Samhain Blessings To All - Nos Galan Gaeaf

"Now let us welcome the new year, full of things that have never been…"- Rilke

moving fragrant light to fertile dark
transitioning from outside to inner worlds
ancestors bless the turning of the year

The information below is from an article by Selena Fox entitled Celebrating the Season on the website Circle Sanctuary:

Samhain, popularly known as Halloween, occurs in late October and early November. For most Wiccan practitioners, this is the New Year, and a time for letting go of the old and looking ahead to the new. It marks the end of the harvest season. Since ancient times, Pagans have paid their respects to departed loved ones, ancestors, and guides in the Spirit World at Samhain. The Goddess manifests as the Crone and the God as the Horned Hunter and Lord of Death. Sacred colors are Black and Orange. It is the festival of endings and transformation.




"The object of a new year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul." - G. K. Chesterton

May you enjoy the depths of your soul

Good Company

 “Some people weave burlap into the fabric of our lives, and some weave gold thread. Both contribute to make the whole picture beautiful and unique.” - Anonymous

It was a great warm, windy day with a breakfast that included biscuits in gravy, and visiting with my friend, Jan. We were trying a new(for us) restaurant in Edmonds. Pancakes galore, even the large, beautiful German ones that are oven baked and luscious to look at. Jan noted that the restaurant had an air calmness that, perhaps, came from a well-established restaurant. Indeed, though filled with customers, there was a quiet, graceful flow. We were pleased by the service we received we from a young, friendly, open-hearted woman. Her presence and interactions changed the meal from ordinary good eats to a pleasant, memorable experience.

We had a jaunt down to the water to watch whitecaps, a cargo ship, birds, the visibility of the Olympic mountains, and a talented, nearly invisible wind surfer.

Add a stop at Third Place Books, a living room catch-up visit over tea, and you a perfect social outing.

saturated with goodness of balmy breezes
warmed and fed by innocent open kindness
engaged by watching ships on their journeys

“Life is like a blanket too short. You pull it up and your toes rebel, you yank it down and shivers meander about your shoulder; but cheerful folks manage to draw their knees up and pass a very comfortable night.” - Marion Howard

May you enjoy the good company of friends and "strangers"

Emma's Revolution - Peace Salaam Shalom

Holly Near, Emma's Revolution, Hedgebrook - Inspiring

“When you find peace within yourself, you become the kind of person who can live at peace with others.” - Peace Pilgrim

I had a wonderful time going to see Holly Near and Emma's Revolution doing a benefit concert for Hedgebrook in Langley, WA. The journey had an auspicious start when a kind woman working at the toll booth for the Mukilteo ferry noticed my cane on the seat beside me. She gently inquired if it was mine, "yes". Then told me that I would save me $4 dollars on a roundtrip fare. It so considerate, and I couldn't help but feel uplifted by the fact she wanted to help. And, for that moment, it turned what I tend to view as a weakness into a financial boon.

The fun and good luck continued when my car was guided into a space I've never parked I before. The car was pointed so I could directly look out my front windshield to this the view on the side of the boat. Once under way, I easily sat on the hood of the car to enjoy the view.

With good directions and Langley being a small town, I arrived at the concert venue early - Langley Middle School. I can't remember the last time I was on a middle school campus. I overheard others remarking on the same thing. I was grateful to get a seat in the 7th row though all the seats in a school auditorium are excellent compared to larger concert halls.

Much too my surprise, the seats in this school auditorium were roomier and more comfortable than the last movie theater I was in. They were just plain old fold up curved, laminated plywood set on metal. Come to think of kind of like the old theater seats my friend, Jan has in her living room only blond in color. A good reminder that new isn't always better. And the padded chairs weren't as comfortable a well crafted wood.

It was a good turn out. It was another surprise to find ALL the money from the sales of the tickets went to Hedgebrook, an extra benefit for my entertainment.

As always, Holly was funny, inspiring, and brought us to both tears and laughter. It was a fun to see her performing with some I have never seen before two women (Pat Humphries & Sandy O) called Emma's Revolution. All three harmonized well. It's nice to see artists collaborate and share the stage.

I was stuck by some of her comments like - 53,000 soldiers are AWOL.  Even if it's only close to that number it's more than I would have ever imagined. And support was requested in whatever way we can for those who are struggling to stop "coal mining" by way of the government sanctioned bombing of Appalachia.

