It’s true what Heraclitus said about getting into a river. Every time, it’s not the same river and you aren’t the same person. I went to the Willamette river to update the settings of both the river and of me. Get a feel for what is currently happening in our current. What is the flow… Continue reading Swimming with herons
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At Home
I might sell SCOBY* babies for $1 at my house. It will be like U-Pick; you pick and I sell it to you. Today I thought of giving one to someone I know to help with gentle focus. It would never make kombucha. It would provide a jar for intent, attention toward something small that… Continue reading At Home
Cottonwood trees
Cottonwood trees are the fastest growing hardwood tree in North America. The eastern cottonwood is Nebraska’s state tree. The black cottonwood is what we see around here. Black cottonwoods range from southeast Alaska down to Baja California, from the Pacific Northwest to the Dakotas. They usually grow along rivers and streams, avoiding dry ground. Cottonwood… Continue reading Cottonwood trees
What’s your call? What’s your song?
I had a next-step salon before I knew what it was. There were five of us, approximately 40-80 years old, talking about how to make change or react to change. We took turns sharing about something we were thinking about doing, trying, or re-doing. It was an in-between space; a temple for open discussion for… Continue reading What’s your call? What’s your song?
Look, a bird!
I didn’t mean to end up in the shaman section, but that can happen when you are looking for books about trees. I was at the library. I couldn’t find the book about cottonwoods, so I had to ask the librarian for help, which made me feel about eight-years old. As the librarian lead the… Continue reading Look, a bird!
What causes you suffering?
It’s a great ice breaker to ask, “what causes you suffering?” I’ve been asking people this lately and they tell me immediately and seem relieved to be asked so directly. This is what happens if you read too much Thich Nhat Hanh. You get all Buddhist about things. You might even start applying stuff from… Continue reading What causes you suffering?
Port Townsend
The areas of the brain that process emotional thought and response are larger, percentage-wise in the brains of orcas than any other animal. So said a sign at the visitor center in Port Townsend. Port Townsend is a place that I love. Historically, some people say it’s “the city that whiskey built.” I didn’t drink… Continue reading Port Townsend
Sol Duc retreat
No computer, no TV, no cell service Sol Duc resort sits down on the floor of Washington’s Olympic National Park. Sol Duc is said to mean “sparkling water,” and was discovered by non-natives around 1880. Sitting in the hot sulphur water, about 30 of us watched a man high up on a rickety ladder, replacing… Continue reading Sol Duc retreat
A holistic party for America
I’ve declared my presidential candidacy. I felt moved to do so from a raised platform on a college campus, overlooking an empty soccer field in the distance. I made a promise, to an invisible crowd, “there will be a cat in every household!” An advisor immediately told me afterward, “that may turn some voters off.” They… Continue reading A holistic party for America
Juxtapositions
I heard a hawk’s cry come through a starling’s beak. It was a perfect imitation. Messages come through however they can. Sometimes to break up monotony. Other times it’s a specific insight. Still other times, it’s just funny. We need juxtaposition to mingle and jostle healthy brain activity. I think this is true but I… Continue reading Juxtapositions