Donations for David's remaining medical expenses may be sent to Ananda Foley, P.O. Box 542, Silverton, CO 81433.

http://www.dailycamera.com/ci_13309043

Quotes helping me...

"There is no death of anything save in appearance. That which passes over from essence to nature seems to be birth, and what passes over from nature to essence seems to be death. Nothing really is originated, and nothing ever perishes, but only now comes into sight and now vanishes." - Apolonius of Tyana, first century A.D.

"Bereavement is a universal and integral part of our experience of love. It follows marriage as normally as marriage follows courtship or as autumn follows summer. It is not a truncation of the process but one of the phases; not the interruption of the dance, but the next figure. We are taken out of ourselves by the loved one when he is here. Then comes the tragic figure of the dance in which we must learn to be still taken out of ourselves through the bodily presence is withdrawn." - C. S. Lewis, A Grief Observed

"We cannot help the birds of sadness flying over our heads, but we need not let them build nests in our hair." - ancient Chinese saying

"The more I observe and study things, the more convinced I become that sorrow over separation is perhaps the greatest delusion. To realize that it is a delusion is to become free. We love friends for the substance we recognize in them and yet deplore the destruction of the insubstantial that covers the substance for the time being. There is no death, no separation for the substance. Real friendship touches and can keep the substances when the surface goes." - Mahatma Gandhi

Quotes compiled by Helen Nearing in Loving and Leaving the Good Life

Memory share

Subject: Re: David's blog

Date: September 15, 2009 9:24:42 PM MDT

To: ananda@jeffnet.org

Dear Ananda,

What a joy it is to take some time to think of that vision quest so long ago. Thank you for that. I hope you enjoy my memories and can use it in your blog. Blessing to you.

I want to share some sweet memories I have of David. When I was about 10 or 11 years old I joined my sister on a vision quest into the Sangre de cristo mountains of southern Colorado. It amazes me that I still have an almost photographic memory of the beautiful valley in which we camped, the clearing where people meet in circle, and all the wonderful places I got to hike with David. Due to my young age I had the blessing of staying back in camp with David while everyone went out on their solo quest. I felt it was a great honor and a supremely fun time to have David's full attention. We got to climb a nearby mountain and take long walks through the woods. I remember once when we found a large patch of wild strawberry. We spent what seemed like an hour on our hands and knees searching for and of course eating the tiny berry's. And then there was sweet time we spent at the camp tending to the fire. It warms my heart to this day to remember how caring and generous David was of his time and attention. I will forever cherish these memories with him.

Aaron Ingalls (with daughter Chaaya)

Date: September 15, 2009

To: ananda@jeffnet.org

Dear Ananda, I very much enjoyed meeting and hanging with you.( felt a kindred spirit) Their was comfort and a kind of heart wrenching feeling in being with Davids people, some I haven't seen in so long. I am still so deeply sad and tearful. Keeping open and watchful as I know so much is being given now. Dreams and valuable memorys from the past. Just trying to be present with it all. So many tears.

Hope that our paths cross again.
You have a friend here

Pasted blog post by BJ

Blog post by BJ

Click HERE to visit her full blog

09/12/2009

Auspicious

It's a rainy, chilly day in Boulder, with a sure whiff of Autumn in the air. My love and I have just returned from the sacred sanctuary of the natural world near Allenspark. We joined in circle there with a community of students, friends, loves, and strangers to a man named David LaChapelle. He was a beloved spiritual teacher of so many for decades. We celebrated him through this memorial on land he knew and on which he'd done vision quests.

Rain came down. We chanted, and laughed and cried. We told stories and sent blessing and appreciation up to him. Auspicious day - I notice how it rains at times like this, sacred days. His companion Ananda sang a song she'd written only this week. Her voice rang out with such sweetness - a gentle surprise. I thought the rain must surely be for her, as her lyrics spoke of flow, rain and birth, and cleansing. The moment the ceremony came to a close, before anyone even left the circle, the thunder began to roll.