Part of her charm is to inspire and involve the audience in singing along. Which we did with vigor.

beautiful voices saturated with festive memories
audience empowered with hope, love and perspective
social activists soulful beings giving all to inspire

The executive director stated her goal was to get everyone attending the concert to sign up for their mailing list so we could all find out what happens at Hedgebrook, and including author events in the Seattle area. So if you have an interest here's the address to request being added to their mailing list: mailinglist@hedgebrook.org.

Now another plug for a new found worthy cause, the local place that nurtures women writers. See the Hedgebrook Writers Bookshelf at Powell Books.  When you visit Powell’s Books via the link on the Hedgebrook website 7.5% of any purchase you make goes to benefit Hedgebrook.  So, support writers and Hedgebrook at the same time by clicking on the Powell’s icon.


It turns out one of the women on the writers panel, Stephanie Kallos, that I saw at Third Place books is a Hedgebrook alumnae. I think I liked to read her first book, Broken for You.

“Peace is not something you wish for; It's something you make, Something you do, Something you are, And something you give away.”  - Robert Fulghum

May peace be with you, peace, salaam, shalom

Cris Williamson - Waterfall

While looking for a Holly Near video on You Tube I came across this song by
Cris Williamson. Cris and Holly are contemporaries who often performed to together. Waterfall is still one of my favorite songs after 30 plus years. I hope you take a few moments to listen to it.

Holly Near In Langley, WA

I am excited that I will be seeing Holly in concert tonight. I recall the first time I saw her was back in the 70's. She is a dynamic performer. Her concerts were the first I attended that had someone signing for the deaf. I remember being impressed even back then that someone could be that aware. She has been an inspiration figure for over 3 decades, and an awesome performer as well. Bless you, Holly, for your love, courage and unfailing commitment to rising up to create the world you would like to see.

The Secret - Planet Earth

Happy Birthday, Mother. I am remembering you. You gave me the gift of appreciation for this beautiful world.

Edge of Winter - Happy Birthday Hillary

"I do not believe that sheer suffering teaches. If suffering alone taught, all the world would be wise, since everyone suffers. To suffering must be added mourning, understanding, patience, love, openness and the willingness to remain vulnerable." - Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Happy Birthday, Hillary. Thank you for be willing to step forward, speak up for our global community, and take up so many difficult challenges. Many blessings on your journey this year.

I heard that we are expecting our first significant snow in the Cascade Mountains today. October 31, Samhain, will be the beginning of Celtic winter. So timing is practically perfect. As I write, the news is showing pictures of snow on the passes, around 2 inches. As our nature, some like myself will worry about traversing sidewalks and street in wintry weather. I, also, know some are ecstatic with prospects of snow boarding, skiing, tubing almost in here.

I am excited to see that my friend Jan has started the Taylor Family Blog, call The Spirit of Maxine.

"We have something in common" - Jan (Taylor) Carrillo-Jones

glistening apple cider afternoon
sun peaks through icy grey sky
winter kisses the mountaintops

May we enjoy it all

Sound of Music - Central Station Antwerp (Belgium)

I really loved this video so much I watched several times. It's fun and uplifting.

Happy Birthday, Picasso

"With the most primitive means the artist creates something which the most ingenious and efficient technology will never be able to create." - Kasimir Malevich

Today is Pablo Picasso's birthday. Did you know his full name was Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso?

I was surprised when looking at the calendar. Tomorrow is Hillary Clinton's birthday, and the day after, October 27, is my mother's birthday. Just interesting. At first glance, I can see my mother and Picasso being compared as they were both artists. And now, I wonder about their similarities with Hillary.

genius finds magical geometric
colors shapes flow into being
the creative mind made visible

"All true artists, whether they know it or not, create from a place of no-mind, from inner stillness." - Eckhat Tolle

Medicine Buddha Mantra

Satisfied

"Dance like no one is watching. Sing like no one is listening. Love like you've never been hurt and live like it's heaven on Earth." - Mark Twain

Last night, I had a nice surprise when Judy Collins appeared on the David Letterman. Not a show I care for, I had turned the channel waiting for another show to start. It is was wonderful to hear her. I have been a fan of hers since the 60's, it is inspiring to hear her singing, voice strong still after all this time.

lovely, fresh, cool wind
sweeping across asphalt
little bits of life drifting

May you enjoy the sounds of the world

Gayatri Mantra (27 Repetitions)

Quietly

"We live in a pluralistic world, and only the most hard-headed refuse to accept the fact that truth - whether spiritual, cultural, political, or otherwise - is given to different people in different ways." Kent Nerburn

strands of compassion, strings of caring
many colors, many voices, many paths
weaving a culture of kindness

It's been a quite, slow, rainy indoor day. Plenty of time to study my voters pamphlets, and complete my mail in ballot. I feel pleased to have it ready to go. Now, I am contemplating trying cooking a newly conceived dish with carrots, cranberries, and maybe pecans or walnuts. Sounds good.

