may we...

... stay forever young

Apocalypse does not point to a fiery Armageddon but to the fact that our ignorance and our complacency are coming to an end…

What is the kingdom? It lies in our realization of the ubiquity of the divine presence in our neighbors, in our enemies, in all of us.

We're in a freefall into future. We don't know where we're going. Things are changing so fast, and always when you're going through a long tunnel, anxiety comes along.

And all you have to do to transform your hell into a paradise is to turn your fall into a voluntary act. It's a very interesting shift of perspective and that's all it is...

joyful participation in the sorrows and everything changes.

- Joseph Campbell, from Thou Art That and Sukhavati

enough

Sonlight and Summer, doing what they graciously did, grazing (being).

I WISH YOU ENOUGH

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.

I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.

~ Author Unknown

walkabout

helloooooo...

this pic is inspired by a talk I recently heard from Pema Chödrön

where she gave the image of intense emotion as the water raging in a river.

becoming swept along *in* the water is a form of distraction,

while observing the water (emotion) from the riverbank

actually allows us to connect and *be with* it.

many of us are conditioned to believe it's the other way 'round.

as if we're not truly feeling an emotion if its intensity doesn't envelop our whole being.

we are human, we slip into the river from time to time

and get bounced around on the river rocks.

in simply becoming aware of this

we see that we have the choice to come ashore

and in doing so, allow ourselves

to also see and possibly release whatever is drawing or holding us in the water,

be it fear of the emotion itself, guilt, unhealthy habit, beliefs, etc.,

and see the whole of the situation more fully and compassionately.

(my interpretation)

a wish for us all.

☀

in and out.

oh, for goodness sake...

if we're going to smile, how about trying it like this!

I smile like a flower not only with my lips

but with my whole being.

Rumi

note to self: the

'act as if', or

'fake it til you become it'

approach could come in handy here

like a bird

on the wire...

we are...

Humankind has not woven the web of life.

We are but one thread within it.

Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves.

All things are bound together.

All things connect.

~ Chief Seattle, 1854

♡

sea-ing

shortly before this, he was not too keen on playing in the water,

or on being apart from mommy...

amazing what we are capable of when given the space

to stretch the limits of our comfort zones,

and the gentle encouragement to try new experiences...

☀

we learn to tap into our true potential

and from that, infinite possibilities arise...

 uncle ray helped him to fly

an experience that is a little frightening, but thrilling at the same time
(fear and excitement bring about physiologically similar responses in our bodies)

conquering fear,

we feel good, feel accomplished.

  going a little too far is often how we find our edge.
finding our outer limits that each moment brings is the larger practice.
if we embrace these limits and *sea* them for what they are,
we allow our edges to become less solidified...

running in water is an adjustment
legs don't move as fast as they do on land but the first time we encounter this
it is natural for our mind to still think they will carry us in the same way...
we can only see that our legs didn't fail us, the sea is not a bad place,
when we give ourselves the space
to be imperfect
we are not meant to get things right on the first try, every time,
nor to be perfect...

 we can always just pause, shift gears, retreat for a while...
know that it is enough for now

and still feel good, feel accomplished.

like horses after an exciting experience, going back to grazing.
this is the part most of us are not trained to do in our culture,
we are not taught the value of grazing!
if we are constantly pushing ourselves, we are only learning to push more,
we are literally

~ training in never be-ing enough ~

*just be-ing*
is the only way true awareness and wisdom about our experiences arises.

(he embraced getting sandy which he also wasn't keen on at first!)

sharing what we have learned by helping others to also face their fears
we are marking our progress, building confidence
and reassuring loved ones that we are okay, we are learning, this is all a part of living.

mentors and teachers come in all sizes, even (especially) at a year and a half young...

this now 3 year-old continues to splash, and play, stumble, and graze

in a loving, supportive container

every day he is learning more about himself
and to trust his own experience with the world.

what's more important in life than that...

☀

may we all practice *sea-ing* the seeds of possibility

that have been planted in our own lives.

some may need more cultivation than others,

but trust that they are there...

☀☀☀

The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears or the sea.

~Isak Dinesen

☀☀☀☀☀☀

There's a rhythm under the song...

And it beats for the old and the young

And it pounds in the back of the sun

It's the sound of one drummer, one drum

There's a rhythm, it's subtle yet strong

And it moves all the wallflowers on

To the dance floor that holds everyone

To the sound of one drummer, one drum

Dance, for the time marches on

Off to a war that can never be won

To the heartbeat of drums

There's a rhythm, not cruel or kind

Though you feel that it's left you behind

Is it justice or you, that is blind

When you don't see it coming, how come?

