Clouds

"Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add colour to my sunset sky." - Rabindranath Tagore

painting space with pink and white
sky laced with wire and clouds
glimpsing a free and tethered life

I enjoyed my horoscope for this week in Seattle Weekly's Astrology column, Sign Language

Aquarius (Jan. 20–Feb. 18)

Speaking the truth isn't endearing. It's 90 percent more likely to earn you enemies (or frenemies) than telling polite falsehoods. However, your #1 goal in life shouldn't be to have everyone like you. It should be to abide by a set of principles and stick to them even when it's not easy. In this case, that means speaking an unpopular truth. Why, you may ask, does this burden so frequently fall on you? It's really simple: You're one of the few people who can clearly see the truth. Of those people, you're one of the even fewer who can properly articulate it. Of those people, you're one of the rarest of them all: someone with the courage to do exactly that.

I find it a flattering assessment that I philosophically agree with. However, in practice, it is not always easy to speak the truth. And so, I do my best to tell the truth as I judge it when I feel it is wise or when I just can't seem to hold my tongue. What my horocope have to do with clouds, nothing, of course. Both the beautiful sky and the interesting newsprint crossed paths with me today and brought points to ponder and savor. And here I am notating my day.

“In the sky, there is no distinction of east and west; people create distinctions out of their own minds and then believe them to be true.” - Buddha

May you have a moment to gaze at the sky

Happy Autumnal Equinox

"Youth is like spring, an over praised season more remarkable for biting winds than genial breezes.  Autumn is the mellower season, and what we lose in flowers we more than gain in fruits."  - Samuel Butler

luxury of time
watching crows sit
60 second eternity

Ah, time for cranberry sauce and pumpkin time, and wondering what this beautiful season will bring.

La Conner Day Trip

“
“The road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same. Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination.” Don Wlliams, Jr.

I took an opportunity this week to take a day trip up La Conner. It's a nice waterfront town with boutiques, galleries, restaurants, inns. And, There is the Museum of Northwest Art and the Quilt and Textile Museum.

I did a little browsing, but I spent most of the time at the waterfront along with some other people watching the heron on the dock. and boats going by.

After the visit, I stopped at a wonderful roadside stand, Snow Goose Produce, in fir island in skagit valley. They're known for their very large ("immodest") ice creams in home made waffle cones as well as produce, cheese, and other local products. Additonally, they prove themselves to be good global citizens caring items from cambodia that support the humanitarian organization C.A.R.E.

It's for this soul to get a change of scenery though beauty is everywhere.

residing in a moment
living inside a sunset
opening to the all now

“The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Contemplative Day

"Simplicity, patience, compassion.
These three are your greatest treasures.
Simple in actions and thoughts, you return to the source of being.
Patient with both friends and enemies,
you accord with the way things are.
Compassionate toward yourself,
you reconcile all beings in the world."
— Laozi (Tao Te Ching)

Yesterday was another good day for prayer, contemplation, remembrance, and a short road trip to a peaceful spot. I spent some time with the sun, grass and trees in Saint Edward State Park which was former Catholic Seminary. Picture of one of the buildings above.

crows squabble in trees
seaplane flows through clouds
sun dances in my heart

After this serene time, I went to Juanita Beach Friday Market with the view of Lake Washington and live music. Amidst the vibrant fruits, vegetables, flowers was a heartwarming sign over the vegetables - Do you need prayer, ask us to pray for us - we really want you to.

"The world is indeed full of peril and in it there are many dark places.
But still there is much that is fair. And though in all lands, love is now
mingled with grief, it still grows, perhaps, the greater." - J.R.R. Tolkien (The Lord of the Rings)

I have decided to include at least one "poem" each day. I shall have to look up the definition of poem . . .
later

why pretend to Haiku
I'm older and slower
three lines are easy,too

Downtown Chicago

chicagoland
jazzy lakeside town
mama's heart

"May you live every day of your life." — Jonathan Swift

Edmonds Ferry

"Remember what Bilbo used to say: It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to... J.R.R. Tolkien

Playing Haiku

Another Chicago photo of the L tracks and the street outside the Chicago hostel.

"We do not stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing." -Oliver Wendell Holmes

My new Haiku:

Crash, slam, wrinkle, crunch
Aluminum folding in
Trash compactor eats

Artist

The car paints the ground
Tire resting on dirt ridges
Mud caste masterpiece

"Humans think they are smarter than dolphins because we build cars and buildings and start wars etc...and all that dolphins do is swim in the water, eat fish and play around. Dolphins believe that they are smarter for exactly the same reasons." - Douglas Adams

Wishing you some time to play, and the heart to enjoy it.

Another Path - Haiku

Another picture from my Chicago journey, a pathway leading to Lake Michigan.

