The Soul Mantra

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

Diversity - Spritually Satisfying

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." - Maya Angelou

I went to the Interfaith Service at Lynnwood, WA, Unity Church tonight. First, I was delighted to see what a beautiful church they have with long open windows that allow you to feel you are in a grove as you are surrounded with a view of trees.

It was the 15th year this congregation had held this service. The prayer theme was Reach In Reach Out We Can Change the world. This was the perfect service for me. The music was a beautiful blend of voices, languages, traditions. The harmonizing of the voices was pleasing even more so was the weaving of Hindu, Islam, and English lyrics.

A representative of the Islamic faith sang a beautiful Muslim prayer, a Buddhist teacher read an inspiring poem, there was a Native prayer to the 4 directions, a Cherokee morning song, an African prayer, a Jewish prayer, a Hindu prayer. Each nourishing in a different way touching parts of my soul. Some familiar, some totally new experiences. And the ending prayer was the beloved favorite below:

Prayer of St. Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen.

My first visit was very emotionally & spiritually satisfying. Thank you, Mary, for opening the door that brought me to this experience.

late night silent prayers
morning prayers aloud
all prayers awash with love

World Prayer Day & The Lords Prayer

I felt a good beginning to World Pray Day for me was sharing the Lords Prayer as the King James version was the first prayer I ever learned. As a child of about 10, I felt smug learning this prayer from a small prayer book given to me for free by a man on a street corner in Redondo Beach, California. I can remember siting on my front porch reciting it to myself. Not having be raised in any religion, I still felt a connection to this prayer. That connection only deepened and widened as an adult when someone shared the translation from Aramaic with me.

Below are three translations of the Lord's Prayer from a wonderful site The Nazarene Way. There is a great deal of information about the evolution of this prayer plus other translations at their site.

Lords Prayer, from the original Aramaic
Translation by Neil Douglas-Klotz in Prayers of the Cosmos

O Birther! Father- Mother of the Cosmos
Focus your light within us - make it useful.
Create your reign of unity now-
through our fiery hearts and willing hands
Help us love beyond our ideals
and sprout acts of compassion for all creatures.
Animate the earth within us: we then
feel the Wisdom underneath supporting all.
Untangle the knots within
so that we can mend our hearts' simple ties to each other.
Don't let surface things delude us,
But free us from what holds us back from our true purpose.
Out of you, the astonishing fire,
Returning light and sound to the cosmos.
Amen.

Lords Prayer, from Aramaic into Old English

Translation by G.J.R. Ouseley from The Gospel of the Holy Twelve

Our Father-Mother Who art above and within:
Hallowed be Thy Name in twofold Trinity.
In Wisdom, Love and Equity Thy Kingdom come to all.
Thy will be done, As in Heaven so in Earth.
Give us day by day to partake of Thy holy Bread, and the fruit of the living Vine.
As Thou dost forgive us our trespasses, so may we forgive others who trespass against us.
Shew upon us Thy goodness, that to others we may shew the same.
In the hour of temptation, deliver us from evil.
Amun.

The Lord's Prayer Dated 1611 AD (King James Bible)

Our father which art in heauen,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen.
Giue us this day our daily bread.
And forgiue us our debts as we forgiue our debters.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliuer us from euill.
Amen.

"For all that has been, thanks; to all that will be, yes." Dag Hammarskjold

Mother's Flowers - Mother's Home

"Love the animals, love the plants, love everything. If you love everything, you will perceive the divine mystery in things. Once you perceive it, you begin to comprehend it better every day. And you will come at last to love the whole world with an all-embracing love." - Fyodor Dostoyensky

Also, discovered on the film from the old disposable camera, were more wonderful gifts - pictures I took on a trip to Chicago - I think that was 2006. I decided to go to visit the city my mother grew up it. I went to find my mother old house. What I found as close to old address as I could figure was an empty lot overgrown with grass. Thinking of my mother, I looked more closely and felt connected to her as I saw a little grouping of small purple flowers. Perfectly poetic.

Nithyananda, Sweet Stories & Perspective

A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a cathedral. ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupery

How much is reality? How much our perspective?

Three small sweet stories told by Nithyananda on his blog - Nithyananda Newsletter

("We all are ready to categorize and label all that we see in our lives. In the event, we simply rob life of its spontaneity. We categorize people, places, situations, everything that comes our way.")