"Food to a large extent is what holds a society together and eating is closely linked to deep spiritual experiences." - Peter Farb and George Armelagos

Green Tara Mantra (108 Repetitions)

I have discovered how easy it is to embed You Tube videos so I shall include them now.

One of things Tara is known for is compassion. This is the manta Om Tutare Tare Ture Soha.

 

Charter For Compassion

From the web site Charter For Compassion:

The Charter for Compassion is the result of Karen Armstrong’s 2008 TED Prize wish and made possible by the generous support of the Fetzer Institute. It will be unveiled to the world on November 12, 2009.

Celebrate National Reading Group Month - For Book Club

 'Tis the good reader that makes the good book; in every book he finds passages which seem to be confidences or sides hidden from all else and unmistakably meant for his ear; the profit of books is according to the sensibility of the reader; the profound thought or passion sleeps as in a mine, until it is discovered by an equal mind and heart. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

I had every intention of staying home all day. I had a wonderful adventure Monday, new bridge, new restaurant, new coffee house and even a new easy access park. Then flipping by the news on T.V. I heard them talking about an award winning book, The Hotel at the Corner of Bitter and Bitter. During a brief interview, the author mentioned he would be on a panel of authors tonight at Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park. So I looked up the information on the store's website:

Celebrate National Reading Group Month

Hear 5 experienced authors give their perspectives on author/book club meetings.  Come with questions – and enjoy refreshments, book club tips and lists, and literary stuff!  Authors will sign their books, too.

Nancy Pearl - Moderator
Jamie Ford – Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
Diane Hammond – Hannah’s Dream
Stephanie Kallos – Sing Them Home
Jim Lynch – Border Songs
Garth Stein – The Art of Racing in the Rain

Working on the intermittent premise that spontaneity is good for me, I decided to go. Why I even missed the fact it was National Reading Group Month so I should definitely go to celebrate. After all, I do belong to a fabulous group.

It turns out the event was sponsored by the WNBA, Women's National Book Association, first established in 1917.  We have a chapter here in the Seattle area now that's two years old.

There was a surprisingly large turn out. So I was left with seating far from the stage or a great table near the stage with no view. I chose the great table. I was able to hear the authors, but I didn't see them til after the event. I want to share comments made by the authors that I enjoyed. However, I won't be able to connect the comments made to a specific author, and some of the quotes will be paraphrased due to my difficulty in reading my notes and lack of speed at "dictation".

Question to the authors. "What makes a good book club book?"

Answers:

"What's important is the dynamic of the group rather than the books. The book should not only entertain, but engage the reader."

"Some book clubs are breezy and some meticulous. It is good to have a book that is a light read, yet the reader can, also, go deep."

Comments on writing:

"Novels should not be answers to questions, but should create them."

"There has to be room for readers to exercise their art."

"Reading and writing are all about a dialogue."

Author shared a quote from a cafe in Bend, Oregon:

"Don't judge a book by it's movie."

Question to authors: Recommendation of book for book club:

"One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest - read the book and see the movie. Talk about how the book was translated into the movie."

"We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver, heart wrenching"

"Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout, brilliant"

"Anything by John Steinbeck, the novel The Feast of Love by Charles Baxter which is told in the first person by characters ranging in age from 19 to into their 70's"

"Poetry"

I was, of course, glad I went.

Of the books they mentioned, I have read One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, saw and the play and the movie. We are going to read Olive Kitteridge. I am thinking about reading The Feast of Love.

I decided to look up the WNBA. Here's their reading recommendations from their site:

National Reading Group Month Announces the 2009 Great Group Reads

NEW YORK — September 24, 2009 — The National Reading Group Month Selection Committee has chosen nine books, eight novels and one memoir, as this year’s Great Group Reads. The books are:

Appassionata by Eva Hoffman (Other Press)
The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist (Other Press)
The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Brontë by Syrie James (Avon A)
The House on Fortune Street by Margot Livesey (Harper Perennial)
Perfection: A Memoir of Betrayal and Renewal by Julie Metz (Voice)
While I’m Falling by Laura Moriarty (Hyperion)
Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson (Picador)
Cost by Roxana Robinson (Picador)
Burnt Shadows by Kamila Shamsie (Picador)