There's a rhythm under the song

And it beats for the old and the young

And it pounds in the back of the sun

It's the sound of one drummer, one drum

~Ron Sexsmith

☀

less is more

always in life
the moments that matter are where thought ends;
they appear in nonsense,
as lightning in sunlight,
as a burst of laughter over a cup of tea.
- christmas humphreys

buddhist compliment

yesterday, I had a chance encounter at a coffee shop with Boston Bill, and we ended up talking about the difficulties that come with attachment (one particular situation for him was obviously losing a limb, but we both related to the broad range of physical and non-physical attachments) to anything not functioning well...

it was not a heavy, deep conversation, but  in essence

lightness of our shared humanity over a cup of tea,

and I'd like you to meet this delightful fellow...

after our very uplifting and grounding chat (the refreshingly real kind with no elephants, like the kind you might/could have with a buddhist monk or a nun, no need to hide, you're already *seen* anyways), I was interested in learning more of the history of this traveler shining his light and living in possibility, and this article had a quote about how unexpectedly, not to mention at a personally uncomfortable time, the moment appeared when he simply had an opportunity to help someone else... which turned out to be transformative... reminded me how easy it is to be caught up in ourselves and our own situations that we miss these

small miracles waiting to happen...

'The other cyclists continued on their way, leaving the grumpy white-haired man with his bike, his shoes, his artificial leg and his fear of appearing helpless.'

a fuller story and powerful short documentary of this fated friendship is shared here...

Life is what happens while we are making other plans.
Think less.

Feel more.

See the miracles in your own life. They are there.

Let life happen through, rather than to you... 

et cetera, et cetera...

♥

and when you must think...

come on now, ring that bell

What a force this woman is...

To be wrong all along and admit it is not amazing grace

When you're lost

you will toss every lucky coin you'll ever trust

more here, including another version of this song with guitars and strings that is a.w.e.s.o.m.e.

the hill I'm walkin' up is gettin' good and steep...

do I make myself a blessing to everyone I meet...

lionheart

Bouquets

One flower at a time, please

however small the face.

Two flowers are one flower

too many, a distraction.

Three flowers in a vase begin

to be a little noisy.

Like cocktail conversation,

everybody talking.

A crowd of flowers is a crowd

of flatterers (forgive me).

One flower at a time.

I want to hear what it is saying.

-robert francis

I was made this one-at-a-time way.

I am also part of my beautiful mama's garden.

Emotional overwhelm is something I am prone to.
At a younger age (and still to a lesser extent)
it was overwhelm from the feelings themselves.

I feel deeply and a lot.

As I age into my fourth decade,

'what to do' about intense feelings can overwhelm me.

Clearly, nothing needs to be done about the feelings themselves. They are what they are, indicators of what is going on under the surface, and a tremendous source of wisdom.

Engaging the courage to feel with the willingness to act is true assertiveness.

Lionheart ~ Kim McElroy

I was blessed to be at this

Live performance at the Hollywood Bowl in 2008.

It was also Overwhelming...

♥

sidewalks

♥

There is no way to peace.
Peace is the way.
A.J. Muste

Gentleness is a complex and powerful tool, and learning to work with this tool can be a slippery slope. To many of us, it's counter-intuitive to be gentle with ourselves, and gentleness is often wielded only as a soothing balm, when
its full potential is so much more.

Learning to use gentleness
in a skillful way is important work.

Gentleness when it comes to change is vital. This little story precisely describes the process, may it inspire some gentleness toward yourself and empower you to move through to your next chapter...

Autobiography in Five Short Chapters
Portia Nelson from There's a Hole in My Sidewalk

Chapter 1

I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in.
I am lost ... I am helpless.
It isn't my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.

Chapter 2

I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don't see it.
I fall in again.
I can't believe I am in the same place.
But it isn't my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.

Chapter 3

I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in ... it's a habit.
My eyes are open.
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.

Chapter 4

I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.

Chapter 5

I walk down another street.

"Solvitur en modo, Firmitur en rey"

Gentle in what you do,

Firm in how you do it

~    ~    ~
Disciplined Meditation is a How...
~    ~    ~

“Meditation is about seeing clearly the body that we have, the mind that we have, the domestic situation that we have, the job that we have, and the people who are in our lives. It’s about seeing how we react to all these things. It’s seeing our emotions and thoughts just as they are right now, in this very moment, in this very room, on this very seat. It’s about not trying to make them go away, not trying to become better than we are, but just seeing clearly with precision and gentleness.”

— Pema Chodron

my mama's garden
♥

new day dawning

the natural source of radiance and brilliance in this world

win win

i give it two (enthusiastic, heartfelt) thumbs up.

According to Matt Berninger, the band wrote this song after watching the film "Win Win" and becoming inspired by Tom McCarthy's themes of

"very normal and good people
trying to do their best
and the struggle to be good."

Lyrics:

I was drifting, crying
I was looking for an island
I was slipping under
I'll pull the devil down with me one way or another

I'm out of my mind; think you can wait?
I'm way off the line; think you can wait?

We've been running a sleepless run
Been away from the baby way too long
We've been holding a good night gone
We've been losing our exits one by one

I'm out of my mind; think you can wait?
I'm way off the line; think you can wait?

Did I?
(all I have is all)
Think you can wait?
Did I?
(all I have is all)
Think you can wait?

