Posted by Sierra
Woke up this morning dreaming there was a radio beeping low battery somewhere in the woods and I couldn't sleep or find it. Finally, actually woke and realized Jimmy's fire radio was doing that very thing- quite loudly while Perdido slept alongside it, ignoring it. The point I guess is that I did find the noise and turned it off. Always strange when the waking world enters the dream world...
Yesterday was St Patty's Day. I had been looking forward to it mostly because it was a day my brother always enjoyed and sometimes I use that to focus myself on deliberate time that I will make an effort to enjoy my life. I don't have any particular memory of us celebrating it together, but have a letter he wrote me a few years ago on that day. I woke up knowing it was a holiday and had jigs playing in my head. After days of beautiful spring rain that I also enjoyed- hiking into it with my husband and dog- enjoying the lovely soft light it cast in the house, - St Patty's day brought sunshine! Felt giddy and silly all morning, making up silly songs on the way to take Perdido to get her ears cleaned and nails trimmed. Back at the house singing made up songs to her about how much she shined after the bath we had given her. My giddiness a blessing at a time when I have been mostly too intense for this kind of silliness. Rooted through CD's to find my Irish Jigs and Reels and brought it to the car to play on the way to the indigo snake pens where we lifted Perdido into the fence and let her off the leash. We buried blue kiddie pools for the snakes to use later while Perdido ran free around us. I can't describe the joy it brought me to watch her off the leash, bounding with a joy few people ever have, her long black ears flapping behind her head like a superhero's cape as she ran! Back home, We leashed her to the picnic table and worked together in the garden- mulching, planting, starting tomatoes and pepper, eggplants and basil. Cooked peanut sesame noodle with leftover grilled chicken and curled up on the couch with Jimmy to watch a silly movie.
This morning researched what St Patty's day is all about (besides the green and clovers and leprechauns it has become). Apparently it is considered a day of spiritual renewal. St. Patrick was ironically most well known for driving the snakes out of Ireland (which by the way never had any). Interesting that we spent our day aiding the reintroduction of snakes here... But for me, it was a day of spiritual renewal. Enjoying the joy that spring brings. I look forward to the Equinox on Friday. Spring is here!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Quotes
Posted by Sierra
"The only way to avoid being miserable is not to have enough leisure to wonder whether you are happy or not." -George Bernard Shaw
"When I do not walk in the clouds I walk as though I were lost." -Antonio Porchia
"You road I enter upon and look around! I believe you are not all that is here; I believe that much unseen is also here." -Walt Whitman
"From this hour, freedom! From this hour I ordain myself loos'd of limits and imaginary lines, Going where I list, my own master, total and absolute, Listening to others, and considering well what they say, Pausing, searching, receiving, contemplating, Gently, but with undeniable will, divesting myself of the holds that would hold me." Walt Whitman (maybe the quote from the b&w dog poster?)
"Whoever denies me, it shall not trouble me;
Whoever accepts me, he or she shall be blessed, and shall bless me. " -Walt Whitman
"Be not discouraged- keep on - there are divine things
well envelop'd; I swear to you there are divine things more beautiful than words can tell. " -Walt Whitman
Rain falling at dusk
swept on, on
spilling millions of moons on grass blades -Shoiu (haiku Shane painted on his bookshelf)
"The only way to avoid being miserable is not to have enough leisure to wonder whether you are happy or not." -George Bernard Shaw
"When I do not walk in the clouds I walk as though I were lost." -Antonio Porchia
"You road I enter upon and look around! I believe you are not all that is here; I believe that much unseen is also here." -Walt Whitman
"From this hour, freedom! From this hour I ordain myself loos'd of limits and imaginary lines, Going where I list, my own master, total and absolute, Listening to others, and considering well what they say, Pausing, searching, receiving, contemplating, Gently, but with undeniable will, divesting myself of the holds that would hold me." Walt Whitman (maybe the quote from the b&w dog poster?)
"Whoever denies me, it shall not trouble me;
Whoever accepts me, he or she shall be blessed, and shall bless me. " -Walt Whitman
"Be not discouraged- keep on - there are divine things
well envelop'd; I swear to you there are divine things more beautiful than words can tell. " -Walt Whitman
Rain falling at dusk
swept on, on
spilling millions of moons on grass blades -Shoiu (haiku Shane painted on his bookshelf)
Sunday, February 8, 2009
To the River Otter
Posted by Sierra
I found this poem last winter and it has stuck with me...
To the River Otter was written around 1793 when Coleridge was just 21 years old. The Otter was the river running through Ottery St Mary in devon, the village where he was born and spent his early childhood.
.
To the River Otter- Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Dear native Brook! wild Streamlet of the West!