A man once went to a movie theatre to watch a film.
The film started with the caption(logo) of a famous International Studio, which had produced that film.
The man said to himself, “Oh! I’ve seen this movie before!” and got up and walked away.


One man went to Switzerland for a holiday and returned after a month.
He met his friend one evening and decided to go out for a meal.
The friend asked him, “So did you enjoy the beautiful scenery in Switzerland?”
The man replied, “Yes, kind of. But the mountains kept coming in the way.”


("Anything that you see becomes merely a supportive argument to your already formed conclusions.")

One man was telling his friend, “Do you know, I really made a fool of myself.”
The friend asked, “Why, what happened?”
The man said, “I replaced ten cracked windows in my house and then discovered that I had a crack in my glasses!”

How nice it is to look at things with a fresh perspective. Every moment has it's own unique flavor whether we recognize it or not. I've just eaten a handful of beautiful rich red cherries. All delicious yet none of them the exact same taste - the mixture of sweet & sour shifts bite to bite changing in complexity. Each moment an intersection of who we are mixed with all the elements seen and unseen - simply infinite.

On Home & Possesions

A wonderful quote from On Possessions in the book Simple Truths: Clear & Gentle Guidance on the Big Issues in Life by Kent Nerburn that I am currently reading (and recommend).

"We wake up one day and find ourselves surrounded by possessions that mean nothing to us. Our freedom gone; our lightness of being is gone. In their place is a sense of responsibility and ownership. We have become curators of our own cluttered reality."

Wicked good line - curator of our own cluttered reality. It struck "home" for me as I have yet to master the art of decluttering. While have possessions that I love and use, there are those that are strewn about in piles (papers to file), and tucked in drawers and closets "in case". In what case, I would actually need a particular broken item I don't know.

I am, continually, hopeful that I am letting go of more unused and unneeded items  than I am carting home. Wouldn't it be amazing to only be surrounded by beloved items all in their own sacred places? Guess I could just love everything that's here. Huh, could be easier than another trip to Goodwill after all.

And, now, as Swami Nithyananda(Swamiji) would say A small story - a true one he told us at a retreat this year:

There was a man who was very rich and seeking enlightenment. He decided to give away all his possessions, become a monk, and live at one of the monasteries Swamji was staying at when he was younger. This man would get up every morning and go sit on the same piece of earth. He would become very disturbed if anyone else tried to sit there.

So letting go of physical possessions is neither a requirement or the way to enlightenment. The man was still attached to what he believed he owned - A spot.

May your love your surroundings and hold your home as sacred

Ordinary and Profound

I received the following quote in an email from a friend, Eleanor, who has been away for the summer:

just tonight i emailed the following from Wilde's De Profundis to a friend:

"Society, as we have constituted it, will have no place for me, has none to offer; but Nature, whose sweet rains fall on unjust and just alike, will have clefts in the rocks where I may hide, and secret valleys in whose silence I may weep undisturbed. She will hang the night with stars so that I may walk abroad in the darkness without stumbling, and send the wind over my footprints so that none may track me to my hurt: she will cleanse me in great waters, and with bitter herbs make me whole."
 
I was and am quite touched by this beautifully worded, poignant quote. I decided to read the rest of the essay. It was filled with many interesting thoughts about life, artists, and prison. As he kept referring to prisom and prison, I shuttered at thought of being locked away in a small space in a small room.
 
Then, a flip of perspective flitted into a view. Here I was visiting at a laptop in a small room for hours, sometimes days (inside my apartment). Yet, the whole natural world was only a few feet away, such abundance. Why do I, we sit in little boxes when we could be out tasting, touching, smelling, seeing a multiple of things. Why do we so often choose sameness over variety, newness, freshness. I admit to loving comfort, but do I want it to be to the exclusion of life and real physical world interaction. And even though I am endlessly fascinated by the myriad of ideas, places, and pictures that come across this magical screen, I don't think any of them can take the place of depth of the natural world. A picture of bacon just doesn't taste the same as the real thing.

For a perfect ending a quote sent to me by my friend Jan:
 
"What's left? Everything." - Anonymous

May you taste the goodness of life

Meeting God - A Vendanta Story

From the wonderful website: Spiritual Pearls: Stories & Articles Based On Vedanta

The Boy Who Wanted To Meet God...

