It’s ALL Better En Masse

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

So here we are it’s Christmas, The most wonderful time of year, When our minds turn to our loved ones, And those we hold most dear, May the memories and traditions, That have always played a part, Make this season special, Bringing joy into your heart.

I had intended […]

Midnite’s Purple Petunia Plant

From my journal:

Friday, June 3, 2022

Dear Holy Spirit,

I am listening to a podcast by Ram Dass. (Ep. 199: The Continuity of Consciousness)

“Somewhere between not enough and more seems to be enough.”

At least a few moments go by before i have a thought about Joel — that’s progress. I have […]

The End of Suffering

There will be something, anguish or elation, that is peculiar to this day alone. I rise from sleep, and say: Hail to the morning! Come down to me, my beautiful unknown.

~ Jessica Powers Word for the Day (gratefulness.org)

Today’s journal entry:

Wednesday, June 1, 2022

Dear Holy Spirit,

During the night […]

Dear Former Me

When I saw my primary on Monday she said I needed Zoloft or a therapist, maybe both. I had been overwhelmed with the stress of everything John has been going through, complicated mightily by the situation with Joel. For those new to YBR, Joel has been my co-author for over twenty years. He has developed […]

Motherless Child

Sometimes I feel like a motherless child, Sometimes I feel like a motherless child, Sometimes I feel like a motherless child, A long way from home, a long way from home.

Odetta knew what LIFE can feel like.

Just yesterday — one day of LIFE holding sooooo much feeling.

A dear friend, navigating […]

3 Faces of Happiness

“No matter how someone is acting, they want to be happy.” ~ Lion’s Roar

Jerry Ashmore, senior teacher at Empty Circle Zen group shared this opening quote in his dharma talk this morning. As an aside, if you are looking for a wonderful Zen sitting with teachings, this group meets on Zoom twice per week: […]

Through the Darkness

Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can.

~ Arthur Ashe

I am tempted to schedule this to post so readers don’t know that I have my fingers on the keyboard at 4:21 am while on retreat. If I were not retreating via Zoom because of COVID-19, I would not […]

Holy Notre-Dame

WORD FOR THE DAY

I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable…but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing.

Agatha Christie Visit Gratefulness.org/

This week’s news out of Paris was shocking, and of all times to have it be Holy Week for humanity to experience […]

Carpe Diem!

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may, Old Time is still a-flying; And this same flower that smiles today Tomorrow will be dying. The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun, The higher he’s a-getting, The sooner will his race be run, And nearer he’s to setting. ~ Robert Herrick

My fingers have been missing in […]

Upekka

You have heard it said to be careful what you pray for. This past Tuesday evening, as our Dharma “Path of Clear Light” class was coming to an end, I asked for specific instructions around the practice of Upekka. Upekka is the Buddhist practice of equanimity.

John Orr’s clarification of the Upekka practice, […]