We memorialized a brilliant soul. A circle of goodbyeing that was our container that held an abundance of love for him. He shone and taught a great, bright reflection of love to each of us in some way or another.

Endings and beginnings - I am so taken with them and their sameness. I am dearly enchanted by our connection, a constant thread between all of us, whether we see it or not and whether we choose to believe it or not. Beginnings and endings - initiations and completions; I find these to be my soul companions.

We came home frozen to the bone and wet and smelling of woodsmoke. Yum! Ah - and the hot bath welcoming us, enfolding our bodies and readying us into the evening of cuddles and chinese food with the children are all just as sacred to me as our Shiva chant.

Thank you David, for being connected and fanning this fire that is my family.

Peace, BJB

Posted at 06:10 PM

Click HERE to visit BJ's blogsite

Boulder Memorial Saturday, Sept. 12

Linda Weber started us off with a beautiful Hebrew chant David used to request her to lead.

She and her partner Emily were kind enough to host me in their home before and after the solo time I spent on the land before the memorial. She is also a quest leader and therapist who was my midwife in setting the intention for my journey, holding a line to my process before, during and after the journey, and offering much reflection steeped in a 25 year connection with David.

All together the circle filled to 40 people after I got this shot. Boulder memorial planners, (Russ and Diane Hullet, Laurie Adato, Martha Fisher, Sue Allman, Talia Spencer and Linda Weber) welcomed people to come a half hour early to chant first.

We had the one and only day of cold, wet rain. Most people thought it was perfect and appropriate given that so many did "quests" with David in the cold and wet before he took things indoors and called them "retreats/workshops"... sweet jokes about how with age comes comforts...

The weather made things intense and intimate, deep and passionate as each person needed to stand and project their voice to power our volume over the loud rain-on-tarp background. Two gazebo tents held a potluck of great food offerings and the other, tables covered with photos and some of David's creative offerings we enjoyed after the ceremony.

I know some people got a photo of me I will add when it comes in... this 4th David memorial was emotional and very different for me. The ability to attend and not facilitate or event-plan gave me the opportunity to drop in and feel the actual emotions of a memorial, deepened by the fact that the connections in Boulder are so long-lived and span so many layers of David's depths Ive only heard about and seen the effects of. A real treat... the memorial itself, the solo, but also the two cabin over-nights, the "let down" of shared meals, dirty dishes and late late night talks... my exhale... finally, the other side of something big

Russ and Diane welcomed the memorial on their newly adopted land, purchased from Ginny. David and Ginny guided several groups and quests on this dear land in Allenspark outside of Boulder. Russ has known David over 20 years since teen-hood. Such good, good people...

Flower mandala by Anandala, Sue and Scott's garden, Shoshanna Seligman and David Nicol

Diane welcoming us, sincerely, open heartedly

Jack Zellner, friend of David since 70's

Sue Seecof reading Ginny's eulogy written for Yosemite memorial, we all loved so much (see earlier post for copy, click HERE). A handful of key people read sections for all to enjoy

Brenda Zelner, Jack's wife. Logan Kline long time friend and gifted body worker/healer helped David this spring

...Earth angel takin' it all in...

Valerie worked with David as a teen, quested and cooked for participants

Coincidentally, also a midwifery school graduate sister from same trade school I attended, just one year subsequent...

Aaron and Chaaya. Aaron said he went on quests trips and, oh darn, too young at 10 yrs old to go out on solo by him self... "had to" stay at base camp and tend fire, hang out with David instead. His description: click HERE

BJ and Talia... beaming love. Talia's work is in hospice. She held me this spring thru the deep release layers. More midwifery... more gratitude. Visit BJ's experience of the memorial HERE.

Fun around the campfire with Susie. Chaaya and Valerie's son, Juaquin

Shoshanna and Laurie... is that a bucket o' chicken?

(both have also known David over 20 years)

"... oh...sorry... was this stick pile significant ?..."