Stranger in a Strange Land

Rodin's Fallen Caryatid Carrying Her Stone

With global events spiraling out of control and fear and anxiety burrowing their way into the depths of the collective unconscious, is it any wonder I'm beginning to identify with Rodin's famous caryatid sculpture?

As the established order deteriorates around us, we must prepare ourselves physically, mentally and spiritually, lest we become weighted-down by the negativity, uncertainty and insecurity bombarding us from all directions.

My advice for the new year: breathe deeper, move more, and pray unceasingly.

Following are a few of the notes I took during last year's Eckhart Tolle/Oprah Winfrey ten-week "A New Earth" webcast. I find much truth, wisdom and solace in these words and consult them when it seems the weight of the world is on my shoulders. I offer them in the hope that they will provide clarity amidst the prevailing illusion of pandemonium and chaos.

• Fear blocks joy. Be aware of fearful thoughts.
• Unhappiness spreads like a disease.
• Keep your inner space (inside and around you) clear.
• Be alert and pay attention. Answers come from within and without-God is both immanent and transcendent.
• Suffering is a spiritual teacher.
• Suffering will eventually wake you up.
• Don't attach to form.
• There is an evolutionary impulse of the universe to increase consciousness.
• The evolutionary impulse of the universe rises up to meet you. Feel it. Accept it. Allow.
• Don't drag the past around.
• If you let go of the past and be in the present moment, the aging process slows down.
• Honor old age.
• You begin to change the world first by changing yourself.
• You are awareness disguised as a person; a soul evolving.
• Express gratitude. Acknowledge all that is good in your life.
• The entire universe is miraculous.
• Abundance flows out from your being into the world, and back to you from the world (nature, the sun, the breath, energy)
• Honor life in everything you do.
• You can't leave your mind, only go through it.
• Use mind in the service of spirit.
• Take your attention out of your mind. Step out of the streams of thinking into the sounds of nature.
• It is as it is ... you might as well say "yes" to it.
• Practice acceptance, not resistance.
• What you resist, persists.
• Life is a present. Live each day as a thank-you note.
• Find the place of power in the present moment.
• Life is an adventure.
• Enjoy the uncertainty. Ask yourself "Can I become comfotable with uncertainty?"
• Make mistakes.
• Stillness speaks. Silence has its own language.
• Be here now. Be true to this still, small moment and recognize each one as a moment of grace.
• Practice acceptance, enjoyment and enthusiasm for the present moment.
• Remember always, "I am that which comes from God."

Rocks Rock

Scotland


Scotland


England


England



Wales

One fine summer day I was wading along the shoreline of Mullet Lake in northern Michigan, looking for one "special" rock to take home. My exact thought was "God, I'd like to find a heart-shaped rock. If you can help me with this, I'd appreciate it." Not fifteen seconds later, I reached in the water and came up with a beautiful heart-shaped rock which is now being used as a paperweight.

Heart-shaped rocks have become, for me, a physical manifestation of God's nearness and love.

I've been given and have found any number of heart-shaped rocks which I usually end up givng away. After all, no one can really own a rock. There is, however, one "heart stone" that I treasure the most, given to me by a dear friend upon their return from Ireland. This stone (not pictured here) was "handcrafted from 900 million year old Connemara marble" and is, kinesthetically speaking, a pleasure to hold. It's finely varigated surface is cool to the touch, invoking a sense of calm when held in the palm of the hand.

I like to carry a small rock or two with me on my journeys (they're good pocket travelers). They not only give me a sense of connection to the Earth, but are also part security blanket, part lucky totem, and personal touchstone to home.
Last May, I took my heart-shaped stone on a 27-day adventure in the United Kingdom. It came home with rock friends.

I collected heart-shaped rocks from Cornwall to the Isle of Skye, my bag becoming heavier and heavier along the way. At some point I decided to stop collecting and start photographing them instead!








