today's short thought

Life (existence) is a rhetorical question.

RIM quote, re: the urban mystic

"The Urban Mystic serves as an awakened antibody in the bloodstream of humanity. Rather than avoiding the world, this being chooses to function and thrive within its marrow. Not caught in duality, this mystic remains aware of multiple dimensions of reality. The Urban Mystic sees the suffering existing alongside beauty and compassion. This being lives poised between the worlds aware of the Reality beyond opposites." ~Rosamonde Ikshvàku Miller (facebook.com/#!/rosamonde, gnosticsanctuary.org)

so grateful for rosamonde's inspiration and how she points the way. this sagittarius very much appreciates a clear target!

9 line toast

here's a toast that came to me for my birthday celebration last night (@ blackstar.coop). the chorus is said loudly, in rhythm, by everyone, then an individual shouts the in between phrases, also in rhythm.

(CHORUS:) ENLIGHTENMENT & LIBERATION!!!

(individual shouts): by the path you choose!

ENLIGHTENMENT & LIBERATION!!!

that there may be peace!

ENLIGHTENMENT & LIBERATION!!!

full awareness and freedom!

ENLIGHTENMENT & LIBERATION!!!

for ALL without exception!

ENLIGHTENMENT & LIBERATION!!!
(then everyone cheers!)

this was the toast we said this evening--great fun!

another 9: 3 leos, 3 RNs, 3 publishers (folks who work in publishing). my birthdays often have interesting 9 phenomena. it's also the 9th anniversary of the WV wreck (that could have killed me). so 3 9s. sweet!

Appamada

sweet zen center in austin (appamada.org) named for Buddha's last words, interpretted as "wakeful caring." LOVE sitting with them!

also love their 4 principles:

Caught in the self-centered dream, only suffering;
holding to self-centered thoughts, exactly the dream;
each moment, life as it is, the only teacher;
being just this moment, compassion’s way.


-.-

so clean, so empty, so restful. a wonderful place to dwell, full of potential.

labeling myself zen gnostic now :)

this morning's prayer

worked the overnight shift last night, so this is the prayer that happened as i drifted off to sleep bout 8a--

Holy One,
i am a child, innocent and ignorant. please gently open my awareness, dissolve my ignorance so that i may serve as your tool, to alleviate suffering and point to your true light.

help me to follow the true light (not to get lost like a bug zooming round a parking lot lamp post). for the enlightenment and liberation of all, without exception--

in the name of Logos, Christos & Sophia, Amen.

october as a window

i was blessed with studying with a wise sikh woman when i lived in phoenix, sangeet khalsa. loved her eastern/new jersey-ish accent. actually can't remember where she was from, so it may've been a new york accent, my ear is not that sophisticated.

she lead women's yoga (plus other topics) classes that were wonderful, enlightening and nourishing. wait! maybe she has a website! i bet she may still be teaching them. . .yes, womanheart was the name of the class. her site is healingsource.com and here's a quote i MUST post--

"From the beginning of time women have gathered together to build and hold sacred energy, to pray for their loved ones, to exchange wisdom and to celebrate all aspects of life. They sat around camp fires, met at all sorts of social events, helped each other with the birthing process and supported each other as the role of modern women expanded in business and public service. When women gather, the heart of this world grows brighter."

such a wonderful teacher!

part of what i learned from her was a bit of ayurvedic numerology, which considers every october a window on the upcoming year. it's just a peak, maybe holding some clues, maybe a bit of grace to help us prepare for what's ahead.

i've always looked at it, also, as a time to attract what i want to manifest in the upcoming year. for instance, when i was single, i made sure to go on some dates. didn't matter if they were hugely successful because during the following year, not only did i date, but there was usually a good relationship that came out of it. there's also putting extra attention into diet and exercise, making sure i get plenty of rest and maybe have a tiny vacation experience, get a massage, those kinds of things.

it's an interesting way to experience time, to weave reality. time & reality aren't linear anyway, so october is an opportunity to entertain all kinds of possibilities.

blessings! :)

highlights of the weekend vacation, 8/2010

(originally written as a facebook note, i hope to write more on this weekend soon.)

you could think of these as the series of updates i might've posted, if i'd been online.

or not ;)P

wonderfully cool weather with sunshine. sweet mildness and people watching while serenely waiting for a ride from the airport.

great to see my cousin, kristin, and get a taste of her mundane life--which is the most exquisite way to interact with someone, really. went grocery shopping, said hello to her boys, met her cats, swung in the porch swing, walked through gardens (then the sun was hot). . .but not necessarily in that order, lol.

sweet evening coolness with windows open. watched a sketchy movie, wonderful experience of getting every other word (due to technical difficulties, ha ha ha ha).

great to be joined by two more cousins, sisters rachel & sarah, then off to enjoy the drive through napa valley to indian springs spa. oh. my. goodness. heaven on earth! swimming in naturally warmed mineral water pool, then a salt scrub/body polish with massage--all with these amazingly wonderful smells--then quietness by the "buddha pool." "phenomenologically outstanding" doesn't touch it.

indian springs spa is so sublimely sweet (again, words fail). http://www.indianspringscalistoga.com/spa/

then delicious window seat in a lovely cafe eating homemade pasta and drinking smoky wine. yum!

oh and sunday! sunday--enjoyed some sweet solitude as drove to visit the gnostic sanctuary. http://www.gnosticsanctuary.org/ all tucked away, seeking part of finding it, beautiful colors, beautiful space, beautiful intoxicating scents. bishop rosamonde miller is amazing, with energies that my mouth is unable to describe. brought to tears just arriving, just being there and during the Eucharist. the most profound ritual i've ever experienced, hands down. then delicious conversation over a yummy lunch--SO very grateful--thank you!!!

completed the circle on the drive back. more sweet cousin visitings in cool weather. not much sleep.

they sell emergenC packets at the airport! yes, this may just be a world i can live in ;)

then sweating the minute the plane lands in austin, lol! it's freakin hot here!!! suddenly i've lost what li'l acclimation i had to this weather and miss northern california like it was my home.

i will be back :)