What I'm thinking is simple
I'll sell apples and ice water at the temple
I won't make trouble
I'll pull the devil down with me one way or another

We've been running a sleepless run
Been away from the baby way too long
We've been holding a good night gone
We've been losing our exits one by one

I'll try.
I'll try, but I couldn't be better.
(all I have is all)
I'll try, but I couldn't be better.
(all I have is all)
I'll try, but I couldn't be better.
(all I have is all)

sojourner

temporarily residing

Nature's music is never over;
her silences are pauses, not conclusions.
- Mary Webb
 

...there has to be...

good smile at the end, tom.

☀

“Hope and optimism are different.

Optimism tends to be based on the notion

that there's enough evidence out there to

believe things are gonna be better,

much more rational, deeply secular,

whereas hope looks at the evidence and says,

'It doesn't look good at all. Doesn't look good at all. Gonna go beyond the evidence to create new possibilities based on visions that become contagious to allow people to engage in heroic actions always against the odds,

no guarantee whatsoever.'

That's hope.

I'm a prisoner of hope, though.

Gonna die a prisoner of hope.”
― Cornel West 

one of the richest sharings of gratitude, humanity,
and wisdom in this interview, imo.
it's funny too, they have a good rapport.

some gems from Brother West, who considers himself 'blessed to have been invited to the banquet of life'

(much more enjoyable to listen to him,

he has a great laugh and spirit):

Blessed assurance, making a leap of faith,

stepping out on nothing

and landing on something...

He who has never despaired has never lived.

I make despair and catastrophe constant companions,

but I just don't allow despair to have the last word...

Ancestral appreciation,

feeling the love at your back...

 Persevering is the best we do,

just gonna love my way through the darkness...

Ritual has a role to play,

it's nice to stop everyday life

and have moments of deep meaning...

great reminders about cash,

an instrument for some greater cause, not an end...

and the legacy of Martin Luther King,

who also spoke of a religion based on being

maladjusted to greed, concerned about fairness,

maladjusted to indifference,
concerned about compassion,

and maladjusted to fear.
Instead it's courageous and tries to be hopeful...

☀

ours is in the trying, the rest is not our business.

-T.S. Eliot

magnifique!

“Many of Danielle Richard’s paintings feature a vista, a clearing,

a door, or a window through which a feminine gaze appears to flee,

but what it truly seeks is to delve into its most intimate being.”

♥

even though I don't understand French, I love listening to it.

this looks like a lovely presentation in Danielle's honour...

A bit of history about the origin of the word 'empathy' in Art that doesn't seem to be commonly known: In 1873, the art historian and philosopher Robert Vischer was the first person credited with using the German term Einfühlung to explain how we  'feel into' or the 'in-feeling of' works of arts and nature. His father, Friedrich Theodor Vischer, had previously used a similar term Einfühlen in explorations of Idealism relative to architectural form.

In the late 1800s the Father of Experimental Psychology William Wundt used empathy in terms of human relationships but still from an art-based position, saying 'when empathizing with a work of art, the beholder physically imitates the object and imaginatively projects himself into the object.'

A student of Wundt's, Theodor Lipps, transfered empathy to psychology in an attempt to explain how we discover that other people have selves, though he presented many examples from the visual arts, including 'when I observe a circus performer on a hanging wire, I feel I am inside him'.

Freud got in there then with 'putting oneself in another person's position', and in 1909, a psychologist named Edward Titchener translated Einfühlung into the adjective 'empathic' which he defined as the appreciation of another person's feelings, or the process of humanizing objects,

of reading or feeling ourselves into them.

From then on it seems like the art/aesthetic origin was no longer referred to, and around 1929 it started to get confusing when philosophers began arguing that empathy was more cognitive than emotional, and ever since then the lines between empathy and sympathy have been blurred, empathy commonly referring to cognitive function and sympathy to feeling, though they are often used interchangeably in today's society (this confusion clearly illustrated especially in the comments here). It also became a political tool; it can be very politically incorrect to be non-empathetic, and to be sympathetic has its own weakness/negative connotations as well.

I would like to see the downfalls of this confusion around

the word empathy and how it is being used as a distraction illustrated more clearly and spoken of more often,

as Edwin Friedman does in the fascinating book

A Failure of Nerve, where he says that the increased popularity of empathy is largely a symptom of the 'herding/togetherness forced characteristic of an

anxious society'.

I personally align with the earlier meaning of empathy in which I see the roots being represented aesthetically

('the science of feelings') through the arts as early (and likely even earlier) as the mid-1700's when Johann Georg Sulzer said that 'art is the expression of a psychological state of man; it imitates human nature in that it expresses nature through the representation of an object.'

Going with this version of empathy and distinguishing it from sympathy by defining it simply as having loyalty, support, or favor with, ultimately paves the way for less semantic confusion and more opportunity to...

throw all of this out the window!

and just be compassionate.

that is, recognize our shared humanity.

♥

Feel life.

Be life.

Accept life.