"A house is not a home unless it contains food and fire for the mind as well as the body." - Margaret Fuller

bookish room cozy yet full
reading writing exchange of minds
language is a lovely tool

May your home nourish your soul

Solitude, Serenity, and Beauty

 "Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul." - John Muir

"After all, I don't see why I am always asking for private, individual, selfish miracles when every year there are miracles like white dogwood."  - Anne Morrow Lindbergh

"Solitude is a condition of peace that stands in direct opposition to loneliness. Loneliness is sitting in an empty room and being aware of the space around you. It is a condition of separateness. Solitude is becomng one with the space around you. It is a condition of union." Kent Nerburn, Simple Truths

circling mysteries of metal and stones

soft places to walk, strong places to rest
my beautiful new park with no name

"I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in." - John Muir

I was curious about the metal "structure", shown below, at the south end of the pond-like depression in the middle of the park. No clue what it is.

 

circling mysteries of metal and stones

soft places to walk, strong places to rest
my beautiful new park with no name

 May you notice a miracle

Savoring Life

"Because I have traveled, I can see other universes in the eyes of strangers. I know what parts of me I cannot deny and what parts of me are simply choices that I make."  - Kent Nerburn in Simple Truths: Clear & Gentle Guidance on the Big Issues in Life

I awoke with an inner voice calling out for an adventure. My usual Mondays include enjoying every last minute in bed prior to work. Today, maybe the prompting was stronger or maybe having a blog where I could post new photos was just enough motivation to encourage me to move outside my pattern. And a very satisfying choice it was. Or still perhaps, it was a calling . . .

Within a few minutes of where I live, I took a turn down a street I hadn't been on before, seeing parts of a neighborhood new to me. Within a course of 2 to 3 hours, I did this a dozen more times. I had a very expansive feeling looking up one street climbing a hill that there must be millions streets out there I've never seen. At the time, I was just enjoying the openness of the feeling. Now, recounting it, I'm thinking I can never run out of new things to see and experience. And, familiar is so deeply satisfying. Um, good.

adventure to a known place
the ticket is an open heart
corner turned bridge appears
supporting many journeys
while holding the inbetween
visible guardian of space

I was able to enjoy a delicious meal at the Full Moon Thai in Richmond Beach with friendly and gracious restaurant staff. The experience was enriched by the peaceful, spacious, and beautifully decorated two story dining area. My surprise at the end was the after "dinner" candies at the register. Did know that they make Tootsie Rolls in lime and vanilla flavors now? I didn't.

Atypically, I decided to go across the street after dinner to have a cup of Chai at the Richmond Beach Coffee Company. Also, greeted by a friendly staff, I was even more pleased that they bring your drink to your table. This is not the usual service for our Coffee/Espresso places here. Their decorate was a mix of old furniture with sitting inside and out. It was the perfect place to sit, write, read, oh, and enjoy some tasty Chai.

I am slowly reading Kent Nerburn's book Simple Truths which I definitely recommend. Library of Congress has it catalogued first in a category I don't remember seeing before: Conduct of Life. Just interesting. Actually, I am re-reading it. As I finished it the first time in a day. Now, I am going back and savoring it as there are so many beautiful sentences and ideas to enjoy. . . some of which you see here.

"I know the blessings of my own table and the warmth of my own bed. I know how much of life is pure chance, and how great a gift I have been given to be who I am." - Kent Nerburn in Simple Truths

Many you savor moments new and familiar

Joyful Colors - More Blessings To All - Gayatri Mantra

bright days of treasured sweets
nights of sparkling lights
golden divine nectar all around


Wishing you ,your family, and friends a bright, joyous and prosperous Diwali/Deepawali

Gayatri Mantra

om bhūr bhuvah svah
tat savitur varenyam
bhargo devasya dhīmahi
dhiyo yo nah pracodayāt

I have seen many translations of these beautiful and ancient words. I offer these two translations

The first is from Sathya Sai.Org:

We contemplate the glory of Light illuminating the three worlds:ross, subtle, and causal.
I am that vivifying power, love, radiant illumination, and divine grace of universal intelligence.
We pray for the divine light to illumine our minds.