There once was a little boy who wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with Twinkies and a six-pack of root beer, and he started his journey.

When he had gone about three blocks, he met an old woman. She was sitting in the park, staring at some pigeons. The boy sat down next to her and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the old lady looked hungry,so he offered her a Twinkie. She gratefully accepted it and smiled at him. Her smile was so pretty that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered her a root beer. Once again, she smiled at him. The boy was delighted. They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, yet they never said a word.

As it grew dark, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave.Before he had gone more than a few steps,he turned around, ran back to the old woman and gave her a hug. She gave him her biggest smile ever.

When the boy opened the door to his own home a short time later,his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face.

She asked him, "What did you do today that made you so happy? He replied, "I had lunch with God."But before his mother could respond, he added,"You know what? She's got the most beautiful smile I've ever seen!"

Meanwhile, the old woman, also radiant with joy, returned to her home.Her neighbor was stunned by the look of peace on her face,and she asked,"What did you do today that made you so happy?" She replied, "I ate Twinkies in the park with God." But before her neighbor responded, she added, "You know, he's much younger than I expected."

I am thinking about how much I love stories from all traditions, how they slide through a different door of consciousness, melt my heart, make me feel warm and wise.

And, I'm remembering of a favorite quote of many years by Gandhi: "If you don't see God in the next person you meet you won't see him anywhere."

To all the beautiful souls out of there, may you enjoy the stories that fill your life.

Installing Love - National Center for Jewish Healing

From a wonderful website: The National Center for Jewish Healing

INSTALLING LOVE
Customer Service Rep (CS Rep): Yes, Ma'am, how can I help you today?
Customer: Well, after much consideration, I've decided to install LOVE. Can you guide me through the process?
CS Rep: Yes, I can help you. Are you ready to proceed?
Customer: Well, I'm not very technical, but I think I'm ready to install now. What do I do first?
CS Rep: The first step is to open your HEART. Have you located your HEART ma'am?
Customer: Yes I have, but there are several other programs running right now. Is it okay to install while they are running?
CS Rep: What programs are running ma'am?
Customer: Let's see, I have PAST-HURT.EXE, LOW-ESTEEM.EXE, GRUDGE.EXE, and RESENTMENT.COM running right now.
CS Rep: No problem. LOVE will gradually erase PAST-HURT.EXE from your current operating system. It may remain in your permanent memory, but it will no longer disrupt other programs. LOVE will eventually overwrite LOW-ESTEEM.EXE with a module of its own called HIGH-ESTEEM.EXE. However, you have to completely turn off GRUDGE.EXE and RESENTMENT.COM. Those programs prevent LOVE from being properly installed. Can you turn those off ma'am?

6 Customer: I don't know how to turn them off. Can you tell me how?
CS Rep: My pleasure. Go to your Start menu and invoke FORGIVENESS.EXE. Do this as many times as necessary until GRUDGE.EXE and RESENTMENT.COM have been completely erased.
Customer: Okay, done. LOVE has started installing itself automatically. Is that normal?
CS Rep: Yes. You should receive a message that says it will reinstall for the life of your HEART. Do you see that message?
Customer: Yes I do. Is it completely installed?
CS Rep: Yes, but remember that you have only the base program. You need to begin connecting to other HEARTS in order to get the upgrades.
Customer: Oops. I have an error message already. What should I do?
CS Rep: What does the message say?
Customer: It says "ERROR 412 - PROGRAM NOT RUNNING ON INTERNAL COMPONENTS." What does that mean?
CS Rep: Don't worry that's a common problem. It means that the LOVE program is set up to run on external HEARTS but has not yet been run on your HEART. It is one of those complicated programming things, but in non-technical terms it means you have to "LOVE" your own machine before it can "LOVE" others.
Customer: So what should I do?
CS Rep: Can you pull down the directory called "SELF-ACCEPTANCE"?
Customer: Yes, I have it.
CS Rep: Excellent. You're getting good at this.
Customer: Thank you.
CS Rep: You're welcome. Click on the following files and then copy them to the "MY HEART" directory: FORGIVE-SELF.DOC, REALIZE-WORTH.TXT,and ACKNOWLEDGE-LIMITATIONS.DOC. The system will overwrite any conflicting files and begin patching any faulty programming. Also, you need to delete VERBALLY-SELF-CRITIC.EXE from all directories, and then empty your recycle bin afterwards to make sure it is completely gone and never comes back.
Customer: Got it. Hey! My HEART is filling up with new files. SMILE.MPG is playing on my monitor right now and it shows that PEACE.EXE, and CONTENTMENT.COM are copying themselves all over my HEART. Is this normal?
CS Rep: Sometimes. For others it takes a while, but eventually everything gets downloaded at the proper time. So, LOVE is installed and running. You should be able to handle it from here. One more thing before I go . . .
Customer: Yes?
CS Rep: LOVE is freeware. Be sure to give it and its various modules to everybody you meet. They will in turn share it with other people and they will return some similarly cool modules back to you.