In my travels on the I have wandered across several sites just for Haiku. So here is my first go at it myself:

The breeze sings softly
The cat's tail wags ever faster
Watching leaves flying

I am grateful that I am willing to try new things, it opens new doors.

"Consciousness is always open to many possibilities because it involves play. It is always an adventure." Julian Jaynes

Chicago Street Sculpture ?

"The quest for certainty blocks the search for meaning. Uncertainty is the very condition to impel man to unfold his powers." - Erich Fromm

Another picture I took in downtown Chicago of something that fascinated me. However, I am clueless as to exactly what it was or where.

Chicago - A Mother Journey

"Our purpose here is to wake up, to begin to remember the powerful and loving beings we really are . . . " Shakti Gawain

The building behind the "L" train tracks is where I stayed in the HI-Chicago - youth/family hostel. I can recommend it as an inexpensive place to stay in a safe area right downtown close to Lake Michigan, and many other attractions. I started to post a straightened version of this photo. But even though it's askew, I like this one better.

It's was an interesting time to start at the hostel as there was a marathon on the weekend following my stay. So the hostel was packed, even more than normal, with athletes from around the globe. I do love being surrounded by a litany of different languages.

I spoke to a woman who used to live in Chicago, and then moved to what she referred to as the deep, deep south. She had come back "home" for a visit. She inquired as to why I had come. When I told her it because my mother had been born there, she responded with "ah, you're on a mother journey." Our conversation ended abruptly as she needed to go out. I never saw her again. I felt like she had been placed in my path to make me aware or affirm that I was in the right place. After riding the "L", and wandering around town, I felt I had a better sense of my mother. The city has a different pace, rhythm, feel than where I grew up in southern California. I enjoyed Chicago, riding the "L", and hope to visit again someday as there was a lot more to experience there.

"We search on our journeys, for a self to be, for other selves to love, for work to do . . ." Frederick Buechner

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.

Me & Rhonda Britten

Clearing out stuff can have unexpected positive results. I found a disposable camera whose film I had not taken to be developed when I finished shooting two years ago or more. Voila. Found the picture of me with the exceptional Rhonda Britten at the Discover U class she taught here in Seattle.

She is the fierce personal growth facilitator from my favorite (Emmy award winning) daytime reality show Starting Over House, and founder of Fearless Living.

I remember walking up for the picture only to be met with piercing eyes fully attentive, and the words, "I know you, I've seen you before. Tell me what you've done to change your life since I saw you, what was it, about a year and a half ago."

I don't remember my answer as much as being in awe of her memory and how fully present she was. I understand from her website she is doing a tour of U.S. cities which started August 29. I have seen magical changes and insights in people attending her classes - that is her intention - change happens in her presence. See her if you get an opportunity.

"Why would we not meet, not always as dyspeptics, to tell our bad dreams, but sometimes as eupeptics, to congratulate each other on the ever-glorious morning? I do not make an exorbitant demand, surely." Henry David Thoreau

It is a glorious morning, is it not? Now time for sleep and soft dreams.

Short Grandma Story

During the Grandmothers Council a basket is available to place questions in. On the day of Blessings for Youth, questions were by the children/little ones.

A young girl asked "What will you grandmothers do when there is peace." (First, I loved the question when, not if). A grandmother answered immediately, "Reforestation, plant trees everywhere, then sing, dance, laugh, celebrate and rest."

Long Ago

Karunamayi - A Beloved Teacher

Bhagavati Sri Sri Sri Vijayeswari Devi (Karunamayi) has been coming to the United States since 1995 to share her messages of love, universal and wisdom. I have been blessed to see her every year in the Seattle area. Her visits are always uplifting, inspirational mixed with practical information and tools for being a better human being.

"When asked ... why she had journeyed to the west, Amma replied simply that she views the entire world as one small house in which each country is just one small room." - Swami Vijayeswarananda

I love her perspective. It is good to have role models for loving kindeness. Jai Karunamayi.

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.

Tofino Wolves

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

Life Is To Give Love Consciously

From the Temple of Hathor in Eqypt

What Next?

"I beg you . . . to have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and . . .try to love the questions themselves like locked rooms and like books that are written in a foreign tongue. Do not seek the answers, which cannot be given to you because you would not be able to live with them. And the point is to live with them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will gradually, without noticing, live along some distant day into the answer." Rainier Maria Rilke in Letters To a Young Poet

I love benches particularly ones on or near the water. This photo is titled Waiting. I think of the Simon & Garfunkel song "Old Friends" when I see benches and the line from this song "sharing a park bench quietly." Thinking of my friend, Jan, it's her birthday today. Happy Birthday, my friend. Thank you for sharing the journey. It's great to know someone who can appreciate the beauty in each moment.

Whatever is "next" it will be fascinating.