Meaning of the individual words

Om: The primeval sound
Bhur: the physical world
Bhuvah: the mental world
Suvah: the celestial, spiritual world
Thath: That; God; transcendental Paramatma
Savithur: the Sun, Creator, Preserver
Varenyam: most adorable, enchanting
Bhargo: er, effulgence
Devasya: resplendent,supreme Lord
Dheemahi: we meditate upon
Dhiyo: the intellect,understanding
Yo: May this light
Nah: our
Prachodayath: enlighten,guide,inspire 

The second is from About.com: Hinduism:

"O Divine mother, our hearts are filled with darkness. Please make this darkness distant from us and promote illumination within us."

Hedgebrook, Holly Near and Prayers For Peace

 

 

“A cloud does not know why it moves in just such a direction and at such a speed...It feels an impulsion...this is the place to go now. But the sky knows the reasons and the patterns behind all clouds, and you will know, too, when you lift yourself high enough to see beyond horizons.” - Richard Bach

looming up and over swaying treetops
bands of white giants slowly marching north
silently watching the cloudy midnight sky

I affirm almost daily how lucky I am to live in the Pacific Northwest. Wednesday, I enjoyed the culmination of artistic passion and community spirit in the manifestation of an urban Art Space and Community Garden in what would have otherwise been a vacant parking lot.

Since I'm thinking about still thinking Book Club and authors, it seems like the perfect opening to share today's discovery. I came across a local non-profit in my "neighborhood" I didn't know existed, Hedgebrook. I see that they have such notable names as Alice Walker and Gloria Steinem on their Creative Board. Here's a description from their site Hedgebrook.org:

The 48-acre retreat features forest walking paths, ponds and meadows, views of Puget Sound and Mount Rainier, and quiet areas for writing, reading and meditating.

Hedgebrook is a nonprofit organization that supports women writers who come from all over the world to our Whidbey Island retreat to write, rejuvenate and be in community with each other. We provide space and time for them to create significant works and develop innovative programs to bring their work to new and diverse audiences, including the Hedgebrook Writers Series, produced in collaboration with Seattle-based independent publisher Whit Press. Thousands of literary works have been created at Hedgebrook impacting readers and writers all over the world. As alumna Gloria Steinem says; “Hedgebrook isn’t a retreat…it’s an advance.”

I came across Hedgebrook as one of my favorite singers, Holly Near, is doing a benefit concert in Langley, WA for them this month on October 28 as well as a few other events in our area in Seattle, Lopez Island, and Vancover, BC. (Details for the events and samples of her music are on her site  - I, also, have some samples of her music on my music player at the bottom of this page). I first saw Holly perform in the 70's. She has been an inspiration and an excellent example of using her artist abilities to promote a more beautiful and peaceful world. Here's an apt description of this amazing woman from her site, HollyNear.com:

A peace activist and advocate for human and civil rights, Holly has linked the multitude of issues that are our lives, refusing the idea of separate "causes." When asked how she keeps her energy for this work, she smiles: "I am selfish. I reach for the world I want to live in. And I believe in leaving our best efforts as a gift to our children."

"A big part of singing is listening. Singing in harmony is good training for living in the world." - Holly Near

Thinking of peace activist leads to thinking of our peacekeepers. At Book Club, Kathleen was accompanied by her son Jonathan who has just returned home from a serving all of as an Army Ranger in Africa, Afghanistan, and Germany. I think about how amazing this young man has seen and done things I probably won't have the opportunity or necessity to do. Amongst these are riding a camel (which actually appeared as part in part of a PBS show aired on TV), and helping people in Africa get their first pair of glasses.

I give thanks that he came home safely, and say a soft, deep prayer for all the people still serving out there away from their homes. And, it is sad and poignant to, also, offer a pray for all those who did not return safely, and their friends and families who will forever carry them in their hearts.

This prayer is from the site Those Who Gave All:

Prayers for Our Fallen Troops

 Our thoughts and prayers are with the family members and loved ones of those that gave their lives to fight for our country.
May God give you peace in your heart and strength to carry on.

They proudly served their country.
Now, they proudly serve with angel's wings.

 CT Dawson, January 2002

I read this prayer that was found in the pocket of fallen soldier, Benaya Rein, on the site OneFamilyFund.org:

May it be Your will Dear G-d, our L-rd and L-rd of our fathers, that you nullify war and blood-letting from the world and that a large and wonderful peace should continue in the world; that nation should no longer lift up sword against nation, nor should they any longer learn war, but that all residents of the Earth should recognize and know the truth for its truthfulness – that we did not come to this world for argument or fighting – G-d forbid – and not for hatred or deceit, spite or blood-letting G-d forbid, but that we have come to the world in order to recognize and know You and Your blessings.