Paraiba Tourmaline

For as long as I can remember,
I've had an affinity with the mineral kingdom.
It seems only natural that my fascination with the processes
by which gemstones, crystals, minerals and rocks are formed
would lead to an interest in their spiritual aspects
and healing properties as well.
Of course, they are also
lovely to look at and wonderful to wear!

In my estimation, Paraiba Tourmaline
is the most exquisite gemstone known to humankind.
It is also one of the least abundant, most sought-after and expensive.
This fabulous stone derives it's name from it's country of origin,
the Federal Brazilian State of Paraiba.
The only producing mine closed over twenty years ago,
resulting in a significant decrease in availability
and subsequent increase in cost.

For more pictures and descriptions of gemstones visit
the International Colored Genstone Association's website at:
http://www.gemstone.org/




Amethyst Cluster

Amethyst is fairly abundant and
affordable, and just happens to be my birthstone.


Labradorite

More to come ....

This is What Love Looks Like

Kathy & Matthew

Sasha

Labradoodle Love (aka Harry).

Penny & Bob - Harry's humans.


Lindsay & Creighton

(Honeymooning in Maui)


Jen & Johnny


Lynessa & Andrew


Bonnie w/Poetry Students


The Pacheco Brothers

Left to right: Jonathan, Anthony, Andrew

(The greatest, great-nephews)


Ellie


Miranda Dawn


Gilda

Life is Poetry, Poetry is Life

God speaks to each of us a he makes us,
then walks us silently out of the night.

These are the words we dimly hear:

You sent out beyond your recall,
go to the limits of your longing.
Embody me.

Flare up like flame
and make big shadows I can move in.

Let everything happen to you: beauty and terror.
Just keep going. No feeling is final.
Don't let yourself lose me.

Nearby is the country they call life.
You will know it by its seriousness.

Give me your hand.
*Selection from Rilke's Book of Hours: Love Poems to God - I, 59



ZERO CIRCLE by Rumi (Version by Coleman Barks)
Be helpless, dumbfounded,
Unable to say yes or no.
Then a strecher will come from grace
to gather us up.

We are too dull-eyed to see that beauty.
If we say we can, we're lying.
If we say No, we don't see it,
That No will behead us
And shut tight our window onto spirit.

So let us rather not be sure of anything,
Besides ourselves, and only that, so
Miraculous beings come running to help.
Crazed, lying in a zero circle, mute,
We shall be saying finally,
with tremendous eloquence, Lead us.
When we have totally surrendered to that beauty,
We shall be a mighty kindness.
*From Ten Poems to Change Your Life by Roger Housden


Who seeks for Heaven alone
to save his soul
may keep the path,
but will not reach the goal.
While they who walk in Love
may wander far
yet God will bring them
where the blessed are.
*Henry Van Dyke


Ithaca
When you set out on your journey to Ithaca,
pray that the road is long,
full of adventure, full of knowledge.
The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops,
the angry Poseidon - do not fear them:
You will never find such as these on your path,
if your thoughts remain lofy, if a fine
emotion touches your spirit and your body.
The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops,
the fierce Poseidon you will never encounter,
if you do not carry them within your soul,
if your soul does not set them up before you.

Pray that the road is long.
That the summer mornings are many, when
with such pleasure, with such joy
you will enter ports seen for the first time;
stop at Phoenician markets,
and purchase fine merchandise,
mother-of-pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
and sensual perfumes of all kinds,
as many sensual perfumes as you can;
visit many Egyptian cities,
to learn and learn from scholars.

Always keep Ithaca in your mind.
To arrive there is your ultimate goal.
But do not hurry the voyage at all.
It is better to let it last for many years;
and to anchor at the island when you are old,
rich with all you have gained on the way,
not expecting that Ithaca will offer you riches.

Ithaca has given you the beautiful voyage.
Without her you would have never set out on the road.
She has nothing more to give you.

And if you find her poor, Ithaca has not deceived you.
Wise as you have become with so much experience,
you must have already understood what these Ithacas mean.
*Constantine P. Cavafy (1911)


Entree-vouz
Welcome to my mind.

