Day 10 - Symbol - Phoenix

Day 10 - Symbol _ PHOENIX
Joaquim Phoenix deLeca


A phoenix is a mythical bird with a colorful plumage and a tail of gold and scarlet (or purple, blue, and green according to some legends).

Joaquim was the most beautiful baby. His skin was like porcelaine, his eyes glowed with an ethereal quality, and he was surrounded by a magical aura, I would bet if you could see it, it would have been the colours mentioned above.

It has a 500 to 1000 year life-cycle, near the end of which it builds itself a nest of twigs that then ignites; both nest and bird burn fiercely and are reduced to ashes, from which a new, young phoenix or phoenix egg arises, reborn anew to live again.

Oh, how I wish his life cycle had been longer, but I love the symbolism here. Joaquim was cremated, and we have had the opportunity to start a new life inspired by his very existance.
I believe he is on to greater things, and that he fulfilled a divine purpose here. Many people have referred to him as an old soul, and I believe, after witnessing first hand a few miracles, that he is a guide, an integral part of my soul group that came to teach me the most important lessons in this human experience.

It is said that the bird's cry is that of a beautiful song.

I would give anything to hear that song again.

Day 9 - special place

Day 9 – Special Place

This was a real toughie for me. I have been stressing over it since the first time I read the day’s photo requirement on the list for the month.

With our decision to cremate Joaquim, and my longing to keep him with me all the time, we have never scattered his ashes. We don’t have a graveside to visit on his birthday or his anniversary, we don’t have a special place to go and visit. I have tried to plant a garden for him, but my desire to garden and my ability to garden are severely mismatched.

And every time something that I plant in his memory dies, it is a horrible reminder to me of my powerlessness to keep him alive.

So today’s picture is our home.

 It is where I spent 4 months of my pregnancy; it is where he was born. It is where he spent 7 of the 9 weeks of his incredible life. It is where his family and friends came to meet him and were touched by his purity and love. Is where I have spent every day thereafter longing for him. It is where his brothers and sister played with him, fed him and rocked him, sang to him, dressed him and kissed him.

It is where his father would rush to after work to pick him up and not put him down until I took over again.

It is where he saw rain, sun, where he felt the wind and warmth, where he gazed in awe at the birds in the trees as he lay on a blanket in the garden. It is where he woke up in my arms on that last fateful day. It is where we release sky lanterns in his honour.

This is where I feel him. 

 He is remembered in everything we are surrounded by everyday, and I am so very grateful for each one of those memories

Day 8 - Jewellry