Denise Linn & Dreamtime

“The best thing about dreams is that fleeting moment, when you are between asleep and awake, when you don't know the difference between reality and fantasy, when for just that one moment you feel with your entire soul that the dream is reality, and it really happened.” - Author unknown

I was lucky to be able to attend the talk The Mysterious World of Dreams Revealed at East West Bookshop by Denise Linn author of The Hidden Power of Dream. She is an internationally known healer, teacher, and author of 16 books. I was excited because this is first time that I had the opportunity to meet her.

She is an excellent speaker, impassioned about the subject of dreaming. She shared her background for those of us who had never seen her before: paraphrased she came from a family of scientists, had a near death experience, ended up sensitive to other realms of existence, and spent time studying with indigenous people here and aboard.

She believes it is becoming more and more important for people to become aware of their dreams and how to use them. As people learn to use their dreamtime, they can be a force for the good of many. "You will be like a pebble dropped into a pool. You will effect people even if you don't know it."

According to Denise, research shows that we have short 3 to 4 minute dreams about every hour and half with the last dreams being as long as 20 minutes.

She made some suggestions for activating dreams like putting water outside to absorb moonlight, putting a crystal in water, using affirmative statements while holding the water then drinking the water before going to sleep. Also, she indicated you can use essential oils like lavender or mugwort. Also, she said selenite is a good dreaming crystal, and can be programmed to help with dreams.

She. also, said we only tend to remember dreams for about 10 minutes after waking unless we make an effort to remember. The recommendations to help remember dreams are: to keep a journal by the bed to write in; use a voice activated tape recorder; mentally program yourself, crystal, or water to remember;
stretch and move your body to find the position you were in when you had the dream to re-activate it.

She went on to say that dreams are portals to other realms. We can program ourselves to go into the past or future as time isn't linear. We might have dreams that include past lives, the present and the future since time folds.

She brought forth two concepts that I hadn't consider before. One if you overcome a fear in the dreamstate this will transfer over into your waking life as part of your brain can't tell the difference between them. It made sense when she talked about the chemical state in the brain being the same.

The second concept was the more you astral travel during your dreamtime the more freedom you have. This sense of freedom then translates into feeling more freedom in your waking life.

She ended the session with a powerful guided meditation in which we activated a dream shield to keep us safe during our travels, and met our dream guide. She was a maestro at weaving us into a very deep state of relaxation.

I truly enjoyed the evening. I left with tools and ideas that I could use, and points to ponder.

If you are interested in dreamwork I, also, recommend the book The Woman's Book of Dreams: Dreaming As a Spiritual Practice (good review at Soulful Living) by Connie Cockrell Kaplan. It is a unique, useful and inspiring book. She, also, has a website, Turtledreamers.

And, I recommend the many works of Robert Moss on dreaming. I particularly enjoyed Dreamways of the Iroquois as it includes some insights into my ancestry.
I, also, like reading his blog, The Robert Moss Blog.

As to my dream world, this past week I had a dream I was kidnapped and taken to a house where other women were, also, being held (there wasn't anyone I recognized or knew in the dream). Once inside the house, I looked around and saw junk food here and there, soda pop, etc. I said, "This will never do, I need you to get me some grass fed beef, eggs from range free hens, and my sharp cheese from Trader Joe's. The next dream sequence was me and the other women escaping from the house in the kidnapper's car.

I was heartened by the fact that even my subconscious insists that I eat healthy foods. I told the dream to a co-worker who and was sure after the kidnappers heard my demands just left the door open to get rid of me.

“Dreams are illustrations... from the book your soul is writing about you.” - Marsha Norman

Oh, one more piece from Denise Linn's talk: we can, also, just program ourselves to have fun while we are dreaming.

my sweet flights of astral fancy
realms of flying tigers and purple moons
sleep deeply there is more I wish to see

May you have pleasant, soulful dreams

Diwali Festival of Lights - Thank You Mother Lakshmi

 "Fortunate is the one who has learned to Admire, but not to envy. Good wishes for a joyous Diwali with a plenty of peace and prosperity." - Sakshi

It is time for me to celebrate more wonderful holy days, Diwali/Deepawali. It is celebrated in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. There is wonderful detailed information and at Karunamayi's website. And, here's a description from the website Diwali Festival:

Diwali is one of the biggest festival of Hindus, celebrated with great enthusiasm and happiness in India. The festival is celebrated for five continuous days, where the third days is celebrated as the main Diwali festival or 'Festival of lights'. Different colorful varieties of fireworks are always associated with this festival. On this auspicious day, people light up diyas and candles all around their house. They perform Laxmi Puja in the evening and seek divine blessings of Goddess of Wealth. The festival of Diwali is never complete without exchange of gifts. People present diwali gifts to all near and dear ones.