Customer: I will. Thanks for your help. By the way, what's your name?
CS Rep: You can call me the Divine Cardiologist, also known as The Great Physician, but most call me God(dess). Most people feel that all they need is an annual checkup to stay heart-healthy, but the manufacturer (Me) suggests a schedule of daily maintenance for maximum efficiency. Put another way, keep in touch.

Rabbi Isaac N. Trainin Bikur Cholim Coordinating Council 212-399-2685 ext. 229 or 212 www.bikurcholimcc.org

From my heart to your hearts

Nourishment

"Don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. and then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." - Harold Whitman

Nourishment comes in many forms. Friends, recreation , work, reading or simply watching the wind moving through the trees are all or can soul filling sources of pleasure and replenishment. There are times that I am passionately engaged in work, delicious moments of accomplishment and satisfaction. Everything is in alignment. I am grateful to be of service.

Learning has, also, had a draw with many benefits and new ideas. I found these sites to assist with improving all types of drawing skills beginner to advanced: GFX Artist and Drawspace.

Most of us think of food in relationship to nourishment. So here's my fun recipe for today: 1 cup of plain yogurt, 1 cup of pitted chopped prunes, 1 Tablespoon of Garam Masala spice, 1/4 cup sesame oil, 1/4 agave nectar. Yummy thick fruit dip - Spicy Plum Dip.

As I write, a new creation is simmering of the stove romaine lettuce, rice, carrot, tahini, crushed ginger, crushed garlic, dulse, toasted sesame seeds and whatever else comes to mind to add in after I taste it. I cook rather like I paint or draw adjust on expected elements until it "tastes" just right or until I sense the creation has become what it intended to be- Maybe Tahini Rice Stew? So good to be in the flow.

May you enjoy the moments of being.

Joy of The Path

"Rules of the Road: What appears to be a detour may be the most important leg of the journey." Judy Cannato

If it not how what just fun, enjoyment. I remember being told in the past the true nature of the soul is joy. It's great to is see the richness in moments, it can be easy that you can imagine to let your heart sing.

I had fun with the site One Word, 60 sixty to write in response to a word; Mr. Picasso Head, free drawing pad; reading a wonderful blog - Artists Who Blog which has interviews with artists. Also, enjoyed the sound and smell of rainy day, the taste of my Palek Paneer steaming over rice (MTR makes a tasty ready made Palek Paneer) the sweetness of the apple juice, the feel of the soft cushion of this chair supporting me.

"Love talked about can be easily turned aside, but love demonstrated is irresistible." Stan Mooneyham

May you learn to love the moments.

Belonging

"Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one." June Howard

I just enjoyed an evening with friends at my Book Club. It's is always interesting to be around these intelligent, insightful women. I am equally amazed at what we have in common, and our ability to see things different. We have a nice camaraderie, and tonight a bit of reminiscing about the beginning of our journey - no rules except you didn't have to read the book, you could eat during the meeting, and you could bring kids. Some people believe there needs to be more structure for groups to function well. We have been meeting for about 10 years, we even passed on picking a name other than Book Club. It still works. I am grateful to these women sharing their lives, hearts, minds, and ideas with me.

