October 1, 2008
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 year that has past, a time to consider how you have wronged others and to seek forgiveness. In my yoga class yesterday morning, my teacher began with a meditation in honor of this time. We were asked to think back on the year that had passed
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 life-giving becomes death-dealing for you. Then it is time to define life differently, perhaps. It’s the moment to put down what it is we’re doing that can be done but does not really need to be done, at least not by us. We need to
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 lay down my work for a while, as a time to remember who we were created to be. Moving more deeply into a yoga practice is really a reclaiming for me of something that once played a more significant role in my life. There are
-Christine Valters Paintner @ Abbey of the Arts (photos from the Salmon Homecoming Festival 2008 in Seattle) * Make sure to visit this week’s Poetry Party *
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 you have one (not required to participate!) Feel free to take your poem in any direction and then post the image and invitation on your blog and encourage others to come join the party! Today is the autumnal equinox, a time when the sun rests above
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 vibrant red hue of a Japanese maple in autumn, watching the amber glow of the fire in the fireplace. 3) An item of clothing: My old, cozy black fleece hooded jacket. Great over my pajamas when I am working from home. I also love
Autumn is my favorite season with winter a close second, so we are entering the time of year that makes my heart sing. The season ahead is a season of transition. While summer and winter have more of a sense of sameness to them, spring and fall remind us that the world is constantly in flux and everything changes. For me, the heart of autumn’s gifts are its twin energies of relinquishing and harvesting. It is a season of paradox that invites us to consider what we are called to release and surrender, and at the same time it invites us to gather
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 obscures the place it is in. There are no unsacred places; there are only sacred places and desecrated places. Accept what comes from silence. Make
In honor of the Harvest Moon tonight, images of autumn’s abundance: -Christine Valters Paintner @ Abbey of the Arts (images of dahlias taken in Volunteer Park in Seattle)