The Depawali or Diwali festival also marks the beginning of the new year according to the Hindu calendar, as the Ashwin month ends and the Kartik month begins on this day. According to Hindu reckoning, the date of Diwali falls on 15th day of the dark fortnight in the auspicious Hindu month of Kartik or the month of October/November in English calendar. This Diwali day falls on the amavasya or the no moon day.

This year some start this celebration on today, October 16 and some will start on October 17.

This celebration has personal significance to me as one of my beloved spiritual teachers, Sri Sadguru Sant Keshavadasi, gave me my spiritual name Lakshmi/Laxmi some 20 years ago. Amongst other things Lakshmi is known to be the aspect of the goddess that embodies prosperity, wealth, generosity and harmonious relationships. As I tend to be a "little" outspoken, spiritual friends at the time teased me about being given the name to balance me out, i.e. calling a tall person Shorty, as opposed to being an expression of who I am.

Now, after a significant period of time has passed I would both reasons are true. It is still a spiritual name I will be growing into for the rest of my life. And it is,also, one that expresses the many forms of prosperity I have experienced in this life in terms of friends, family, beloved spiritual teachers and the wonders that surround me in the world. I am truly blessed with abundance in many forms. Om Sreem Om. Thank you for your blessings for your profound blessings Guruji. Thank you for your magnificience Mother Lakshmi.

compassionate mother omnipresent
heart filled with grace and light
my soul is consumed with your love

 "In a gentle way, you can shake the world." - Mohandas Gandhi

May you have peace, prosperity and joy

October Book Club

 "I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library." - Jorge Luis Borges

Last night was my monthly Book Club. I greatly enjoyed seeing again Eleanor who had been away for part of the summer. It was satisfying and fun as always to see Mary and Kathleen.  We were missing Sandy, Jan, Claire, and Carol. Jan is off to fallen reunion in Oklahoma. Claire's sister is visiting, and are going a trip down the coast. Carol living a bit further away now wasn't going to be there.

But we hadn't heard anything from Sandy. I had especially waiting to see her for a number of reasons. First, it was she who recommended this months book, The Shack by Wiiliam P. Young. I was looking forward to telling her I loved it. ( a quote from the site, The shack book.com - "It offers one of the most poignant views of God and how he relates to humanity that has been written in our time.")

Also, I was looking forward to hearing her input on the book, about blogging, and her life in general. I found out reading email today she came and we missed each other. This is so sad. I am very sorry Sandy. We had to move to a different table in a different area than the one we normally sit at. We thought we were keeping an out of for Sandy though we hadn't had confirmation she would be there. When Kathleen found has in the other area I guess we had a false sense we weren't too hidden. Sandy, I think we failed you. It was a definite loss not to have your company, sense of humor, and insights.

We had a nice discussion about the book, our lives, health, jobs, computers. As always it was warm, stimulating, comfortable, and enriching time. Hopefully, we will see everyone at the November meeting. I am going out now to buy a health supplement recommended by Mary for joint pain, Sam-E, grapefruit (Kathleen mentioned eating them with eggs - it sounded so good). And tonight, thanks to Eleanor, I'll sign to use RSS at Google Reader, and investigate Google Wave.

For next month, we'll be reading Water For Elephants by Sara Guen. Mary asked that we add Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Stout to the Book Club reading list - I  see it won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2009. And, though I didn't didn't bring it up at Book Club, I am looking forward to adding a book by Pico Iyer to our reading list after enjoying his book, Abandon. I just haven't decide which one to suggest yet.

Currently, I am reading and enjoying a book by local author, Paul Loeb, Soul Of a Citizen: Living With Conviction In a Cynical Time. And, I am looking forward to reading some as yet selected mystery novel on the side.

"A book is the only place in which you can examine a fragile thought without breaking it, or explore an explosive idea without fear it will go off in your face.  It is one of the few havens remaining where a man's mind can get both provocation and privacy."  - Edward P. Morgan

May you find a little time to commune with a book

Burien's Pea Patch in the Art Space

"In my garden there is a large place for sentiment.  My garden of flowers is also my garden of thoughts and dreams.  The thoughts grow as freely as the flowers, and the dreams are as beautiful."  - Abram L. Urban

Sustainable Burien installed Community Gardens At Burien Interim Arts Space which I now is abbreviated as B/ IAS. The gardens as you might imagine added to feeling of being in a community space. I loved all the beautiful benches the gardens had.