Ancient Heartfires

I want to share one of the stories I witnessed that was deeply touching though I can only repeat the grandmother's words from my memory. One of the grandmother's came to the microphone because she had somehting to share with us. She said there was a young woman who lived near where our gathering was being held. She heard the drumming from the daily sacred fire rituals on the beach from her balcony. What she heard was frigthening to her at first. Then she became curious, and Thursday (which just happened to be the Blessing for the Youth) she came down to the Sacred Fire and talked the grandmothers. She told them she was adopted. She, also, knew her ancestry was Cherokee, but she knew nothing of her birth family or about her native heritage. Grandmother spoke, "I asked her to come here this morning." She asked the young woman and her mother to step forward, then she called on all the Cherokee grandmothers to come forward to meet and be with their new granddaughter. Myself and those sitting around me had tears welling up. This brave young woman, this brave mother coming admist strangers and being accepted and enfolded into a new family.

Then one of the Cherokee grandmothers stepped gently face to face with this young woman. She told her own story of not knowing her people or her heritage because it was illegal for her granfather to acknowledge his Cherokee ancestry. She told how she, too, had been adopted by a Cherokee grandmother. This grandmother had hand knitted her a shawl. She took off the beautiful shawl she had been wearing, and gave it to her new granddaughter. She was given other gifts of welcome & acknowledgment.

She was. also, adopted by the 13 Indigenous Grandmothers. I believe we were all very moved by what we witnessed, One of the grandmothers in a heartfelt plea asked us to remember to reach out to all the children everywhere. I thought about how much we want to belong, and the ways we manifest that longing from book clubs to gangs. And how simple and profund and outpouring of love and acceptance really is.

On The Theme of Kindness

Found of the website World of Inspiration:

“It is well to remember that the entire universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others.”

John Andrew Holmes

Found of the website Kindness Rewarded:

Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.
~ Scott Adams

They, also, have stories of kindness, and you can submit your stories of kindness there.

There's a creative article in Women's Day - Improve Your Mood in 5 minutes I enjoyed. It's been a while since I've read their magazine. It is current and inspiring. Here's just a snippet of one of their suggestions:

2. Make up a ridiculous story. If someone is fueling your sour mood, create a goofy character in your head based on that person.

If that interests you, see the rest of number 2 and others at their site.

Edging towards better spending habits, I enjoyed a wonderful homemade carrot, cabbage, garlic and greens soup/stew with veggies from Earthbound Farms. Simple throw in the pot meal yet so delicious.

Community Plug – Third Place Books

From their website:

The Story of Third Place Books

Sociologist Ray Oldenberg's book The Great Good Place suggests that to lead a rewarding life, each of us needs three places. First is the home. Second is the workplace or school. Beyond lies the place where people from all walks of life and all social levels interact, experiencing and celebrating their commonality as well as their diversity. It is a third place.

Welcome to Third Place Books--the deliberate and intentional creation of a community of booklovers, a fun, comfortable and safe place to browse, linger, lounge, relax, read, eat, laugh, play, talk, listen and just watch the world go by.
We invite you to make Third Place Books your third place.


It is a wonderful community gathering place in Lake Forest Park, WA, Third Place Books, with five restaurants. My current favorite is Honey Bear Bakery cause I love their Bacon Lettuce Tomato & Avocado sandwich with aioli dressing. Good quality food.

They offer lectures & book signing by visiting authors. They have hosted such people as Deepak Chopra, Paul McCartney, Alan Alda, Judy Collins, Larry Dossey, Dr. Phil as well as many local authors.

Friday & Saturday nights they have free live music. There is a dance floor. They bring a diverse array of bands from folk, jazz, rock, swing. If you want to feel things are right in the world, Friday nights at Third Place Books is a good place to be. There are some awesome local dancers to watch as well as listen to the bands.

Everyday for kids and those of us artistically inclined, there is large roll of brown "butcher" place ready to have a piece torn off, and large tub of crayons to go with us. There is, also, a large chessboard with pieces two foot or so high.

And then there is the free wireless

Thank you, Third Place Books, you have created a comfortable and comforting community.

Since it's Friday, you'll mostly like find me there tonight enjoying the music and celebratory feeling.

Grateful

With the switch over to digital TV, I now listen to radio more than I used to since I have randomly pixelated TV reception.

I was delighted to wake up to a show on National Public Radio with someone talking about Tofino, British Columbia. I missed who the speaker was but was thrilled to listen to him describe Tofino as the most laid back place in British Columbia. It brought for wonderful memories and a great sense of enjoyment.

