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Is weeping speech?
I’ve been thinking on the poem I Have Five Things to Say from Rumi, (translated by Coleman Barks, down at the bottom of the post). So many of Rumi’s poems leave me feeling as though I’ve been struck in...
View ArticleWaves
Today has been all waves, ups and downs. It started with feeling tired and a headache. I jumped into communicating with someone in IT on a project that releases next month and before I knew it was past...
View ArticleMy Inner Critic
The tasks around Jukai, particularly sewing my rakusu, writing about the Grave Precepts, and making my lineage chart, have riled up my Inner Critic hugely. What occurred to me tonight, while lying on...
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Inner Critic Revealed
I’d like to introduce you to my Inner Critic. I talk about her a lot here and a new art project in my Zen community inspired me to catch her in the act. I had this clever idea to use Photo Booth on my...
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Dirty Cups
CK bought me two beautiful editions of Rumi’s poetry for my birthday. On the flight home from Hawaii I came across the following piece, gorgeously illustrated in The Illuminated RumiAsk!Step offproudly...
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As a Result of Poety
I really thought I’d written about haiku, learning the form. It is a cherished memory and activity from the year I was nine. Generally that year was one traumatic event after another, but I also was...
View ArticleArt Stretch
I made a couple of artist trading cards this evening featuring some of the brushwork I was learning at Great Vow earlier this month. I’d been quite taken with the cursive writing of the character for...
View ArticleTransforming the Inner Critic
In a few minutes I’m headed out to Great Vow for the weekend for the Transforming the Inner Critic workshop. People have assumed I’ve already done this workshop, but the truth is I’ve avoided it like a...
View ArticleWhen my Critic is Quiet
This weekend’s retreat was unsurprisingly powerful and emotional. I felt very strongly supported by my Portland friends, something CK helped to remind me of by prompting some friends to send me very...
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Unfolding Beauty (and Practice)
I had acupuncture today, a long session to discharge all the chaotic energy I’ve been running on for weeks now. Mostly the only poem I could come up with is: Too tired To make Poetry. So here’s a great...
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Adventures in Altered Art
Back in January I finally decided to sign up for a workshop with Seth Apter at one of my favorite little, local art shops, Collage. Today was the day. It has been hard this past several weeks. Igal’s...
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October Observations
October is here, arriving with a burst of rain and then come days of warm, summery days and crisp evenings. Really, one of my favorite times of year in Portland. Leaves are just turning, apples are...
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New Path and National Poetry Month 2015
As I am feeling my way into this new way of being in the world, emerging into the life of a yoga teacher, artist, and writer with equal measures of joy and trepidation, I am trying to return to some...
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Stumbling Towards Peace
So much for my National Poetry Month pledge. Ah well. Red Gerbera Daisy - May 25, 2015 - Portland, Oregon Creativity, writing or other artistic medium, has been distant this winter into spring. I'm...
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Calm Abiding
This past Saturday would have been my Mother's 73rd birthday. It made the week feel a little fragmented, but I was upfront with people about it. With CK's encouragement I made it off to the Collage...
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Willingness Gratitude
I've had another tough day, so much so that I've really had to start writing to figure out my gratitude for today. For a moment I thought it might be the fact that tomorrow is another day and I can...
View ArticleKitten Hijinks
Having a night where no title occurs to me so I'm noting something that's bringing joy to the darkening days as we get closer to winter. He's sitting in my lap purring loudly. It was a day full of...
View ArticleWisdom on Wednesday
Moved ever closer to sending taxes! We're being sure to get a Certificate of Mailing to prove it was sent, this can only be obtained in a post office. I checked with the local UPS Store and they...
View ArticleMarch Comes in With Anxiety
I am having a bad "Whinnie" night. That's the name I gave to my inner jerk after working on an art therapy project to make a portrait of her. It's the usual soup of feeling like I don't get anything...
View ArticleFuck Off, Whinnie!
Realizing last night that my Inner Jerk, "Whinnie" as I dubbed her, was driving my anxiety helped some. When I realize that energy is getting big I can then invite it to settle down or just fuck off....
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