Last night at sunset, on the night of the new moon — the time when we return to promordial darkness – the High Holy Day of Rosh Hashanah began. It is the Jewish New Year and begins the ten days of awe ending with Yom Kippur.  It is a time of introspection, of reflecting on the […]

Posted in Photos | 5 Comments »

What does real life look like to you in your best moments, your quiet moments?  What is it that you yourself actually want–down deep–and how much are you willing to give up to get it?  What really gives you life?  It’s time to consider what makes a thing life-giving and the point when even the […]

Posted in Spirituality | 10 Comments »

. . . Milton at Don’t Eat Alone.  Milton send me your snail mail and I will send you a copy of Praying with the Elements. 
Thanks to everyone who participated in the Poetry Party, a wonderful showing this week in celebration of autumn.  The next one will be on Monday, October 6th.  It will be our 25th […]

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On returning from our summer travels I recommitted myself to a deeper exploration of two practices — Sabbath-keeping and yoga.  I believe so strongly in the power of Sabbath, as a witness to a different way of being in the world, as an act of humility that says the world will get by if I […]

Posted in Contemplative Living | 4 Comments »

Song For the Salmon
For too many days now I have not written of the sea,
nor the rivers, nor the shifting currents
we find between the islands
For too many nights now I have not imagined the salmon
threading the dark streams of reflected stars,
nor have I dreamt of his longing
nor the lithe swing of his tail toward […]

Posted in Visual Meditation | 9 Comments »

Rachelle Mee-Chapman has a lovely set of links to blogs posting about how to have a soulful autumn.  Pour a cup of tea and linger over the inspiration.
If you live in the Seattle area and are curious about Ignatian spirituality, consider joining me for the Ignatian Prayer Experience.  It begins Monday, October 13th from 6:30-9:00 p.m. […]

Posted in Links & Resources | 7 Comments »

Poetry Party #24!  I select an image and suggest a title and invite you to respond with your poems, words, reflections, quotes, song lyrics, etc. Leave them in the comments or email me and I’ll add them to the body of the post as they come in along with a link back to your blog if […]

Posted in Poetry Party Invitation | 26 Comments »

The RevGalBlogPals have a Friday Five that I don’t usually play, but this one is about one of my favorite topics and I am procrastinating on getting real work done!
Five favorite things about fall:
1) A fragrance: The smell of my rosemary orange chicken roasting in the oven.  So simple, so incredibly satisfying.
2) A color: The […]

Posted in Fun | 11 Comments »

Song for Autumn
In the deep fall
don’t you imagine the leaves think how
comfortable it will be to touch
the earth instead of the
nothingness of air and the endless
freshets of wind? And don’t you think
the trees themselves, especially those with mossy,
warm caves, begin to think
of the birds that will come — six, a dozen — to sleep
inside their […]

Posted in Cycles and Seasons | 9 Comments »

How to be a Poet
(to remind myself)
Make a place to sit down.
Sit down. Be quiet.
You must depend upon
affection, reading, knowledge,
skill-more of each
than you have-inspiration,
work, growing older, patience,
for patience joins time
to eternity. Any readers
who like your work,
doubt their judgment.
Breathe with unconditional breath
the unconditioned air.
Shun electric wire.
Communicate slowly. Live
a three-dimensioned life;
stay away from screens.
Stay away from anything
that […]

Posted in Photos, Poetry | 3 Comments »