Please come in, but
do watch your step.
The absurdities
of life
keep this place
in such
a mess.

Be careful
of the
clutter
and try
to avoid any
cynical thoughts
and conspiracy theories
you might see
lying around.

I'll understand
completely
if you don't
stay too long.

Even I
get overwhelmed
at times
by the
riot going on
in here;

a
veritable conundrum
of
paradox and irony
cyclical repetitions
of valid questions
with no real answers.

Don't let that scare you, though.

Come back and visit
any time.

I'm pretty sure
I'll be here.
*Bonnie Davis (Notes from Behind the Pink Wall, 2004)

The Metaphysics of Travel

"A Romantic
Enters the World"

A long, long time ago, I bought a card with this
picture and tag-line, immediately identifing with it's
message. Not that I think of myself as a fool, mind you -
it's the Tarot symbology that's significant.

In the standard Tarot deck, the Major Arcana
consists of 22 cards. Kabbalists believe them
to correspond to the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
The Fool card is interesting, in that it represents
the number "0" which signifies many things, such as:

~ infinite possibilities & potential
~ an openness (of heart and mind)
~ wholeness/completeness
~ "beginner's mind"

In the picture, The Fool is receiving limitless energy from the sun (the source), as he moves forward, seemingly without fear. Although the cliff he stands on seems rather precarious, The Fool, face turned-up to the sky, appears optimistic and trusting. His arms open wide, as if to embrace the world, is symbolic of an open heart.

This is the way I wish to encounter the world.

Scaredy Cat

As a child, on Saturday nights I'd stay up late,
turn off all the lights, crawl under a blanket
and watch Dr. Cadaverino & Nighmare Theater
nearly frightening myself to death in the process.
Vincent Price was always good for a creepy thrill, and
my decision to be cremated is a direct result of watching his movie,
Premature Burial. I have not waivered from this decision over the years.
Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte with Bette Davis is another
favorite horror classic. But then again, Bette Davis was pretty
scary, even out of character.



"There is nothing wrong with your television set.
Do not attempt to adjust the picture.
We are controlling transmission. If we wish to make it louder
we will bring up the volume. If we wish to make it softer, we
will tune it to a whisper. We will control the horizonatal. We will
control the vertical. We can roll the image, make it flutter.
We can change the focus to a soft blur or sharpen it to crystal clarity.
For the next hour, sit quietly and we will control all that you see and hear.
We repeat, there is nothing wrong with your television set.
You are about to participate in a great adventure.
You are about to experience the awe and mystery
which reaches from the inner mind ... to the Outer Limits."
Opening Narration, The Control Voice - 1960's



"You are traveling through another dimension,
a dimension not only of signt and sound but of mind.
A journey into a wonderous land of imagination.
Next stop, the Twilight Zone."
Opening Narration, Season Three



The song, Reach for a Star
was the most memorable
part of this horror flick,
and stuck in my pre-adolescent
mind like glue.



I had just turned five years old
when my sister, eight years my senior,
took me to see my first horror movie,
The Tingler. At one point in the film, the
narrator tells the audience that the Tingler
is in the theater and it may be right - under-
your-seat!!!!! I cried and screamed -
my sister laughing all the while.



This movie made it impossible
for me to develop an appreciation
for anything with a beak.

Cartoons Saved Me

I am a cartoon affecianado.
Not present-day cartoons
mind you, for they are much too violent -
too sharp around the edges.
I prefer the following classics
which hold a special place
in my memory and
in my heart.


Huckleberry Hound
Pure silliness!


Snagglepus -
Famous for the lines
"Exit, Stage Left"
and
"Heavens to Murgatroid"


Touche Turtle and Dum Dum


Mr. Peabody, Sherman and the Wayback Machine
(from the infamous Rocky & Bullwinkle Show)


TopCat and Friends


Hercules & Newt


Captain Kangaroo and Mr. Bun E. Rabbit


Wally Gator


The Jetsons ... my favorite.