If it were up to me, I love to see this interim space remain as part of this community with the imaginative art space and gardens.

I discovered the names of the artists and names of the works from the photos I posted yesterday can be found on the B/ IAS website. . . " An urban canvas for temporary art and community collaboration . . . "

simple heart center
gathering human spirit
growing edible love

"Of all the wonderful things in the wonderful universe of God, nothing seems to me more surprising than the planting of a seed in the blank earth and the result thereof." - Julie Moir Messervy

May you enjoy the bounty

Artistic Adventure - Burien Interim Arts Space

 "Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time." -
Thomas Merton

I had the pleasure of driving my friend Jan to the airport this morning. She is offer to join family for a reunion in Oklahoma. Hopefully a restful week for her sitting around the campfire at the lake, enjoying family comfort food and conversation.

For an excellent start to the journey, we had a delicious breakfast at a Mukilteo restaurant Patty's Eggnest. Besides the food being just plain good, they win extra points from me for including fresh fruit as an option (at no extra charge) in place of hash browns.


We had a typical autumn day as background. Started sunny out, massively poured rain during breakfast, stopped before we left the restaurant, drizzling as we drove south, sunny again by the time I left Jan at the airport, pouring rain right after I took these photos. Weather here in Washington is still sometimes an enigma to the former Californian. It can literally be rainy one block and sunny the next.

Since I was nearly in Burien,  I decided to visit a place I'd heard about downtown where artists took over a vacant lot as a temporary art space. I understand anyone who wants to can display/leave their artwork there.

I am delighted to share photos I took of this temporary sculpture park, Burien Interim Art Space. I found the information on the site at City Art Magazine in an article entitled Sudden Sculpture by Virginia Wright:

"The two-story-tall centerpiece of the site is The Passage, by Dan Das Mann and Karen Cusolito, which depicts a pair of figures constructed entirely of scrap and recycled metal. The larger figure passes liquid fire to the smaller one through enormous steel fingers."

It is so pleasing to see the development of this impromptu museum. Taking what appears to have been a parking lot and turning it into an eclectic outdoor exhibition. Had it not been for the impending rain (and already wet chairs) I would have been contented to sit there peacefully for sometime.

While for looking some information tonight about the artists whose work decorates the Art Space, I discovered another place I didn't know existed, the Monarch Sculpture Park. It is an 80-acre facility in the foothills of Mount Rainer, Tenino, Washington. This looks like a good place for a future adventure.

not with wild abandon
safe journey of discovery
curiosity mixed with a plan

"Art is an invention of aesthetics, which in turn is an invention of philosophers... What we call art is a game." - Octavio Paz

May you enjoy that which surrounds you

Bright Blue Day

"Everything I write comes from my childhood in one way or another. I am forever drawing on the sense of mystery and wonder and possibility that pervaded that time of my life." - Kate DiCamillo

wistful rememberings of the past
buttered spaghetti and bacon
childhood crawling through my mind

"Whatever we write on the hearts of our children is not erased by
time." - Author unknown

Columbus Day or Thanksgiving

 "Grace isn't a little prayer you chant before receiving a meal. It's a way to live." -Jackie Windspear


I paused a little longer than usual today to reflect on the fact that we "celebrate" Columbus Day. I always take note, but usually with a feeling of sadness wondering with deaths and tragedies that occurred with this "discovery" why this would be considered a holy day. I rather liked Venezuela's celebrating the Day of Indigenous Resistance (Dia de la Resistencia Indigena); or maybe the Costa Rican Day of the Cultures (Dia de las Culturas). Most my life celebrating Columbus' arrival here as discovery seemed like an affront to the indigenous peoples and their sufferings.

Though I don't sense a fond connection to this holiday, I realize I wasn't there when it all happened. I can acknowledge sailing so far from Europe to reach these lands was a daunting task, and a major accomplishment. Blending of cultures has always caused unforeseen changes both destructive and magnificent as has our need for more, "better", different.

cultures collide, clash, and blend
sparking indeterminable change
becoming euroamerican legacy me

I decided that it is easier to take a Canadian path today for my heart is healthy in a state of gratitude:

“A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed … to be observed on the 2nd Monday in October."

"When eating bamboo sprouts, remember the man who planted them." - Chinese Proverb

May you find a reason for giving thanks today and, hopefully, everyday