I next listened to The Witer's Almanac with Garrison Keillor. I heard a poem I thoroughly enjoyed by David Budbill from his book Judevine, "Ben". The whole poem is on NPR's site and the link to purchase the book is there, also. I just want to share a portion and encourage to use the links for more. This is from middle of the poem:

Ben is a cynic in the Greek and philosophic sense,
one who gives his life to simplicity
seeking only the necessities
so he can spend his days
in the presence of his dreams.

I loved this as well as other parts and the poem as a whole. I feel blessed to have heard it, and it spoke to me.

With such a good beginning, decided to cook a favorite easy breakfast for myself: poached eggs with Trader Joe's Crumbled Gorgonzola Cheese, garlic, butter over Dave's Killer Bread Good Seed Spelt. I decided it sounds like I must work for a health food company. I don't now, but I did spend 5 years as a manager of health food, vitamin, and metaphysical bookstore. And, the new thought I had today if I get more entertaining, have a more glamorous site with higher traffic and decided to have ads on my page maybe they'll be for health foods. That would be cool, if I did it.

I went to look for a picture of Tofino wolves that used to hang on my wall so I could put it up again. The photographer is Jacqueline Windh. She has a two books out now, and a blog for Tofino.

As I remember many good things, I know it is time to carry some things off for recycling to the thrift shop, I either have a clearer or be ready to move.

I AM BLESSED

I was feeling very stressed this morning as the novelty of having less hours to work translates to a major loss of income. The word shattered keeps popping into my head. My plans to move thwarted as now I won't qualify income wise for either the apartments I was looking at nor the bigger more precarious plan of buying a condo. Then I have to think if my plans are shattered that easily how solid were they to begin with. If I really want to move, I probably qualify for low income housing. And I am missing seeing a friend who is taking some well deserved time for self-nourishment and replenishment.

With the temperature in my apartment at 80 degrees, and the NW standard of no air conditioner, it was a great time to go out for body and soul. As I am still far from the frugal person I may become, I had a wonderful lunch at one of my favorite places, PCC Natural Food Market, and took a jaunt down to Marine Park in Edmonds.

There was a satisfying, cool breeze blowing in from the south. However, I was not the only one with the idea of enjoying such a prime location. The shady places were all inhabited. After luxuriating with ample breeze, gorgeous sound views on a wonderfully supportive bench, I could feel the beginning of the sun burning my skin. I turned tail back to the car, and on to the next exciting hunt for cool.

An easy pick. Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park, WA is just the place. Again, I'm not alone here. It is an intended community gathering place, large roomy, wooden tables, free wireless internet, books new and used, and a food court. Could I want for more? Well, maybe a couch & TV.

Still a little dejected, checking Twitter. To my utter delight and amazement, the number 1 trending topic at the moment #Iamblessed. It is so exciting to see this instant messaging system used this way. What a mood shifter, and opportunity to remember and here the truth about what's right in the world. I left the site only now as the server timed out (I imagine from the larger response). I will go back to participate in being thankful as I am blessed, very blessed.

Temple Of Hathor - Loving Kindness

Yesterday right before I posted the picture of a pillar from the Temple of Hathor in the Valley of The Kings in Egypt, I saw a bumper sticker that read "Loving Kindness Is My Religion."

That is really what I would like my "religion" to be. It made me think of this one picture I have left from a trip I was blessed to take with friends and church group to Egypt in the 1980's. I still remember being transfixed in front of the pillar for a reason that was unkown. Our guide finally came up to me and translated the hieroglyphs, read from left to right, as Life is to give love consciously. Whether thousands of years ago, or on a modern car bumper it is still a sentiment and feels good to the soul.

Now remembering, and acting in accordance with sentiment aren't always in sync. If I keep edging closer every chance I get, I believe I will closer to who I am.

I would love to give up blaming, whining, and false beliefs about injustice when faced with unwanted change. So I will begin by reminding myself of what has always been true in my life. There are always blessings to every change. I will continue to fret or agonize over finances and the dire consequences there of because it is part of who I am, a worrier. I will, also, continue to enjoy the luxury of extra time, new opportunities, new places and new paths as I am, also, grateful and appreciative of many simple things in life, like breathing, sunshine, rain, wind, trees, rocks, and people.

Namaskara= I bow to the God in you that is the same God in me

Many blessings