How many various-fated years have past,
What happy and what mournful hours, since last
I skimm'd the smooth thin stone along thy breast,
Numbering its light leaps! Yet so deep imprest
Sink the sweet scenes of childhood, that mine eyes
I never shut amid the sunny ray,
But straight with all their tints thy waters rise,
Thy crossing plank, thy marge with willows grey,
And bedded sand that, vein'd with various dyes,
Gleam'd through thy bright transparence! On my way,
Visions of Childhood! oft have ye beguil'd
Lone manhood's cares, yet waking fondest sighs:
Ah! that once more I were a careless Child!
I found this poem last winter and it has stuck with me...
To the River Otter was written around 1793 when Coleridge was just 21 years old. The Otter was the river running through Ottery St Mary in devon, the village where he was born and spent his early childhood.
.
To the River Otter- Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Dear native Brook! wild Streamlet of the West!
How many various-fated years have past,
What happy and what mournful hours, since last
I skimm'd the smooth thin stone along thy breast,
Numbering its light leaps! Yet so deep imprest
Sink the sweet scenes of childhood, that mine eyes
I never shut amid the sunny ray,
But straight with all their tints thy waters rise,
Thy crossing plank, thy marge with willows grey,
And bedded sand that, vein'd with various dyes,
Gleam'd through thy bright transparence! On my way,
Visions of Childhood! oft have ye beguil'd
Lone manhood's cares, yet waking fondest sighs:
Ah! that once more I were a careless Child!
Thursday, February 5, 2009
More Quotes--
Guest House
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
Some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
and treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
Epitaph - thought -
"When you need me, put your arms around anyone and give to them what you need to give to me."
Healing: "God has not promised to take away our trials, but to help us to change our attitudes toward them. That is what basic holiness is. In this life, happiness is rooted in our basic attitude toward reality." Thomas Keating
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
Some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
and treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
Epitaph - thought -
"When you need me, put your arms around anyone and give to them what you need to give to me."
Healing: "God has not promised to take away our trials, but to help us to change our attitudes toward them. That is what basic holiness is. In this life, happiness is rooted in our basic attitude toward reality." Thomas Keating
Wonderful Quotes for Living!
Last weekend I attended a Women's Retreat with 37 women from my church. We had a great time and a very good speaker who had lots of great quotes - here are a few.
We all live far more meaningful lives than we know. Uncovering this meaning does not require us to live differently but to see life differently. Rachel Naomi Remen
Like a path through the forest Sabbath creates a marker for ourselves so, if we are lost, we can find out way back to our center. Remember the Sabbath means remember that everything you have received is a blessing. Remember to delight in your life, in the fruits of your labor. Remember to stop and offer thanks for the wonder of it. Wayne Muller
Every morning you rededicate yourself to your path in order not to go astray. Before going to sleep at night, take a few minutes to review the day. Did I live in the direction of my ideals today? If you see that you took two or three steps in that direction, that is good enough. If you did not, say to yourself, I'll do better tomorrow. The next morning when you wake up, resolve to take solid steps in the direction of your ideals. Don't compare yourself with others. Just look to see whether you are going in the direction you cherish. Thich Nhat Hanh
Do you have the patience to wait until your mud settles and the water is clear? Can you remain unmoving till the right action arises by itself? Tao Te Ching
An anthropologist, following a primitive tribe in Peru, watched as they moved every day for awhile. Then they stopped for awhile and he asked them why. They said they need the time of rest so that their souls can catch up.
We all live far more meaningful lives than we know. Uncovering this meaning does not require us to live differently but to see life differently. Rachel Naomi Remen
Like a path through the forest Sabbath creates a marker for ourselves so, if we are lost, we can find out way back to our center. Remember the Sabbath means remember that everything you have received is a blessing. Remember to delight in your life, in the fruits of your labor. Remember to stop and offer thanks for the wonder of it. Wayne Muller
Every morning you rededicate yourself to your path in order not to go astray. Before going to sleep at night, take a few minutes to review the day. Did I live in the direction of my ideals today? If you see that you took two or three steps in that direction, that is good enough. If you did not, say to yourself, I'll do better tomorrow. The next morning when you wake up, resolve to take solid steps in the direction of your ideals. Don't compare yourself with others. Just look to see whether you are going in the direction you cherish. Thich Nhat Hanh
Do you have the patience to wait until your mud settles and the water is clear? Can you remain unmoving till the right action arises by itself? Tao Te Ching
An anthropologist, following a primitive tribe in Peru, watched as they moved every day for awhile. Then they stopped for awhile and he asked them why. They said they need the time of rest so that their souls can catch up.
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