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, […]